Riding the high from a strong finish to the NHL season, Goc hopes his play will factor positively for Team Germany at the 2012 IIHF World Championship.

“You don’t want to take off too long,” Goc said. “I’m still in hockey shape, playing shape, so I’ll get over there and meet the team next week in Stockholm.”

Goc has been a mainstay for Team Germany since he made his World Championship debut in 2001. He’s appeared in 207 games, registering 30 goals and 57 assists in top-level international play. In 2010, he captained the German squad, which hosted the event.

What makes this year’s tournament special for the Panthers center is the fact he’ll get another rare opportunity to play with his younger brother, Nikolai.

“I haven’t played much with him,” said Goc. “I thought, why not? It should be a good experience with him.”

The brothers last played together in 2010, when Germany reached the bronze medal game on home turf. Although the Germans fell 3-1 to Sweden in that contest, the squad’s fourth-place finish marked a team best since German reunification in 1990.

“We are the underdog for sure in those games,” he said.

Playing for a dark horse is nothing new for Goc, who played an integral role for the Panthers in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the New Jersey Devils. The Calw native netted a pair of goals and three assists in seven games. In Game 7, Goc kept Florida’s postseason hopes alive, scoring a power play tally with 3:28 remaining to force overtime.

“It could have gone either way, I think,” Goc said. “Once we started the third period, we started picking up, got to come back and tie the game.”

The Panthers were eliminated when New Jersey’s Adam Henrique scored 3:47 into double overtime.

“They had chances, we had chances, and one of their shots went in,” Goc said. “Game over.”

While he expressed disappointment in how the season ended, Goc expressed excitement about joining his countrymen.

“It’s fun for me. I like playing for the national team,” he said. “I know it’s a little different as a European player playing over here when the playoffs are going on.

“I told [Team Germany], I want to play here in the playoffs,” Goc said. “But if things don’t work out here, and they want me – and if I am not hurt – I am happy to play.”

For the Germans, the sentiment is likely mutual.

Florida’s NHL Players Association representative Mike Weaver does not foresee any issues preventing the 2012-13 season from beginning on time. The NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to expire September 15, just as training camps are to get under way.

“Everything is great,” Weaver said. “As long as the NHL is going to be reasonable, we’re going to be reasonable. We just want to do the right thing here. I think we should come to a resolution pretty quick.”

The NHL lost an entire season in 2004-05 when players and owners could not agree on a new CBA. Once agreed upon, however, the sides experienced five years of labor peace and later extended the deal for another two years in 2010.

Talks have yet to get under way as the NHLPA has put union business on hold during the postseason. Discussions among players should begin again once the Stanley Cup playoffs have concluded.

Although Weaver declined to indicate specific issues which were up for negotiation, the defenseman said he doesn’t believe there will be a “showstopper” during talks which could delay or negate the 2012-13 season.

“Don [Fehr], our current head, I am very impressed with him,” Weaver said.

“I think it is going to be a smooth negotiation.”

With the defenseman’s Florida Panthers were bounced from the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs Thursday night, Ellerby is now pulling for cousin Shane Doan and the Phoenix Coyotes.

Doan, Phoenix’s captain, is playing in the conference semifinals for the first time in his 16-year career.

The third-seeded Coyotes defeated the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-2, in the opening round. Phoenix opened its second-round series with a 4-3 overtime victory over the Nashville Predators Friday night.

“I talked to him after they beat Chicago,” Ellerby said. “I know he’s very excited about it, the most competitive guy I know. He’s going to be out there giving it his all every night.

“It’s definitely very, very nice to see him get rewarded.”

Ellerby has not ruled out going to see his cousin play in the coming days. But the Panthers blueliner admits he’d like to see Doan and the Coyotes go much further, even if chances of getting a ticket are slim.

“It would be tough to squeeze a ticket out of him,” he said. “There are people down the line ahead of me.

“Hopefully they can keep winning and the Cup can come to the family one way or the other.”

Kris Versteeg had a goal and an assist, and Scottie Upshall and Tomas Kopecky recorded the other goals for the Panthers, who hold a 3-2 series lead.

“Tonight we got great efforts from all of our leaders,” Upshall said. “It was a 20-man effort. Theo was our MVP as he’s been all year.”

Returning to the nets after giving up three goals on six shots in Game 3, Theodore looked more comfortable Saturday night than in his first few outings. The netminder limited his rebounds and also got help from his teammates, who blocked 13 New Jersey shots.

“I wanted to bounce back from when I got pulled,” Theodore said. “In the playoffs, you’re going to use both goalies most of the time. I’m sure we’re going to go back and forth. But you need everybody if you want to have success.”

Theodore stopped 11 shots in the first period, six in the second and 13 in the third. With two minutes left in regulation, he helped fend off a 6-on-4 Devils advantage to preserve a 2-0 lead.

Referees awarded Florida its third goal after New Jersey winger Ilya Kovalchuk hooked Kopecky on a breakaway with 40 seconds remaining in regulation. Kopecky never got a shot off into the empty net.

“They had a lot of little scoring chances around the net,” Theodore said. “That’s how you score goals in the playoffs. A lot of times it’s a little rebound, a little tip. They had a couple chances in the first, but I thought we played well in front of me.”

Florida broke the deadlock four minutes into the second period when Stephen Weiss found Versteeg alone in the left faceoff circle. Versteeg whipped the puck past Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur, giving Florida the only tally it would need for the win.

Versteeg also played a key role in the Panthers’ second goal, as he and Shawn Matthias battled along the length of the boards to get the puck out of the defensive zone and into the Devils’ end.

