Welcome to Keeping Up With The League ™, a new EP Rinkside series in desperate pursuit of a catchier name. The concept is simple: I will make my way around the NHL and “Keep Up” with each team, led by one question: “For better or for worse, what team am I most curious about right now?”

Each installment will come bearing a surprise interview with someone close to the team: a coach, a player, a mascot, a particularly online parent. You get the picture. Last time it was the Anaheim Ducks and head coach Greg Cronin. Today, we’ve got the surging Florida Panthers and a notorious personality.

For the record, I am an OG 2023-24 Florida Panthers believer. I was very confused back in October when they were left off so many playoff prediction lists. Look, I get that the East is stacked, and there were