Latest news with #Panthers'
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
A jail cell, Flanigan's and Key West: A look at the Panthers' Stanley Cup tour so far
The Florida Panthers' second consecutive summer with the Stanley Cup is in full swing. As is tradition for the winners, players and various members of the team's coaching staff, training staff and front office get a personal day with the Stanley Cup during the summer. During the past two weeks, the Cup has made stops in Joliette and Montreal in Canada; Atlanta; St. Louis; Dallas; and Key West, among other pit stops on a tour that will continue during the next month or so before the team kicks off training camp in September. Here are some of the highlights so far. Forward A.J. Greer, one of seven players who won the Stanley Cup for the first time this season, kicked off the Panthers' Stanley Cup tour with a full day in his native Joliette on July 13. The day included a parade that had thousands in attendance. Greer also used his time with the Cup to make a pair of charitable donations to Clemente House, a nonprofit benefitting families with disabilities, and Maison Oxygene de Quebec, an organization that helps fathers and children in need with accommodation, accompaniment and community support. Flanigan's, the South Florida staple known for its giant green cups and rib rolls, finally had the Stanley Cup grace its presence when longtime equipment manager Scott Tinkler took the Cup to the franchise's Hallandale location as part of his Cup day. Among the contents that filled the bowl of the Stanley Cup included Rib rolls, wings and a Bonzai Brownie (a brownie topped with a heaping serving of vanilla ice cream plus Oreo crumbles, Kit Kat bars, chocolate syrup and whipped cream). Mike Huff, the Panthers' vice president for player engagement, spent his day with the Cup in Atlanta, where he lived for a good portion of his life while working in the Georgia Tech athletic department and then as a charter coordinator for Delta Airlines. Among his stops: Naturally a Waffle House, which can be found on nearly every corner in the city. Huff also took the Stanley Cup to Delta's operations control center and the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta followed by a gathering with friends and family at night. Star Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk got married to his longtime partner Ellie on July 19 and then celebrated his second day with the Cup two days later in St. Louis. It included a lot of the same stops from last summer's day, including trips to the St. Louis Children's Hospital and Brentwood fire and police departments while spending the day with his family, including parents Keith and Chantal and brother Brady. But the trip to the police department had a little twist this year, with Tkachuk posing with the Cup inside one of Brentwood's jail cells. 'I took it here before, but I've never took it in a cell,' Tkachuk said, according to 'That was a first for me. Hopefully that's my last time in a cell unless it's with the Cup again another time.' Tkachuk also took the Cup to Chaminade College Preparatory School, which he attended as a kid, and on a visit to see the the Budweiser Clydesdale horses, with one even giving the Stanley Cup a kiss. Defenseman Seth Jones, a key acquisition at the trade deadline for the Panthers, took the Cup home to Dallas on Thursday for his day of celebration. Jones' main public stop was a two-hour stay at the StarCenter Valley Ranch ice rink where he skated during his early playing days. 'I spent a lot of time here for a lot of different coaches, lot of different teams,' Jones said, according to .'Without the development of Texas youth hockey and the growth that we've seen over the last 10, 15 years, I know I wouldn't be standing here today. I wanted to give back, show the kids here that just because it's not a huge hockey market, things are still possible. You can still make the NHL.' Jones has not only made, but he has thrived. He just wrapped up his 12th NHL season and looks to be a mainstay for the Panthers as they attempt to continue building their dynasty. President of hockey operations and general manager Bill Zito said in early July that he planed to have a 'low key' day with the Cup. Specifically, that day was out in the Florida Keys. Zito took the Cup to the Theater of the Sea, a marine mammal park. While there, Zito had a sea lion eat fish out of the Cup and posed for a photo of a dolphins leaping toward him and the Cup up on a podium while Zito held out a Panthers championship flag. The Stanley Cup made an appearance at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday as several Panthers players — Jones, Gustav Forsling and Aaron Ekblad among them — brought it to the Coldplay concert at the stadium. It was the Cup's second venture to Hard Rock Stadium since the Panthers won it for the second consecutive year, with a group also bringing it to the stadium during the FIFA Club World Cup.
Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
NHL injury update: Matthew Tkachuk's postponed surgery shadows Team USA's 2026 Olympics aspirations and Florida Panthers cap plan
Florida Panthers top scorer Matthew Tkachuk has left his Olympic aspirations and the salary cap plan of his team in limbo after putting off surgery on acute injuries he suffered in the Stanley Cup Final. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Matthew Tkachuk, who has said that he fought through a torn adductor and sports hernia during the Panthers' playoff championship, has not yet had the expected surgery to correct them, raising alarm for his return for the 2025–26 NHL season and the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. Matthew Tkachuk's injury wait creates alarm bells for Team USA and Florida Panthers Matthew Tkachuk's remarkable post-Stanley Cup announcement—that he played with a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia—only served to add to the lore of the Florida Panthers' championship run. But more than a month later, the 27-year-old winger still has not had surgery, creating anxiety throughout the hockey world. The anticipated surgery was originally set shortly following the Panthers' Game 6 victory against the Edmonton Oilers. The procedure was most assuredly postponed, though, NHL insider Evan Renaerts says, by Matthew Tkachuk's recent wedding to Ellie Connell on July 19. With the Olympic Games scheduled for February, any prolonged recovery time means missing by mere weeks critical international preparation and participation. Matthew Tkachuk Brings The Stanley Cup Back to St. Louis for Second Straight Year Matthew Tkachuk played a key role in Florida's playoff run and has been a stalwart for the team. His ongoing absence may also hamper the team's start to the 2025–26 season, particularly with the Panthers already over the cap by $3.7 million. Salary cap relief of $9.5 million would be provided if he were placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR), providing the front office with flexibility but also sparking controversy regarding salary cap morality. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Strategic play or dangerous delay? Tough choices loom for Florida Panthers According to NHL regulations, any player on LTIR has to miss at least 10 games or 24 calendar days. If the Florida Panthers start the season with Matthew Tkachuk missing, they might get immediate relief but would pay the cost in the long run. The organization might have to trade the likes of Evan Rodrigues or Jesper Boqvist to stay cap-compliant when Tkachuk can join them. This has raised eyebrows among insiders and fans who believe that the Panthers might be tactically withholding the surgery to skew cap space. The practice has drawn increasing criticism from the league, with many notable examples including past seasons involving other superstars such as Nikita Kucherov and Evander Kane. Also read: Some of the fans went to social media to raise concerns over the Olympics, and one of them wrote, 'Interesting to see if he still makes it to Milan then. It would be quite the story if he's not there with Brady.' Others were pessimistic, speculating a timely return just in time for the playoffs—a strategy that has sparked ethics issues in the NHL's application of LTIR loopholes. FAQs
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
4 standouts from Week 1 of Panthers 2025 training camp
The Carolina Panthers are a bit more out of sight for this year's edition of training camp. With the organization in the middle of their construction on a new practice facility, fans have not been allowed to attend the team's workout sessions. But that doesn't mean a few players haven't shined through to start the summer. Here are four standouts from the Panthers' opening week of camp . . . WR Hunter Renfrow Renfrow has yet to drop the pen on his comeback story. After missing the entire 2024 campaign due to a challenging bout with ulcerative colitis, the former Pro Bowler signed with Carolina in the spring. He impressed head coach Dave Canales during mandatory minicamp and has kept on stacking days into training camp. "It's just the Hunter Renfrow I remember," Canales told reporters on Saturday. "He looks healthy. I think everyone who's watched football over the last four or five years remembers what he looks like, and he's really playing in top form right now. I'm really excited to have him here and to have his family, which is right down the road here after this practice, just to be able to connect with him. And it's a great story that's unfolding right before our eyes." The Panthers' wideout room is a bit crowded, at least compared to years past. But the 29-year-old Myrtle Beach, S.C. continues to make an intriguing case for a spot. WR Jimmy Horn Jr. Horn is also trying to make a space for himself at the end of the room. The 2024 sixth-round pick, as he did during the spring, has opened quite a few eyes with his speed. Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer noted that Horn looked especially fast in one-on-one coverage drills on Saturday, beating fellow rookie defenders by "four or five yards." And by the looks of his footwork here, that shouldn't be too surprising . . . Horn made a few nice catches in seven-on-seven action and gave a preview of his prowess as a returner, too. And like Renfrow, he got some props from up top. Canales described what he admires about Horn on Thursday. "Yeah, I just love the way that he plays football. It's full speed all the time," Canales stated. "Some guys, we have to really teach them how to get in a walk-through mode. He's one of those guys. Everything he does is fast. "I think about Deven Thompkins—who I love, who was here last year. They just bring out the best in everybody because you know, when they're out there, they're going 100 miles per hour, full speed and they're looking to take the top off. So, I love that style about Jimmy. And what he's shown us—whether it's in drills or in the team periods, he's just all gas." OLB Princely Umanmielen Umanmielen caught the attention of many on Wednesday, when his close call on a strip-sack of quarterback Bryce Young caused an abrupt end to practice. That decision came from Canales, who initially thought Umanmielen was a bit too physical on the play. Upon further review, however, the rookie pass rusher actually tried to avoid making contact with Young. "We watched the film—he was actually trying to avoid . . . Bryce didn't have anywhere to go in the pocket," Canales said following Thursday's session. "So as he pulls his arm back, he kinda hits him and you can see Princely running kinda by. "Still made a point of it. Still great to teach the guys in those moments. But just another great teachable moment for the whole group. Hey, let's not pass judgement on what happened. I saw the play kinda, but I didn't see specifically. We'll be able to rewind it ten times and figure out what happened. "But had a couple 'nother good rushes today by Princely. Every day, shows up and does something good. I'm really encouraged with the effort, first and foremost, that he's giving and the strain to finish all the way through practice." One of those good rushes by Umanmielen saw the rookie beat starting left tackle Ikem Ekwonu on an inside move for another would-be sack. S Demani Richardson Richardson made what deemed as the "play of the day" from the first outing . . . Richardson is one of a few contenders vying for the starting spot next to free-agent signee Tre'von Moehrig. If he continues his ball-hawking ways, the undrafted rookie from 2024 could make himself a real factor in the backend of the defense. Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
1 huge fantasy football question for every NFL team in 2025
The 2025 fantasy football season is now squarely in sight, with leagues beginning to come up with fun ideas for their draft order and devious concepts for the last-place punishment. And there's also the fact that NFL training camps have opened up this week. So we decided it was a great time to come up with some questions that every team needs to answer under the lens of fantasy football. BEST FANTASY FOOTBALL TEAM NAMES: We have 11 funny ideas Let's run through them one by one, with my take on answering some of them, as your draft prep officially begins: Arizona Cardinals: Is Marvin Harrison Jr. going to break out in Year 2? It wasn't pretty for the 2024 rookie who we thought could live up to his draft hype. But he's packed on some weight and has a year of experience under his belt. Maybe it was just getting used to the speed of the NFL? I like him to rebound this year. Atlanta Falcons: You're going to talk yourself into Kyle Pitts again, aren't you? SIGH. I'm probably not, but you go ahead. Baltimore Ravens: Is THIS the year Derrick Henry slows down? Maybe he's just built different. And, well, you knew that -- at an age when many a running back takes a step back, Henry is still a fantasy and real-life MVP threat. He nearly ran for 2,000 yards last year with 16 scores on the ground. Who cares that he barely catches passes? Or that he rushed 325 times in 17 games? But I will worry a little more about Father Time with him given that he'll turn 32 by the end of the year. There's no indication he's taking a step back, so do with all of that what you will. Buffalo Bills: Why are Bills pass-catchers ranked so low? Really! I'm asking! Someone has to catch passes from Josh Allen. Khalil Shakir was basically their WR1 by midseason, Keon Coleman was a second-round pick in real life last year, and Dalton Kincaid might be in line for a breakout. I see value in here with at least Shakir and Kincaid. Carolina Panthers: Are we going to trust Chuba Hubbard again? Hubbard was a top-12 running back in fantasy last year despite hiccups from the Panthers' offense. But Rico Dowdle is now in town, which might be a hit to Hubbard's value. Me? I'm not buying that. Hubbard is going to be really good behind that offensive line and with improvements on the Panthers' O. Chicago Bears: Is anyone going to be a fantasy superstar on this team (besides Caleb Williams)? Here's what I see: an offense that might break out in real football with Ben Johnson at the helm. Here's what else I see: a lot of question marks for fantasy purposes. The receiver room -- DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden -- is crowded. Cole Kmet will compete for playing time with intriguing rookie Colston Loveland. I'm not sure what to make of D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson. If anything, I might take a few chances on Oduzne and Loveland to break out. Cincinnati Bengals: Chase Brown is totally gonna break out ... right? There's always a chance that the guy EVERYONE thinks is going to be an RB1 