Meet the 2015-16 Florida Panthers
Age: 20; Years in NHL: 2; Reality check: Barkov, already the best defensive forward on team, needs to continue where he left off last season on the offensive end, after future Hall of Fame linemate Jaromir Jagr advised him to become more selfish. He could easily jump from from 16 goals to 25 this season.
(Joel Auerbach / Getty Images)South Florida Sun-Sentinel
The latest Florida Panthers roster as the team prepares for its season opener on Oct. 10 in Philadelphia.
Age: 23; Years in NHL: 2; Reality check: Fully healed from back surgery after notching 24 goals in 72 games, Bjugstad is primed for an All-Star season with 30 goals clearly in his range, especially with anticipated power-play time.
(Joel Auerbach / AP)Age: 29; Years in NHL: 8; Reality check: After three injury-prone seasons, Bolland got into the best shape of his career and is hoping to return to his 15- to 19-goal seasons when he helped the Blackhawks win two Cups.
(Kathy Kmonicek / AP)
Age: 23; Years in NHL: R; Reality check: Coming off arguably the best rookie and training camp of any of his peers, Brickley has earned his NHL debut.
(Tim Sharp / AP)Age: 22; Years in NHL: R; Reality check: Grimaldi will start the season on injured reserve due to an ankle injury, but rest assured he will get plenty of NHL experience this season due to his speed and offensive prowess, especially useful in the new 3-on-3 overtime format.
(Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)Age: 23; Years in NHL: 1; Reality check: One of the fastest skaters in the league, Howden, who has had a few cameo appearances with the club, will be utilized mostly on the fourth line and penalty kill.
(Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)Age: 22; Years in NHL: 3; Reality check: Fresh off a two-year extension after leading the team in scoring last season, a thicker, stronger Huberdeau should take another step offensively and with the help of Jaromir Jagr to become a 25-goal, 60-point scorer.
(Lynne Sladky / AP)Age: 32; Years in NHL: 12; Reality check: Dependable, two-way veteran who quietly accumulates points, was the team’s second leading scorer last season with 44, but had just six goals. Surrounded by more skill, the unflappable Finn should notch his 10th season of double-digit goals.
(Mark Humphrey / AP)Age: 24; Years in NHL: 2; Reality check: Once he gained the defensive trust of coach Gerard Gallant, Pirri, the most accurate sniper on the team, scored 22 goals in 49 games, including a late-season streak that saw him pot 19 goals in 26 games.
(Joel Auerbach / Getty Images)Age: 22; Years in NHL: 2; Reality check: Earned an NHL job last season with 22 points in 50 games. Pittsburgh native is a skilled pest with a nose for the puck and for being in the right spot. Has 20-goal potential.
(Joel Auerbach / AP)Age: 36; Years in NHL: 13; Reality check: “Soup†played all 82 games last season, mostly with rookie phenom Aaron Ekblad, who assumed much of Campbell’s power-play duties, and finished with a plus-4, his first positive ice rating in four seasons.
(Wilfredo Lee / AP)Age: 19; Years in NHL: 1; Reality check: How does one improve on one of the greatest rookie seasons by a teenage defenseman in the history of the sport? An All-Star and Calder Trophy winner, Ekblad did seem to tire at one point, but he led all rookies in ice time and was second among rookie D-men with 39 points.
(Alan Diaz / AP)Age: 23; Years in NHL: 4; Reality check: Steadily progressing, the ever-gritty Gudbranson set career marks in goals (4), assists (9), points (13) and plus-minus (-4). He backs down from no one and opponents know it.
(Tim Sharp / AP)Age: 27; Years in NHL: 2; Reality check: Last year’s preseason pickup from the Rangers turned into one of season’s most pleasant surprises as Kampfer provided mistake-free, tenacious two-way play in 25 games that included filling in on the wing.
(Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)Age: 24; Years in NHL: 6; Reality check: The most tenured Panther and seemingly the oldest 24-year-old in the league, Kulikov enjoyed his best season defensively last season. Notched 22 points but still has a huge upside offensively.
(Joel Auerbach / Getty Images)Age: 38; Years in NHL: 13; Reality check: Two-time Stanley Cup champion brought instant credibility and respect to the blue line. Only a rib injury slowed the Captain down at midseason or else the penalty kill wouldn’t have dropped off so dramatically.
(Joel Auerbach / AP)Age: 23; Years in NHL: 2; Reality check: Has been groomed for a top-six role since GM Dale Tallon drafted him in second round in 2010. Has the size, edge and big slap shot to be a force for years to come but must improve on positional defense.
(Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)Age: 36; Years in NHL: 15; Reality check: Lou turned in a vintage All-Star season with his 2.35 goals-against-average in 2014-15 while keeping the team in nearly ever game. At 36, he’s one of the best conditioned athletes in the NHL, but the Panthers are a groin pull away from disaster.
(Joel Auerbach / AP)Age: 30; Years in NHL: 6; Reality check: The Big Cubano went 6-7-2 with a pedestrian 3.01 GAA, but after coming back from a groin injury he played well in five of his last six games.
(Chris O’Meara / AP)Harvey Fialkov covers the Florida Panthers hockey team and tennis for the Sun Sentinel. He has a Masters in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University. He is a diehard tennis player who grew up on Long Island rooting for the Yankees, Rangers and Knicks until the Islanders and Heat started collecting titles.