Cats & Coffee: Flex Plans; Bobrovsky Getting Ready

Good morning and welcome to "Cats & Coffee," a weekly segment, presented by Koffee Kult, in which we serve up an exciting look at what's on deck for your Florida Panthers. Like our friends at Koffee Kult, this forecast serves up only the best -- so sit back, sip and enjoy our latest brew of news, notes and information!
It's not quite October yet, but we're getting close.
After a long summer, the 2019-20 season is officially entering the "be here before you know it" phase, as the Florida Panthers will kick off their preseason less than a month from now with a long-awaited doubleheader against the Nashville Predators on Sept. 16 at Bridgestone Arena.

That means two things:
1. It's time to make sure your jersey is cleaned and ready to go.
2. It's time to start thinking about how you'll be attending games.
Luckily, with the recent unveiling of Florida's brand-new "Flex Plans," it's now easier than ever to spend time at BB&T Center how and when you want. No matter how difficult your day-to-day routine is, there's likely a plan you could build to fit some Panthers hockey into your schedule.
"With today's pace of life, we're excited to be able to offer fans customizable 'Flex Plans,'" Panthers President & CEO Matthew Caldwell said in the team's official release. "Experience Panthers Hockey your way or catch every game with a full-season ticket package."
There are currently seven pre-made plans to choose from, but fans are also encouraged to take a swing at designing their own. When crafting your own package, we encourage you to use your imagination, with the only rule being that a minimum of 20 tickets must be purchased to qualify.
By selecting a "Flex Plan," fans can also save up to 27 percent on single-game ticket pricing.

To give you a better idea of how some of these plans look, here's a few pre-made options:
The Premier Plan: If you're a fan of classic matchups, this is the 10-game plan is for you. From the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Boston Bruins, this package includes matchups against some of the most-recognizable teams around the NHL, with contests spread out throughout the season.
The "Thirsty Thursday" Plan:This plan was designed with party people in mind. The Panthers will host 12 $5 Beer Thursdays at BB&T Center this season, and this plan gets you access to all of them. So, get down to the rink and take in some hockey while sipping very affordable drinks.
The "Weekender" Plan:Are you always busy on school nights? Well, then this plan is for you. This fun package includes 10 of the best Saturday and Sunday home matchups all season long.
Those packages are three of seven current pre-made plans, but the possibilities seem infinite. So much so, in fact, that later this week I'll be publishing my own "Flex Plan" to share in the fun.
To check out pre-made plans, begin building your own or to learn more about the perks of "Flex Plans," please visit
FloridaPanthers.com/FlexPlans
or grab your phone and dial 954-835-7825.
For season tickets and all other inquiries, please visit
FloridaPanthers.com/TicketCentral
.

WHAT ABOUT BOB?

If anyone is ready for hockey to return, it's Sergei Bobrovsky.
Heading into his first season with the Panthers, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner and gem of this summer's free agent class has been sharing a lot of his offseason training on Instagram. Check out the posts below and give him a follow at -- you guessed it -- @sergeibobrovsky.

PANTHERS PLAY POKER

It's time to find out which Panther has the best poker face.
Florida will be hosting its annual "Ice and Dice" Casino Night, sponsored by BB&T and JetBlue, at BB&T Center on Monday, Nov. 4 beginning at 7 p.m., giving fans a chance to rub elbows with players, coaches and broadcasters while enjoying several casino-style games.
There are, of course, a few ground rules.
You must be at least 21 years old to purchase a ticket and attend "Ice and Dice." The cost of entry is $200, but for that fee you are given a non-refundable ticket that not only gets you up close and personal with players, but also food, beverage and access to games and auctions.
The dress code is cocktail attire, so leave the jersey at home for this one.

"We're thrilled to be preparing for our annual 'Ice & Dice' Casino Night." Florida Panthers Foundation Executive Director Lauren Simone said. "With the excitement of the 2019-20 season approaching, this event gives fans the chance to interact and play casino games with their favorite players, coaches and broadcasters while supporting the Florida Panthers Foundation and its mission."
Tickets for "Ice and Dice" will be available for purchase starting on Sept. 6, but Season Ticket Holders will have an exclusive 48-hour window to purchase tickets beginning on Sept. 4. Fans interested in attending the event can visit FloridaPanthers.com or Ticketmaster.com for tickets.
To request more information or to be notified when tickets are available, please click HERE.

HOW SWEDE IT IS

Aleksander Barkov is already back to doing captain things.
Heading into a season filled with excitement and high expectations, the 23-year-old superstar hopped a very short flight from Helsinki, Finland to Stockholm, Sweden last week to discuss the upcoming campaign and represent the Panthers at the NHL's 2019-20 European Media Tour.

Well see you in Sunrise soon, Barky!

CATS CLIP OF THE WEEK

What can fans expect in 2019-20? NHL.com took a look at the Panthers in their 31 in 31 series.

CATS IN THE COMMUNITY

Tweet from @StanleyCPanther: Everyday is a beach day in #SoFlo. #WeLiveWhereYouVacation pic.twitter.com/LKB4C40gmv

TERRITORY TALK

On the latest episode of the Territory Talk podcast, former Panthers enforcer Pete Worrell joins the show to talk about his new role with the organization, his passion for growing the game in South Florida and, of course, some memories from his days of playing with Roberto Luongo.

COLD COFFEE (IN CASE YOU MISSED IT)

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It's only August, but Aaron Ekblad is already ramping up his training for the 2019-20 season.
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Speaking of Ekblad, in a recent interview with The Athletic, the former Calder Trophy winner professed that the Panthers will be a "team to beat" this season.
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Roberto Luongo's jersey retirement will celebrate a man who's always been No. 1.
-- If you want to get your kids into hockey at an affordable cost, then the "Learn to Play" program is right up your ally. Look out for new sessions starting up at rinks throughout South Florida.

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Aleksander Barkov says there's "no more excuses" heading into the 2019-20 campaign.
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From NHL.com, here's three questions facing the Panthers in 2019-20.
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From Spencer Knight to Owen Tippett, the Panthers pipeline is loaded with elite prospects.
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NHL.com also took a look at Florida's key statistics for success in the upcoming season.
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Are you a fan of fantasy hockey? Check out NHL.com's fantasy preview for the Cats.
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Jonathan Huberdeau has cracked NHL Network's list of the league's top-20 wingers.