This article is part of our Team Previews series.
As has been the familiar refrain since the franchise's inception, the Panthers missed the playoffs for the second season in a row in 2013-14, and for the ninth time in the last 10 seasons. To an extent there is a silver lining, however, as the Panthers have been accumulating young talented players who should be on the verge of becoming a solid core and help the team contend eventually. Whether that occurs this year or a year or two from now remains up in the air, but there is no doubt that on paper, this young team should be better than last year's 66-point disaster.
Newcomer Brandon Pirri, who was acquired from Chicago late last season, will add another intriguing offensive talent to a core that includes 2012-13 Calder Trophy winner Jonathan Huberdeau, 2013 first-round pick Aleksander Barkov, and last season's leading scorer, Nick Bjugstad – all of whom are under 24 years old. All of these guys should notice an uptick in fantasy relevance this season. Having said that, it is worth noting that not all went as planned for the young guys in 2013-14. Huberdeau had a brutal sophomore season following offseason hip surgery, Barkov got injured in the Winter Olympics in February and played only 54 games, and defensemen Dmitry Kulikov and Erik Gudbranson have not blossomed into the stars despite both being in the league since age 19. It will be imperative that the new coaching staff led by head man The ability
As has been the familiar refrain since the franchise's inception, the Panthers missed the playoffs for the second season in a row in 2013-14, and for the ninth time in the last 10 seasons. To an extent there is a silver lining, however, as the Panthers have been accumulating young talented players who should be on the verge of becoming a solid core and help the team contend eventually. Whether that occurs this year or a year or two from now remains up in the air, but there is no doubt that on paper, this young team should be better than last year's 66-point disaster.
Newcomer Brandon Pirri, who was acquired from Chicago late last season, will add another intriguing offensive talent to a core that includes 2012-13 Calder Trophy winner Jonathan Huberdeau, 2013 first-round pick Aleksander Barkov, and last season's leading scorer, Nick Bjugstad – all of whom are under 24 years old. All of these guys should notice an uptick in fantasy relevance this season. Having said that, it is worth noting that not all went as planned for the young guys in 2013-14. Huberdeau had a brutal sophomore season following offseason hip surgery, Barkov got injured in the Winter Olympics in February and played only 54 games, and defensemen Dmitry Kulikov and Erik Gudbranson have not blossomed into the stars despite both being in the league since age 19. It will be imperative that the new coaching staff led by head man The ability of the new Panthers coaching staff led by head coach Gerard Gallant to develop these players is a huge key to any future success.
Veterans Brian Campbell, Sean Bergeheim, Scottie Upshall, Brad Boyes, and Tomas Kopecky and Tomas Fleischmann will also be counted on for solid contributions and leadership. In addition, the Panthers added veteran forwards Jussi Jokinen, Dave Bolland, and Shawn Thornton through free agency, and their ice time will need to be mixed into what is now a deep group up front.
One area where the Panthers should unquestionably be improved is in net, where Roberto Luongo will play his first full season in South Florida following last year's surprise deadline deal with Vancouver. Despite his vocal critics during his tenure the Canucks, Luongo has maintained a high level of performance, including after he arrived in Florida. It seems a safe bet that with Luongo between the pipes, the Panthers will do better than last season's cumulative 0.897 team save percentage, which should buy the squad a few more wins.
In some ways, things couldn't really get worse for the Panthers, but there are a number of reasons to believe that the team has put itself on track for a marked improvement. At the very least, the talent now assembled in South Florida shouldn't go completely ignored in the fantasy world.
The Big Guns
Jonathan Huberdeau, LW (RotoWire Position Rank*: #43): Coming off a spectacular rookie campaign in which he won the Calder Trophy, expectations for Huberdeau were very high last season -- perhaps too high. While he saw his point total fall to just 28 in 69 games in 2013-14, Huberdeau was coming off hip surgery last spring, which kept him out of the beginning of training camp and limited his explosiveness. Now healthy and reunited with his former junior hockey coach who helped mold his game for the NHL, Huberdeau will be searching for redemption. The combination of good health and a comfortable environment could help the young winger get back on track to fulfilling his potential as the team's offensive star. If someone in your league is selling Huberdeau out of concern that he is a one-year wonder, take advantage and get him on your squad. He should be owned in every league and be a top-flight player in the coming years.
