EXCLUSIVE: Miami Herald drops Florida Panthers coverage

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Posted: September 18, 2017 11:00 a.m. ET

By: Andy Slater

Just as the Florida Panthers are about to drop the puck, the Miami Herald has dropped their coverage. 

According to multiple sources, the local newspaper has decided to not provide full coverage of the local NHL team this season. 

The Herald's executive editor, Mindy Marques, has yet to respond to an email asking why the decision was made. 

Sportswriter George Richards had been covering the Panthers for the Herald since 2004. When reached for comment, Richards said the Herald "may not be there day in and day out, but we will be there when it counts."

Richards has been reassigned to the 'Real Time News Desk.' 

Even though the Panthers traded defenseman Jason Demers to Arizona on Sunday, the only team mention the Herald made on Monday was on their scoreboard page: The upcoming schedule. 

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The Panthers finished with a franchise record 103 points in their 2015-2016 season. Last year, they recorded 22 fewer points in the standings and failed to make the playoffs. 

The team will have a new head coach behind the bench this year. Bob Boughner was hired in the offseason. "The Boogieman" was most recently an assistant with San Jose.

Florida's regular season begins on the road October 6 vs. Tampa Bay.

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(Photo: Getty Images)