The Florida Panthers have officially been put on notice as "white flag" decision strikes Bill Zito

According to Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast, the rest of the league is watching the Florida Panthers closely to see if general manager Bill Zito will officially "wave the white flag" on this campaign.

The Panthers currently sit with just 63 points (30-27-3) through 60 games. Leaving them dead last of the Atlantic Division as the Maple Leafs sit just one point ahead of them.

Head coach Paul Maurice has tried countless lineup shakeups, but inconsistent offensive output and defensive lapses have left Florida gasping for air in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Now, the conversation shifts from acquiring a deadline "bump" to whether key players will be shut down for the year.

If the white flag is raised, expect a massive shift in strategy before Friday's 3:00 PM cutoff. Veterans battling nagging injuries could be shelved to protect their long-term health, and players on expiring deals may be shopped to contenders.

For a core featuring Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, conceding the season is a bitter pill to swallow. However, with the transition game sputtering, "solid execution" down the stretch might only serve to hurt their draft lottery odds rather than save their season.

Zito has a reputation for aggressive management. If he decides the playoffs are a lost cause, the Panthers could become the most consequential wild card of the deadline, offloading depth pieces to clear cap space.

The next 72 hours are critical. The Panthers must decide if they are going to scrape for every remaining point or pack it in and look toward the future.