I know it's early, but it's time to take note of what this year's edition of the Florida Panthers is, and is capable of accomplishing. Tell your family, tell your friends, and check this team out when they're back in town on Monday night. It's only been a week, but they're being recognized as the best team in the NHL- the first edition of NHL.com Power Rankings said so- and they've passed four huge tests to start the season.
Doug Plagens' Panthers Mailbag: Cats Off To A Hot Start
The Penguins, Islanders, Lightning, and Avalanche: check, check, check, and check. A year after starting 3-0-0 for the first time in team history, the Panthers are off to their first 4-0-0 start in franchise history. 18 goals in four games, 89 saves on 92 shots against over the last three games between Sergei Bobrovsky and Spencer Knight, and milestones for both goaltenders. Congratulations Sergei Bobrovsky on his 300th NHL win last night, and to Spencer Knight for becoming the 11th goalie in NHL history to win his first five regular season starts. Everything is rolling, every player and line is contributing, and in my opinion, we're seeing the deepest roster in the Eastern Conference, and maybe the whole league, in action every night.
Enjoy it, folks. There's a long way to go- 78 games in the regular season, to be exact- but this team is a contender.
Now, to your questions!
@SamuelScouting: Also, @DougPlagens now that Lundell has made the roster out of camp. What should be our expectations?
This question was actually submitted for last week's mailbag, but I wanted to hold it for a week to watch Lundell play a few games. I think I speak for everyone watching the Panthers when I say he has been very, very impressive. Bill Zito told Jameson Olive and me on Territory Talk last week to remember that he is still a young player and a rookie. "He's responsible defensively and he has great instincts… we have to be a little patient with him too. That's where Joel [Quenneville] and our coaching staff are very, very helpful in bringing him along the right way."
Lundell has been impressive in every game he has played, going back to the preseason. He's consistently logging more shorthanded time on ice in the early part of the season than any other Panthers forward, which shows the trust the coaching staff has in him; very impressive for a player who turned 20 earlier this month. He looks completely comfortable and confident with the NHL game and style, and he checked off his first NHL goal and assist in Tuesday's win in Tampa; congratulations to Anton, by the way!
What's more? He's living with Aleksander Barkov. There's no question that will make a huge positive impact on Anton's development and adjustment to the NHL game, to North America, and to being a professional.
@fakejedega: @DougPlagens #askdoug at the first Panthers game you did play by play for who scored the first goal you called? Do you remember?
Great question, Jeff! My first Panthers game was 10/10/15, opening night for the 2015-16 season. The Panthers beat the Flyers 7-1, and the first goal I called was scored by Vincent Trocheck 1:23 into the first period. The Panthers actually scored four times in the first 6:46 of the first period of my first game!
@Jreidy56: Excluding your hometown experiences at Joe Louis, What is you favorite NHL arena/game you attended as a fan?
As far as the arenas, this one is a tie! I was lucky enough to have attended a game at the old Chicago Stadium, as well as a game at the old Boston Garden as a kid. Both are legendary Original Six buildings full of history and character. Because the buildings were so special, these would have to be my favorite games I've attended as a fan outside of, as you said, my hometown experiences in Detroit as a kid. For both games, I was eight years old.
12/27/93, Chicago Stadium: Chris Chelios scored twice as the Blackhawks topped the Maple Leafs 5-2, and Ed Belfour outdueled Felix Potvin in net. At the time, the Blackhawks "goal horn" was one-of-a-kind, so it was a thrill to hear it five times. The iconic organ played in full-force, and it was my introduction to the entire scene that makes up the National Anthem at a Blackhawks game; one of the best traditions in sports. I was there with my mom and dad; my mom had surprised us with the tickets for Christmas, and we made the drive over from Detroit for the game. Oh, and it was absolutely freezing in Chicago that day.
4/7/94, Boston Garden: The Bruins scored two in the third to sneak past the Senators 5-4, with Jon Casey winning in net for Boston. My dad and I took a sports road trip that also included a Tigers-Red Sox game at Fenway Park earlier in the day (We saw Cecil Fielder hit one over the Monster), as well as a visit to the Hartford Civic Center to see the Whalers and the Islanders. I remember the hot dogs at Boston Garden being among the best I'd ever had in my life, and thankfully our view wasn't blocked by an overhang.
@HardleyKurt: Let's talk baseball cards again. Any new cards you'd like to talk about?
It's my friend Kurt, the South Carolina Twitter Captain! If you aren't familiar with the #WorldFamousTwitterSegment during the second intermission of every Panthers radio broadcast… what are you waiting for?!
While we have a minute, let me make mention of the following ridiculously easy ways to listen to every Panthers game whether you're in South Florida, or outside the region!
NHL APP: Download it, click the headphones in the top right corner, select the Panthers game and the WQAM feed, and off you go!
SIRIUSXM App: Channel 932 on your SiriusXM App will ALWAYS have the Panthers game, and it'll be our broadcast!
AUDACY APP: This is the app where you'll find our flagship radio home, 560 WQAM "The Joe".
Back to one of my favorite topics… cards! Let's see, what do we have? I appreciate that you left this pretty open for me, Kurt. First of all, I need to mention that when I had a chance to meet Kurt for lunch in the Carolinas, he gave me a beautiful 1959 Topps Al Kaline card. Kurt, thank you again. It's one of my all-time favorite cards. I think 1959 is the best Topps baseball design.
As for what I'm picking up these days: first I'm not an investment advisor if you're looking for hot tips! However, I did pick up a pile of Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers' rookie cards over the summer because I think he was incredibly undervalued, and still is in the card market. He's on track to post big career numbers, and he already has a World Series ring from 2018.
I've been casually collecting cards of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow over the last year, as well as Bills quarterback Josh Allen. They're probably the two current football players I root for the most; it took me a while to find favorite players after Peyton Manning, my all-time favorite, retired.
Some of you may have noticed on Twitter that I've been casually picking up 1986-87 Fleer basketball singles. I'm probably about halfway to a set; I have the Michael Jordan rookie, the Jordan sticker, and the Charles Barkley rookie, as well as a bunch of commons. I need to start chipping away at some of the other big names, but I still consider '86-87 Fleer basketball to be the most iconic modern trading card set after 1952 Topps baseball. Plus, I just think 1980's and 1990's NBA was such a great era.
Beyond that, I like collecting a lot of new stuff, but I always find myself going back to the classics. Peyton Manning, Joe Montana, Tom Brady, Walter Payton, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, and Wayne Gretzky… I'm always bidding on random cards of those guys! I love the all-time greats.
Thanks for the questions! 'Til next time, folks!