*RotoWire Position Ranks reflected for points-based leagues*
Brian Campbell, D (RotoWire Position Rank: #50): Campbell had a strong season for the Panthers in 2013-14 with 37 points, including a dozen on the power play. He will once again slot in on the Panthers' top defensive pairing and quarterback the power play. Those roles should allow Campbell to make another run at 30 to 40 points, although with the Panthers youngsters developing, he could see a small drop if players like Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov take a leap forward offensively. At age 35, Campbell will start to lose a step soon, but the blueliner remains a serviceable play for the upcoming season.
Roberto Luongo, G (RotoWire Position Rank: #24): Luongo returned to Florida last year after an eight-year stay in Vancouver that ended tumultuously, in spite of his largely elite play. He played like a renewed man in 14 games for the Panthers in 2013-14, posting a 2.46 GAA and .924 save percentage despite seeing about three more shots per game. The Panthers defense should be improved for the coming season with the arrival of Willie Mitchell and No. 1 overall pick Aaron Ekblad, perhaps allowing Luongo to trim the GAA even further. Luongo should be expected to carry the load for the Panthers; if healthy, look for him to start around 60 games and post numbers similar to last year. While it's not clear how much the Panthers are primed to win this year, Luongo will be their workhorse regardless.
On the Rise
Aleksander Barkov, C (RotoWire Position Rank: #92): Barkov's promising rookie season was cut short by a knee injury suffered while playing for Finland at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. On the bright side, the 18-year-old was playing for a medal contender at the world's best hockey tournament in the midst of an exceptional debut season. Barkov is expected to be fully healthy for the start of the season and should be the Panthers' top center, likely lining up with fellow youngster Jonathan Huberdeau. His ceiling is that of a top two-way center and elite playmaker in the NHL, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him reach the 50-point plateau in his sophomore season. Barkov will more than likely find a place in all fantasy leagues this year.
Nick Bjugstad, C (RotoWire Position Rank: #75): Would you have guessed that Bjugstad was Panthers' leading scorer in 2013-14? The fact he had only 38 points makes it a difficult trivia question to get right, but don't dismiss the young pivot -- Bjugstad put up strong shot (185) and hit (117) totals in addition to a respectable point total for a 22-year-old in his first full season. The Panthers have improved their depth, which should benefit Bjugstad. With a small improvement in his shot total and shooting percentage, Bjugstad's production could climb nicely. He could be a sneaky sleeper in fantasy leagues this year, as South Florida sometimes gets overlooked for talent.
Two to Watch
Brandon Pirri, C (RotoWire Position Rank: #74): Pirri came over from Chicago at the trade deadline and put up 14 points in 21 games with the Panthers, bringing his season totals between both teams to 25 points in 49 games, including six points on the power play. He has a ton of skill and led the AHL in scoring in 2012-13, but a breakout will depend on how the Panthers set their lines. If Pirri sees an uptick in ice time and plays on one of their skilled top-two lines (as well as on the power play), he could see a big boost in production. Regardless, he is a player to watch on the young Panthers club in the coming years.
Tomas Fleischmann, LW (RotoWire Position Rank: #60): Fleischmann's production really fell off after consecutive seasons in which he was Florida's top scorer. The 29-year-old has been injury-free for most of his career and health wasn't his problem in 2013-14; the bigger culprit was a career-low shooting percentage and a drop in playing time. That said, Fleischmann put more shots on net last year than in any season except his career year of 2011-12. If he keeps it up and his shooting percentage ticks back up, Fleischmann could be in line for a sizeable scoring correction, making him a candidate for 20-plus goals and 40 to 50 points. He will be a sleeper to watch on the Panthers in 2014-15.
Don't Overrate
Jussi Jokinen, LW (RotoWire Position Rank: #27): Jokinen signed with Florida coming off a pleasant 57-point season with Pittsburgh in 2013-14, which included his second career 20-goal season. Underlining his strong season, Jokinen grabbed 21 points on the power play and set a new career-high with 172 shots, while maintaining a shooting percentage right around his career norm. The fact that he skated much of the year with Evgeni Malkin is relevant, as his pivot this year will be either Aleksander Barkov or Nick Bjugstad. Both players are less gifted offensively than Malkin, but Jokinen will still benefit from ample playing time, including on one of the Panthers' power-play units. Even so, another 50-point season is probably a stretch, but a 20-goal, 40-point season is not out of the question.
