Barn Burner: Boomer & Pinder with Rhett Warrener - Florida Looks COOKED… Could They Still Get Healthy & Make A Run?? w/ Darren Dreger | BB Clips

Episode Date: December 5, 2025

Boomer, Pinder & Rhett are joined by TSN’s Darren Dreger as they dive into what’s going on with the Florida Panthers. After three straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final and two championships, this team looks gassed. Injuries are piling up, the depth is being tested, and the results just haven’t been there. Is it time to worry? Dreger wonders if they can get healthy again in time to make a push, while Rhett argues it might actually be a good thing for Florida to have a down year after so much hockey. Are they cooked… or is there another run coming when they get their bodies back?VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/n7R3quMsEAc#nhl #nhlshorts #nhlplayoffs #nhlpredictions #nhlhockey #nhlpicks #stanleycup #stanleycupfinal #floridapanthers CHECK OUT OUR STUFF ⬇️BARN BURNER MERCHhttps://nationgear.ca/collections/shirts/FlamesnationBARN BURNER SHORTS https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj_bcGtvvo-cW2DHEDZ6dEO5ePDmlhZc9&si=jo8iNGxT4ImhS2Y8📲 Follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fnbarnburner/X (Twitter): https://x.com/barnburnerfn?lang=en🎧 Listen on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/barn-burner-boomer-pinder-with-rhett-warrener/id1648562889Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Mc6Qd5U22R2zbMlQ7RxIiProducer: Jack Haverstock Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The story is that Florida Panthers don't care about where they finish. It will be third or second, maybe wind a vision, whatever. They are with 26 points. They're tied with Buffalo for last in the east. And I don't, it's seven, was it seven points now? They're back of the wild card. It's a lot. Is it getting late early?

Like is it starting to maybe be one of those things where I would throw the season. You're going to get Kachuk back soon, though, I would think. Wasn't December the timeline? Like he's got to be quick. He'll be so focused. on the Olympics and everything. Anyway, I just wonder if it's, oh, we're good. I was trying to think of an analogy. Like when you lose control of your car. Is like, am I going to hear you did? No, I'm fine. I'm, geez, I might not be able to pull out of this thing. I just wonder when it gets to be a bit serious.

Wow. The deficits for them. We did the regional game, leave some Panthers on Tuesday. And that's as listless as I've seen that team play in a long, long time. And look, here is the built-in excuse that isn't an excuse. They had seven regular forwards out of their lineup in that game against Toronto on Tuesday. Forwards. Like, you know, I mean, Paul Maurice and that coaching staff have done masterful work over this entire season at this point. And, you know, the back-to-back Stanley Cup championships and the trips to the Stanley Cup final.

I mean, that speaks for itself. One thing I know, though, no one's throwing in the. towel there. And Billy Zito is general manager. He's going down swinging, whatever that looks like. There's no magic player out there available that is going to imminently change the direction of this

team. But it does feel like Zito is going to have to get involved here because more than ever they need help right now. I don't know the draft positioning. I don't know that they have their first round of this and that. Drake's talk to Zito and tell him, pump the brakes, take the year off, sell a little bit.

Barkov is not playing for this year. Cachukts been hurt. Throw a season and recoup some young kids and redo it. Get after it. Don't chase it again. Three in a row is already a stunning achievement. Three finals in a row. Throw a season.

You're not throwing it. No. Circumstance of have happened. And I know it's hard to believe. They don't have a first. The best case, then trade and get one. Yeah. The best case for the Florida Panthers right now is to accept this as what it is.

It's not going to kill their, the vibe in South Florida. They're still very popular and people still know they're a good team. The best thing they could do is not chase it. That's fair. And you start to wonder if the players can see it and feel it too, right? Like, you know, Bobrovsky was good the other night. and I think he's been better of late, but he's been leaky this here, man.

