In 30 games played, Lambos has 3 goals and 8 assists. Now, those may not seem like staggering numbers, or even numbers to get excited about. The details tell the real story. Lambos is on pace for 30 points this season, which would be a career high after posting 23 points and 18 points in the previous two seasons. Most importantly though, a deeper dive into his +/- tells us more. In 2031 he has a -15 +/- rating. Last season he was -26. So far in 2033? +2. That turnaround alone is exciting.

"It shows that he's improving. A young kid like that just needs a few seasons to fully adjust to the big leagues," said the Panthers' GM. "We're excited watching him grow, and he has a lot of opportunity here. That's why we prioritized signing him to a three year deal last offseason."

While things change in a hurry in professional sports, it's safe to say that Carson Lambos could slot into the Panthers' top 4 for years to come if he continues to progress. Competition will be tough, however. The Florida Panthers have a slew of young defensivemen under contract going forward, and the two that are pending RFA's might be too valuable to give up. Kaiden Guhle has lead the defensive corps and is unlikely to make it to RFA. Conor Timmins, however, may be available at the deadline, and his name has been brought up in some trade rumors. The rest of the season, including the upcoming trade deadline will be something to keep an eye on!