Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe exemplify the Panthers’ positional versatility

As part of The Leafs Nation’s Atlantic Division preview series, the TLN staff are examining the most compelling storylines and angles from each team. Here is our deep dive on the Florida Panthers and below is the second part of the Panthers’ preview: 

Positional flexibility is one of the greatest assets any team can have in the modern age, especially when in-game lineup adjustments are often a necessary requirement to adapt to the rigours of an 82-game schedule. During their dynastic years, the Tampa Bay Lighting used Steven Stamkos and Ondrej Palat throughout various spots in the lineup and they often didn’t resort to set nominal lines. Entering the season with a target on their backs, the Florida Panthers have adopted these qualities from their interstate rival as Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe can effectively function in multiple spots over the course of a given year.

Aleksander Barkov is the centrepiece of the team and he found tremendous success alongside Sam Reinhart, where the Panthers deployed the Selke winner and fourth-place finisher to torment teams on both ends of the ice. Reinhart was the NHL’s best player on the power play while Barkov set a new standard for two-way excellence throughout the year. They were the headliners, which is an incredible notion when you consider that Tkachuk was a Hart Trophy finalist in 2023 and morphed into arguably the league’s most clutch playoff performer. Perhaps if they were inclined for individual accolades, Tkachuk, Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett would demand a larger spotlight but their ability to adapt and play throughout the lineup is a major asset for the Panthers.

Tkachuk-Bennett-Verhaeghe played 62 regular season games together last season where they posted a 30-21 goal differential with a 58.2 share of the expected goals at 5-on-5 and an eye-popping plus-110 scoring chance differential. Throughout the playoffs, this line would be occasionally broken up as Verhaeghe would occasionally take minutes with Barkov and Reinhart in place of Vladimir Tarasenko, who essentially functions as an all-offence, no-defence winger at this juncture of his career. Tarasenko signed with the Detroit Red Wings in the offseason, but the Panthers’ top-nine remains elite.

This specific type of versatility is so valuable in the playoffs. Tkachuk-Bennett-Verhaeghe were actually outscored 8-1 during the playoffs and it allowed Paul Maurice to go through his blender but with real intention — perhaps there is a notion that mixing up your lines will produce random results, but there’s an intentionality here.

Evan Rodrigues was Florida’s top scorer during the Final and elevated his offensive presence to new heights, where he recorded seven goals and 15 points in 24 playoff games, coming off a season where he notched 12 goals and 37 points in 80 contests. Rodrigues was very successful when flanked by Tkachuk and Bennett as the line generated seven goals with two against with a 70.8 share of the expected goals and it was another combination the Panthers could roll out comfortably when they needed a kick, especially during the Final, where the line outscored the Oilers 4-1.

Verhaeghe was elevated to the nominal top line with Barkov and Reinhart throughout the Final where his speed in transition paid dividends, while Tarasenko was dropped to the third line, paired with two very defensively responsible linemates in Anton Lundell AKA ‘Baby Barkov’ and Eetu Luostarinen.