Fansided

Each NHL team’s biggest burning question in 2018

By Simon Vacca

EDMONTON, AB - OCTOBER 23: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers lines up for a face off against Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 23, 2018 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
EDMONTON, AB - OCTOBER 23: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers lines up for a face off against Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 23, 2018 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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SUNRISE, FL – NOVEMBER 10: Mike Hoffman #68 of the Florida Panthers celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period against the New York Islanders at the BB&T Center on November 10, 2018 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)
SUNRISE, FL – NOVEMBER 10: Mike Hoffman #68 of the Florida Panthers celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period against the New York Islanders at the BB&T Center on November 10, 2018 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Florida Panthers: Can Mike Hoffman translate off-ice drama into on-ice success?

Last May, the world of sport was rocked by explosive allegations raised by Melinda Karlsson — wife of Ottawa Senators’ then-captain, Erik Karlsson.

The accusations were graphic — both in substance and in scope:

"Melinda Karlsson, née Currey, has filed an application for an order of protection against the longtime girlfriend of Senators forward Mike Hoffman — alleging a campaign of harassment that plagued the Karlssons after the death of their son and through much of the last NHL season[.] The application for a peace bond sworn in front of Justice of the Peace Louise Logue on May 4, alleges that Monika Caryk, Hoffman’s partner, had threatened Melinda and husband Erik Karlsson from November 2017 to the date the information was sworn to."

The news shocked the NHL and sent the Senators into an irrecoverable frenzy. Promptly, Hoffman was traded — sent by GM Pierre Dorion to the San Jose Sharks — and shipped off, almost immediately, by Doug Wilson to the Florida Panthers for an even better deal. Months later, Karlsson, too, would be traded.

Now, approximately a quarter of the way into his first season of competition with a new organization, Hoffman is set to prove his doubters wrong. Playing alongside the likes of Vincent Trocheck, Aleksander Barkov, Keith Yandle, Aaron Ekblad, Jonathan Huberdeau, Nick Bjugstad, Evgenii Dadonov and Roberto Luongo, Hoffman has joined a textbook example of a franchise on the upswing. The acquisition of the 28-year-old uniquely mirrors the atmosphere in which the Panthers are currently enveloped, as both player and team alike look to quash their demons, qualify for the playoffs and pursue competition for hockey’s most esteemed prize.

In the midst of a 17-game point streak, Hoffman has proven that he is back. But will his off-ice drama continue to be translated into on-ice success?

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