Florida Panthers: The Rat Trick’s End of Season Awards
Welcome to the inaugural Golden Rats End of Season Awards! These awards are given out by the writers of The Rat Trick to the player who impressed (and disappointed) us the most this season.
This year, the Florida Panthers used the little expectations they had to their advantage, being able to shock the NHL in the second half the year, missing the postseason by just one point. The talent on the team was hard to choose from, with explosiveness and potential in every line and unit, so this made the decisions harder than ever.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the awards this season!
“John Vanbiesbrouck” Goaltender of the Season
Danny Janicas: Roberto Luongo
Kevin Fielder: Harri Sateri
Sam Golub: Roberto Luongo
Jacob Langsam: Roberto Luongo
Kirby Lupul: Harri Sateri
Luke Kendall: Harri Sateri
Jonathan Reichenberger: Roberto Luongo
T.J. Peterson: Roberto Luongo
Cal Friedman: Roberto Luongo
Jake Tucker: Roberto Luongo
“[Luongo] is my guy, always been my guy… but how can you not go with Sateri here? Where would the season be without him? At one time, the 5th string goalie who moved his way up the ranks quickly. Even though his future in the organization is uncertain, he was great for us this year.” – Kirby Lupul
“Sateri didn’t play many games over the course of the year, but he was a big reason the Panthers had that win streak at a crucial point in the season. He was ready every game that the Panthers picked him, and he never disappointed.” – Luke Kendall
“Roberto Luongo is South Florida hockey, this team courses through his veins. Luongo dealt with the most adversity this season, and rose above it. Not only did he struggle in the opening months, but he also missed two months of the season to injury, and was deeply affected by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas tragedy as a resident of Parkland. Luongo had everything but the kitchen sink thrown at him this season, and he still came out and produced like the Roberto Luongo that everyone knows, winning 20 of 28 down the stretch.” – Cal Friedman
“Ed Jovanovski” Defenseman of the Season
Danny Janicas: Aaron Ekblad
Kevin Fielder: Keith Yandle
Sam Golub: Aaron Ekblad
Jacob Langsam: Mark Pysyk
Kirby Lupul: Keith Yandle
Luke Kendall: Keith Yandle
Jonathan Reichenberger: Keith Yandle
T.J. Peterson: Michael Matheson
Cal Friedman: Keith Yandle
Jake Tucker: Keith Yandle
“Aaron Ekblad proved he’s worthy of the enormous contract extension given by registering this best offensive season to date. He improved defensively and even played all 82 games this season despite recovering from past concussions… outstanding play, and kept Florida in the playoff hunt until the very end of the season” – Sam Golub
“Keith Yandle’s ability to consistently put up points makes him irreplaceable for a team like the Panthers. While he can be shaky at times in the defensive zone, he had gotten used to the Panthers’ system and he’s done much better compared to the previous year. His effectiveness on the power play is crucial as he not only serves as the ‘quarterback’ of the power play, but also like another forward on the ice.” – Jonathan Reichenberger
“The Panthers’ defense was one of the best scoring defenses in the entire NHL. However, when it came to the defense playing… well… defense, the group as a whole was not very good. The team’s penalty differential was -37, with Mark Pysyk being the only Panthers’ defenseman to even be positive in that metric. Mark Pysyk probably played the best defense of any Panthers defenseman this season, with the lowest shot attempts against per 60 minutes, often against other teams’ top competitions. He also led the top two pairings in expected goals for percentage.” – Jacob Langsam
“This year, Aaron Ekblad turned things around. He was sharp within his own zone, improving on the little things defensively (like positioning). But what was great to see was his spark upfront, giving the fans a little nostalgic feeling from his first couple of seasons in a Cats uniform. Aaron’s numbers entirely improved compared to his miserable campaign the season before, and it’s safe to say that the old Aaron Ekblad is back, fresh, and healthy!” – Danny Janicas
“Pavel Bure” Forward of the Season
Danny Janicas: Aleksander Barkov
Kevin Fielder: Aleksander Barkov
Sam Golub: Aleksander Barkov
Jacob Langsam: Evgenii Dadonov
Kirby Lupul: Aleksander Barkov
Luke Kendall: Aleksander Barkov
Jonathan Reichenberger: Aleksander Barkov
T.J. Peterson: Aleksander Barkov
Cal Friedman: Aleksander Barkov
Jake Tucker: Aleksander Barkov
“Barkov, one goal away from career high, destroyed career highs in points and assists, top in NHL in short-handed goals, and aside from stats, his game developed to make him an overall dominant player on the ice, also logging up the most ice time of his career, making it a big stepping stone for him and this franchise.” – Jake Tucker
“There’s never been an easier question in the history of questions. Aleksander Barkov is not only the best player on the Florida Panthers, he’s the best defensive center in all of hockey! He wins this award 10 times out of 10, no questions asked. All hail Aleksander!” – Kevin Fielder
