Florida have a strategy, draft high and sign experienced veterans with championship winning quality, and then make the playoffs come April, for what would be only the second time since 2000 and the days of Pavel Bure. Aaron Ekblad arrived in the first round of the 2014 Draft to improve their blue-line while the Panthers were very busy during free-agency just days later. Six players arrived on July 1, with three of them having won the Stanley twice each. Center Dave Bolland won with Chicago in 2010 and 2013 before movin go to Toronto; defenseman Willie Mitchell won the Los Angeles in 2012 and 2014; and rent-a-goon wing, Shawn Thornton won with Anaheim in 2007 and Boston in 2011. Roberto Luongo, who re-joined the franchise during last season's trade deadline from Vancouver is perhaps the most vital signing of all. In his 14 games with the Panthers last season, Luongo posted a .924 save percentage.
To compliment all those
veterans, the Panthers have plenty of young talent able to step and
help share the load. Nick Bjugstad led the team in scoring during his
rookie year, last season, while 2013 second pick, Alexander Barkov
showed an all-round game well beyond his years. Jonathan Huberdeau
had a disapointing second year, but if he can re-find his form, could
be another vital piece of the puzzle. The Panthers hierachy would
have liked to have added a high-scoring verteran forward to lead the
team, but having been unable to, will be relying heavily on the three
young guns.
Ekblad is joined on a
youthful looking defense with Dmitry Kulikov and Erik Gudbranson, and
all three will be hoping to tighten up at the back and improve the
29th rank of Goals against. With a new coach in place that
of course is possible, as is the possibilty of improving their
special teams.
Jokinen – Barkov –
Boyes
Huberdeau – Bjugstad
– Upshall
Fleischmann – Bolland
– Bergenheim
Kopecky – Pirri –
Hayes
Campbell – Kulikov
Mitchell – Gudbranson
Olsen – Ekblad
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