completely busts or there's an injury. But the resume and situation from Brown indicates that he's got a chance to best his ranking that's just outside the top-10 backs or so. Cleveland Browns: Should you trust anyone in fantasy? My summary of the Browns' fantasy situation: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. I do think David Njoku is a fine back-of-the-pack tight end pick and that Jerry Jeudy could have his moments. That's... all I've got. Dallas Cowboys: Is George Pickens worth the headache? If you had Pickens on your fantasy team while he was in Pittsburgh, you know it was frustrating. The skill was there, but the numbers were not. All he needed was a change in scenery, right? Except now he's WR2 to CeeDee Lamb. I'm willing to take a flier if he's my WR3 or Flex ... but I'm wary. Denver Broncos: What do we do with this running back room? The answer is probably: "Draft rookie R.J. Harvey, who might catch a lot of passes in addition to running the ball." Just don't be surprised if J.K. Dobbins plays more than you think he will. Detroit Lions: Is THIS Jameson Williams' year? My answer: Given all the offseason hype, I'm almost there. But my issue is there are a lot of mouths to feed in that offense and OC Ben Johnson is gone. Don't go overboard here. Green Bay Packers: Should you draft any of their wide receivers? I'll say maybe I'll take rookie Matthew Golden late in some drafts, hoping that he emerges from the committee that the Packers form. But it feels like we're in for another week of explosions for one WR a week again. Houston Texans: Can Joe Mixon do THAT again? For him: he's consistent and good. Against him: he's got more competition in the room and is getting older. I'm leaning no. Indianapolis Colts: Is Tyler Warren Brock Bowers 2.0? It used to be that rookie tight ends were a bad bet in fantasy as they acclimated to the league. These days? Nope! Bowers went off in Year 1 for the Raiders, Kyle Pitts had a good rookie year in 2021 and Sam LaPorta was awesome in his first season. So, yes, I could see Warren being a top-five option. Remember: Bad QBs with limited receiver options look to their tight ends. Jacksonville Jaguars: How much WR volume are we expecting from Travis Hunter? This is the role of the dice. Hunter has all the talent in the world on both sides of the ball, but we won't know how much he plays on offense or defense until Week 1. He also has Brian Thomas to contend with for catches. Here's what I'm doing: I'll draft Hunter as my WR3 or FLEX and bet that Liam Coen wants him to play more snaps on offense. Kansas City Chiefs: Where do you draft Rashee Rice? It seems likely that he'll receive a suspension at some point this year, which could mean a drop in value. I still think he'll be a focal point of the passing game, so I'm happy to take him as a WR2 or WR3 and hope for the best. Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty is him, right? Pretty much. He's a first-round pick, without a doubt, in the RB4-5 range. Couple that with Pete Carroll's love of running the ball and I'm in. Los Angeles Chargers: What's the deal with the running backs? I can already feel the annoyance coming on. You draft rookie Omarion Hampton, figuring that he'll be first up for carries. And then? Najeh Harris steals a bunch of them. Given the possible run volume, I'd be OK with drafting either as long as the pick isn't TOO high in redraft leagues. But don't expect a massive workload for either unless there's an injury. Los Angeles Rams: How much volume will Davante Adams steal from Puka Nacua? Some things to note here: Adams is getting older, Nacua is clearly WR1 in Los Angeles... but here's my thing. I think this offense can have two top fantasy wideouts in it. I'm not downgrading either of them. Nacua is a late first-rounder, and I'd be happy with Adams as my WR2. Miami Dolphins: Are there red flags for Tyreek Hill? Ah, remember 2023? That was a glorious season for the speedy wideout. Because last year was ROUGH. With Hill at 31 and questions about Tua Tagovailoa, I worry about rostering him as anything but a WR2 at best. Minnesota Vikings: Are we hyping up J.J. McCarthy or not enough? We've got a former first-round pick who has some serious talent surrounding him and a head coach who can do wonders with the offense (see: Darnold, Sam). Feels like we're not hyping him up enough as a possible back-end QB1 this year. New England Patriots: Is Drake Maye exploding in Year 2? I love him this year. Dude runs more than you think, and he's got improved help at the line and at WR. Breakout coming. New Orleans Saints: Is Alvin Kamara having another Alvin Kamara season? This is somewhat tricky. He's not the youngest of RBs, but this is a back who has caught 573 receptions in his career. And he's on team where he might catch another 70 passes or so if he stays healthy. But that last part gives me concern. I'm cool with drafting him if he's your RB2 in a PPR league. New York Giants: Will Malik Nabers best his numbers from last year? The issue here isn't the talent with 109 catches and 1,204 last year. No, it's about the Giants offense as a whole and the O-line. Russell Wilson is somehow a bit of an upgrade over the Giants' QB situation last year, but that's not saying much. My confidence in him isn't that shaky, but maybe I pause for 20 seconds before hitting the "DRAFT" button. New York Jets: Does Garrett Wilson finally deliver