Verhaeghe led the Panthers with a career-high 42 goals during the 2022-23 season
When you talk about the Florida Panthers, there are several names that quickly come to mind.
Matthew Takchuk. Sasha Barkov. Sergei Bobrovsky. Aaron Ekblad.
The star power in South Florida is undeniable, particularly following Florida’s remarkable run to the Stanley Cup Final last season.
But the Panthers also have a star that seems to get lost in the shuffle.
Nope, not talking about the Sam’s (Reinhart and Bennett) or Brandon Montour, either.
Since arriving in South Florida, Carter Verhaeghe has improved each season.
The former AHL scoring champion was one of the first signings of Panthers General Manager Bill Zito, back in October of 2020.
Zito saw something in the young, tenacious forward and offered him an opportunity with the Panthers.
Verhaeghe has since become one of the NHL’s best kept secrets. He’s now a 40-goal scorer on a very team-friendly contract, and at the ripe age of 28 years old, his best hockey may very well still be ahead of him.
“There’s always room to grow,” Verhaeghe said Thursday. “There are games you want to be more consistent and bring it every night, and every day I'm coming to the rink with something new to work on. The coaches are keeping me honest and I'm keeping myself honest. Whether it's skating or shooting or different areas of the ice, like in the D zone, different positioning, there's always something. There’s never a dull day.”
There has been a clear progression in Verhaeghe’s offensive production year-to-year, but it’s the improvements he’s made in the defensive parts of his game that show just how dedicated he is to being the best hockey player he possibly can be.
“The speed, the shot, but really the tenacity on the puck, are all great strengths,” Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said of Verhaeghe. “He spent a lot of time working with the other coaches on individual defensive video last year, and he improved his game drastically in my mind there.”
As someone who worked extremely hard and fought his way into the NHL at a young age, Maurice can appreciate what Verhaeghe endured to reach this level and how much he’s willing to sacrifice to remain here.
“Carter Verhaeghe is a guy that is a product of how he got into the league,” Maurice said. “He had to scratch and claw and prove himself over and over again.”
During his first three seasons with the Panthers, Verhaeghe has spent the majority of his time on the ice skating to the left of Barkov.
While that decision may have come as a surprise at first (Who is this Verhaeghe kid skating on the top line?), the combination has proven to be a powerful force leading Florida’s forward ranks.
With Barkov being one of the league’s best two-way players and Verhaeghe known for his deceptive shot and overall tenacious nature on the ice, the pair has formed a balanced duo.
“I think we definitely have a good sense (of each other),” Verhaeghe said. “I think a lot of times, Barky sees me going all over the ice place and he just covers for me and goes to the open spot. I think that way, it works really well.”
The bond between the two goes well beyond the ice they share.
“He’s one of a kind,” Verhaeghe said of Barkov. “He’s a hilarious guy. It’s fun being around him off the ice, every day he puts a smile on your face in some way, whether he says a sarcastic comment or something like that.”
While at the end of the day, Verhaeghe doesn't get the same attention or recognition as the Barkovs and Tkachuks of the world, he’s smart enough to know that there is still plenty he can learn from them.
“Chucky (Tkachuk) makes such good reads on the boards, he knows where everyone is on the ice at any given moment…and with Barky (Barkov), it’s the same kind of thing,” Verhaeghe said. “That's one of the biggest things that I want to pick up from them, they're so smart, they can make a play and kind of know where everyone is on the ice.”
