Pro Sports

Florida Panthers preview capsule

Posted October 05, 2015 7:00 am

By The Associated Press

FLORIDA PANTHERS

LAST SEASON: 38-29-15, 91 points. Missed playoffs.

COACH: Gerard Gallant (second season, fifth NHL season).

ADDED: LW Martin Havlat.

LOST: RW Scottie Upshall, RW Brad Boyes, RW Tomas Kopecky, G Dan Ellis.

PLAYER TO WATCH: LW Jonathan Huberdeau. Put on a line with Jaromir Jagr toward the end of last season and Huberdeau was good as ever, averaging a point per game. If he has that pace over a full season, Florida could have one of the elite first-lines in the NHL.

OUTLOOK: They'll need Jagr to be good, G Roberto Luongo to remain good and can't afford any letdowns from their defensemen corps. But on paper, this looks like as good a team Florida has had in the better part of two decades. A strong start to the season might be crucial, especially since there's no shortage of contenders in the Eastern Conference, but playoffs are hardly out of the question.

Article Comments

Article Categories
Content Providers Hockey NHL Pro Sports Sports Sports Leagues Sports Types

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.