It's tough. You can't go that deep all the time. The cultural capital up north, they're struggling. Part of the reason they're struggling is their goaltending hasn't been good and their defense is porous, but mostly, and I believe this about the league in general,

mostly winning and losing in this league is about the energy you can bring to the rink and the excitement you can have in the dressing room and on the ice. It's not X's and O's, and there's different skill levels, But 90% of it is, are you having fun, are you having energy on the,

are you playing hard? And if you're having that, great. Now, bullet-kender can pop a balloon real quick with a shitty goal against. But, and the reason that Edmondson's struggling, the reason that Florida is struggling,

injuries with all the, they're exhausted. I think you're right. They're exhausted. It's a mental toll that's played on you. Throw it a towel on this year for Florida. You just won back-to-back Stanley Cups. Come back.

again next year, Barkoff healthy, all these, and go after it again. Recoup. No, I remember just speaking of Florida and Paul Maurice, he probably wouldn't like me telling this story, but it goes back to the Carolina Hurricanes when they drafted Eric Stahl, like a bazillion years ago. Like they were an okay team. You know, I think they had a decent start and then things started to wobble a little bit. And Jimmy Rutherford was a GM and went to Paul, you know, around January and said, look, man, you're not getting any help. We've got to get ourselves in position for this kid. He's an incredible player.

And so you got a tough second half coming here. So maybe that's a conversation Zito has with Paul in your future. I'm a big, I believe that. Now, I don't have any pressure from an owner or an expectation. We also don't know the timelines. they'll have a better idea of one actually Kachuk's back. It doesn't matter about Kachuk. I'm saying that even with Kachuk back,

if you don't have Barkov, but they haven't wrote them off for the year, that's my whole point. If they think they can get them back in March, that changes everything. If they think he's done for the year, it doesn't for me. It doesn't for me.

Really? And that's what I'm saying. So we have a healthy Barkov of Kachuk in the playoffs? You don't take this sweet? No, I don't. Because after three years of Stanley Cup finals, you're not going to do it. The odds are stacked against you.

100%. And you're a big numbers nerd. I'll guarantee you if you went and did some AI computer generated bullshit. I'm telling you, it's like, I agree, it's like signing contracts with guys that have had success in the past and given, and I love Brent Seabrook and he's around here, and I'm not trying to poke.

When Brent Seabrook signed, we're like, holy F, that's a lot for an old guy. Now I know you're paying him for what he gave you and that's admirable, but that's not going to age well. You're not saying they can't. You're just saying Bill Zito, Don't chase. No.

I agree with the don't chase, Hunter, but I don't. That's what he's saying is. He's saying sell parts, though. I would sell to recoup. If I could recoup and rebuild a little bit more so that I'm better off next year. Yeah. You, it's, it's fine.

What's the downside of, do you really think that they're going to find it again and cruise through and go to the, I, what are the odds of the Panthers going to win in the Stanley Cup again? Yeah, I wouldn't be. I don't know who in the East has better odds if they're healthy, though. That's the other counterpoint, right? Like in a seven-game series, I still look at that group. Everything has to go right for you. You're so out to, like, they're so fortunate.

Yes, they've worked their asses off. Yes, yes. Then they plan and Zito's put together a wonderful team and all the above. And Barbowski's, you just don't do it 10 years in a row. Like, it's just too fucking hard. They played so much hard. Yes. And I just think if you're realistic about it, you see, we're not going to throw.

the towel up the braced chase after this too much how many years did Pittsburgh chase after it? Yeah. Because they had Balkin and Crosby and that

that core group we're going to win. Detroit, Chicago and going to go on the list. It's a cycle. Yes. And maybe if you toss a towel in on a season in a certain sense,

you can recoup some of that and not have the down cycle or the death spiral at some point. Yeah, it'll be interesting. I'm not sure. So you tell Zito for me, which is. I will. I got it.

I'm not sure what you have on the go this afternoon. But that's what I'm doing. I got my marching orders. I know that's right. You got it. I agree with the overall philosophy of what you're saying. I just also think this team could be at 100% health in the playoffs and be in as a second wildcard. And still, I like them in every series they play.

I know. Who's a beast? When's the last time a team won three in a row? What was the last time won two in a row? Like they were already... When's the last time someone won four in a row? They're trying to make history. No one's won three in a row in the cap.

