The lockout is threatening to stunt the growth around the Panthers' interest in Florida. David. J. Neal of the Miami Herald wrote a column discussing the Marlins' (because of their recent trade) and Panthers' backseat in Florida. The Panthers made the playoffs for the first time since 2000 last year, snapping an NHL-record 10 straight years out of the playoffs. For awhile, it was the Panthers' "sheer ineptitude" that limited fan growth. Now, it's the lockout that's set them back once again. Neal's point is that while some franchises -- like the Maple Leafs -- can endure a run of bad play (or work stoppages) without hurting attendance or local status, the Panthers don't have that fortune.