SUNRISE, Fla. – Tomas Nosek cracks a smile before turning back the clock.

During a recent media availability on Zoom, the veteran forward was questioned about his choice to sign a one-year contract with the Florida Panthers. In response, he promptly highlights the team’s remarkable and historic comeback in the 2023 Eastern Conference First Round.

During that time, Nosek belonged to the Boston Bruins, a team that dominated the regular season by setting remarkable NHL records for wins (65) and points (135), consequently securing the top-seed position in the Eastern Conference for the playoffs.

In contrast, the Panthers barely made it to the playoffs with just one point.

In the opening round, the Bruins swiftly secured a dominant 3-1 lead in the series. However, the Panthers regained their momentum and delivered an impressive comeback, triumphing in three consecutive victories. This historic upset propelled them forward, igniting a remarkable journey to the Stanley Cup Final.

Nosek had a strong belief that they were onto something even before they ultimately won the Cup this year.

Nosek expressed, “The season was truly remarkable. We hardly experienced consecutive losses, but unfortunately, in the playoffs, we were defeated three times in a row. Nonetheless, it was an extraordinary team with an exceptional group of individuals. I recognized their potential early on, and this year, they undeniably proved themselves. They emerged victorious in the end, and I couldn’t be prouder of this exceptional group of individuals.”

Once a foe, he has now transformed into a friend, aiming to assist the Panthers in their quest to repeat as champions.

“I decided to join the Panthers for a reason,” Nosek expressed. “I believe they are a strong team with the potential to repeat their success. My main objective is to secure victories, and I am willing to go to great lengths to contribute towards the team’s triumph once more.”

Nosek appears to be the most suitable candidate to fill the void left by Stenlund’s departure to Utah in free agency, assuming the crucial role of fourth-line center for the Panthers.

Heading into his 10^th season in the NHL, Nosek, who entered the league undrafted, has made a living out of winning faceoffs and killing penalties throughout his career, which featured stops in Detroit, Las Vegas, Boston and New Jersey prior to ending up in Florida.

Throughout his career, Nosek has consistently maintained a faceoff success rate above 50%. In the 2022-23 season with the Bruins, he triumphed in 59.3% of his faceoffs, while with the Devils in 2023-24, he secured victory in 51.9% of his faceoffs.

During his last season playing for the Bruins, he maintained an average ice time of 2 minutes and 33 seconds per game while on the penalty kill.

Nosek was amazed by the Panthers’ ability to neutralize Edmonton’s powerhouse power play as they triumphed over the Oilers in a thrilling seven-game Stanley Cup Final.

“The penalty kill was absolutely outstanding,” mentioned Nosek, who has accumulated more than 130 minutes of ice time on the PK in two out of the past three seasons. “Having observed a few games from the Stanley Cup Final, I aspire to seamlessly integrate into the team and contribute to penalty kills as well. Undoubtedly, the system in place is quite impressive.”

In addition to being a grinder, Nosek is also capable of contributing points.

Prior to the injury-ridden season with the Devils in 2023-24, the 31-year-old center had consistently recorded a minimum of 15 points per season and achieved eight goals on three occasions throughout the past six seasons.

After being restricted to a mere 36 games last season, he is now in good health and optimistic that his offensive abilities will resurface with Florida.

Nosek reflected on his solitary season with New Jersey, acknowledging that he had been absent for almost half of it. He admitted that it took him some time to regain his rhythm and reach his full potential. However, he mentioned that in the last 15 or 20 games, he felt comfortable with his performance and abilities on the ice. He expressed relief in finally feeling physically fit and mentioned that the summer had been productive for him. Despite the lengthy break, he eagerly anticipated returning to the ice and resuming his hockey career.

Nosek’s strongest desire is to participate in additional playoff games.

The Panthers have played the most games of any team in the last two seasons.

Having played beyond Game 82 for six consecutive seasons before the streak was broken with the Devils last season, he is now thrilled to carry on his pursuit of the Cup in South Florida.

Nosek, a seasoned player with 52 playoff games under his belt, explained, “The reason I chose to sign here is because of my experience playing regularly in the NHL. It happened to be my first year in Vegas when we made it to the Finals. Ever since then, I’ve been determined to chase that victory again. As you get older, the desire to win only grows stronger. You become aware that time is running out, so you strive to join a team with a genuine opportunity to succeed. And I believe that’s exactly what the Panthers offer.”

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