Is Sam Herr the best Panthers captain since Jordan Fox?

Sam Herr has had quite an impact in the first half of his first season as a Nottingham Panther to say the least. Having been bought in after 3 full seasons in the AHL, where he was in a much more defensive role, the 27 year old has become an offensive powerhouse who has wowed fans continuously with his quick reading of the offensive zone, aggressive forechecking and clinical scoring touch. 

In the last 13 games, Herr has picked up points in 12, highlighting his consistency. His ability to get into dangerous areas quickly makes him an opposition defence's worst nightmare, but a teammates dream as he anticipates plays effectively that brings out the best in his linemates. It's helped to make Panthers attack incredibly exciting to watch as scoring chances are coming thick and fast. 

Herr is the third highest scoring player in the league currently, just 2 points shy of the red hot Brendan Connelly at Sheffield. With 35 points in 28 games to add to his 17 in 10 in the Challenge Cup,and 4 in 3 in the Continental Cup, it takes his total to 49 points in 42 games, but it's not just his impact on the puck that's amounted to his success. When not in possession, he is able to get into the oppositions faces, causing turnovers, which makes him defensively solid too in limiting the pressure coming the Panthers way. This also makes him a huge part of the penalty kill unit, as he is often able to keep the opposition away from the danger areas for sizable chunks of time. 

It was boxing day though where we saw the most extreme example of what he is capable of when he produced some of the most jaw-dropping offence ever seen by any Panthers player ever. After a lackluster 50 minutes that was enough to kill anyone's festive cheer, Herr became what seemed like a man possessed when he scored 2 quickfire goals on the counter attack, before he completed his hat trick to tie the game in the last minute with a thunderbolt of a one timer. Goaltender Kevin Carr then sent him down the left hand side to beat CJ Motte down low for his 4th in just over 10 minutes (that has to be record of some sort?!). 

 Many fans have said he's the best Panthers captain since Jordan Fox, who helped lead the club to all three domestic major trophies in 2012/13. He certainly leads by example, and has bailed the team out many times when they've been struggling. His points per game average is in fact better than Fox's, even if only slightly at 1.16 in comparison to 1.06. Therefore, comparing the two isn't irrational. 

 Herr is easily the key piece to the puzzle in Panthers championship ploy, one that is getting stronger as time goes on. 

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