“It was a great effort to get it out,” Upshall said. “It was like, one chip, two chip, three chip, finally we got it out and then we battled to get the puck in their zone.”

As the puck headed behind the New Jersey net, Versteeg arrived before Brodeur, and flung the puck into the slot. Upshall was there to bury it into an open net with 6:43 to play.

“I don’t think [Brodeur] knew Steeger was on him as quick as he was,” Upshall said. “I don’t recall how many guys they had back. I just remember getting loose and being the only guy in front of the net. If you’re going to sit in the slot, you might as well put one in.”

“This time of year there is no such thing as a gritty goal, they’re all nice goals,” Matthias said. “A lot of hard work went into that one. Steeger, myself battled hard for that. It was a big goal for us.”

Florida capped the period with a rare, awarded goal, credited to Kopecky.

The Panthers, who now travel to Newark, N.J. for Game 6, have the opportunity to clinch their first playoff series since the 1996 Eastern Conference finals.

“It’s a big step tonight,” Weiss said. “We’ve got to go on the road and try to win one. But it is definitely better to be up one than down one.

“We’re not starting any parties yet.”

GAME NOTES: Florida’s Tyson Strachan made his NHL postseason debut Saturday. The defenseman filled in for Jason Garrison, who is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Strachan received the call-up right after the Panthers’ AHL affiliate, San Antonio, captured a 5-4, Game 1 victory over the Chicago Wolves. “This is when we want to play, and obviously you want to be playing in the NHL, in this kind of atmosphere, a full building out there,” Strachan said. “We got the big win down in the American League against Chicago the other day, and then to come up here and get a huge win like this feels great.” … Matthias recorded his first career postseason point with an assist on Upshall’s goal. … Jerred Smithson recorded a game-high nine hits and was 6-for-6 in the faceoff circle. … Florida improved to 7-for-22 on the power play in this series. … All five games of this series have involved a team grabbing a 3-0 lead.

Weiss gave the Panthers the quick start they sought with a goal 23 seconds into the contest and later netted a power-play tally as Florida held on to defeat the New Jersey Devils, 4-2 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

The win, which evened the series at one game apiece, marked Florida’s first postseason victory since April 17, 1997, a 3-0 win over the New York Rangers. It is also the first playoff triumph here at the BankAtlantic Center since the franchise moved to Broward County in 1998.

“Everyone is excited about Weisser,” Panthers coach Kevin Dineen said. “He’s a little like the identity of our team.”

Toppled by a relentless New Jersey attack during the first period of Game 1, the Panthers worked to avoid the same fate when the puck dropped. Sean Bergenheim drew a tripping penalty while going to the net 11 seconds into the contest.

On the ensuing power play, Weiss picked up the rebound from Mikael Sameulsson’s shot and buried it 12 seconds into the Devils’ infraction.

The goal shattered franchise records for the fastest goal to start a postseason contest, fastest goal to start a postseason contest at home and fastest goal from the start of a period.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, Weiss’ tally was also the fastest power play goal in NHL playoffs history since Montreal’s Mats Naslund scored 18 seconds into a game versus Quebec on April 26, 1987.

With New Jersey’s David Clarkson and Alexei Ponikarovsky in the box for charging and high-sticking penalties, respectfully, early in the second period, the longest tenured Panthers player struck again to give Florida a 2-0 lead.

“It gets the monkey off your back,” Weiss said. “A couple tap-ins don’t hurt either. It was a great job by Sammy to get the puck on the net, and any time you get a 5-on-3 you want to capitalize.”

Marcel Goc extended Florida’s lead to 3-0 with a wrist shot through traffic with 5:21 to go in the second period.

Like the Panthers did in Game 2, the Devils rallied back to pull within one goal. Travis Zajac scored 48 seconds into the third period, and Kovalchuk followed with another 74 seconds later.

“That’s typical of us this year,” Weiss said. “We hung in there. We didn’t let it rattle us. We pushed back a little bit and got some big saves from [Jose Theodore]. In the past we might have tightened up a bit, but we responded.”

Despite having won just three of nine facoffs, Dineen went with Weiss on a crucial draw in the Panthers’ zone with 7.5 seconds to play. The New Jersey Devils managed to get the puck back to Ilya Kovalchuk, whose shot was blocked by Tomas Fleischmann.

Fleischmann collected the puck at the blue line, skated in alone on a breakaway and scored into an empty net with one second remaining to unleash a torrent of rubber rats from the stands.

“A lot can happen in 7.5 seconds,” said defenseman Ed Jovanovski, who was on the last Panthers team to win a playoff game. “It went back to Kovalchuk, but we got in his way and found a way to get the puck out.

“[Weiss] had a great game for us. To be in that crucial faceoff for us says a lot for him.”

Jose Theodore finished with 23 saves, including stops on a few point-blank chances by Kovalchuk and captain Zach Parise in the final minutes.

“The defensemen were really good around me, taking care of the rebounds and letting me see the puck,” Theodore said. “That’s the playoffs. You’re up three goals, but you know it’s going to go back and forth.”

Game 3 is Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Newark, N.J.

GAME NOTES: Weiss said he didn’t feel well prior to Friday’s Game 1. “I didn’t feel very well last game,” Weiss said. “I don’t know why. All the emotions, waiting around for a week. I definitely felt more comfortable [tonight].” … Florida’s Jason Garrison recorded an assist on Weiss’ second goal for his first career postseason point. … After giving up a franchise-high 26 shots in the opening period of Game 1, the Panthers held the Devils to just four shots in the first. … To put Florida’s first playoff win since 1997 in perspective, the last time the Panthers won a postseason game: MLB’s Florida Marlins had not yet won a World Series; the Miami Heat had not yet won an NBA championship; and Hall of Famer Dan Marino was still the quarterback of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.

