Stable (finally) ownership, developing youth and Gerard Gallant have the Panthers headed in the right direction.
This year will be a different experience for Islanders fans as the playoffs begin against the Panthers, and not just because the two teams have no playoff history against one another. With the wild card having the Islanders cross over to the (New) Atlantic side of the playoff bracket, any animosity will have to be developed from scratch (beginning early in Game 1, if playoff history is any guide).
But there is also an atmospheric if not literal kinship here: The Panthers are still the team Bill Torrey, the beloved "Architect" of the Islanders dynasty, helped launch and is still employed by (and rooting for) today.