The Florida Panthers find themselves in an unforeseen situation. They will have to play Game 7 at home after leading the Stanley Cup Final series 3-0. The Edmonton Oilers won three straight games to force a decisive game. Should the Oilers pull off the comeback on Monday, it will mark the second time in Stanley Cup Final history and the sixth time in NHL history that a team has lost a series after taking a 3-0 lead.
With so many contracts expiring this summer and the following, general manager Bill Zito need to force a reset on the team if it does occur. It is intolerable to leave such a blot on South Florida sports history.
Paul Maurice Needs to Be Held Accountable
It is indisputable that head coach Paul Maurice has been successful in Florida. In Panthers history, back-to-back trips to the Cup Final are unprecedented. However, the man behind the bench has the power to make or break a team, and with the disastrous collapse possibly coming to an end on Monday, there might not be a chance to bounce back. It’s difficult to get to the Cup Final once; returning is even more difficult.
Despite having the fourth-highest number of wins (869) and playoff victories (69), Maurice’s record is not without controversy. No coach has ever suffered more losses (736) than him. He needs to be closely watched if he loses in Game 7. Given his achievements, a complete release might be excessive, but considering the coach should not be out of the realm of possibilities.
Obtain the Most Value for Players or Assets That Are About to Expire
The team is facing the prospect of its contracts expiring. Sam Reinhart and Brandon Montour stand out the most. In the event that Monday is the collapse day, they must extract as much value as possible from these transactions.
The hockey world has been waiting for this night—a winner-take-all Game 7 to claim Lord Stanley’s coveted crown.
The Panthers are going to create history, no matter how it turns out. It will be their first-ever Stanley Cup victory on one end. Conversely, they might make history by being the first club to lose both games in a row since the San Jose Sharks in 2014. The coaches and players will have to choose whose side they support. If it’s the latter, it might be the final time we see some of the individuals that work for the company.
Reinhart has been a ghost in the Final after coming in second in the league in goal scoring. In six games this series, he has just two points. He has played 23 games in the postseason with nine goals and six assists. He might not play for the Panthers again after Game 7.