Dmitry Kulikov, D (RotoWire Position Rank: #62): Five years into his NHL career, the 23 year-old Kulikov is an enigma. Coming off arguably his worst season, Kulikov will need to demonstrate that he still possesses the skills to reemerge as a useful fantasy defenseman. In 2013-14, Kulikov scored just eight goals and 19 points to go along with a minus-26 rating, but he did at least manage to set new career-highs in shots, hits, and PIM, suggesting a some maturation in his physical game even as his scoring dipped. The Panthers' new management staff includes the defensive coach who helped mold a Kings squad that has been among the league's best on that side of the ice, and his tutelage may help boost Kulikov's game. There is reason for some optimism that Kulikov could show some improvement while costing very little to get onto your team, but until he shows dramatic change, he will remain a risky investment.
Top Prospects
Aaron Ekblad, D (RotoWire Prospects Rank: #8): Ekblad was the first overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, after he concluded a sensational junior hockey career that included being named the top defenseman in the Ontario Hockey League in 2013-14. Ekblad posted strong offensive numbers as a junior (20 goals and 53 points in 58 games), but has indicated that he wants to focus primarily on his defensive game as a rookie. He is expected to make the Panthers out of training camp, but whether or not he sticks with the team beyond the nine-game window at the start of the season remains to be seen. If Ekblad stays with the club, he would be expected to take a regular shift in the Panthers' top six, while potentially adding his big shot to the team's power play. Young defensemen often struggle in their first year (see Jones, Seth), but there is every reason to think that Ekblad will be a force on the back end for Florida sooner rather than later.
Mike Matheson, D (RotoWire Prospects Rank: #35): The 20-year-old Matheson is slated to begin his junior season at Boston College in the fall, temporarily leaving his development out of the Panthers' hands. That being said, the BC coaching staff has certainly guided the first-round selection from 2012 on a favorable career trajectory, with the blueliner earning second-team All-America honors as a sophomore. Matheson, who checks in at a robust 6-foot-2 and 189 pounds, has accumulated 46 points in 74 career games with the Eagles, and seemingly has nothing left to prove at the NCAA level. Once his college campaign concludes, there's a decent chance Matheson could get some run with the NHL club for a short time late in the season, as the Panthers look to assess their blue line options for 2015-16.
Rocco Grimaldi, C (RotoWire Prospects Rank: #50): Checking in at 5-foot-6 and 170 pounds, Grimaldi is a prototypical pint-sized pocket rocket, using his exceptional speed to overcome his measurables. In so doing, Grimaldi finished his college career at the University of North Dakota with 17 goals and 39 points in 42 games as a junior, before electing to jump to the pros. With a glut of centers on the Panthers' roster at present and for the foreseeable future, a move to right wing could be Grimaldi's easiest path to the NHL. The 21-year-old is expected to open the campaign at AHL San Antonio, but if the scoring acumen he demonstrated during his college career quickly carries over the minors, it won't be long before he's a fixture in South Florida.
Vincent Trocheck, C (RotoWire Prospects Rank: #61): Trocheck, a former junior scoring star, saw action in 20 games for the Panthers in 2013-14, scoring eight points. He found much greater success with San Antonio of the AHL, putting up 42 points in 55 games, making for an overall successful first season as a pro. At just 21 years old, Trocheck is still developing, and his chances to make the big club out of training camp are limited a strong group of forwards in front of him. If he saw significant time in Miami this year, he could make an impact as one of the Panthers' best prospects.
Ian McCoshen, D (RotoWire Prospects Rank: #72): Though he's not held in as high regard as Boston College teammate and fellow Panthers blueline prospect Mike Matheson, McCoshen certainly looks like he as a bright future ahead of him. The 19-year-old tallied a meager five goals and eight assists over 33 games as a freshman, but at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, he offers the size organizations covet in their defensemen. Expect him to improve his output in Year 2 at BC, with his stock likely to rise accordingly.