Florida, seeking its first postseason victory since 1997, dropped a 3-2 decision to the New Jersey Devils in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Friday night.

The Devils charged to a 3-0 lead on first-period goals by Patrik Elias, Dainius Zubrus and Ryan Carter. Martin Brodeur finished with 26 saves to preserve the eventual one-goal victory, the 100th postseason triumph of his career.

“We just wanted to play simple hockey to make sure the crowd wasn’t a factor for them,” Brodeur said. “We kept it simple and they forced a few plays, turned some pucks over and we got some offense out of it.”

The Devils got on board with a spectacular stickhandling display by Patrik Elias. Parked at the right side of the net, the veteran winger deked several times to get Theodore out of position, then flipped the puck into the top right corner 6:31 into the contest.

At the midpoint of the period, referees called a double-minor on Panthers forward Shawn Matthias for high-sticking Devils defenseman Andy Greene. Florida appeared on the verge of escaping a relentless attack by New Jersey, but Zubrus struck from the right circle with eight seconds remaining in the penalty.

Carter, who was waived by Florida earlier this season, ended up with the eventual game-winner just 45 seconds later.

By the end of the period, New Jersey’s high-powered offense had exploited the Panthers defense with 26 shots. It set a new team mark for Florida, which gave up 24 during the second period of a 4-3 overtime win vs. Philadelphia during an Eastern Conference Semifinals match on May 9, 1996.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, it is the most goals allowed in a playoff period across the NHL since San Jose totaled 27 in the second period vs. Calgary on April 10, 2008.

“I can’t remember the last time I had 26 shots in a period,” Florida goalie Jose Theodore said. “I was just trying to give my team a chance to win and keep making saves.”

Theodore, who struggled down the stretch and only received the starting nod at game time, look prepared for the postseason. His numerous acrobatic saves in the first kept the game from turning into a debacle, and he finished with 12 saves down the stretch to keep Florida within reach.

Panthers wingers Sean Bergenheim and Kris Versteeg scored for Florida, and Mikael Samuelsson picked up a pair of assists in the loss.

Bergenheim sent the sold out BankAtlantic Center into a frenzy a little less than eight minutes into the second period, with a quick-footed drive to the net before flipping the puck over Brodeur.

With about four minutes to go in the stanza, Versteeg pulled the Panthers within one by jamming the puck between Brodeur’s pads on a power play.

The game had the signature of a contest between these teams in late November, when the Devils, like tonight, stormed to a 3-0 lead in the first before being overrun by the Panthers in the final two periods for a 4-3 Cats victory.

“We talked about [that game] after even the first,” Florida defenseman Brian Campbell said. “We’ve done it to this team before. We came out with a better effort in the second and third. You always have to rely on those things you’ve done in the past.”

During the final period, however, Florida mustered just six shots, and was unable to capitalize with the extra attacker in the final 90 minutes of play.

Game 2 will be held here Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

“We’ve got to split here,” Campbell added. “That’s what we’ve got to look at right now. We know what we have to do, areas we need to improve on. We have to grab game two.”

GAME NOTES: Brodeur on the 100th postseason win of his career: “It’s nice. Only one goalie had more than 100 wins, so it is nice to get to that plateau.” … Bergenheim picked up his 10th career playoff goal in just 17 games. … Stephen Weiss made his playoff debut after 637 games. Also making postseason debuts were Dmitri Kulikov, Shawn Matthias, Erik Gudbranson and Jason Garrison. … Former Dolphins quarterback and Hall of Famer Dan Marino, wearing a No. 13 jersey, dropped the ceremonial first puck. … Despite being outscored and outshot in the opening period, the Panthers managed to outhit the Devils, 21-14, in the opening 20 minutes. Florida finished with 49 hits to New Jersey’s 44. … The Miami Marlins and Miami Heat were also in action tonight, marking the first time since 2002 the three teams had played games at home on the same night. The Panthers drew 19,119, while the Marlins and Heat drew 30,169 and 19,600 fans, respectively.

Like the 2000 – Stanley Cup-winning – edition of the Devils, this team boasts a potent top line and has gotten contributions from key rookies. And, of course, Martin Brodeur is still between the pipes, 12 years older and perhaps a couple of steps slower.

Petr Sykora and Patrik Elias, who ranked second on the team in scoring during the regular season, are the only other holdovers from the 2000 team, so long gone are Hall of Fame defensemen Scott Stevens and Scott Niedermayer. In fact, New Jersey has won only two playoff series since Stevens retired in 2004.

While the 2000 Devils boasted the “A Line” of Elias, Sykora and Jason Arnott, the 2011-12 Devils high-powered wingers Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise flanking rookie Adam Henrique. No NHL forward logged more ice time during the season than Kovalchuk, who recorded his ninth straight 30-goal season. He’s immensely talented yet prone to mind-numbing mistakes that helped account for New Jersey surrendering a league-high 13 shorthanded goals.

Henrique should be a finalist for the Calder Trophy after ranking third among rookies with 51 points. After missing most of the 2010-11 season, Parise was one of six Devils to play all 82 games. He’s wrapping up his first year as team captain and heading into potential unrestricted free agency, yet he insists he does not feel any added pressure.

The return of Sykora and continued excellence of Elias gave first-year coach Pete DeBoer a dependable second line and the emergence of David Clarkson – who reached the 30-goal mark for the first time in his five-year career – provides even more scoring balance.

