Fantasy: 5 players to target on the Florida Panthers
With your fantasy draft just around the corner, theScore's Ian McLaren and Darren Kritzer take a look at 5 players you should consider drafting this season.
Top Targets
Aleksander Barkov
The Panthers young center played in only 54 games last season after suffering a knee injury while playing for Finland in the Olympics, but you can expect more out of the former 2nd-overall pick in 2013 this season.
Barkov recorded just 8 goals and 16 assists in those 54 games, but showed flashes of brilliance in a twelve-game stretch from December 10-January 6, when he scored three goals and notched nine assists. Barkov is expected to play on the top-line with Jonathan Huberdeau and Brad Boyes, and can be considered in the early rounds of your draft. Keep in mind, he's also potential keeper player going forward.
Roberto Luongo
The Former Canucks netminder is still being kept in many keeper leagues this year, after posting six wins and a 2.46 GAA in 14 games with the Panthers last season. The Panthers look to have improved on paper this offseason after bringing in the likes of Jussi Jokinen and Dave Bolland, so you might be able to expect a 25-win season out of the veteran. Last season, Luongo ranked 19th in GAA (2.40) 17th in wins (25) and 19th in save percentage (.919).
Jonathan Huberdeau
The 2013-14 season for Jonathan Huberdeau was not a kind one for fantasy owners. After posting 14 goals and 17 assists over 48 games in his rookie season in 2012-13, the former 3rd-overall pick in the 2011 draft slipped to just nine goals and 19 assists in 69 games. The Panthers decision to bring in head coach Gerard Gallant may be the answer to his lack of offense however. Huberdeau played for Gallant with the Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL), where he enjoyed offensive success, recording a 105-point campaign in 2010-11.
Proceed With Caution
Jussi Jokinen
The 31-year old winger, who signed a 4-year, $16-million deal July 1, isn't in Pittsburgh anymore, making him a player to be cautious with in your draft. After leaving Carolina following just six goals in 33 games in the 2012-13 season, Jokinen thrived in Pittsburgh, recording 11 points in 10 regular season games that same season, and followed that up with a 21 goal, 57-point season last year. Jokinen is expected to start the season on the second line, but let's be honest here, the Panthers offense is nothing like the Penguins of the last two seasons. Expect him to receive power-play time with Barkov and Huberdeau, which should help his overall numbers.
Take A Flier On
Nick Bjugstad
The Panthers have a good young core of talented players in their system, with Nick Bjugstad leading the charge. In 76 games last season, the former first-round pick in 2010 scored 16 goals and recorded 22 assists for 38 points, which was actually good enough to lead the team in scoring. You can probably grab the 2nd-line center later in the draft. With Bjugstad not being a household name, you can likely wait to snag him in the middle rounds of your draft.