PANTHERS OFFSEASON OUTLOOK

[yave1964]

2016-17 outlook: 

 The Panthers coming off a Division title were expected to contend after rebuilding their defense almost entirely, bringing in Yandle, Pysyk and Demers as well as McCann from Vancouver for forward depth and Reimer in net. It was hoped that the additional depth would be enough to help them make a deep playoff push.

  It didnt work out. The team fell into turmoil from the front office on down, nobody seemed to know who would win the game of thrones and wind up in charge of this team, Coach Gerard Gallant was fired in spite of being one of the games great minds. 

  On the ice, Huberdeau and Barkov both missed significant time, McCann bombed in his first try in Sunrise, Luongo got old, Reimer was okay, nothing more, Ekblad had a horrible year, Jokinen and Jagr showed their age. The 'upgrade' on defense did nto work out. Bjugstad tried to play recovering from assorted injuries and concussion problems and was close to awful. Vincent Trochek was a flat out stud, among the games most underrated hidden gems, Jonathan Marchessault came out of absolutely nowhere to score 30 goals, the ageless Jagr added 46 points as he continues to climb lists. 

  In spite of the chaos and everything basically going wrong, they barely missed the playoffs. The hope is that the team with Dave Tallon back in charge and Coach Bob boughner in place that they will get it together.

 

FREE AGENTS:

 

MARK PYSYK and ALEX PETROVIC a pair of solid if unspectacular defenseman are UFA and may be lost leaving them painfully thin on the back end.

 

QUESTIONS IN NEED OF ANSWERS:

 

1) WHITHER JAGR? He wants to return, the team wants him back, Jagr has not signed with the Cats and wont until after the expansion draft. He has made it clear that he wants one more year, preferably in Florida. If he were taken by the Knights he has made it clear he will retire so it is a matter of when, not if the Panthers resign him.

 

2) CAN LUONGO STILL CARRY A HEAVY LOAD AND IF NOT CAN REIMER BE THE MAN? Probably the biggest question on the team, Lu slipped and slipped badly last year, Reimer looked great at times and like the guy who was booed out of Toronto at others. 

 

3) CAN HUBERDEAU AND BARKOV STAY HEALTHY?" They are the best players on the team and their lack of health more than anything else was the cause of the teams missing the playoffs. If they play a combined 150 games between them there is enough talent around them to make the postseason, If they miss 72 combined games again the team could be in big trouble.

 

4) FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WHAT OF THE KIDS? This is a fairly deep organization filled with young talent, Matheson and McCoshen should force themselves into the mix full time on the back end, Jared McCann was rotten last year but he has a lot of talent and should settle in as a middle six center, Denis Malgin showed a spark at times last year and will be an NHL regular.

 

  There is enough talent here if the front office shows signs of stabilty and the two stars, Huberdeau and Barkov stay healthy they could wind up division winners.