Panther Parkway Radio

On today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast, Armando Velez(@Mandoman12) brought in Jacob Winans(@JakeW_8) for another edition of Winans Wednesday. The two discuss Sunny Mehta meeting with the media as he was introduced as the new General Manager of his hometown New Jersey Devils. The two discuss if how many parallels there are as the Devils are viewed as a team with a bunch of untapped potential. Mehta discussed a lot about his time with the Cats and what he learned from Bill Zito. No secret that the Panthers were disappointed in not making the playoffs, and as we have seen in the postseason, the Atlantic division side of the bracket has been tight through the first two games, which will make it a challenge once again when the Panthers attempt to finish at the top of the division next season. Panthers AHL affiliate Charlotte Checkers begin their best-of-three postseason round against the Springfield Thunderbirds on Wednesday night, where they have a mix of returning guys and as they fell shor

On today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast, Armando Velez(@Mandoman12) is here to discuss what Bill Zito had to say about how the group played toward the end, how sometimes one could not tell if the Panthers were down record wise. When a team wins it all, there's more grace for a group when they experience the injuries that the Panthers have. As far as other teams who have been on long playoff runs, and not gotten it done, the pressure it only mounting. There will be consequences for multiple teams if they don't get the job done while the Panthers have their core together, knowing they can be in contention again. 2026-27 will bring a sense of normalcy in the schedule with no international tournament, and the Panthers not being in a global series game. Which means less back-to-back's and more recovery time in between games, and that could work to the Panthers' benefit. We discuss all of this and more on today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast: Your Team, Every Day. Follow &

On today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast, Armando Velez(@Mandoman12) is here to discuss the desire for Sergei Bobrovsky to sign a new contract with the Panthers, but the fact that the two sides are reportedly not even close on an agreement. New playoff cap rules are in place, and the Panthers would've been in trouble had they made it. It give the Panther front office time to adjust if they were to make it back to the dance in 2026-27. It is a lost year? The Panthers certainly don't think so. We discuss all of this and more on today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast: Your Team, Every Day.  Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 

On today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast, Armando Velez(@Mandoman12) brought in Florida Panthers Historian Francisco Oporta(@FLACatsHistory) to discuss the news that with the San Jose Sharks and St. Louis Blues winning their matchups on Thursday night (all they needed was one point each), it guarantees that the Panthers will not fall out of the Top 10 and will keep the first round pick in 2026 that was traded to Chicago in the Seth Jones trade. Florida's first to Chicago is now a 2027 unprotected pick, and the first round pick to Boston becomes a 2028 unprotected pick. Now the Panthers have options on what to do now that they'll have a long offseason, and cap space to attempt to improve the roster this summer. It was locker clean out day in Fort Lauderdale, and multiple people spoke, and we got some more injury details on what certain players were going through and how close guys were to returning if the team were to have made the playoffs. Lastly, former Florida Panthers assistant General

On today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast, Armando Velez(@Mandoman12) is here to break down the Panthers 8-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. It was a game where the Cats sat out more guys in D Gustav Forsling and F Tomas Nosek, and after it being up one after 20 minutes, the team exploded for four goals in a short span to as the blowout began. There were loads of firsts regarding NHL points (Skoog, Hovorka, and Jansson), and goals (Benning with his first two goals), the first time the Panthers had a game where they had 8 points scored by rookies since 1999. The Panthers showed ethics by giving their all until the end and ending their season at home with a win again. Now the team needs a little help to fully guarantee keeping their first round pick in 2026, we discuss all of this and more on today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast: Your Team, Every Day.  Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 

On today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast, Armando Velez(@Mandoman12) is here with Jacob Winans(@JakeW_8) to discuss their feelings as the Panthers have arrived at Game 82. We tally the man games lost to injury and how that's been the reason for the Panthers downfall in 2025-26. The two discuss the latest update on what would need to happen for the Panthers to guarantee their Top 10 pick, and preview tonight's game between them and the Detroit Red Wings. We discuss all of this and more on today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast: Your Team, Every Day. Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 

On today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast, Armando Velez(@Mandoman12) is here to break down the Panthers 3-2 win over the New York Rangers, where Cole Reinhardt scored his second of his two goals with 1:50 left in the third period to carry them to the win, and avoiding the sweep. The Panthers were pinned in their own end and the coaching staff gave the tough assignments to the young guys down the stretch, and they succeeded where it was the fourth shot of the period for Florida that got them the win. Daniil Tarasov came up big as his work load has increased as the season is winding down, and did not allow the Rangers to score with having a late power play in the third period. Rangers called timeout midway through the man advantage to give their top guys rest. It was not only Reinhardt that got on the board, but Mackie Samoskevich once again, as it's six goals in his last nine games, as his confidence has never wavered and continues to shoot the puck. Samoskevich showed off his speed after a

On today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast, Armando Velez(@Mandoman12) is here to break down the Panthers' 6-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Although the Panthers dressed a "tank worthy" roster, they outworked the Leafs who had more top-end talent dressed. Although it helped Toronto's lottery odds, the Panthers showed why Culture matters more. It's been a year of injuries, but it's also been a year of great development as there have been seven NHL debuts this season. From guys being sent up and down from the NHL to AHL, what are the chances that the Charlotte Checkers make another run to the Calder Cup Final? Could they win it this time around? Cats are back in action at home against the Rangers, who are playing a whole bunch of young guys, but they have yet to get a win. Are they due, or is another loss on deck to potentially help the Panthers keep their Top-10 protected first round pick. We discuss all of this and more on today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast: Your

On today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast, Armando Velez(@Mandoman12) is here with Nich Fairbanks(@Prudentia0) to discuss the Panthers 5-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators, where the Panthers were even more shorthanded. It was announced during the morning skate that D Seth Jones broke his foot during the teams loss in Montreal, which resulted in the Panthers calling up D Marek Alscher and D Ludvig Jansson, both drafted in the 2022 class. Florida settled things down after going down two, but where they could only contain the Sens for so long when they could not solve Linus Ullmark before the end of the second period. Ottawa got a big insurance goal early in the third period in what felt like the dagger in the hockey game. Jesper Boqvist got the only goal on the night to cut it to a two-goal deficit, but a turnover when having the extra attacker on resulted in Ottawa scoring on the empty net and giving the Panthers no chance. The team showed heart despite it being now 12 guys out of the lineup, bu

On today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast, Armando Velez(@Mandoman12) is here with Jacob Winans(@JakeW_8) to break down the Panthers' 4-3 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens, as they are swept for the second year in a row, and now have lost eight straight against the Habs. Florida despite missing Matthew Tkachuk due to the birth of his child, held their own and controlled most of the game, keeping Montreals superstars at bay until the final moments of the game. Panthers got multiple goals in transition thanks to Carter Verhaeghe and Cole Reinhardt, and were limiting the opportunities when the game was at even strength. All of Montreals goals scored were either on the power play, a delayed call that brought the extra attacker, and then in crunch time with the goaltender pulled, so goes to show how great their game was at even strangth. However, the Panthers inability to pull away kept the Habs within distance as they had a response when the Panthers took the lead. Nick Suzuki did it agai

On today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast, Armando Velez(@Mandoman12) is here to discuss Paul Maurice's comments after Sunday's game in Pittsburgh, discussing how F Cole Schwindt is going to get more ice time as the team has five games left in the season. It's been a frustrating season for Schwindt as he's had two major injuries this year. However, he's been able to come back twice, and with his goal production going up and playing in key moments on the penalty kill, he could be a player in which the Panthers front office looks at to bring back to the mix next season, so it's a big tryout period for him. Two Panthers front office members are gaining steam for opportunities for GM openings, Brett Peterson and Sunny Mehta. Peterson has gone through an in person interview with the Nashville Predators and is in deep consideration, but the Preds may have a guys in mind in original Panther Tom Fitzgerald, who got let go from the New Jersey Devils on Monday. FItzgerald was the first captain in Pre

On today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast, Armando Velez(@Mandoman12) brought in Hunter Hodies(@HunterHodies) is here to discuss the Pittsburgh Penguins side of things as they swept the Panthers in the season series for the first time since 2016-17. Pittsburgh got off to a great start in the first game of two where Noel Acciari scored 20 seconds in. Panthers did eventually tie it at two at the end of the first, but the Panthers failure to break out of their zone had Pittsburgh scoring 4 goals on 11 shots, where the Cats did not register a single shot on goal in that span, left Sergei Bobrovsky out to dry. Daniil Tarasov came into the game and gave up three more of his own, but Florida did not do themselves any favors, not even getting a single power play on Saturday. Tarasov would get the start again, and Arturs Silovs would start again for Pittsburgh after Stuart Skinner was hit near the eye while sitting on the bench on Saturday, and the Panthers put up a better fight. Dmitry Kulikov retu

On today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast, Armando Velez(@Mandoman12) is here with Nich Fairbanks(@Prudentia0) for another edition of Fairbanks Friday, as the two broke down the Panthers 2-1 win over the Bruins, sweeping the season series for the first time since 2006-07. Florida was once again ready from the jump as Boston was unable to control their zone entries, which allowed the Panthers to counter, dump the puck and get in on their forecheck. Panthers scored twice in the first 10 minutes where Mackie Samoskevich is now on a three-game goal streak, scoring while Boston was fighting off the forecheck. Sam Bennett later scored after a blocked shot landed near him with no Bruins players around in the slot and beat Swayman blocker side. Sergei Bobrovsky was not a busy goalie in the first 40 minutes, but faced 15 of his 29 shots in the third period, and even stopped a late Boston Power play with just over three minutes left to slam the door shut. It's win number 456 of Bobrovsky's career as

