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Florida Panthers: Mike Hoffman is an Important Offensive Weapon

By Gunnar Noebel

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 20: torFlorida Panthers Right Wing Mike Hoffman (68) in warmups prior to the regular season NHL game between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs on December 20, 2018 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 20: torFlorida Panthers Right Wing Mike Hoffman (68) in warmups prior to the regular season NHL game between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs on December 20, 2018 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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In his first season with the Florida Panthers, forward Mike Hoffman is on pace for his best season yet.

Mike Hoffman has become an important part of the Florida Panthers’ offense this season and likely for the future.

Born on November 24th, 1989, Hoffman was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the 5th round, 130th overall. He would spend seven seasons with the Senators before being traded twice on June 19th, 2018.

Early in the day, he was traded from the Ottawa Senators to the San Jose Sharks. Two hours later, he found himself being traded from San Jose to Florida.

The 2018-2019 season will the eighth season in the league for Mike Hoffman. In his seven prior seasons with Ottawa, Hoffman took part in 342 games. He amassed 230 points (107G, 123A) which gave him an average of 0.67 points a game.

In the 45 games played with the Florida Panthers this season, Hoffman has tallied 41 points (22G,19A), averaging just under a point per game (0.97).

If he continues this pace, he is definitely due for a career high in goals, assists, and points (40G, 36A, 76P). His previous record for points in a season dates back to 2016-17 where he had 61 points.

At age 29, and holding a $5,187,500 cap hit this season and next, Hoffman is an important part to the Panthers offense and the future plans. Currently in his ‘prime years,’ Hoffman is playing the best hockey of his life.

Throughout the season, he’s played on the first and second line, during which he has played with multiple teammates during the season and has proven that he can play anywhere that he is placed in the lineup.

This benefits him as he can be placed in any position and be able to continue to succeed. This has been shown by the 17-game point streak that he had earlier this season.

He can score goals from anywhere and he can also make plays. He reads the ice well and is able to tell where the play is and where it’ll head next.

When looking towards the future, Hoffman is the type of player that you want in your lineup. The ability to change him and swap him out on different lines, with different teammates and to get consistently solid production can go a long way in bringing a team to the next level.

Hoffman will be 30 next season. With a good portion of NHL players currently playing and producing in their thirties, giving Mike Hoffman a contract extension next year could benefit them.

It could bring veteran leadership to the locker room for the young and upcoming players as well as some who you can rely on to be a consistent producer on the ice. He’s a very important piece to the Florida Panthers and the Panthers (themselves) know that very well.

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