First of back-to-back Monday night games. Next week north of the border in Montreal.
First, Shawn Thornton’s Florida Panthers in town – with a special pre-game recognition for local Olympians who participated in the Rio Games this past August.
Pick the NHL team with the most early-season turmoil, and it’s the ‘Cats from Sunrise. Last year, the Panthers reached the Stanley Cup playoffs after a December love fest that extended head coach Gerard Gallant’s contract, while promoting AHL head coach Tom Rowe to general manager.
A year later, Gallant is sent packing this past Thanksgiving weekend by team brass Peter Luukko and Dale Tallon, who named Rowe to the dual role of general manager/head coach of the cash-strapped franchise.