Panthers Young Guns Ready for Challenge Against Full Hurricanes Roster
The Florida Panthers are bringing a roster full of young guns and players on the fringes to Raleigh to take on a full Carolina Hurricanes squad — and they’re ready for it.
Photo by Colby Guy
The Florida Panthers are sending a roster full of players battling for the final few spots on the NHL roster against a mostly complete Carolina Hurricanes team.
And they are up for the challenge.
“Yeah, that’s fun,” said William Lockwood, who is vying for one of the two forward spots that are currently up for grabs.
“I didn’t see the roster this morning, but it made me smile. It made me happy to see. That. I think it’s a great opportunity for the group we have going out. For a lot of the guys, you get to see what the level of play is like and it’s a great challenge. I think everyone in our group is really excited. We’re gonna go out there and we’re going to work really hard.”
On that Carolina roster are star forwards Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis and Andrei Svechnikov; NHL defensemen Brent Burns, Dmitry Orlov, Jaccob Slavic and Sean Walker; and starting goaltender Frederik Andersen.
Meanwhile, Lockwood is one of just a handful of guys who suited up in NHL games last season. Rasmus Asplund, MacKenzie Entwistle, A.J. Greer, Jaycob Megna, Tobias Bjornfot and Zac Dalpe headline that group.
That is by design.
“This is going to be the week where you will start to see heavily-loaded home teams and younger players going on the road,” coach Paul Maurice said. “So, what I’m looking for, you know, we’ve got our systems that we have been teaching the younger guys and we’re looking for those players to show that they get it.
“So, we should have no chance of winning this game based on disparity of talent. But, there’s a certain style of game [we’re looking for.’ So, if we go on the road, we got seven or eight guys banged up and the other team’s got way more talent on it. What adjustments do we have to make? And then what individual adjustments can you make in your game to give us the best possible chance to win. So, you got to stay out of the penalty box — the discipline is critical — you have to manage your shift length, you have to take quite a bit of risk out of your game.
“You say ‘What about the skill guys? They don’t get to show what they can do.’ Well, actually, the guys that are trying to make this team are trying to make it in a role that we’re not putting them in the lineup to outscore [Aleksander Barkov. You gotta come in and hold water.”
After spending the first week of camp going head-to-head with the likes of Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart, the young group of defensemen the Panthers are taking with them to Raleigh are ready for the challenge.
“With the coaching staff here, we practice against Barkov, Reinhart and all of those guys and some you can argue are better or the same [as the Hurricanes,]” rookie defenseman Mike Benning said. “I think they prepared us for it. It’s just about going out there, playing your style of game not being too concerned about who they have and just showcasing yourself.”
Spencer Knight will get the nod behind this patchwork roster and it will be a big test on how he can handle a heavy workload and make some headway in the battle for the No. 2 spot in Florida’s goalie rotation.
“Spencer is ready for NHL action. I have no doubt about that,” Maurice said. “What I want him to be able to do is go in and enjoy it and have some fun with it. Even if it’s a 50-shot night, maybe a whole bunch behind him, I just want him to find a way to enjoy that — just the work and the process of it.
“Exhibition or not, it’s been a while since he’s been in those NHL games, and I think it’s the perfect game for him because he’s probably seeing 50 tonight and it will occupy all of your senses to stay in the immediate, so I think it’ll be great for him.”
Injury Updates:
Anton Lundell returned to practice on Friday after missing Thursday’s practice with what Maurice said was a “lower-body injury.”
After being labeled as “day-to-day,” it is possible Lundell suits up for the Panthers against the Hurricanes for Saturday night’s game in Sunrise.
“He was back on the ice today and he should be cleared for tomorrow,” Maurice said. “If he got through it no problem today, our expectation is that he comes into the morning skate and if he’s loose and he feels good, then he’ll be good to go.”
Rosters:
