Offseason Roundup: Florida Panthers
Over the next month, theScore's NHL editors will review all the offseason moves for each team around the league.
Offseason Overview
Perhaps no team had a busier offseason than the cash-strapped Florida Panthers.
Behind the bench, the club decided against retaining interim head coach Peter Horachek, low-balled Dan Bylsma, and ultimately hired Montreal Canadiens assistant Gerard Gallant as their new coach. Gallant becomes the third Panthers head coach in under 12 months.
In mid-June the Florida Panthers used the final compliance buyout window to get Ed Jovanovski's lucrative and inefficient 35+ contract off of the books.
At the draft, the Panthers very publicly weighed the pros and cons of trading the first overall pick before ultimately keeping the pick and selecting Aaron Ekblad. Ekblad, who sustained a concussion at Team Canada's U20 Summer Development Camp, is a man-child and could be ready to play everyday at the NHL level as soon as this fall.
Though financial issues continue to plague the Broward County club, the team splurged in free agency, avoided arbitration with big forward Jimmy Hayes, and re-signed a whole host of talented young defenders, including Dylan Olsen, Dmitri Kulikov, and Erik Gudbranson.
Panthers general manager Dale Tallon was arguably the single biggest player on July 1 as the Panthers spent an enormous sum to entice checking forward Dave Bolland, Evgeni Malkin beneficiary Jussi Jokinen, enforcer Shawn Thornton, steady defender Willie Mitchell, fourth-liner Derek MacKenzie and career backup goaltender Al Montoya to move to Sunrise, Fla.. The Panthers' new veteran pieces will add depth and experience, but none are really top-of-the-lineup additions.
While the Panthers' free agent spending spree looks questionable at best, there are legitimate reasons for optimism here. After years of accumulating top draft picks, the club's reward for consistently putrid performances, the Panthers have a ridiculous stockpile of youthful high-end talent. 2013 first-round pick Aleksander Barkov is healthy, Jonathan Huberdeau is another year older, and the club locked up intriguing pivot Brandon Pirri with a two-year deal.
If those players can take a step this season, the Panthers could threaten for a playoff spot. Particularly with their new-found stability in goal.
Key Additions
Dave Bolland
Jussi Jokinen
Head Coach Gerrard Gallant
Shawn Thornton
Derek MacKenzie
Willie Mitchell
Al Montoya
Key Departures
Joey Crabb
Tom Gilbert
Ed Jovanovski
Coach Peter Horachek
Scott Gomez
Krystofer Barch
Scott Clemmensen
2014-15 Outlook
The Panthers have a lot going for them - a bonafide number one defender in Brian Campbell, an intriguing group of young, talented players, and above average goaltending with Roberto Luongo between the pipes. Add it all up and it sure looks like the Panthers could be a surprise contender for a playoff spot this upcoming season.