The NHL, like all professional sports, tends to be a copycat league. When one team finds success, and especially sustained championship success, other teams are going to try and duplicate that approach. When it comes to the Florida Panthers, who have been the NHL’s most dominant team over the past four years with a Presidents’ Trophy win, three consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances and now two consecutive championships, there are quite a few lessons that can be taken. And lessons that probably should be taken.
The Pittsburgh Penguins may not be in a position right now to take all of these lessons, but some of them can be stored away for when they become a contender again in future seasons.