Lundell, Thornton debut for Panthers in preseason loss to Lightning. What we learned
Joe Thornton and Anton Lundell — the oldest and youngest members of the Florida Panthers, respectively — are making an unlikely odd couple so far in Broward County. They both dealt with unspecified injuries throughout the early part of the preseason, so they wound up skating together often with a secondary group after practices and rehabbing together to try to get ready for the start of the regular season next Thursday
“I’ve gotten to know him quite well,” Thornton, 42, said of the 20-year-old center Monday after a practice in Coral Springs.
They even debuted together Thursday, suiting up for the first time as Panthers in Florida’s 6-2 preseason loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena. For a team with such little turnover from a year ago, the two forwards — at opposite ends of their careers — are the two biggest unknowns, and two of the most important pieces for the Panthers as they try to get over the hump and win a postseason series for the first time since 1996.
Even though it was only an exhibition and Florida played without a number of star players, Thursday provided the first real glimpse of what sort of roles Lundell and Thornton might play for the Panthers in the 2021-22 NHL season.
How Lundell, Thornton might fit
Lundell, whom the Panthers expect to contend for the Calder Memorial Trophy this season, played 17:06, including 36 seconds on the penalty kill, and posted a Corsi For percentage better than, meaning Florida generated the majority of shot attempts while he was on the ice for even-strength action. Thornton, the NHL’s oldest active player without a Stanley Cup, played 15:25 and scored when he knocked home a rebound off a shot by right wing Owen Tippett in the second period.
Thornton played left wing, and skated on the third line with Tippett and fellow forward Juho Lammikko. Lundell was the second-line center, flanked by left wing Mason Marchment and right wing Patric Hornqvist.
Up front, the Panthers rested forwards Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, Sam Bennett and Frank Vatrano — as well as star defensemen Aaron Ekblad and MacKenzie Weegar — after a physical preseason win against the Lightning on Tuesday in Orlando. With forwards Carter Verhaeghe and Noel Acciari also out with injuries, it gave Florida a chance to experiment.
Lundell played with two established forwards — a potential third- or fourth-line look with two physical wingers surrounding the skilled rookie. Thornton, who could wind up playing either left wing or center, eased his way into action by playing on the wing while Lammikko got a look at center.
While the Panthers expect Verhaeghe to be ready for the start of the regular season, Acciari is going to be out “a while” with a pectoral injury, coach Joel Quenneville told reporters in Tampa, which leaves Florida looking for a fourth-line center. The injury should assure Lundell a spot on the NHL roster — if it was ever in doubt — and lead to increased opportunities for Marchment, Lammikko, left wing Ryan Lomberg and center Eetu Luostarinen.
Joe Thornton scores for Panthers
Thornton will slot in somewhere on the bottom two lines — the top two, each one anchored by either Barkov or Huberdeau, are mostly set — and Quenneville has raved about his versatility. On the Panthers’ one goal Thursday, Thornton showed he still has his old skill set — his vision, his playmaking and his power-forward ability.
With 10:11 left in the second, Thornton created a 2-on-1 by pulling the puck out of a scrum along the left boards and amde a cross-ice pass to Tippett for an open shot. The winger, who added a goal in the third, fired a shot at Lightning goaltender Brian Elliott and created a rebound chance. Thornton went hard to the net and batted home a game-tying goal.
They call him “Jumbo” for a reason.
This story was originally published October 7, 2021 at 9:38 PM.
