72º
wplg logo

WEATHER ALERT

JOEL QUENNEVILLE

Chirping the Cats podcast: Episode 32 - Panthers radio play-by-play voice Doug Plagens

SUNRISE, Fla. – On Episode 32 of Chirping the Cats, host David Dwork is joined by Florida Panthers radio play-by-play voice Doug Plagens. Dave and Doug discuss into the current state of the team, how well the team has meshed both on and off the ice and give credit to first year general manager Bill Zito for bringing in players who instantly have fit into head coach Joel Quenneville’s systems. They also chat about Doug’s love for the game of baseball and his affinity for ballpark road trips, how he got started as a broadcaster and also the time-honored tradition of collecting sports cards, something both Doug and David have enjoyed doing for much of their lives. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CTC PODCAST - iOS | Android

Waiver claim Gustav Forsling fitting in perfectly on Panthers blueline

Gustav Forsling of the Florida Panthers clears the puck during second period action against the Chicago Blackhawks at the BB&T Center on January 17, 2021 in Sunrise, Florida. SUNRISE, Fla. – Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling comes across as a very easygoing 24-year-old. “I just know how he wants to play, and his system, and how he wants you to play,” Forsling said of Coach Q. After going scoreless in each of his first 11 outings in Florida, Forsling has a recorded goal and three assists over his past four games. Based on the way he’s been playing, it might behoove Forsling to continue familiarizing himself with his new tropical home.

Chemistry 101: Panthers top pairing of Aaron Ekblad and MacKenzie Weegar become one of NHL’s best

One of the most consistent elements of the surging Panthers has been the team’s top defensive pairing of Aaron Ekblad and MacKenzie Weegar. Examining just 5-on-5 play, Ekblad and Weegar have combined for 17 points (4-13-17) and a plus-4 on-ice rating while holding nearly identical Corsi For Percentages (53.9 for Weegar, 53.8 for Ekblad). “I thought I had it with Brian Campbell, and it was great,” Ekblad said. “You can tell they’re having fun and they’re both playing great,” said Panthers alternate captain Keith Yandle. “(Ekblad and Weegar) remind me of those two guys, and you know their story was spectacular.

Cats Q&A: Patric Hornqvist discusses moving to South Florida, playing for Joel Quenneville and becoming a leader in Panthers locker room

Patric Hornqvist of the Florida Panthers skates against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the BB&T Center on February 13, 2021 in Sunrise, Florida. “It’s hard when you have six, seven, eight new players,” Hornqvist said in late January. They are two great players, they’re smart players and they’re pass-first guys. That’s what separates the really good players from the good players. The Florida Panthers really took care of me and my family from the first day.

Panthers ‘Swiss Army knife’ Noel Acciari out 7-10 days with upper-body injury

Alex DeBrincat of the Chicago Blackhawks battles for control of the puck with Noel Acciari of the Florida Panthers at the BB&T Center on January 17, 2021 in Sunrise, Florida. Coach Q said Panthers forward Noel Acciari was not with the team on the road and would miss 7-10 days with an upper-body injury. It’s a tough break for Florida’s lineup to lose a player who fills so many roles on the team. If there is an important faceoff in the defensive zone, odds are its Acciari on the ice taking the draw. After leaving Tampa, the Panthers will play at Carolina on Wednesday before heading to Detroit for a back-to-back set with the Red Wings on Friday and Saturday.

Florida Panthers off to 2nd-best start in franchise history

Florida’s 6-1-2 start through nine games is the second-best in franchise history, topped only by the 6-0-3 record to open the 1996-97 season. “We've been consistent in most games," Florida coach Joel Quenneville said. Starting poorly, however, has pretty much snuffed out some Panthers seasons before they even started. The five Florida teams that went to the playoffs — 1995-96, 1996-97, 1999-2000, 2011-12 and 2015-16 — averaged 12 standings points through the season’s first nine games. There’s obviously a long way to go, but the Panthers finally have the start they wanted.

Panthers excited to hit the road and resume schedule after playing just 2 games in 13 days

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Most teams don’t get a bye week when the season is less than a few days old, but most teams aren’t the Florida Panthers. Now, at the two-week mark of the young campaign, the Panthers have played a whopping two games, with the last one coming seven days ago. Since opening training camp on Jan. 3, head coach Joel Quenneville has held 16 days of practice, all at the BB&T Center. Starting Tuesday in Columbus, the Cats will play four road games over the next six days. “I think that’s the part that everybody is more excited about than anything, that they were playing again,” Quenneville said.

‘It is what it is’: Panthers won’t be using postponed games and condensed schedule as an excuse

Florida Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville speaks to his players following a practice at the BB&T Center on January 22, 2021. SUNRISE, Fla. – We knew going into the 2020-21 NHL season that things were going to be far from the status quo. The ongoing, and once again surging coronavirus pandemic was going to produce unknown hurdles and obstacles throughout the condensed campaign. The Stars’ season wouldn’t begin until at least Jan. 22, which meant their two-game schedule opening set in Sunrise against the Panthers would be postponed. That means the team will need play 54 games in the span of 103 days.

