Panthers hope All-Star weekend showcased team’s investment

By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Sports Writer

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Matthew Tkachuk is under contract to the Florida Panthers for much of the next decade. So is fellow All-Star Aleksander Barkov. And right there are two compelling reasons why players might want to join the Panthers in the coming years. The last few days might have helped the recruiting pitch. It’s no secret that Florida is a fine place to spend some time during the winter. But showing All-Stars what hockey can be like in the Panthers’ market might be the long-term benefit of the team playing host to the league’s midseason showcase game.