The late-season acquisition of Marek Zidlicky added a little zip to an unspectacular defense corps. In fact, the 12 defensemen who played at least one game for the Devils totaled 16 goals, matching the Panthers’ Jason Garrison. Adam Larsson, the other rookie who saw a lot of playing time, fell out of favor as the regular season wound down and likely will watch Game 1 from the press box.

Penalty-killing was a particular strength, with New Jersey eclipsing Dallas’ 1999-2000 modern NHL record at 89.6 percent. The Devils also led the NHL with 15 shorthanded goals. And while the power play was middle of the pack, it was better on the road than it was at home.

Brodeur had a solid season, topping the 30-win mark for the 14th time. But backup Johan Hedberg had more impressive statistics and became the first goalie – other than Brodeur – to lead the Devils in shutouts since 1992.

Brodeur represents a key question facing New Jersey as it returns to the playoffs following an unexpected one-year absence. His legacy is cemented. He’s the winningest goalie in NHL history, owns a couple of Olympic gold medals and has three Stanley Cups on his mantel. How badly does he want to match Patrick Roy with a fourth championship?

How badly do the Devils – as a team – want to make a deep playoff run? Are they willing to pay the price and go to the dirty places to score goals? This once-proud franchise’s most recent postseason memories are a listless effort at home in getting eliminated by the Flyers in 2010 and a spectacular collapse a year earlier in Game 7 against Carolina.

Recalling the 3-0 loss to Philadelphia two springs ago, Parise told NorthJersey.com, “It was ugly, there was no way around it. There wasn’t much push from our part. It was an elimination game for us and it just wasnít a good game. It wasnít a good effort.”

We’ll see how much has changed when the puck drops tonight.

Nick Bjugstad, the 19th overall pick in 2010, is expected to receive a three-year, $2.7 million offer from the Panthers, the Pioneer Press reports.

Boston College defeated Minnesota, Bjugstad’s college team, 6-1, in the Frozen Four semifinals Thursday night. With the Golden Gophers’ season finished, the Panthers are free to sign the 6-foot-5, 211-pound forward.

Per NHL rules, Bjugstad would have sign before Saturday in order to receive a $270,000 signing bonus built into the contract and be eligible for the postseason.

Bjugstad could also end up with the San Antonio Rampage, Florida’s AHL affiliate, which also qualified for the postseason.

Bjugstad registered 25 goals and 17 assists in 39 games during his sophomore season with Minnesota. He represented Team USA at the 2012 World Junior Championship, where he shared the team lead with four goals and ranked second in points with six.

Stephen Weiss, the longest tenured Panther, celebrates his 29th birthday. It falls on the 10th anniversary of his NHL debut. And it may end up being the date his ticket to the Stanley Cup playoffs is finally punched.

“He’s definitely the most deserving guy in the locker room to be in the position he’s been in,” rookie defenseman Erik Gudbranson said. “He’s been here through the tough times and he’s always had a belief that he’d get to this point. It’s credit to him and his character. As teammates we definitely want to get it, and it will be nice to see a smile on his face.”

Weiss’ experiences – from being selected fourth overall at the 2001 NHL Entry Draft in South Florida to suffering through 10 losing seasons with the squad – have made the winger stoic. Never one to complain, he’s literally the last Panther standing after years of endless changes that ceased only this season. And he’s no longer looking to the past.

Asked whether he thought core players he used to be mentioned in the same breath with – Nathan Horton, Jay Bouwmeester, Roberto Luongo – would have still been here for this moment, Weiss did not hesitate to focus on the now.

“What’s done is done,” he said. “A lot of guys have been in and out, but our focus is on the group we have here and these guys want to be here, want to be a part of it.”

Weiss never developed into the superstar forward most expect to see out of a fourth overall pick. He’s been nothing short of steady during his career, though, hovering around the 50- to 60-point mark over the last few seasons.

He’s developed into a two-way center man who’s adept in the faceoff circle. Early this season he posted numbers worthy of a Selke Trophy nomination. Yet despite ranking first or second in several franchise records, he’s never gained much attention outside Sunrise.

A playoff appearance can change all that, and his teammates know it.

“I think that everyone’s main goal is to [win tonight] for a guy like Weisser,” said line mate Kris Versteeg. “Obviously, it’s the big dance, it’s a lot of fun. It’s something every hockey player has to experience, the Stanley Cup playoffs. We’ve got to do our best to get Weisser there.”

“For Stephen, being here for 10 years, I want to win for that guy,” defenseman Brian Campbell said. “I want to get him to the playoffs. I want him to experience that badly.”

As for Weiss, he’s going through the same process he’s gone through for the last 634 games. Even with his mother in town, and a birthday to celebrate, everything is on pause. Weiss has a game to play.

“It has the makings to be a good day,” he said.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos scored twice, including the game-winning goal in his team’s 4-2 victory over the Washington Capitals Monday night.

The victory by Florida’s intrastate rival put the Panthers in a position to clinch its first playoff spot — and potentially its first division title —in 12 years with a win over the Winnipeg Jets Tuesday night.

“That may be the only time he’s going to be a hero in this locker room,” defenseman Brian Campbell said of Stamkos.

With Tampa Bay leading 2-1 in the third period, Washington’s Jason Chimera tied the contest at 16:43. Stamkos responded with the winning tally with 1:03 to play, then padded the Bolts’ lead a minute later with an empty-net goal.

Several Panthers watched Monday night’s contest between the Southeast Division foes.

Stephen Weiss, who trained with Stamkos over the summer, sent the NHL’s leading goal scorer a text message following the contest.

“[I] told him I loved him at the end of the game,” Weiss said. “It was big for us.”

Kris Versteeg caught the last five minutes of the contest and described the final moments as “a roller coaster.”

