You legitimately know nothing about hockey if you think Florida has a chance in the east.
I'm convinced he's just busting on us about Florida. Especially when he hypes up signings of players like Troy Brouwer.
Florida stormed back last year only to fall short. I think the chances of them not only going on a run like that again this year, but actually pulling it off in the end (and not falling short like last year) are very minute.
Now, if they somehow end up getting Panarin at the deadline and win all or most of their games before they get him next Monday, I might think there's a little something to believe in, but even then the odds are incredibly stacked against them.
By the way, I don't think they're getting Panarin, at least not at the deadline. There's just been some rumors thrown out there that they'll try and trade for him (and Bobrovsky) at the deadline, just so they can sign them before they hit UFA. So that scenario of them storming back with Panarin is meaningless anyway.
I don't think anyone (except for us) is ever out of it with DD. He was saying the other night he thought the Flyers were getting in. They have 3 more points than Florida currently, but Florida also has 2 games in hand. I'd like to know what two teams those two are pushing out. Obviously, Columbus is probably out if they trade Panarin (or Bob, who hasn't been great this year anyway), but as of right now, Carolina is really the only team that has a threat to take a spot, that isn't currently in one. Maybe with a hot week, Buffalo can get themselves back in the conversation, but I'm skeptical a hot week is upon them.
Montreal has 11 more points than the Panthers with two more games played, and they have 8 points on the Flyers with the same amount of games played. The exact same is true for Pittsburgh. Columbus is 9 points ahead of Florida with one more game played and 6 points ahead of Philadelphia with a game in hand on them. I don't think they're selling at the deadline, unless they go winless through Monday.