FORWARDS
LW SEAN BERGENHEIM, 20
Ht., Wt.: 5-11, 200
Age: 27
Hometown: Helsinki, Finland
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 7/1
Remaining contract*: 4 years @ $2.75 million
Bergenheim busted out during his first taste of the playoffs last season, scoring nine goals as the Lightning came within a goal of the Stanley Cup Finals.
RW DAVID BOOTH, 10
Ht., Wt.: 6-0, 212
Age: 26
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 6/6
Remaining contract: 4 years @ $4.25 million
Booth bounced back from his nightmarish 2009-10 season by playing in all 82 games for the Panthers last year. Booth scored 23 goals but was a minus-31; Florida is looking for big things this season.
LW MATT BRADLEY, 22
Ht., Wt.: 6-3, 210
Age: 33
Hometown: Stittsville, Ontario
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 11/1
Remaining contract: 2 years @ $950,000
Bradley didn't score many goals for the Capitals last season but was a fan favorite in the District for his intense style of play. He'll toughen up the Florida fourth line for sure.
C RYAN CARTER, 24
Ht., Wt.: 6-1, 200
Age: 28
Hometown: White Bear Lake, Minn.
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 5/2
Remaining contract: 1 year @ $750,000
Carter played for three teams last season as he was traded from Anaheim to Carolina before landing in Sunrise. The Panthers liked what they saw as Carter is one of the few 'tryout' players from last year to return.
LW EVGENY DADONOV, 63
Ht., Wt: 5-10, 180
Age: 22
Hometown: Chelyabinsk, Russia
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 2/2
Remaining contract: 1 year @ $875,000
Dadonov started last season with AHL Rochester, but after scoring eight goals in 24 games was brought to Florida where he showed playmaking ability and a skillful flair.
LW TOMAS FLEISCHMANN, 14
Ht., Wt.: 6-1, 192
Age: 27
Hometown: Koprivnice, Czech Republic
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 7/1
Remaining contract: 4 years @ $4.5 million
Fleischmann started last season with the Capitals but was traded and re-found his game with the Avs. Fleischmann had 21 points in 22 games before being shut down with blood clots. He's been cleared by doctors but it's a condition the Panthers will monitor.
C MARCEL GOC, 57
Ht., Wt.: 6-1, 205
Age: 28
Hometown: Calw, Germany
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 7/1
Remaining contract: 3 years @ $1.7 million
A strong puck moving center, Goc won't be asked to score a lot although he does have good hands and a knack for scoring timely goals. Goc had nine in 51 games with the Preds last season.
RW TOMAS KOPECKY, 82
Ht., Wt.: 6-3, 200
Age: 29
Hometown: Ilava, Slovakia
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 6/1
Remaining contract: 4 years @ $3 million
A two-time Cup champ with Detroit and Chicago, Kopecky was traded to the Panthers prior to the free agent spending spree began. Tough in front of the net, Kopecky should add to last year's 15 goals.
C SHAWN MATTHIAS, 18
Ht., Wt.: 6-2, 213
Age: 23
Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 4/4
Remaining contract: 2 years @ $850,000
After suffering an ankle injury that cut short his season, Matthias had a strong camp after the team only offered him a two-way contract during the summer. Matthias has 13 goals in the past two years.
C MIKE SANTORELLI, 13
Ht., Wt.: 6-0, 189
Age: 25
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 4/2
Remaining contract: 2 years @ $1.6 million
The Panthers got Santorelli on the cheap last summer and he proved to be a steal, scoring 20 goals and playing in all 82. Santorelli will start this season on the DL, however, after hurting his shoulder.
LW JACK SKILLE, 12
Ht., Wt.: 6-1, 205
Age: 24
Hometown: Madison, Wisc.
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 4/2
Remaining contract: 2 years @ $825,000
Drafted in the first round by Chicago, Skille was reunited with Dale Tallon in a midseason trade last year. Skille brings size and speed to the lineup – and an ability to score a bit as well.
RW SCOTTIE UPSHALL, 19
Ht., Wt.: 6-0, 200
Age: 27 (birthday on Friday)
Hometown: Fort McMurray, Alberta
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 7/1
Remaining contract: 4 years @ $3.5 million
Upshall is a player the Panthers are really counting on to provide some scoring punch. In 82 games between Phoenix and Columbus last season, Upshall put in 22 goals.
LW KRIS VERSTEEG, 32
Ht., Wt.: 5-10, 180
Age: 25
Hometown: Lethbridge, Alberta
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 5/1
Remaining contract: 1 year @ $3.1 million
One of Tallon's favorite players from the Chicago days, Versteeg (with three 20-goal seasons on the resume) was traded to Toronto after the Hawks' championship and ended last season with the Flyers.
C STEPHEN WEISS, 9
Ht., Wt.: 5-11, 180
Age: 28
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 10/10
Remaining contract: 2 years @ $3.1 million
The Panthers top line center, Weiss led the Panthers in scoring last season although it wasn't his greatest of moments. Weiss got beat up last year and is looking to come back strong.
DEFENSE
BRIAN CAMPBELL, 51
Ht., Wt: 5-11, 185
Age: 32
Hometown: Strathroy, Ontario
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 10/1
Remaining contract: 5 years @ $7.14 million
The Panthers acquired this top defenseman at the draft for Rostislav Olesz. Campbell should bring strong defense while helping out on the offensive end – especially on power plays.