Chris Driedger to start in goal as Opening Night finally arrives for Panthers

Florida Panthers goaltender Chris Driedger is introduced before an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. SUNRISE, Fla. – The revamped Florida Panthers were expected to look a bit different when taking the ice for the first time, but not so much in the goal crease. Last season Driedger went 7-2-1 in limited action for the Panthers, including an impressive .938 save percentage and 2.05 goals against average. “Whatever does happen, I’m going to be excited.”Florida Panthers goaltender Chris Driedger raises his stick after the Panthers defeated the Nashville Predators 3-0 Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. “It’s tough seeing those other teams play and get this going,” Driedger said.

Scrimmage 2.0: With many jobs up for grabs, several Panthers impress coaching staff during intrasquad tune-up game

“I really liked the pace of the scrimmage,” Quenneville said. I think he’s going to be a great fit here. “I thought the goalies were really good,” Quenneville said after the scrimmage. “I think he’s going through camp here,” Quenneville said when asked for his assessment of Denisenko to this point. “I thought he was one that had really good pace.”Frank Vatrano was very active on a line with Tippett and center Eetu Luostarinen.

Colliton agrees to 2-year extension with Blackhawks

CHICAGO – Chicago Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton agreed to a two-year contract extension Tuesday on the eve of his third season with the team. Colliton is 62-58-17 since he replaced Joel Quenneville in November 2018, becoming the 38th coach in franchise history. He guided Chicago into the postseason last year, winning a four-game series against Edmonton before being eliminated by Vegas. The Blackhawks open this season on Colliton's 36th birthday on Wednesday at Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay. “Jeremy has shown an innate ability to develop young talent throughout his two seasons as head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks,” President of Hockey Operations Stan Bowman said in a release.

10 Observations: Panthers training camp scrimmage reveals which rookies may be ready for spotlight

A lot of guys had good nights and some guys were alright.”“I liked the tempo of the game,” Quenneville continued. Putting it all together, that consistency is something that I really think he’s improving at. Sure, some rust may have shown during the scrimmage, but that’s to be expected during training camp. It felt good, and luckily a couple went in.”Said Q: “I think he’s coming on in training camp. Said Q: “They’ll be pushing one another right now as we get closer to the first game, but Monty certainly helped himself tonight with a real good game.

Duclair, Wennberg shine on Day 1 of Panthers camp

Panthers forward Anthony Duclair skates on the first day of training camp at the BB&T Center. Teams across the NHL took the ice for the first time in months as training camp practices got underway, and that includes the Florida Panthers. UNFIT TO PLAYOf the 39 players on Florida’s training camp roster, five were absent from the two on-ice workouts that took place Monday at the BB&T Center. I think he can be a great asset on our line.”It was as good of a start as anyone in Sunrise could’ve hoped for, taking into consideration that it was still just a training camp practice. “I thought Duke and had a really good practice,” Quenneville said.

Panthers prospects: Categorizing Florida’s young roster hopefuls ahead of training camp

Players in the Roster Expectations group are guys who are the most likely to be on the Panthers roster at some point this season, if not the whole way. It will be a big disappointment, and kind of shocking to be honest, if Tippett is not on the Panthers roster straight out of training camp. Stillman may have had a leg up on guys like Chase Priskie and Brady Keeper last summer but expect more of an open competition for that seventh defenseman spot during training camp. Samuel Montembeault –Monty will enter training camp as the third goalie in line, behind Sergei Bobrovsky and Chris Driedger, following a very up-and-down 2019-20 season. Eetu Loustarinen – After coming to the Panthers from Carolina in the Vincent Trocheck trade, Loustarinen opened some eyes during the bubble training camp and postseason in Toronto.

Energetic, enthusiastic and confident: New Panthers GM Bill Zito anxious to get started

Instead, Panthers President Matt Caldwell rolled up his sleeves and did things the old-fashioned way; he got to work. 22 days after the search began, Viola, Caldwell and the rest of the Panthers brass knew they had found their man. Caldwell officially introduced Bill Zito as the teams new general manager during a press conference held via Zoom from the BB&T Center. The Panthers have several key decisions to make, and the man who will have the final say is Zito. We started these discussions, and well go through and evaluate what might be prudent options, Zito said.

Panthers re-sign RFA defenseman Brady Keeper as search for new general manager enters fourth week

SUNRISE, Fla. The Florida Panthers are still searching for a new general manager, but that doesnt mean business ceased for the rest of the front office. On Monday, the Panthers announced they have come to terms with one of their many restricted free agents, inking defenseman Brady Keeper to a one-year, two-way contract. I took it as one last chance not to mess up again.Florida Panthers defenseman Brady Keeper skates during a training camp practice at the Ice Den in Coral Springs. He had an excellent game against Tampa and a real good training camp, Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville said of the young defenseman earlier this month in Toronto. I think that was why he earned his spot.GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESSKeeper is the first Panthers free agent, restricted or otherwise, to sign a new deal with the team.