“I had a very hard time choosing between Dadonov and Aleksander Barkov (who ended the season with a share of the league lead in shorthanded goals), but Dadonov’s offensive output was just too dominant to ignore. After an extended stint in the KHL, the Panthers’ 3rd round pick in the 2007 draft made his triumphant return to the NHL as an unrestricted free agent over the summer. “Despite missing eight games to injury, Dadonov led Panthers forwards in every major offensive category at 5-on-5 with 21 goals and 29 assists for a total of 50 points (40 primary points), including a commanding team lead in primary points per 60 minutes. Dadonov added 15 points from all other game stats, including 13 power play points, for a total of 65 points in 74 games, and just shy of 1100 minutes played.” – Jacob Langsam
Disappointment of the Season
Danny Janicas: Radim Vrbata
Kevin Fielder: James Reimer
Sam Golub: Radim Vrbata
Jacob Langsam: Aaron Ekblad
Kirby Lupul: Derek MacKenzie
Luke Kendall: Radim Vrbata
Jonathan Reichenberger: Radim Vrbata
T.J. Peterson: Radim Vrbata
Cal Friedman: Alexander Petrovic
Jake Tucker: Radim Vrbata
“We signed Radim Vrbata right after he played a season In Arizona (worst team in NHL) where he had 20 goals and 35 assists and was a power play threat. With high expectations, he had such a disappointing season, only notching 5 goals and 9 assists, where arguably he could’ve hopped up to 25-30 goals playing alongside Vinnie Trocheck.” – Jake Tucker
“It isn’t necessarily that James Reimer was the most disappointing player on the team, he was just the most disappointing for me. I didn’t have high hopes for Vrbata, so choosing him wouldn’t count. Reimer had a disappointing season for Reimer standards, including his worst save percentage since 2014-15 (.913%) and his worst goals against average since the same 2014-15 season (.99). Frankly, tweet me [@kevyfielder] with your displeasure of this pick, my notifications are open.” – Kevin Fielder
“[MacKenzie’s] become the whipping boy to fans, but to me I’ve always liked his intensity and fire on the ice. This was the first year where his body started to slow down, and where he struggled to excel in past areas he used to be an asset (.e. the PK).” – Kirby Lupul
“In a contact year, most players step up their game in search of attracting the most interest in free agency. Even though he is only an RFA, Alexander Petrovic didn’t show any signs of improvement, regardless of whether he was looking for a payday or not. All of our defensemen have an identity, you know what you’re going to get out of them, whether it’s the goal threat of Ekblad, the sturdiness of Pysyk, or the speed of Matheson. “Petrovic brings nothing to the table anymore; he’s got absolutely zero goal-scoring ability, he took a career high in penalty minutes (98), his worst +/- in 4 years (-2), and he doesn’t even have the excuse of youth anymore.” – Cal Friedman
“Ekblad, for the third year in a row, fell short of his points total from his Calder-winning rookie season. His skating ability has seemed to diminish as he has added muscle mass and weight to his 6-foot-4 frame, which has negatively impacted his ability to backcheck and led to several odd-man rushes and scoring chances for opponents. He is getting smarter and better with his play in the offensive zone, but his defensive play is not following suit at the same rate.” – Jacob Langsam
Most Underrated Player of the Season
Danny Janicas: Denis Malgin
Kevin Fielder: Jared McCann
Sam Golub: Evgenii Dadonov
Jacob Langsam: Jared McCann
Kirby Lupul: Evgenii Dadonov
Luke Kendall: Jamie McGinn
Jonathan Reichenberger: Colton Sceviour
T.J. Peterson: Jared McCann
Cal Friedman: MacKenzie Weegar
Jake Tucker: MacKenzie Weegar
“Seriously, stop underrating this kid, it’s criminal. Jared McCann is the perfect depth center for the Panthers. He provides scoring (28 points, 4 game winners including one against Toronto) and also provides overall defense. His effectiveness allows him to be played in many different positions and roles that it’s unbelievable at points. It’s about time we start talking about him like he’s a god or something.” – Kevin Fielder
“Young Malgin played whatever role he was asked to take on, whether it was 2nd line or even 4th line. ‘Denis the Menace’ came up clutch in multiple situations, most notably in the big apple when he sniped the game’s winning goal over Lundqvuist’s shoulder, propelling the Cats to a much-needed victory. Malgin also showed that he can adapt to any situation he’s placed in, and even thrived playing on a line with Trocheck and Huberdeau.” – Danny Janicas
“Evgenii Dadonov, because his success essentially becomes overshadowed by budding superstar players such as Barkov, Huberdeau, and Trocheck. Without Dadonov, Florida wouldn’t have experienced a successful season which saw them overachieve significantly. ‘Dad’ doesn’t receive enough credit, especially from the national audience, considering almost everyone pays attention to the aforementioned 3 dynamic stars I named.” – Sam Golub
