The Florida Panthers were all back under one roof for the first time in a couple months on Wednesday.
It was kind of like the first day of school at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale as Panthers players took their fitness tests and participated in media day.
In addition to speaking with members of the local press, players also dressed up in their full gear for promotional photo and video shoots that took place on both of the facility’s ice surfaces.
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The real work begins on Thursday when the Cats will take the ice for their first official practice of training camp.
“Today’s the start, but tomorrow is really the start,” said Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk.
Wednesday provided Florida’s coaching staff the ability to check how each player is feeling and performing as they prepare for a new season.
The results will be viewed alongside previous testing numbers, and so far, it sounds like Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice is pleased with what he’s seen.
“The first indicator that you’re looking for is not the results of the test, but how they test,” Maurice explained. “The focus. So our veteran players that we return this year are at or above their fitness level from last year. There’s no – well we started with that word right now, the hangover concept – we don’t believe in it. It’s certainly not a physical issue with us, we’re stronger than we were last year at this time with our returning players. That’s a credit to them, because they couldn’t have made improvements without spending the time to do it.”
It’s a strong indication of how dedicated the Panthers are to their craft, and how hungry they remain to continue winning.
Sure, they won the Stanley Cup last season, but you know what’s better than winning the Cup?
Winning it twice.
“We knew it was going to be a short offseason for us, but I think that’s what everyone wants,” said Panthers captain Sasha Barkov. “Everyone wants to play all the way until the end, wants to play in the finals and wants to win the Cup.”
Florida comes into camp with a handful of new free agent signings after losing several key players to free agency over the summer.
As we’ve seen from Panthers General Manager Bill Zito in the past, he and his staff have the ability to recognize which players they feel will be the best fit for Maurice’s systems.
“Right now, I think everyone is really excited,” said Barkov. “The guys that have been here for a while and the new guys, we’re all on the same page and we’re all excited about the new opportunity and new challenge in front of us.”
Two important elements that have personified the Panthers in recent years are hard work and camaraderie.
Whether it’s in practices or games, this group understands the amount of focus and effort that must go into everything they do.
It certainly helps that the team has found excellent results when putting in the effort they have over the past couple years.
That allows the players to enter this season’s camp knowing that if they continue to give their all, there is a good chance they’ll find positive results.
“There’s so much to look forward to this year,” said Tkachuk. “We have the banner raising, going to Finland, there’s so many cool things that we have this year, but you can only have your first practice once. So why not go out there and have so much fun with it, and I think that’s what makes our team so great is as challenging as stuff is throughout the year, we just find it in us to, whatever we’re doing, we’re having the best time doing it.”
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