The Florida Panthers qualified for the expanded 24-team field in the 2020 NHL postseason, but proved to be a quick out for the New York Islanders in the qualification round. And with the team moving on from Dale Tallon and hiring GM Bill Zito away from the Blue Jackets, this was an offseason filled with changes up and down the roster.
Can Panthers fans expect a better on-ice product following all of those changes? Here's everything you need to know prior to opening night of the 2020-21 season:
Big question: Who are the Panthers?
Sure, it's an existential question -- but that's what everyone in the league is asking. Florida might be one of the toughest teams to peg at this juncture.
It's the second straight offseason of massive changes, and new GM Bill Zito is trying to maximize the roster around the team's three centerpieces: captain Aleksander Barkov, goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and coach Joel Quenneville. Did he do enough to find a salvageable winning combo or is this team destined to underperform again this season?
Did realignment hurt or help?
For the past four seasons, the Panthers haven't been able to break through in the top-heavy Atlantic Division, finishing no higher than fourth. Though they don't escape the Lightning, a group of new opponents isn't the worst thing in the world for the Cats.
Offseason comings and goings, plus the cap situation
The Panthers have $6,613,712 in projected cap space, according to Cap Friendly. Zito took over in September and implemented a ton of turnover.
Joining the Panthers: forwards Patric Hornqvist, Anthony Duclair, Vinnie Hinostroza, Alexander Wennberg and Carter Verhaeghe; defensemen Markus Nutivaara and Radko Gudas. Gone are forwards Evgenii Dadonov, Mike Hoffman, Lucas Wallmark and Erik Haula, along with defensemen Mike Matheson, Josh Brown and Mark Pysyk. Wallmark and Haula both joined the team as part of the Vincent Trocheck trade last season, so their departures are particularly stark.
Bold prediction
Sergei Bobrovsky roars back. The Panthers committed $70 million and seven years to the two-time Vezina Trophy winner in 2019, hoping he would be the long-term successor to Roberto Luongo. His first season went about as badly as possible. But the Panthers have invested in a new "goaltending excellence department," and he's now one year adjusted to his new surroundings, so don't be surprised to see renewed purpose in the 32-year-old's game.
Breakout candidate: Grigori Denisenko
The 2018 first-round pick is one of Florida's most exciting prospects, and after spending the offseason training predominantly in Florida -- including learning English and getting his American driver's license -- the 20-year-old could plug right into the lineup and make an impact.
Biggest strength: Improved depth
The Panthers spent the offseason saying goodbye to a pair of top-six forwards (see below), but making additions that help with the team's grit as well as depth. Taking fliers on players like Duclair, Nutivaara, Hornqvist, Hinostroza and Verhaeghe may just work out, as each has something (albeit very different) to prove.
Biggest weakness: Talent drain from the 2019-20 roster
Hoffman and Dadonov were the team's top two goal scorers last season, and combined for 106 points. They both left in free agency. Though Florida was a strong offensive team last season, we're wondering if the Panthers did enough to compensate for these losses.
Panthers in NHL Rank
No. 35, Aleksander Barkov, C
No. 61: Jonathan Huberdeau, C
No. 86: Sergei Bobrovsky, G
Prospect perspective
Prospects in the top 100: No. 19 Grigori Denisenko (LW), No. 22 Anton Lundell (C), No. 27 Spencer Knight (G), No. 41 Owen Tippett (LW)
Fantasy facts to know
One of the most valuable open spots up for grabs this season is the one on the Panthers top line with Barkov and Huberdeau. Until the Panthers' recent signing of Anthony Duclair, it looked as though Owen Tippett would be pressed into the role, but Duclair and his 23-goal breakout last season are looking like the answer now.
Keith Yandle is aging gracefully, but -- especially due to the changes to ESPN standard scoring -- Aaron Ekblad is now the top fantasy defenseman here. If Yandle cedes any territory on the man advantage, Ekblad could jump into the conversation as a top-12 defenseman. But if Yandle stays on as the power-play specialist, Ekblad won't get there.
Does Sergei Bobrovsky get a mulligan for last season? Given his expected workload, yes. -- Sean Allen