“Sceviour gets passed over for being important simply because he usually occupies one of the fourth line wings. However, Sceviour is one of the Panthers’ best penalty killers, if not the best. Sceviour can also play on any line which was showcased in the last few games when he took the spot from Nick Bjugstad on the top line. “While many complained about this move, Sceviour actually flourished on this line and was a big reason why the Panthers ended their season on a 5-game win streak. Sceviour may go back down to the fourth line next season, but if there ever is a spot open in the top nine, he will definitely get another chance to show the skill that he has.” – Jonathan Reichenberger
“This one really isn’t an answer I can back up by points, or particular moments, or Jacob and T.J.’s fancy analytics, but I love what I saw from MacKenzie Weegar this year. This is a 2nd round talent with 1st overall work ethic in a 7th round draft pick, where the kid leaves it all on the ice. “He’s not the strongest or boldest player on the team, and still uses his body to his advantage, playing like the fastest defenseman on our team, but holding his own on the boards. He never gives up and he had some really good performances this season (in particular the 4-3 win over Vegas and the 3-2 win over Carolina). I have a lot of faith in him for the next couple of years.” – Cal Friedman
Win of the Season
Danny Janicas: 2/27/17 vs Toronto Maple Leafs (3-2 OT)
Kevin Fielder: 2/14/18 @ Vancouver Canucks (4-3)
Sam Golub: 10/7/17 vs Tampa Bay Lightning (5-4)
Jacob Langsam: 2/22/18 vs Washington Capitals (4-3)
Kirby Lupul: 2/24/18 vs Pittsburgh Penguins (6-5)
Luke Kendall: 2/22/18 vs Washington Capitals (3-2)
Jonathan Reichenberger: 2/24/18 vs Pittsburgh Penguins (6-5)
T.J. Peterson: 2/24/18 vs Pittsburgh Penguins (6-5)
Cal Friedman: 2/24/18 vs Pittsburgh Penguins (6-5)
Jake Tucker: 2/22/18 vs Washington Capitals (3-2)
“I was [at the Capitals-Panthers game], the ceremony was spectacular. I don’t cry often at all, but I did during this ceremony, then to top it all off, we beat the Capitals with a late goal by Trocheck with under a minute to play.” – Jake Tucker
“For those of you who know me, I’m a Panthers’ fan from Toronto, so whenever the Cats take on the Maple Leafs, it’s a pretty big deal for me. The game itself was a bit of a rollercoaster ride, when Florida went up 2-0 and blew their two-goal lead moments later. The Panthers did find a way to escape with the two points, courtesy of Jared McCann’s goal in overtime, which in of itself was a beauty!” – Danny Janicas
“The Panthers came into this game desperate for points. Having already climbed back into a position where they would need to make a run in order to make the playoffs, the Panthers needed to get this win. In dramatic fashion, the Panthers blew a three-goal lead… and got a late thrilling goal from Evgeni Dadonov to seal the deal over the Penguins. This win not only was one of the most exciting games of the season, but it was the stepping stone for the Panthers’ playoff run.” – Jonathan Reichenberger
“The Panthers had few hours to grieve over the tragedy in Parkland because they had a hockey game to play. In the actual game, the Panthers would beat the Canucks by a score of 4-3 with James Reimer having 34 saves and Nick Bjugstad scoring a goal and assisting on another. For the Panthers and the community, it meant more than 2 points, it was a chance to begin healing after the senseless tragedy that occurred.” – Kevin Fielder
Goal of the Season
Danny Janicas: Michael Matheson at Detroit Red Wings (12/11/17)
Kevin Fielder: Henrik Borgstrom at Boston Bruins (4/8/18)
Sam Golub: Michael Matheson at Detroit Red Wings (12/11/17)
Jacob Langsam: Jared McCann vs Toronto Maple Leafs (2/27/18)
Kirby Lupul: Michael Matheson at Detroit Red Wings (12/11/17)
Luke Kendall: Aaron Ekblad at Montreal Canadiens (3/19/18)
Jonathan Reichenberger: Jared McCann vs Toronto Maple Leafs (2/27/18)
T.J. Peterson: Michael Matheson at Detroit Red Wings (12/11/17)
Cal Friedman: Jonathan Huberdeau vs Minnesota Wild (12/22/17)
Jake Tucker: Jared McCann vs Toronto Maple Leafs (2/27/18)
“It’s not every day that you see a young defenseman take the puck from one end of the ice to the other end and score in the fashion that Matheson did. What Matheson did was not only highlight reel, but it was a ‘put your team on your back’ type of moment.” – Danny Janicas
“The Florida Panthers’ best prospect made his NHL debut this season and in the final game of the season, scored his first NHL goal. Borgstrom entered the zone, did some Borgstrom deke moves and slotted it past Rask. Seriously, there’s nothing Borgstrom can’t do.” – Kevin Fielder
“[McCann’s] goal propelled the Panthers playoff hopes even more as they continued their push to make the postseason once again. It was in that game where they showed that they were legitimate contenders for a playoff spot. It was also in front of a packed BB&T Center that went crazy after McCann put the puck in the back of the net to give the Panthers the win.” – Jonathan Reichenberger
“Everything Huberdeau does on his goal against Minnesota was perfectly executed. From the second he recovers the puck, he’s ahead of the pack and storming right at the backline. Bjugstad’s movement – one of his better qualities this season – isolates the slot for Huberdeau to make a move, a quality toe-drag, complete with a cheeky back-heel to tie the game and give Florida new life.” – Cal Friedman