Alan Greenberg has been a Rangers fan since he was knee-high to a grasshopper.
He has maintained his allegiance through adulthood and even after moving with his wife to Florida. While maintaining his love of hockey – and journalism – Big Al has been covering the Panthers for 17 years.
And if you're wondering what it's like, well, I'll let Sir Greenberg tell you.
"Covering the team in its early years was interesting but not fun. The Panthers were frequent bottom feeders and ownership didn't provide funds to bring in top free agents. At the start, Florida was not a desirable place to play.
"The arena was half full at best for most games but when Original Six teams arrived, attendance was higher but most fans were rooting for the opposition. At one point there was a threat that the franchise would be moved to Quebec City.
"At the time, tickets were cheap and parking was free while media coverage was spartan. By the late 2010's none of the local papers had beat reporters. The post-game dressing room had a handful of media at best.
"Things changed when the Viola ownership family entered the picture in 2013. They committed the finances to build a team and they also were committed to the community. Plus, they got a major tax incentive from Broward County.
"As for leadership, the team has had nine coaches since 2008. When they brought in Joel Quenneville as coach in 2019 it was the first real sign of a desire to commit the funds necessary to build a team.
"Credit should go to former GM Dale Tallon for drafting the core of the current team. Aleksander Barkov, Aaron Ekblad and Jonathan Huberdeau were the heart of the Panthers for years. Huberdeau was traded for Matthew Tkachuk who became the face of the team while Barkov was the quietly efficient captain.
"Tallon signed free agent goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to a multi-year contract right after hiring Quenneville. Bill Zito made bold moves to build the team after he succeeded Tallon in 2020. He brought in Paul Maurice as coach even though Andrew Brunette – who succeeded Quenneville after his resignation – had led the team to the Presidents' Trophy in 2021-22.
"Zito traded for Tkachuk and brought in a bunch of under the radar or underperforming players who thrived in Florida. Gus Forsling, Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart and Dmitry Kulikov, just to name a few.
"Now they play to capacity crowds and have a waiting list for tickets. Beat reporters are back and TV stations are providing more coverage. Games are
on regular TV so people don't have to pay for cable to see them.
"During the playoffs people are coming out of the woodwork to cover the team.
They have a new ultra-modern training facility in Downtown Fort Lauderdale with most practices open to the public. Merchandise sales are booming.
"The atmosphere around the team is always positive. The players seem to genuinely enjoy each other. Everybody is considered an integral part of the team, even those who don't see much action. They come ready to play at a moment's notice.
"Tkachuk is the team's most visible player and the most interviewed. The big names are seen in the postgame interviews but at practices the players not often in the spotlight -- such as Jonah Gadjovich and A.J. Greer – are always willing subjects. Last season, one of the most likeable players was Ryan Lomberg.
"When Brad Marchand arrived, he added an entire new dimension to the personality and grittiness of the team. Once the hated enemy, he is one of the most likeable guys with an off-ice persona completely different from the on-ice image.
"Paul Maurice is a media delight. He answers every question carefully, win or lose. He throws in a few quips here and there to make it interesting. The players love him because he's a straight shooter and treats them all with respect.
"Covering the team has been fun these last few years. Covering Game 7 last year and being on the ice during the post-game hoopla was the highlight of my reporting career.
"When the game ended, I made a point of observing the order of handing off the Cup and when I got on the ice I was able to speak to each of the first several recipients – all long-term veterans – about the honor of receiving an early handoff. It was in print the following day!"