8/28/2023 0 Comments Arizona coyotes breakaway jersey![]() Obviously you would have liked to not have the Golden Knights fall on you and I guess use your Stanley Cup dreams as a landing point. Almost three decades later and with another recent Cup still fresh in your memory, you can send some karma their way. Remember the last time the Panthers were in the Final, back in 1996? No, and neither does anyone else, because you guys swept them so quickly and easily that we all just wiped the whole thing from our minds. Don’t worry, they’ll be fine with it, they’re all still drunk from celebrating the Bedard lottery. I just wanted to mention it, so I’m using Chicago’s spot to do it. ![]() ![]() That rules.ĭoes it have anything to do with the Blackhawks? Not really, other than Thornton playing a few games for them way back when. Every NHL team has an endless list of former players hanging around as assistant to this or associate scout of that, but Thornton is over here doing a real job. Sorry, Eric Staal, you shouldn’t have been a traitor.ĭid you know that journeyman tough guy Shawn Thornton is the Panthers’ chief revenue officer? I did not, and I’m not sure why I enjoy this fact so much. Besides, the Golden Knights gave you Max Pacioretty for nothing. Someday, you’ll respect the Panthers for the series they gave you, even if all the breaks went their way. But I admit that it may be dicey for some of you. I’m leaning toward rooting for the former star here, especially since it means not having to hear about William Karlsson being in the running for the Conn Smythe. And unlike Flames fans and Tkachuk, at least Blue Jackets fans can feel like this version of Bobrovsky isn’t completely new, since they got to enjoy it during that memorable 2019 upset over the Lightning. He didn’t force his way out as dramatically as Tkachuk did, and the exit isn’t as recent, so there’s been time to heal. I think the Sergei Bobrovsky situation is different, though. In theory, this is the same deal as Calgary, where you’re allowed to be bitter about the former star who abandoned your team. Pick: Golden Knights Columbus Blue Jackets Let’s just say I don’t think this is a tough call.ĭo you enjoy hearing the entire hockey world sing the praises of heroic postseason warrior Matthew Tkachuk, who put up 15 points in 27 career playoff games for you before forcing his way out of town? I’m guessing you do not. Now it’s a question of which guy you resent more. Hey, remember when the Sabres openly tanked for a few years and ended up with a pair of second picks, then figured the future was bright because Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart were the sorts of players who could get you to a Final? Turns out they were right, kind of. Instead, go ahead and root for Bruce Cassidy to get the ring he couldn’t get in Boston. Do we want Brad Marchand to spend the rest of his life knowing one missed breakaway cost his team an easy Stanley Cup? Everyone else does, yes, absolutely, but not Bruins fans. It’s tempting to pick the Panthers here, since that would retcon that first round from “all-time stunning upset” to “at least kind of understandable.” But if Florida wins, especially as easily as they did over Toronto and Carolina, it will just reinforce what a missed opportunity that loss really was. And besides, the Panthers may be the only other market that’s had to deal with more snotty remarks from old-timers about being better off in Quebec City. Has that desert-based rivalry with the Golden Knights ever turned into anything? Not really, but we can pretend. The Panthers have captured hearts and minds on their improbably Cup Final run, writes long will it last? ![]() That’s especially true when your shared origin story is some random midweek announcement that came literally a few months before your first season would start.Īfter years of losing and two-plus decades of instability, South Florida hockey is relevant again. Sorry Shea Theodore, but expansion cousins need to stick together. I’ve got a suggestion of which team to cheer for, for fans of all 30 of the loser teams’ valiant nonparticipants. But some of us aren’t wired that way, and we need to have a team to root for - or root against - to really get into a series. What about everyone else? We’ve got what should be a great matchup ready to go, and maybe sitting back and enjoying the show without a rooting interest sounds good to you.
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