That's the only thing. It's great. And it's an argument that none of us can win. And you can be passionate about it and this and that. And you're... I just don't think or go through the course of hit... And again, if you go back to all the Montreal, one six years on, there were six fucking teams.

No, the cap era is not realistic. There's 32 teams. Getting in is going to be a son of a bitch. but you have to be at the top of your game. It's easy to say, well, we're just going to get in and turn the, they did that last year. I don't know that that's a switch that you just turn on year and year over and over and cruise through teams. Because other teams want to win.

Eye of the Tiger is a real thing. So I'm with you. I look at their age. I look at the guys they've locked up. There isn't like a natural, send this rental out and get young assets. They don't have their next two first. They've traded them both already. Don't chase.

I agree. But like a first rounder for them is he's going to help them in three, four years. That's past the prime of Marchand. You now get the second, the back half of the golf course on a lot of the guys in the roster. They're built to win now. Okay. And they have one now.

Yeah. But yeah, don't go chasing. Don't go plugging holes. I think you F things up if you think that while we're. We trade away. Well, go through. Where's the standings? I know everything's.

tight, but that means every team's getting points. Like, yeah, the other teams are still playing and going to get points. And it is a good year to sell at this point. There's so many teams that feel like they're in it, and there's so few defined sellers at this juncture. Like Vancouver National Calgary, who else

actually? You're in last. Like, I'm sorry. The Devils and Flyers have 33. The Panthers have 26 points. And again, it's like, well, is it achievable? Sure. Why are we throwing? But we'll shit talk to flames. They're dead in the water.

There's no chance for these guys, but Florida can do it. Well, they're missing the rest of the players. That's why we're giving them off the hook. So when are they back? What do they know about the injuries? We don't have, we don't know that. Well, Parkoff ain't back next month. No, but Kachuk, it's December.

Is it January now or is it next week? I don't know. I mean, so they're a Kachuk away from being good. I mean, yes, he's a great player, but you're telling me that it's more than Kachuk, too. They've got a bunch of guys out. Bob Bob Brofsky has an 886 save percentage. And so if that turns on a dime, you're... Yeah, I don't know.

You can start there for sure is to get better goaltending. Is he likely to get worse or better? I think he's likely to get better. And then if you can get healthy. Yeah, I don't... I see what both of you're saying. If they get those guys back and they go into the playoffs, you're going to have a hard time pick it against them.

But at the same time, I'm with you. I would be looking at it if I'm Zito, even with a win-now roster. It helps that he doesn't have. have the first rounder. Because you would be enticed. He's five points out a third in his division. Because I know you're looking at, but the easier way in isn't a wild card. It's third in the Atlantic.

Five is not, like, if you're 10 out, sure. But five's nothing when you've got 55 games lost. Could be. Remember what I said to you before the show? We need to reach down and give him a squeeze. And that's what Billy Zito needs to do. You've got to reach down there, give him a little tug, and find out, do I have what it takes he's been an absolute stud at this he's not made him putting this yeah and what he should do

and i'm right and i'm going to self-proclaim myself being right if he reached down and gave him a tug he'd say screw this year even if barkov's back he hasn't played all year he's injured landis gog was out for two years and came back and it's not the same player takes time to get back into game shit so we've been great for three years well a little blip Let's reset. Come back next year. Let's turn the barbecues off. Let's put the burns away.

Let's have everybody healthy and go after it fresh. Let's, you know what, Dino? You guys go win your Olympic bullshit this year and then come April. Yeah. We're going to shut her down, kick the feet up. Come back next year.

They will have a ton of players in the Olympics. That's not going to help the Panthers. No, you have. Like they're probably, I think there's like six to ten guys they'll have there when you think about it. Like it's obviously. Ryan Hart. It's obviously

Kachuk. It's obviously Barkoff if he's healthy, he probably won't be. Like, Seth Jones, does he go for the States? Probably. Like, there's a lot of really good players. Luster Ryan for the Finns. The other centerman Lundell. Oh, so, well, that's so, like, it's absolutely a checkmark to your argument.

They're not going to get rested and healthy over the Olympic break. Their best players are going to be planned.