Cooper Black’s NHL debut came with a record, a loss and a reminder of how far he has already come.
When the puck dropped Thursday night in Pittsburgh, the Florida Panthers goalie became the tallest netminder ever to play in an NHL game at 6-foot-9. He is also tied as one of the tallest players to ever appear in a game.
But for Black, that was only part of the moment. The 25-year-old undrafted goalie, signed by the Panthers as a free agent two years ago out of Dartmouth, was skating in his first NHL game.
His parents were in the building, though Black made a point of not tracking them down in the crowd.
Just playing in the NHL is tough enough. Don’t need to get all emotional and whatnot.
“I know for my parents it was going to be pretty awesome,’’ Black said. “They sacrificed a lot for me to get to where I am, a lot of money and time and just overall effort.
I wouldn’t be here without them. I just really appreciate what they have done for me.’’
Black said he “couldn’t ask for anything more,’’ when it came to how Florida has treated him since he first attended development camp in Coral Springs in 2023. The Panthers, though, did not give him much help in a 4-0 loss to the Penguins.
Florida struggled to create much offense, and Black was left to absorb most of the damage. He allowed three goals, with the final one coming after he had been pulled late in the third period, and finished with 18 saves.
“Blackie was absolutely amazing,” Matthew Tkachuk said. “If he wasn’t standing on his head like he was, it could have been 8, 10-0.”
The Panthers are likely to go back to Akira Schmid on Sunday in Chicago and, probably, again Tuesday in Winnipeg. Jacob Markstrom is expected to be out at least two weeks after getting hurt in practice Monday, leaving Florida without an obvious backup option for the current stretch.
For Black, the assignment is simple: stay ready.
“I think you learn from the mistakes, right?” Black said.
“You got out there, and you see the patience those guys have with the puck on their stick. I think on two of their goals, they sort of waited me out a little bit.
Maybe at the lower levels, they are ripping that right away. So, that’s a difference.
It’s not a huge step, but a little one. Not the result we wanted, but you got to learn from it.”
The Panthers play the Blackhawks on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the United Center in Chicago. Florida won the lone meeting last season 2-0.
This is the first of two games between the teams this season, with Chicago visiting Florida on Nov. 4.
The Blackhawks lead the all-time regular-season series 30-22-4, with three ties.
After Chicago, the Panthers head to Winnipeg to face the Jets on Tuesday at 8 p.m.
In Other News...
Panthers Shake Up Their Lineup As Slide Starts Raising Questions
After consecutive losses, Paul Maurice made a noticeable set of tweaks to Floridas lineup as the Panthers try to steady themselves before meeting the Chicago Blackhawks. Sandis Vilmanis moved up into a more prominent role, while the blue line got a familiar look again with Radko Gudas and Dmitry Kulikov back together, part of a broader shuffle meant to tighten things up after the recent slide.
Florida also turned back to Akira Schmid in goal for the upcoming game, a sign the coaching staff is looking for a different feel as it resets the group. The projected lines and pairings suggest Maurice is willing to lean on some combinations with more familiarity, but the bigger question now is whether the changes will be enough to stop the bleeding and give the Panthers a cleaner response on the ice. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Waste A Promising Debut In Another Frustrating Loss
The Panthers got a fresh look in goal and still came away empty-handed in Pittsburgh, falling 4-0 to the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. Florida had been riding a three-game winning streak before back-to-back losses brought the momentum to a halt, and rookie Cooper Black at least gave the club a reason to keep watching with his NHL debut in net, turning aside 17 shots in a busy first appearance.
Even with chances available, the Panthers could not solve Arturs Silovs, who made 26 saves for the shutout as Pittsburgh controlled the finish. For Florida, the result fit the frustration of a night when the opportunities were there but the scoreboard never moved, leaving the club to sort through another flat offensive showing as the road trip moved on. [Read more 🡒]
Sam Reinhart Trade Still Defines Floridas Championship Core
Sam Reinharts arrival in Florida remains one of the defining moves of the Panthers championship era. Acquired from Buffalo in 2021, he quickly became much more than a scoring addition, fitting into the kind of complete forward group that has powered the franchise through deep playoff runs and back-to-back Stanley Cup titles. His game has been a blend of finishing touch, responsible two-way play and consistency that has made him a central figure in everything Florida has built.
The bigger question now is how this trade will keep aging as the Panthers core evolves, because it did not come cheap. Florida paid a first-round pick and goalie prospect Devon Levi to land him, a price that only looks more consequential with each season Reinhart keeps producing at a high level. He has already earned his place among the organizations most important players, even if the full evaluation of that deal still depends on how the rest of this championship window plays out. [Read more 🡒]