“The back and forth, when [Washington] scored and then Tampa scored, it was a fluctuation of emotions,” Versteeg said.

Even veteran Ed Jovanovski, no stranger to the rivalry between Florida and Tampa Bay, found himself cheering the Lightning victory.

“I was excited. I’d be lying if I wasn’t,” Jovanovski said. “It just gives us an opportunity to be where we want to be, not mucking it out the last couple games. We have an opportunity here to do something good.”

As much as the Panthers are thankful for Stamkos’ last-minute heroics, they’re also pulling for him in his pursuit of 60 goals, a feat accomplished just once in the last 10 years.

“It’s fun to see him and his pursuit for 60 goals,” Campbell said. “He’s a good player and it’s always fun facing him. He helped our team out a little bit last night.”

Do you remember when the dismantling began, as Florida traded captain Scott Mellanby to the St. Louis Blues in 2001?

Did you ever get the opportunity to watch the Bure brothers skate together before the Panthers shipped superstar Pavel to the New York Rangers?

Can you still hear the announcement of a new franchise record during Roberto Luongo’s 57-save effort against Detroit, as he gave up the winning goal with less than a minute to go in overtime?

Do you recall Sandis Ozolinsh being traded the day before he was to play in the hometown 2003 All-Star Game as a Panther?

Do you remember the lockout season, a period welcomed by the owners because they would incur smaller financial losses?

Do you look back on the days when Florida’s goaltenders were always among the league leaders … for having faced the most shots?

Can you name the six general managers and seven coaches in a nine-year span who promised to rebuild the team into a winner?

Do you remember cheering for Alexander Karvpotsev, Ruslan Salei and Wade Belak?

Are you able to picture Eddie “The Eagle” Belfour’s flight in his last home game with the Panthers?

Do you remember the era when Jay Bouwmeester and Luongo were considered part of the franchise’s future?

Do you recall the public offseason spat between then-GM Mike Keenan and Luongo, which led to the goalie being traded to Vancouver?

Can you still hear Bouwmeester’s silence when asked about his future with the Panthers? Or his vocal opinion about Florida being a bad place to play when he arrived in Calgary?

Can you still see, in your mind’s eye, Richard Zednik clasping his throat for life?

Do you still cringe thinking about all the one-goal losses, decided in the final minute of play? Or the shootout losses, which left you longing for a tie?

Can you still feel the heartbreak from 2009, when Florida missed out on securing the eighth seed on the second tiebreaker to Montreal?

Did you feel the confetti and streamers falling on you from the arena rafters as the team wrapped up a last-place finish in 2009?

Do you remember the day the Panthers ditched the red for powder blue?

Can you name every pundit who insisted on moving the team to Winnipeg? To Quebec City? To Hamilton, Kansas City, Seattle or any other place desperate for an NHL franchise? Or perhaps contraction was the best option for such a failure of a team.

Do you still think about the players like Craig Anderson, Juraj Kolnik, Gregory Campbell, Olli Jokinen, David Booth and Radek Dvorak who gave it their all every night but couldn’t be the catalyst to end the playoff drought?

Do you remember how you felt when you saw former Panthers Dan Boyle, Ray Whitney, Matt Cullen, Kevyn Adams, Bret Hedican, Ric Jackman, Mikael Samuelsson, Andreas Lilja, Nick Boynton, Dennis Seidenberg, Campbell and Horton hoist the Stanley Cup?

Do you remember?

Do you want to forget?

Tuesday night, or perhaps another evening this week, all the heartache finally may end.

The Panthers inked their top defensive defenseman to a two-year contract extension on Dec. 30, ensuring Weaver won’t spend the next couple summers as he had been – looking for a job.

“I think that’s a real settling thing for him and his family,” coach Kevin Dineen said. “I think stability is a great thing in our world.”

Weaver’s career has been nothing short of transient. He chose to pursue a college degree instead of playing major junior hockey. Undrafted as an 18-year-old, the 5-foot-9 defenseman had to play for a contract nearly every year of his professional career.

To put Weaver’s situation into perspective, entering this season, he had signed more contracts (seven) than he had scored NHL goals (six).

“It’s nice to know the organization is behind me. It’s nice to get recognized,” he said. “I am glad it is over and done with, and now I can focus on hockey. I am still going to do the same thing I’ve always done, keep battling and keeping it simple.

“It’s amazing it goes by so quick, in a blink of an eye.”

A seventh-round pick of the Guelph Storm in 1995, Weaver declined the opportunity to play in the Ontario Hockey League to maintain his NCAA eligibility. He played out his junior career in the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League with the Thornhill Islanders and Bramalea Blues.

As Bramalea’s team captain during his final junior season, Weaver averaged just over a point per game and led the league with a plus-62 rating to capture best defenseman honors. In the spring, he led his teammates to a Dudley Hewitt Cup championship.

Weaver’s efforts captured the attention of Michigan State coach Ron Mason, who offered the 18-year-old a scholarship.

Heading into the 1996 NHL Draft, however, Weaver’s scouting report failed to impress:

Height: 5-foot-9. Weight: 170 pounds. A powerful hitter. Solid in his own end defensively. An adept penalty-killer. A developing offensive talent.

“Sometimes, some people get overlooked. With me, I could understand.” Weaver said. “It was the old NHL. They were typically looking for guys over 6 feet. Five-nine defensive defensemen weren’t a real priority.”

Still, Weaver traveled to St. Louis to attend the draft. He went to support friends who were likely to be selected while holding out a little hope one team would take a chance on an atypical defenseman. After two days, nine rounds and 241 picks, Weaver remained in the stands at the Scottrade Center. He became a free agent, allowing him to focus on his college career while enabling any NHL team to sign him in the future.

