For the last twenty-five years, the hope has been to bring a winning hockey team to South Florida. Now that a quarter of a century has passed, the state has expected to see a winner on the ice.
From what has transpired, nothing near that has occurred, and the Florida Panthers have remained out of a chance at a championship once again.
The difference is, this team was destined to turn the organization around this season, based on the year before.
Last season, the Panthers exemplified tremendous hope for the state of Florida, as they finished with 96 points, the most by a team in the NHL to finish a season without making the playoffs.