The Florida Panthers were the surprise winners of the 2011-12 Atlantic Division title and drew sellout crowds to their first round playoff series in which they eventually lost to the eventual Eastern Conference champion New Jersey Devils. After two years of losses and empty seats at the BB&T Center, the Panthers have shown resurgence under first year coach Gerard Gallant.
Just as important as the Panthers emergence as a contender is the window of opportunity for their franchise with lack of local competition from other sports. The Miami Heat are now without LeBron James and their run as a top tier NBA title contender is over. The NFL Miami Dolphins epitomize mediocrity and the MLB’s Miami Marlins are never a big draw. If the Panthers can make a playoff run and gain a postseason berth they can reclaim the fans that they have lost after nearly two decades of ineptitude that followed a 1996 run to the Stanley Cup Final.
It’s Not Hockey, its Miami
There is no better topic in which the mainstream sports media shows its unbridled ignorance than on the topic of the NHL and its Sun Belt expansion teams. The conventional “wisdom” is that hockey doesn’t work in the southern United States because it is a “foreign” and “winter” sport. But a deeper look reveals that a winning hockey team in the south will not only draw well but draw enthusiastic fans that embrace the excitement of post season hockey.
The Miami and South Florida market is especially unique. Miami is the ultimate “Winner’s Town.” Win in Miami and the town of sellout crowds is yours. Lose and you will be putting tarps over the empty seats in shame. The Dolphins have played in front of thousands of empty seats and the Heat had to tarp off the upper deck in the Pre-James era. Hockey was big in Miami in the early to mid-1990 when the Panthers were a successful and competitive expansion team and that opportunity again presents itself in a market that is looking for a winner to rally around.
Panthers Foundation of Success
Florida’s resurgence begins at the top with second year owner Vinny Viola. Viola said from the start that he is fully committed to putting a winner on the ice in South Florida and has lived up to that promise. Although Florida ranks 23rd among NHL teams for total salary they have climbed from the bottom and spent about as much as was responsibly possible in the offseason. With over nine million dollars still available they also have the flexibility for additional moves at the trade deadline come spring.
A Gallant Leader
Gallant had a previous head coaching opportunity with the then woeful Columbus Blue Jackets and never had an honest chance. He was fired after just one full season but quickly rehabilitated his reputation with the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League as his team finished in first place in all three of his seasons there and captured a Memorial Cup. From there Gallant became an assistant with the Montreal Canadiens where he drew rave reviews during last year’s playoff run by the Habs in which they made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Final.
Luongo Sparked New Image
When the Cats traded for G Roberto Luongo they began to restore their credibility with a fan base that was sick of penny pinching and losing hockey. Luongo was a popular Panthers player before he moved on to stardom with the Vancouver Canucks but always longed to return to South Florida where he maintains a home. The return of Luongo showed that Viola meant business about remaking the Panthers and their image. Luongo has backstopped the Panthers well with a .924 save percentage and 2.37 goals against average.
Talented Young Core
C Nick Bjugstad and rookie star Aaron Ekblad are examples of the Panthers bright future as center pieces acquired by general manager Dale Talon. Talon did much to build the current Chicago Blackhawks powerhouse and has again proven to have an eye for top talent at Florida.
If the winning continues, look for the crowds to increase at the BB&T Center with sellouts come playoff time.