“I think the draft is too much hype,” Weaver said, reflecting on his experience. “It’s actually nice to be undrafted because you choose where you want to go.”

Unwilling to be disappointed, Weaver headed to East Lansing, where he racked up accolades as a four-year letterman at Michigan State.

Weaver tallied four goals and 22 assists in 44 games as a sophomore, continuing the style of play he displayed during his junior career. The next two seasons, he totaled just one goal and 14 points.

Numbers can be deceiving, though. During his junior and senior campaigns, Weaver transitioned his game to a more defensive style. The change resulted in back-to-back CCHA Best Defenseman awards, two CCHA First All-Star Team and two NCAA West Second-Team All-American nods. He capped a productive college career by graduating with a degree in telecommunications and specializations in virtual reality, software development and web design.

This time, however, he was not overlooked by NHL scouts. Atlanta general manager Don Waddell took a chance on the smallish blueliner, signing Weaver to his first professional contract in June 2000. When Weaver joined the Thrashers in September for his first training camp, the jersey in his locker indicated he might not be staying for long.

No. 43 hung in the stall, a digit often reserved for short-term players or tryouts. It was a far cry from the No. 5 he wore during four years at Michigan State.

Weaver approved of the awkward prime. In fact, he’s kept No. 43 for all but two NHL seasons, wearing No. 8 during his second season with the Los Angeles Kings and No. 18 during a 55-game stint with the Vancouver Canucks. When he signed with St. Louis and later Florida, Weaver requested the number that welcomed him to the NHL.

“Every single level, I have to push the boundaries,” Weaver said. “I have to be better than any guy there. I had to impress but not do too much out there. [No. 43] reminds me of the tough times and the battles I had to stay in the NHL.”

Weaver failed to crack the Thrashers’ lineup in 2000-01, spending his first pro season with the International Hockey League’s Orlando Solar Bears. There, he played a role in the team’s Turner Cup championship – the last before the IHL folded. The following season, he appeared in 16 games with Atlanta but again found success in the minors, winning a Calder Cup title with the American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves.

Although he earned a few more callups with the Thrashers, it appeared Weaver was destined to be a minor league journeyman until the 2004-05 NHL lockout. When the league returned from a canceled season, on-ice rule changes favored his style. With a more open surface and a crackdown on obstruction, size didn’t matter as much. A quick, intelligent and positionally sound defender could make just as much of an impact as a hulking, physical defenseman did in the “old” NHL.

“When you look at the prototypical defending defenseman, you’re looking for size,” Panthers assistant coach and former NHL defenseman Gord Murphy said. “You’re looking for a big, Hal Gill-type guy. Mike does a lot with his size. You can’t measure a guy [by size]. It’s more the size of his heart than it is the size he is on the chart on the wall. That stands true for Mike.”

Weaver’s professionalism and adoption of techniques that compensate for his lack of size have been his keys to success, Murphy suggested.

“He’s got great anticipation, he’s very intelligent defending. He’s got extremely long arms, so he’s able to use a long stick, which really helps him defending. He keeps people at bay and keeps them at a good distance because of his long arms and long reach. He’s kind of like a defender in basketball who has those long arms. He’s able to use that to his advantage in hockey.

“With some guys, they just develop later than others. It took a while for him to hone his craft and learn how to play that way, and he’s done an exceptional job of it.”

For a team that experienced a great deal of upheaval during the 2010-11 season, the Panthers found a steadiness in Weaver’s game. He was one of only six regulars from that squad who remained following the dramatic offseason overhaul. Murphy called Weaver “a rock” for Florida as it trudged through hard times.

Playing all 82 games, Weaver led the Panthers in even-strength and shorthanded ice time, often playing against the league’s top scoring threats. His penalty-killing skills have not been overlooked, either.

Prior to Weaver’s arrival, Florida killed 79.4 percent of its penalties, seventh-worst in the NHL. The following season, Weaver’s first with the Cats, the Panthers improved to sixth at 84.6 percent.

“He’s taken our penalty-kill to a new level since he came last year,” Murphy said. “He’s one of the main guys. You talk about a quarterback on the power play, well, he’s our quarterback on the penalty-kill. You can’t say enough for the job he’s done in those areas for us.”

Weaver also took on the role of elder in a relatively young Panthers locker room. He doesn’t wear a “C” or “A” on his sweater, but sharing the secrets of his craft with less experienced teammates has proved invaluable.

Last season, the veteran mentored 26-year-old Jason Garrison, who – like Weaver – was an undrafted player trying to stick in the NHL. Weaver taught Garrison the finer points of protecting his own end and the pair evolved into Florida’s most dependable defensive unit, logging big even-strength and shorthanded minutes.

“He’s taught me how to be in the right position,” Garrison said. “Just watching him, how he uses his body, his stick to get to pucks first and defend their top lines, it was a big help for me playing with him last year and learning his attributes and what he does well in the game.”

The evolution of Garrison’s game elevated him to the Panthers’ No. 1 pairing, where he plays alongside All-Star Brian Campbell. Garrison also leads all NHL defensemen with 12 goals.

“[Weaver] has helped me tremendously to get to where I am,” Garrison said. “I definitely wouldn’t be where I am or the player that I am without his help.”

The Panthers have continued to rely on Weaver’s tutelage this season as 21-year-old Dmitry Kulikov and 19-year-old Erik Gudbranson develop.

“Once in a while, the younger guys have questions that are often not asked,” Weaver said. “You’ve almost got to go up to them, give them a pat on the back and say, ‘Keep on going.’”

Dineen often pairs Kulikov with Weaver at even strength.

