The Florida Panthers practice for the first time at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 22. Things were going quite well around Pantherland in early 2022. The Florida Panthers were having the best regular season in franchise history and on their way to the team’s first and only Presidents’ Trophy. Florida would also go on to win its first playoff series since 1996 that year. A big part of the Panthers’ success was the team’s home-grown talent. Foundational players who had been drafted a decade before were now carrying the team to heights never before seen. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNjE3OTM2NjIzMjQ4NDky/img_6014.jpg] We’re talking about Sasha Barkov, Aaron Ekblad and Jonathan Huberdeau. Florida’s big three were all entering their prime years and playing like it, and a revamped front office was building around them and providing the stars a never-before-seen amount of support. But seemingly taking a massive step forward during the 2021-22 season was forward Jonathan Huberdeau. By the time the season was over, Huberdeau had accumulated 30 goals and 115 points, leading the Panthers in scoring during a season in which Florida was the NHL’s number one scoring team. Little did anybody know, a few months later Huberdeau would be a huge part of the blockbuster trade that brought Matthew Tkachuk to Florida. The Hockey News highlighted Jonathan Huberdeau’s big 2021-22 season with a cover story on its Feb. 28, 2022 edition, Volume 75, Issue 12 [https://archive.thehockeynews.com/issue/548078/73214?t=APPRECIATION%20VALUE], written by Matt Larkin. THN Archive is an exclusive vault of 2,640 issues and more than 156,000 for subscribers, chronicling the complete history of The Hockey News from 1947 until today. Visit THN.com/archive [https://archive.thehockeynews.com/] and subscribe today at subscribe.thehockeynews.com [https://subscribe.thehockeynews.com/]. LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Three takeaways: Panthers not intimidated by Tampa in exciting rivalry matchup highlighted by goaltending [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/features/three-takeaways-panthers-not-intimidated-by-tampa-in-exciting-rivalry-matchup-highlighted-by-goaltending] Tom Cruise spotted at NHL game in Tampa Bay between Panthers and Lightning [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/tom-cruise-spotted-at-nhl-game-in-tampa-bay-between-panthers-and-lightning] Reinhart, Barkov lead Panthers to 3-2 road victory over Tampa Bay [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/reinhart-barkov-lead-panthers-to-3-2-road-victory-over-tampa-bay] Florida Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice to coach his 1,800th NHL game [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/florida-panthers-head-coach-paul-maurice-to-coach-his-1800th-nhl-game] Panthers post-holiday schedule opens with rival Tampa Bay [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/panthers-post-holiday-schedule-opens-with-rival-tampa-bay] Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjQxMjA5NjI4NzMxMDIz/unnamed.jpg]
