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Huberdeau extension? Retool or run it back? Panthers’ GM answers big offseason questions

On the day every single Florida Panther expected to be playing Game 5 of their second-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, they instead started filing into FLA Live Arena not too long after the sun rose to clean out the lockers and go through exit interviews.

The Panthers’ season — by virtually every regular-season measure, the best in franchise history — was done after just four games in the second round of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs after a stunning 4-0 series sweep at the hands of the rival Lightning and, suddenly, they had to start answering questions about the offseason and what next year might hold.

Claude Giroux and Joe Thornton might never play for Florida again. This specific group — which set team records for points, wins, points percentage and goals — certainly never will and now Bill Zito needs to figure out just how much it needs to change for his Panthers to finally get past their Florida rival. Andrew Brunette, even though he’s a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, may or may not be a part of whatever is next.

“It’s a difficult day here,” Zito said.

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The end of last season was, too, after the Panthers set a then-franchise record for points percentage only to get ousted by Tampa Bay in the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Technically, this year was progress — Florida won its first postseason series since it reached the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals in only its third season of existence — but longer seasons also mean larger expectations. The Panthers went into these Stanley Cup playoffs as the favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference and came up eight wins short — and got beaten even worse by the Lightning than they did when they fell in six games in Round 1 last year.

Florida is simultaneously closer than ever and still far from its ultimate goal. It means this offseason could go in several different directions.

Tampa Bay Lightning center Ross Colton (79) celebrates after scoring the winning goal against the Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during the third period of Game 2 of a second round NHL Stanley Cup series at FLA Live Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022 in Sunrise, Fl.
Tampa Bay Lightning center Ross Colton (79) celebrates after scoring the winning goal against the Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during the third period of Game 2 of a second round NHL Stanley Cup series at FLA Live Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022 in Sunrise, Fl.

Could Panthers make major changes?

After putting together two of the three best seasons in franchise history in the last two years, Florida is in a complicated position.

The franchise has never been in better position for sustained success.

The franchise also now has a two-year sample size of underachieving once the Cup playoffs begin.

Of the 22 players to suit up for the Panthers’ season-ending 2-0 loss Monday in Tampa, 14 are under contract for next season, plus wingers Anthony Duclair and Ryan Lomberg, who were lineup staples by the end of the regular season.

In less than two years as general manager, Zito has built one of the most talented rosters in the league — teams usually don’t just fluke their way into the Presidents’ Trophy — and now he needs to figure out whether this a group just in need of more seasoning or one in need of some significant changes.

“We’re going to do it carefully,” Zito said. “We don’t have a lot of room for error with the cap and it’s vital moving forward that we get it right, that we’re not sitting in this chair a year from now under the same circumstances.”

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With so much of the roster locked up, the Panthers are set to have less than $4 million in cap space available this offseason, according to CapFriendly. It means Florida won’t be able to do much in free agency, but few of those contracts are onerous, meaning the Panthers could be active in the trade market.

No matter what, Florida is going to have to find a way to add at least three forwards and one defenseman, whether it’s from smaller signings, the ascent of some prospects or making trades.

The biggest losses with be Giroux and defenseman Ben Chiarot — both trade-deadline additions — and winger Mason Marchment, who broke out with 18 goals as part of the excellent third line.

Zito didn’t rule out the possibility of bringing back Giroux, who’s 34 and at the end of an eight-year, $66.2 million deal.

“We’re going to address all the personnel issues after we review,” Zito said. “I can’t say yes or no to anything at this point, but I’d certainly not close the door on him.”

The versatile All-Star forward, when asked whether he can picture himself back in Sunrise next year, said, “Yes, I do.”

No matter whether Giroux is back, Zito does not sound ready to totally overhaul the Panthers, even after their wide-open offensive style failed to translate to the playoffs, with their average goals per game dropping from 4.11 to 2.3.

Florida’s 49-shot effort in Game 4, he said, is evidence it can work.

“You saw our team can have great success,” Zito said. “You saw we played pretty well. We have to regroup, examine everything, address those things that we can control.”

Florida Panthers interim head coach Andrew Brunette talks to his players during the third period of Game 2 of a second round NHL Stanley Cup series against the Tampa Bay Lightning at FLA Live Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022 in Sunrise, Fl.
Florida Panthers interim head coach Andrew Brunette talks to his players during the third period of Game 2 of a second round NHL Stanley Cup series against the Tampa Bay Lightning at FLA Live Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022 in Sunrise, Fl.

Will Andrew Brunette be back?

The easiest major change for Zito to potentially make is behind the bench.

Brunette is still just the interim coach, even though he has led the team since the former coach Joel Quenneville resigned in the first month of the regular season following revelations about his role in the Chicago Blackhawks’ mishandling of a 2010 sexual-assault allegation. From the very start of the year, the GM said he planned to use the full season to evaluate Brunette and now decision time is approaching.

Brunette, 48, admirably kept the Panthers on track and empowered them to become the NHL’s highest-scoring team since the 1995-96 NHL season. He also, as a first-time coach, oversaw a baffling offensive meltdown while defensive intensity ramped up in the playoffs.

Both Brunette and Zito said it’s too early to know what the future holds: Zito can either opt for continuity with Brunette or try to find a more playoff-proven veteran.

“I’m not going to get into that discussion,” Zito said. “We’re going to take a little bit of time here, we’re going to let all the emotions just settle, and we’re going to make a thorough and rational call, go through a decision-making process, and we’re going to come to conclusions for the right reasons.”

Brunette said he’d “of course” like to coach the Panthers again next year, but acknowledged it’s the organization’s call.

“Everybody needs to take a step back. I think it’s the healthiest thing,” Brunette said. “They have to, I have to. I was thrown into this completely blindsided, and I have to have some thought and some discussion with my wife to make sure she’s on board, too.”

For his part, captain Aleksander Barkov said he’d like Brunette to return.

“He did an unbelievable job. I know it was a really tough situation,” the star center said. “We love to play hard for him, we love to work hard for him, we had a lot of fun doing it. .. Hopefully, he will stay here for next season and more to come, too.”

Florida Panthers left wing Jonathan Huberdeau (11) looks on during the first period of Game 5 of a first round NHL Stanley Cup series against the Washington Capitals at FLA Live Arena on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 in Sunrise, Fl.
Florida Panthers left wing Jonathan Huberdeau (11) looks on during the first period of Game 5 of a first round NHL Stanley Cup series against the Washington Capitals at FLA Live Arena on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 in Sunrise, Fl.

Will Panthers extend Jonathan Huberdeau?

Zito will also turn some of his focus toward the future this offseason, and no one’s contract status is more important to sort out than Jonathan Huberdeau’s.

The All-Star left wing will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2022-23 NHL season, and Zito said Florida will discuss an extension with him this offseason.

Last year, the Panthers did the same thing with Barkov, and locked him up on a eight-year, $80 million deal during the preseason.

“We’re going to address those one-year-out guys in the same fashion as Sasha,” Zito said. “We’ll get on those this summer, as well.”

Star defenseman MacKenzie Weegar is the other high-profile player heading into the last year of his contract, and Florida will have to make a decision on him, as well. If Weegar and Huberdeau get extensions, the Panthers will have a ton of long-term money tied up with those two, Barkov, star defenseman Aaron Ekblad and star goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.