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The Florida Panthers experienced an unprecedented level of playoff achievement during the 2020s, making three straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final and capturing the championship twice. This era of success has prompted a retrospective look at the franchise's best individual seasons, culminating in the selection of the All-Decade Team for the 2020s.
This final installment of the All-Decade Team series evaluates which decade produced the most formidable scoring lineup, comparing goal, assist, and total point production across the Panthers' history. The 2020s squad is constructed with one player per position, representing the highest-scoring season at each spot, along with the top goaltending performance of the decade.
Left Wing: Jonathan Huberdeau (2021-22)
Jonathan Huberdeau earns the left wing spot for his remarkable 2021-22 campaign, where he appeared in 80 games, notching 30 goals and 85 assists for 115 points, with 54 penalty minutes and a plus-35 rating. His playoff contribution included one goal and four assists in 10 games. Huberdeau set franchise records for points and assists in a single season, with his assist total also ranking as the highest ever by an NHL left winger. These accolades made him the clear choice for this position.
Center: Aleksander Barkov (2021-22)
Aleksander Barkov, who previously appeared on the 2010s All-Decade Team, takes the center role for his 2021-22 season. In 67 games, he tallied 39 goals and 49 assists for 88 points, along with 18 penalty minutes and a plus-36 rating. His playoff performance included two goals and five assists in 10 games. Barkov's season ranked 10th in franchise history for points, and he garnered attention in awards voting, finishing third for the Selke Trophy, 12th for the Hart Trophy, and eighth for the Lady Byng Trophy. His all-around excellence made him the obvious selection.
Right Wing: Sam Reinhart (2023-24)
Sam Reinhart claims the right wing position for his prolific goal-scoring 2023-24 season. Playing all 82 games, he scored 57 goals and added 37 assists for 94 points, with 31 penalty minutes and a plus-29 rating. Reinhart was instrumental in the Panthers' 24 playoff games, contributing 10 goals and six assists. His goal total stands as the third-highest in franchise history, trailing only Pavel Bure's efforts in the 1990s and 2000s. Reinhart also received award votes, including a fourth-place Selke finish and 12th-place Hart Trophy consideration. His exceptional scoring pace solidified his selection.
Left Defense: Gustav Forsling (2022-23)
Gustav Forsling, known more for his defensive reliability than offensive flair, earns the left defense spot for his 2022-23 season. He appeared in all 82 games, recording 13 goals and 28 assists for 41 points, with 40 penalty minutes and a plus-19 rating. In 21 playoff games, he added two goals and six assists. His point total ranked 17th all-time among Panthers defensemen, and his goal output was 14th. His balanced play and lack of stronger offensive candidates made him the pick.
Right Defense: Brandon Montour (2022-23)
Brandon Montour takes the right defense role for his historic 2022-23 season, where he played 80 games, amassing 16 goals and 57 assists for 73 points. This set franchise records for defensemen in both assists and points in a single season. Montour also contributed 107 penalty minutes and a plus-9 rating, while finishing 12th in Norris Trophy voting. In 21 playoff games, he recorded eight goals and five assists. His record-breaking output cemented his place on the team.
Goaltender: Sergei Bobrovsky (2021-22)
Sergei Bobrovsky, the backbone of the Panthers' net for much of the decade, is the goaltender selection for his 2021-22 season. He posted 39 wins and just seven regulation losses, with a 2.67 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage, including three shutouts. His win total set a franchise single-season record. In the playoffs, Bobrovsky went 4-6 with a 2.70 GAA and .911 SV%, and he finished ninth in All-Star voting among goalies. His impressive record and strong statistics made him the definitive choice.
Comparative Analysis Across Decades
Several other Panthers had noteworthy seasons that merited consideration, including Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe, and Aaron Ekblad, but they were ultimately edged out. When comparing the All-Decade teams, the 2020s squad accumulated 155 goals and 256 assists for 411 total points. This places them second in goals behind the 2000s (157), but first in assists and total points, ahead of the 2010s (356), 2000s (325), and 1990s (312).
The 2020s All-Decade Team stands as the most prolific scoring unit in Panthers history, reflecting the franchise's most successful era. With a combination of elite offensive talent and record-setting goaltending, this roster would pose the greatest challenge to any opponent, cementing the 2020s as the golden age of Florida Panthers hockey.
Originally reported by yardbarker.