TSN.ca's 2014-15 NHL Season Preview: Florida Panthers

With the NHL regular season right around the corner, TSN.ca profiles each team leading up to puck drop. Next up are the Florida Panthers, who hope another franchise prospect can quickly turn the tides on their fortunes. Catch up on their summer moves and the issues they face this season, as well as Craig Button's analysis of their top prospect and an analytical breakdown by TSN's Scott Cullen.

Division: Atlantic GM: Dale Tallon Head Coach: Gerard Gallant

2013-14: 29-45-8 (7th in Atlantic) Playoffs: Did not Qualify

Goals For: 196 (T-28th) Goals Against: 268 (29th) PP: 10.0% (30th) PK: 76.0% (30th)

That Was Then:

A season removed from their surprising and lone playoff appearance since the '90s, the Panthers were once again suffering through a tough season - this one complete with a coaching change and the familiar lack of offence - when fans were given some hope at the trade deadline.

The Panthers reacquired goalie Roberto Luongo - who played for the team for five seasons in the early 2000s - and remained as close to a fan-favourite as possible in South Florida. General manager Dale Tallon was able to land Luongo in part because the 35-year-old had long been disgruntled with his situation in Vancouver but also because for the first time in his tenure leading the Panthers, the financial constraints were lifted.

Shortly before Florida's acquisition of Luongo, Tallon announced that new owner Vincent Viola, who bought the team less than a month into last season, had given him the go-ahead to spend to the salary cap.

For the first time since the cap was introduced in 2005, the Panthers would have the ability to spend up to it. Of course, Viola's money came too late to help the roster last year; limited to signing veterans to Professional tryouts in the off-season, the Panthers toiled in the Eastern Conference basement all year, finishing above only the Buffalo Sabres in the standings.

However, with the season already all but lost when hope of escaping the realities of a salary floor team came, a high draft pick for next season and beyond was essentially an added bonus for Tallon and the Panthers. And as we now know, that high draft pick turned out to be the highest draft pick – promising defenceman Aaron Ekblad.

Another bright spot for the Panthers last year was the emergence of young centres Aleksander Barkov and Nick Bjugstad, who played well enough to support Tallon's belief he's found his top two centres for years to come. 

Scott Cullen's Analytics

Key: GPG= goals per game, GAA= goals-against per game, SH%= even-strength shooting percentage, SV%= even-strength save percentage, SAF%= score-adjusted Fenwick percentage (differential of shot attempts faced vs. shot attempts, excluding blocked shots, adjusted for game score), PTS%= percentage of available points.

Analysis:

Games 1-20: The goaltending tandem of Tim Thomas and Jacob Markstrom didn't give the Panthers a chance early.

Games 21-41: Thomas rallied, possession improved and record was okay despite some lopsided losses.

Games 42-62: Offence dried up, goaltending slumped again.

Games 63-82: Roberto Luongo improved goaltending but late-season attack was led by Brandon Pirri, Jimmy Hayes and Vincent Trocheck, auditioning for 2014-2015.

Key 2014 Additions: C Dave Bolland, LW Jussi Jokinen. C Derek MacKenzie, D Willie Mitchell, G Al Montoya, LW Shawn Thornton

Key 2014 Subtractions: G Scott Clemmensen, D Tom Gilbert, C Jesse Winchester

This Is Now: 

Tallon's biggest signing – both in terms of dollars and debate – was former Chicago Blackhawk and Toronto Maple Leaf Dave Bolland. The 28-year-old Bolland received a five-year, $27.5 million deal, making him the highest paid forward on the roster. Depending on which side of the analytics debate you're on, you either loved or hated this signing and it will be interesting to see where Bolland is slotted on the centre depth chart in regards to Barkov and Bjugstad.

 The team also hoped they added a Top Six winger in Jussi Jokinen (four years, $16 million), although he'll be hard-pressed to match his offensive output with the Pittsburgh Penguins in South Florida. They also added grit to their fourth line with the signings of Shawn Thornton and Derek MacKenzie.

On defence, new addition Willie Mitchell (two years, $8.5 million) acts as a bridge in the top four as the team's young talents Dmitry Kulikov, Erik Gudbranson, and, of course, Ekblad take on more responsibility and minutes.

The influx of new players was only part of the team's new look moving forward. Gerard Gallant, the former Columbus Blue Jackets head coach who spent last season as an assistant with the Montreal Canadiens, was hired to replace interim coach Peter Horachek after an extensive search. 

Gallant's time in Columbus was unsuccessful but he was never given a very talented roster to work with. He's been well-liked and respected by players as an assistant so there's hope his second go-round as bench boss will be more successful.

Luongo gives the Panthers a chance next season but unless their young core, and especially Jonathan Huberdeau, can generate more offence than a year ago they'll once again be in tough to make the playoffs.

DEPTH CHART

Craig's List

TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button's Top Prospect: Aaron Ekblad 

TSN Scout Craig Button on Aaron Ekblad:

"Aaron is a pillar defenceman. Rock solid, can support a partner and anchor a defensc. There isn’t a situation in the game in which he can’t make an impact.

He has a thorough understanding of the game and, more than that, he has a competitive desire to make a difference. He has a physical and mental detail in his approach whereby he can play important minutes and seemingly get stronger as he plays more.

He is not an end-to-end 'sexy' type but is a player who considers all plays important and carries them out with a very high rate of success."

Fantasy - Cullen's Player to Watch - Jonathan Huberdeau

After he won the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie following the 2012-2013 season, Huberdeau's production collapsed in his second season, finishing with fewer points (28) in 69 games than he had as a rookie (31) in 48 games.

Huberdeau also finished the year with just one goal in his final 22 games, so he's ready for a fresh start, with a new coaching staff and a team with greater depth of talent.

Last year's lack of production makes Huberdeau something of a sleeper; it won't require an early pick to get him, but he's a 21-year-old with size and skill, so he's worth a look in later rounds.