“He’s a real good person,” Kulikov said. “It has been a pleasure playing with him all year. He does what he needs to do on the ice – take care of his own end. He plays big minutes, too.”

For Gudbranson, the third overall pick in 2010, Weaver is never more than a couple of seats away for a chat.

“He’s the easiest guy to talk to,” Gudbranson said. “He’s been a great vet to someone like me. If I’m bothered by something, he’s the first guy to come over and tell me what to do or give me a little pick me up. I have nothing but respect for him.”

And while Gudbranson appreciates the advice he’s received about his own game, he’s also learning about all sorts of technology from Weaver. The veteran, who still tinkers on the web and loves the latest gadgets, is a product developer with iSpaces, a cloud-computing operating system.

“I’ve learned a lot about iSpaces, the cloud, iPads and MacBooks.” the rookie joked.

Weaver’s role as a teacher extends beyond the NHL. Every summer he hosts Defense First hockey camps in Toronto and Michigan with former Spartans teammate Jon Insana. On the ice, players between 11-18 years old are taught the skills Weaver honed on his way to becoming a premier defender.

But Weaver’s advice to his students about pursuing the NHL dream is equally important.

“We have a topic discussion and it is all about enjoying the journey, especially the [camp] we have in Toronto,” Weaver said. “Hockey is pushed on these kids so young and there is so much pressure there. These kids don’t have time to enjoy their childhood, enjoy being a kid. We teach the kids just to enjoy it.”

Living by the mantra that the journey is the reward is something from which Weaver does not intend to stray. His road ahead may be clearer than the one behind, but the trek continues.

While most of the NHL continued to enjoy its relatively short offseason this past weekend, the Panthers hosted the “Weekend of the Rat,” which reunited 18 members of the squad that took South Florida on an unforgettable run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1996.

The former Eastern Conference champions skated to 9-5 triumph over a team comprised of members of the Panthers Alumni Association during an exhibition game Saturday.

It marked the first opportunity for the group to play in the arena that they helped lay the groundwork for.

“It dawns on me every time I drive by here. That ‘96 team built this building,” former Panthers coach Doug MacLean said. “A month into that season, we were moving to Nashville. It was a done deal. This team kept hockey in South Florida.”

Before the contest, a team representative noted about 6,000 fans were expected to attend the event. They drew nearly double that amount, which packed the entire lower bowl and two-thirds of the club level of the BankAtlantic Center.

“For events like these, you never know what to expect,” said Dallas Stars center Stu Barnes, who played with the team from 1993-96. “But it was nice to see a lot of people out there looking for autographs. It seemed like the crowd had fun out there during the game.”

“It was a real fun day, a great environment to be in,” MacLean said. “The support they got from the fans, I don’t know that you’d see that in many other cities. It shows there are tremendously passionate fans in South Florida.”

For a couple of hours, the 1996 Panthers gave fans a reason to forget the dysfunction that has enveloped the team in recent years.

Florida has missed the playoffs in each of its past six seasons and has not won a postseason game since 1997. They have not retained the same coach and general manager in back-to-back seasons since 2000. On the ice, only Olli Jokinen, Jay Bouwmeester and Stephen Weiss have played for the Panthers in each of the past four seasons.

“I think this weekend here is a big step in the right direction to get this team back in the forefront down here in South Florida,” said Brian Skrudland, Florida’s first captain. “We know you only get 20,000 people in this rink and it’s not comparative to whatever they’re drawing at Dolphins games, Marlins games and Heat games.”

Skrudland recalled the franchise always faced the daunting task of proving ice hockey could thrive in this region.

During the offseason before 1995-96, doubts began to surface as discussions with local municipalities about a new arena stalled. Rumors suggested the team would be moved to Nashville if an arena deal could not be reached.

But on Oct. 8, 1995, a rodent scurried through the Panthers’ dressing room at the Miami Arena and changed everything. Scott Mellanby one-timed the vermin into the wall, killing it, then went out to score two goals that evening in a win against the Calgary Flames.

Goalie John Vanbiesbrouck dubbed Mellanby’s effort hockey’s first “rat trick.” MacLean cites it as the start of Florida’s incredible run.

“We lost our first game, then won five in a row and never looked back after that,” MacLean said. “By the end of that five-game stretch, we were as good as any team in the league.”

By the end of that season, Panthers fans had made their mark on the NHL by creating on-ice infestations with rubber rats. Florida secured a playoff berth and gave the area its first taste of a professional championship run since 1985, when the Miami Dolphins lost in Super Bowl XIX.

The frenzy also brought light to the Panthers’ possible relocation, which resulted in a couple cities bidding to build a new arena.

Only 11 players instrumental in the Cup run were still with the team when the building opened in October 1998.

“We were here for the ground breaking and then we all left,” said Vanbiesbrouck, who signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Flyers the summer before the arena opened. “We knew special things were happening, but to see it now, the stadium is something special, knowing we were a part of it.”

The Panthers were unable to replicate the same energy they created in 1996 on Saturday, but they didn’t disappoint. For the first 10 minutes of the contest, though, fans nervously squeezed their rubber rats as the ‘96 squad fell behind 2-0. It wasn’t long before Barnes finished off a quick pass by Mellanby, which sent the rodents flying.

“Honest to God, I got chills,” MacLean said. “When they came out, it was pretty neat, pretty special.”

While fans relished the opportunity to take part in a tradition now banned by the NHL, members of the ‘96 team used the weekend to reflect on their accomplishment and what made the group so special.

“For us to make the Stanley Cup as a three-year expansion team, it’s really quite a feat,” said Mark Fitzpatrick, Florida’s backup goalie from 1993-97. “No one really expected us to win. I don’t even think we expected we could do it.”

