With the NHL season now less than a week away, we continue our look at what each team has done this summer and what to watch for in the year to come. Next up is a look at the Florida Panthers.
Last Season: 44-30-8 record (96 points), fourth in the Atlantic Division (missed the playoffs)
Remaining Cap Space: $1.9MM per CapFriendly
Key Additions: F Troy Brouwer (free agent, Calgary), F Mike Hoffman (trade with San Jose, via Ottawa), G Michael Hutchinson (free agent, Winnipeg), D Bogdan Kiselevich (free agent, CSKA, KHL)
Key Subtractions: F Connor Brickley (free agent, Nashville), F Radim Vrbata (retirement)
[Related: Panthers Depth Chart From Roster Resource]
Player To Watch: F Mike Hoffman – Aside from the unusual circumstances that saw him dealt twice on the same day (the second of which resulted in a unique protection going into the Erik Karlsson trade), Hoffman landing in Florida was certainly one of the more intriguing offseason additions in terms of overall fit.
The Panthers were already a little above average in terms of their offense and adding a player who has scored over 20 goals in four straight years really gives them an under the radar attack heading into the season.
However, there are a couple of looming questions when it comes to Hoffman as well. For starters, with Evgeni Dadonov and Jonathan Huberdeau on the left side, the 28-year-old will probably have to shift to the right wing to stay in the top six. With that in mind, how will he handle the position change? On top of that, how will he handle going from a focal point of the offense in Ottawa to someone that’s in more of a supporting cast role now?
Assuming he adapts just fine, Hoffman’s addition could very well be what pushes them back into a playoff spot.
Key Storyline: Florida made headlines a couple of years back when they handed James Reimer a five-year contract to serve as an insurance policy behind veteran starter Roberto Luongo. As it turns out, that wasn’t quite enough insurance which is why they’re going to pay Hutchinson $1.3MM to play in the minors this season.
The Panthers now have three NHL-quality goaltenders at their disposal but will that be enough to patch their way through the season? Luongo is coming off a campaign in which he posted his best save percentage (.929) since 2003-04 but also only saw action in 35 games. Considering he only played in 40 the year before and the fact that he’s 39, it’s fair to question if he can carry the load much longer.
That’s where Reimer is supposed to help out but he’s not coming off of the greatest of years, allowing nearly three goals per game (a 2.99 GAA) with a save percentage hovering around the league average (.913). That’s an okay stat line for a backup but Reimer is supposed to be more than that. If Luongo gets injured again, can Florida afford to run with Reimer as the starter for more than a short-term basis?
The Panthers have made a lot of moves regarding their goaltending in recent years as they’ve rightfully recognized that Luongo (who still has four years left on his deal) can’t be the 60-game starter he once was. However, it’s certainly fair to wonder if they’ve done enough to shore up that position. If not, don’t be surprised if they pursue a rental at some point in the year if the status quo isn’t getting the job done as they won’t want their play between the pipes to hold them back from getting to the postseason.
Overall Outlook: The bad news for Florida is that they’re probably not ready to be in the battle for a top-three spot in the Atlantic. The good news is that there’s a good chance that no one else in the division beyond that top group is likely to really push for a playoff spot. They’re in a tier of their own which will place them squarely in the Wild Card race.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.