On today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast, Armando Velez(@Mandoman12) is here to discuss the comments made from Keith Tkachuk on the Wingmen Pod on players taking games off, and calling out the Panthers with them having 10+ players out and Ottawa's goaltender Linus Ullmark. Does he have a valid point on the fact that the Panthers should be resting guys knowing that they are almost mathematically eliminated from the postseason? We provide an update on Dmitry Kulikov and Aaron Ekblad of tonight's game against Boston, and discuss who new President of Business Operations Michael White is and his past experiences. Boston Bruins roll into town tonight as they have won six of their last seven games and are comfortably in a playoff position with less than 10 games to go. With the Panthers calling up Tobias Bjornfot and Mikulas Hovorka, can the Panthers keep up with the Bruins, who are averaging four goals a game in their last 10? We discuss all of this and more on today's edition of the Locked On F

On today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast, Armando Velez(@Mandoman12) is here with Jacob Winans(@JakeW_8) for another edition of Winans Wednesday, as the two broke down the Panthers 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators, where the Panthers were right from the start, where they set a franchise record where F Noah Gregor scored eight seconds in to set a franchise record for the fastest goal to begin a hockey game, breaking it by two seconds. The Panthers continued to press on as they scored just over a minute later on the power play, and then had their third by the 10-minute mark. Florida kept pushing despite chasing G Linus Ullmark and having a five-goal lead in the second period with multiple chances off the rush. The Senators injuries to their defense are well documented, and the Panthers had them in their own end for more than half of the first period as the Cats had 10-minutes of offensive zone time and held two-thirds of the shot share as they continued to get in on their forecheck and winni

On today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast, Armando Velez(@Mandoman12) is here to discuss the Panthers getting swept out of NY on Long Island and in Midtown Manhattan to the Rangers and Islanders. Despite blowing a 2-0 lead against the Islanders, Matthew Tkachuk looks to be in midseason form, not only with the goals scored, but the amount of scoring chances he created for his teammates, and continuing to do so on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. Mackie Samoskevich scored another garbage time goal, despite his struggles this season, the coaching staff is on the youngsters side based on playing the right way and playing through an injury as the team is trying to get through the last nine games without any additional wear and tear. Lastly, Paul Maurice gave the media an update on Aleksander Barkov's health, and the Cats are not in a Top 5 Lottery slot. It may have not been a great year as far as wins and losses, but the silver lining of keeping their first round pick in 2026 is getting one step

On today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast, Armando Velez(@Mandoman12) is here with Nich Fairbanks(@Prudentia0) to break down the Panthers' 3-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild, where Minnesota won in the final 10 seconds just a minute after the D Aaron Ekblad tied it with the extra attacker on over a minute before. Panthers were pinned in their own end for the entirety of the game, and gave up 19 shots in the first, and Daniil Tarasov was keeping the Panthers in it. The goals were starting to come together for the Wild in the beginning of the period and toward the end, but the Panthers were able to get back in it after Matthew Tkachuk scored his 10th of the season in his 24th game after redirecting Forslings point shot. He later got the secondary assist on Ekblad's goal for a two point night. It's now the third time Florida lost in the final minute and failing to get the game to overtime, as they are still the team with the least amount of game that have gone to OT. Jesper Wallstedt outdueled Tar

On today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast, Armando Velez(@Mandoman12) is here to discuss the draft lottery history, the changes made and the changes to draft position from the history of lottery winners going back to 1995. Mike Benning will get a great look from now until the end of the regular season, is it too little too late for him to get a shot at the NHL roster come next year? Panthers welcome the Wild to town, as the lineup will look vastly different from the last time they faced on January 24th. We discuss all of this and more on today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast: Your Team, Every Day. Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 

On today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast, Armando Velez(@Mandoman12) is here to break down the Panthers' 5-4 shootout win over the Kraken where a 4-1 lead was blown, but still found themselves victorious. It turned from a low event game to a high in the third, where the first period had nine total shots, and the game ended with nine goals. Seven of the nine goals were scored in an 11:22 span in the third period. The Panthers were well structured in the first 40 minutes where they were able to roll the four lines, Sergei Bobrovsky rebound control was excellent, and the fourth line with F Noah Gregor getting called up from Charlotte created multiple opportunities with his speed, setting up a goal to Nolan Foote and an attempt to Foote where it bounced off a Kraken player and into the net. The mistakes for Florida would caused the Kraken to come back, and two of the goals coming 14 seconds apart where they fumbled the puck at the blue line, and Seattle converted on two breakaways by Jordan Eb

On today's edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast, Armando Velez(@Mandoman12) is here to discuss the Panthers dropping the final game of their road trip in Calgary by a final of 4-1, where it's not seven straight games that the Panthers have lost at the Saddledome (last win: 2/17/18). Florida was within one goal despite not playing their best game, but it all took a major turn when AJ Greer was called for two penalties on Connor Zary, a minor for hooking and then a five-minute major for boarding. Zary was able to get up. Greer's recklessness resulted in a major and game misconduct, and on Sunday evening, the Department of Player Safety has suspended Greer for three game starting Tuesday against Seattle. On that same seven minute penalty kill, defenseman Niko Mikkola and Ryan Strome collided knee-on-knee after the Panthers came up short handed. No ill intent from Strome as the two came together, but Niko Mikkola immediately reached for his left knee and was unable to put any weight on it when coming