“I think the word character has been used so much this weekend,” Skrudland said. “It wasn’t necessarily an overabundance of talent or an overabundance of one thing.”

For MacLean, the gathering served as a great opportunity to express his appreciation for the team that played a significant role in his future as general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

“Like I said to these guys last night, I wanted to thank them because this group made my career,” he said.

And like wiser elders, the group didn’t hesitate in offering their thoughts about the current state of the franchise.

Vanbiesbrouck cited offseason moves by GM Jacques Martin as reason to think better days were ahead. MacLean believes the addition of goalie Tomas Vokoun will have a huge impact next season. Skrudland noted the young, skilled nucleus as a positive.

All were in agreement, however, that developing the character and chemistry of the 1996 team is what the current squad should focus on.

“It never hurt to look into the history of any business, any sports franchise to see where the true successes came from,” Skrudland said.

If this weekend was any indication, the Panthers already have.

Selected as an All-Star reserve on Jan. 27, Jokinen and his wife had to cancel their planned trip to the Bahamas. Playing as a hometown hero was something the 24-year-old didn’t want to miss, but he’s been hesitant to fully experience the weekend.

Rather than join the rest of the league’s All-Stars at a swanky, Hollywood Beach resort, Jokinen made the decision to remain at home and spend the extra time with his family.

“I decided to stay at home, spend a little time with my daughter, wife,” Jokinen said. “Why bother to come to a hotel when you can stay home? We spend enough days at a hotel during the year. We decided to stay home and relax there.”

The decision is one many might be shocked to hear coming from the Finnish center. Considered a premiere player in the Finnish Elite League before heading to the NHL in 1997-98, Jokinen garnered a reputation of being overly self-confident early in his career.

Playing as a 17-year-old with IFK Helsinki, he earned the nickname “boss” from his veteran teammates for his cocky attitude. After becoming the highest drafted Finn in 1997 when the Los Angeles Kings chose him third overall, he compared himself to superstars Peter Forsberg and Eric Lindros.

Given the scrutiny the aforementioned players faced early in their careers, the comparisons were prophetic statements Jokinen now regrets making.

“When you’re young, you say some things you don’t mean to say,” Jokinen says. “It’s hard to compare to who you are because players are different. That time, at my age, I was a big guy, as big as anyone else in Europe. But when I came here, I had to lift the weights more than I was doing. All the guys were bigger and stronger and it’s not easy to play in this league when you’re 18.”

Jokinen’s swagger extended to his appearances with the Finnish National Team. Named captain of the nation’s junior team in 1997, Jokinen tallied four goals and two assists in six games as Finland captured gold on home ice.

The Finnish media captured Jokinen’s post-game celebration in the locker room, specifically of their captain smoking a cigar and sipping champagne. It was an image that left a negative impression on fans, especially since many never seen hockey heroes Jari Kurri or Esa Tikkanen act in such a manner.

“Finland is such a small country,” said Finnish hockey journalist Mauri Forsblom. “Everyone knows each other in hockey circles. You can’t be cocky in Finland.”

When it came time to produce in the NHL, Jokinen spent more time complaining about ice time than he did scoring goals. He received little sympathy from the Finnish media and fans, who watched their superstar-in-waiting collapse under the pressures of the NHL.

“When you get drafted high and you get a chance to play on pretty good lines in your first training camp, you think it’s not that difficult,” Jokinen said. “But when the season starts, you really see who you are. The guys pick it up for games. When you’re 18 and you’re from a different country, it’s not just better hockey. It’s everything else, too.

“I couldn’t handle that the first couple of years. I think a lot of young players go through that.”

But two humbling experiences changed Jokinen for the better.

The first was the coaching of Mike Keenan, which has turned the long-considered first-round bust into one of the league’s top goal scorers and emerging leaders.

“I definitely was one of his targets when he came here,” Jokinen said. “When I look back now, I am happy with that. He gave me a challenge and he still does. He’s letting me know if I have a bad practice or a bad game. I like that. He tries to push you to work harder.”

Offered more ice time and a challenge to produce from Keenan, Jokinen wasted no time trying to prove his worth. The 24-year-old opened the season with a career-high four-point night in Florida’s second game, then averaged a point-per-game over the next 25 contests.

By the All-Star break, Jokinen had pushed himself into the top 10 goal scorers and more than doubled his career numbers with 44 points through the All-Star break.

“When he has bad times, he’ll still keep pushing himself to the next level,” former Team Finland teammate Teemu Selanne said. “I am so happy to see him do so well because of what he has been going through, playing without confidence. Now, he’s finally found his confidence. He has always been that kind of player in Europe and now he’s found it here.”

Jokinen also credits his appearance at the 2002 Olympics as a confidence builder. In four games, he tallied two goals and an assist and led Team Finland with a plus-4.

“When you can play there and you can play against those guys, it gives you confidence,” Jokinen said. “It was just a great experience over there for 18 days and I really enjoyed it. Even after that, I started playing more and that really helped.”

“I think that showed good signs he is going to have a good year,” Selanne said. “It really helped that he could be around veteran players who had played so many years. I think it was good for guys like Olli and young guys.”

And now, with an All-Star appearance added to his small list of accomplishments, Jokinen already knows what Keenan’s next challenge will be.

With the recent trade of defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Jokinen is one of five remaining regulars in the Panthers locker room who have at least five years of NHL experience.

“I’ll still be wearing the ‘A,’ I’ve been wearing it all year. Sandis was one of them and he’s gone now. I think everybody needs to bring leadership in the room and I’m definitely one of those guys who has to step up.”

Through 51 games, he has.