2010 Florida Panthers Preview

The Florida Panthers have not made the playoffs for the past nine years. So they are turning over the franchise to Ex Chicago Blackhawk GM Dale Tallon. He comes to Florida ready to rebuild the Panthers organization using the same blueprint that he worked to turn the Blackhawks around. The strength of this team lies in Goalie Tomas Vokoun, but he is entering the final year of his deal. It seems Tallon’s first decision will have to be if he should trade the goalie at the trade deadline if his club has fallen form playoff contention.

That might seem like a crazy idea, but Tallon does have an ace up his sleeve. That ace is Swedish Goalie prospect Jacob Markstrom. He may be the best goalie prospect coming to North America this year. The plan is for him to spend his first season on this continent with AHL affiliate Rochester. He could see time during the season with the big club, but he may need some time to get use to a new environment.

Peter DeBoer will return for his third season with the Panthers. In that time he has compiled a record of 73-67-24. He may be very eager to empress his new boss considering he got this team 93 points in his first year, and 16 less last year. He will need to get more out of Forward Rostislav Olesz. He will make 3.125 million in each of the next four years, and as of yet has failed to live up to that money.

Key Additions- C Christopher Higgens, D Dennis Wideman, RW Steve Bernier, RW Michael Grabner, D Nathan Paetsch, and C Marty Reasoner

Key Subtractions- C Nathan Horton, RW Gregory Campbell, RW Victor Oreskovich, D Keith Ballard, LW Steve Macintyre, C Jeff Taffe, D Ville Koistinen, D Mattieu Roy, and C Jamie Johnson