SUNRISE, Fla. – When you talk about the veteran leadership within the Florida Panthers locker room, it’s hard not to mention Derek MacKenzie.
The 34-year-old center served as one of four assistant captains on Florida’s roster this past season, rewarding the team’s decision to stich an “A” onto his jersey with hard-nosed play and on-ice leadership.
Whether it was engaging in a heated battle along the boards, dropping the gloves to defend a teammate or diving forward to break up a pass, MacKenzie’s selfless play throughout the season often inspired his teammates to give that little bit of extra effort that can sometimes prove to be the difference between winning and losing
MacKenzie, however, insists that his job is much easier than it looks.