Panthers rivals reportedly accusing team of trying to aggressively tank

Unless something major changes, the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers are not going to be in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year.

They've advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in each of the last three years, winning twice in a row, both over the Edmonton Oilers.

But they've had devastating injuries to so many key players this year, starting with Matthew Tkachuk, who missed the first several months of the season after surgery in August, along with captain Aleksander Barkov, who tore his ACL during a training camp practice.

Per a new report from NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman, there are other teams who believe that Florida is going to try and throw the rest of the year so they can finish in the bottom 10 and maximize their chances of a favourable draft pick.

The Panthers have played 68 playoff games in the last three years, and the wear and tear on the team is evident in their season-long injury reports.

But are the Panthers waiving the white flag on the rest of the season?

Pending UFA goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who led the Panthers to back to back Stanley Cups, was rumoured to potentially be traded at last week's trade deadline.

Teams like the Oilers and the Vegas Golden Knights were suggested as potential spots where he could end up with, but in the end, he remained in Florida, and his representation is allegedly working to get him re-signed.

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