Bill Daly on the Panthers: 'Franchise isn’t going anywhere'

Amid declining attendance and speculation that the club could relocate, deputy NHL commissioner Bill Daly has offered a fairly definitive assurance that the Panthers will remain in Florida long term.

“The franchise isn’t going anywhere,” Daly told Michael Russo of the Star Tribune. “It has a long-term lease and owners who are committed to the market. South Florida is a tough sports market. That’s always going to be the case, but a hockey team can be successful there, I really believe that.”

Prior to the start of the regular season, ownership decided to clamp down on ticket giveaways, fully acknowledging the fact that it would result in empty seats all around the BB&T Center. Ripping off this particular Band-Aid was considered necessary for the sustained success of the franchise, conditioning fans to pony up for tickets as - if all goes well - the product improves on the ice.

So far this season, the Panthers are averaging 9,085 fans per game, by far the lowest in the league. But with a record of 4-4-4, Florida is showing signs of making good on its promise to ice a more competitive team, which will ideally translate into increased ticket sales as the season progresses.

Either way, in the eyes of the NHL's head office, these Cats won't be moving to a different corner anytime soon.