WR1 numbers with Justin Fields? We know Wilson is good. But HOW good has been the question. And his situation has been muddled by middling QB play and depth chart issues. Now? He's the top receiver with his college teammate. I'm intrigued. Philadelphia Eagles: There's no worries about Saquon Barkley repeating at least a some of last season... right? I'm going to burst your bubble here: dude had his hands on the pigskin 482 times over the entire Eagles Super Bowl run. I don't think he's going to have another RB1 season with over 2,000 yards on the ground and another 278 through the air. However! He's reliable, still in his prime and plays in one of the league's most balanced offenses. So, yes, you're drafting him top-3 and not regretting it, no matter what happens. Pittsburgh Steelers: Is Arthur Smith going to continue to ruin your fantasy dreams? I dunno. Are you really excited by Smith helming an offense with D.K. Metcalf catching passes from Aaron Rodgers? Or having Jaylen Warren and Kaleb Johnson run the rock? Me neither. San Francisco 49ers: Which receivers should you truly trust? Brandon Aiyuk may not be back for a while. Jauan Jennings sounds unhappy and hopefully Ricky Pearsall is healthy. Me? I'm drafting the latter two as sleepers and hoping for the best. Seattle Seahawks: Is Jaxon Smith-Njigba a real-deal WR1? I say: Not yet. I think the Seahawks are going to run a ton, and JSN isn't built to be a workhorse top wideout. Temper expectations. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: You're not going to doubt Mike Evans again, right? Who else is significantly catching passes in this offense? Age be damned, he's as consistent as they come in a world of uncertainty. Tennessee Titans: Will Calvin Ridley mesh right away with Cam Ward? I think we're underrating the wideout too much with a rookie QB. I'm taking him as a WR3 and assuming the volume will be there. Washington Commanders: Will Deebo Samuel Sr.'s change of scenery help? Let's assume Terry McLaurin gets the money he's looking for. Samuel was used A LOT in San Francisco, and I'm curious about his usage in Washington. I'm fading.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Controversy brews as Panthers consider benching $9.5M star Matthew Tkachuk to fix salary cap woes
Florida Panthers, fresh off their Stanley Cup win, are facing salary cap challenges and Matthew Tkachuk's injury might offer a solution. (Getty Images) The Florida Panthers, stepped off another Stanley Cup win, face salary cap challenges. Star forward Matthew Tkachuk's injury could offer a solution. Placing him on long-term injured reserve would create cap relief, though he battled injuries across last season's championship run. Matthew Tkachuk injury opens door for Panthers' salary cap workaround Even as the champagne corks settle from their consecutive Stanley Cup triumph, the Florida Panthers' management faces pressing financial decisions. It's the hockey offseason, but for the front office, the work is far from over. A consequential hurdle looms: the team's current payroll surpasses the salary cap by a notable $3.75 million, a figure confirmed by Puck Pedia. This means the Panthers must strategically reduce their financial commitments to align with league regulations. — BleacherReport (@BleacherReport) One particularly impactful avenue for achieving cap consent revolves around key forward Matthew Tkachuk, whose contract carries a hefty $9.5 million impact on the team's salary structure. The possibility of his injury playing a role in this decision has been raised. Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos, in his assessment of Florida's cap situation, put forth a compelling idea: 'If Tkachuk were to miss the beginning of the season and be out for a while, the Panthers would be able to get under the cap by putting his contract on LTIR.' This maneuver, placing a player on the long-term injured reserve, offers the distinct advantage of allowing a team to briefly exceed the salary cap. Matthew Tkachuk's groin injury could become Panthers' financial lifeline Matthew Tkachuk, a true competitor, played through significant injuries during the 2024-25 season, including a torn adductor and hernia sustained at the 4 Nations Face-Off. His dedication was vital to the Panthers' second consecutive Stanley Cup. In the 2025 Final, he bestowed three goals and seven assists. Tkachuk's substantial $9.5 million cap hit is a key factor, with Aleksander Barkov ($10 million), Sam Reinhart ($8.625 million), and Sam Bennett ($8 million, recently signed extension) also having large contracts. The Panthers face a tough offseason dilemma: balancing their championship roster with salary cap constraints, potentially relying on Matthew Tkachuk's injury status to navigate their financial tightrope. Also Read: Brad Marchand's disrespectful celebration resurfaces as Panthers clinch Cup — Canucks fans furious FAQs 1. Why are the Panthers considering placing Matthew Tkachuk on LTIR? To create cap relief, as his $9.5M salary could help offset their $3.75M cap overage. 2. Is Matthew Tkachuk seriously injured? Tkachuk has been dealing with lingering groin issues since the 4 Nations Face-Off and the playoffs. 3. Could this move be seen as salary cap manipulation? Some critics believe using LTIR for Tkachuk's injury might be a strategic loophole rather than necessity. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