KEATON ELLERBY, 4
Ht., Wt.: 6-4, 200
Age: 22
Hometown: Strathmore, Alberta
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 3/3
Remaining contract: 1 year @ $787,000
Ellerby, the 10th overall pick in the 2007 draft, really picked up his game after a disappointing rookie season. Ellerby is much stronger, assertive and plays with a bit of a mean streak.
JASON GARRISON, 52
Ht., Wt.: 6-2, 220
Age: 26
Hometown: White Rock, British Columbia
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 3/3
Remaining contract: 1 year @ $675,000
An undrafted free agent signing by Jacques Martin, Garrison has been a great find and has quietly become a top defenseman for the Panthers. In a contract year, expect more big things.
ERIK GUDBRANSON, 44
Ht., Wt.: 6-4, 195
Age: 19
Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 1/1
Remaining contract: 3 years @ $900,000
Gudbranson is expected to make his NHL debut in Florida's season opener Saturday against the host New York Islanders. The third overall pick in 2010, Gudbranson is quick and big and can play.
DMITRY KULIKOV, 7
Ht., Wt.: 6-1, 183
Age: 20
Hometown: Lipetsk, Russia
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 3/3
Remaining contract: 1 year @ $375,000
A victim of the dreaded sophomore slump, Kulikov's game seemingly got stronger as the season went along and Florida gave him more responsibility. Expect the Panthers to keep doing that.
ED JOVANOVSKI, 55
Ht., Wt.: 6-3, 218
Age: 35
Hometown: Windsor, Ontario
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 16/5
Remaining contract: 4 years @ $4.15 million
The first overall selection in the 1994 draft by the Panthers, Jovanovski comes back to the Panthers after being traded away in 1999. 'JovoCop' only played in 50 games last year but had a strong camp.
MIKE WEAVER, 43
Ht., Wt.: 5-9, 186
Age: 33
Hometown: Bramalea, Ontario
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 10/2
Remaining contract: 1 year @ $900,000
Weaver has proven himself to be a top-end defender as he uses his long reach to pick off pucks and he always seems to be in the way. Last year's 11 assists were a career high.
GOALIES
SCOTT CLEMMENSEN, 30
Ht., Wt.: 6-3, 205
Age: 34
Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 9/3
Remaining contract: 1 year @ $1.2 million
Clemmensen was having a strong camp and was in competition to start Saturday's season opener against the Islanders before having minor knee surgery. Clemmensen should be back later this month.
JACOB MARKSTROM, 25
Ht., Wt.: 6-3, 178
Age: 21
Hometown: Gavle, Sweden
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 1/1
Remaining contract: 2 years @ $875,000
With Clemmensen on the shelf, Markstrom – Florida's 'Goalie of the Future' – gets an early taste of NHL life. Markstrom is big and doesn't scare easy. Good characteristics for a goalie.
JOSE THEODORE, 60
Ht., Wt.: 5-11, 181
Age: 35
Hometown: Laval, Quebec
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 14/1
Remaining contract: 2 years @ $1.5 million
A past Vezina and Hart winner while with Montreal, Theodore is eager to prove his best isn't in the past. Theodore had a strong season with the Wild last season before signing on with Florida in July.
(*) Salary numbers are based on cap hits (average over length of contract) and not actual money paid out by the Panthers with exception of rookie (Gudbranson, Kulikov, Markstrom) contracts which have higher cap hits.
Geez. Can anyone see the Panthers finishing outside the bottom 5 or even the bottom 3?
I love some of the pickups they had this summer, but ultimately they were a bunch of third, MAYBE 2nd line guys if paired with the right players. The goaltending situation is the scariest...Theodore has looked awful. Panthers fans need to hope Markstrom is the real deal!
Posted by: Mark | October 05, 2011 at 05:24 PM
Yes Mark, I can see the Panthers finishing outside the bottom 3 or 5. I actually expect to see them between 6-8 in the East. We have a scary defense and tons of talent up front. You call them 2nd line guys? Flash was a point per game roll before the blood clots last season, is a PPG player not a top line player? Booth can most definitely reach the 30 goal mark with more talent surrounding him.Is 30+ goals not 1st line talent? Versteeg looked Pretty darn good next to Weiss in preseason and I expect both of those to have break out seasons. Dadanov will continue to succeed. We have a tough as nails 4th line in Bradley-Matthias-Carter. Kulikov-Campbell, Jovo-Gudbranson,Garrison-Weaver/Ellerby looks outstanding as a D. Tons of grit, scoring ability, and toughness to protect the net. Yes, our goaltending situation looks shakey with Theo bombing in preseason and Clemmer out with a minor injury but I am not worried. I am sure Markstrom will get a start or two before Clemmer comes back, he may even take over depending on how Theo does. Theo does bring success, so let's give him some time. Plus, if all else fails, San Antonio signed Manny Legacy, so he could become an option ( if we need him)
Ultimately, the Panthers went from top 10 goalie and no real offense, to an NHL caliber team, tons of offense, amazing defense and better coaching( hope) and a mediocre goaltender. I wouldn't count the Panthers out. I expect the playoffs and can't wait for the season.
Posted by: Dave | October 05, 2011 at 07:24 PM
well said dave!
Posted by: kevin | October 05, 2011 at 07:36 PM
Best news Ive heard today: Henne's out for the season!
The Cats are much improved - except in net - and thats a big exception, if you ask me. Hope the team can find a groove and gel as a squad. But, lets hope that its sooner than later - cant afford to botch the start of the season and miss out on big points.
Posted by: DV | October 05, 2011 at 11:16 PM