Look Out! A Youth Movement is Coming Through

The future is almost here for the Florida Panthers, as they are preparing to enter their 3^rd full season under GM Dylan Wilson. The Panthers have spent this offseason making their team better, and becoming more competitive this upcoming season. They were the worst last year, but they have different plans this year.  “We feel with all the trades we’ve made and the 3 drafts I’ve been here for, we have a lot of depth where we can start looking forward.  Our look is to get stronger this year, were not stockpiling picks or prospects, but at the same time we are still concentrated on our rebuild and won’t sacrifice our youth.  Playoffs are our goal, will we reach that’s all up for debate but we don’t want to be at the bottom for a 3^rd year.”

 The Panthers first move was to shake up the teams coaching staff. The Panthers brought on their 3^rd coach under Wilson. The team fired Ron Wilson after one year behind the Florida bench and brought on a young coach in Joe Sacco. The team also let Paul Maurice go as the Farm boss, and brought on Dallas Eakins as the Everblades coach. “We have a very good abundance of youth on this team,” said new coach Joe Sacco, “But we also have a lot of very good vets on this team, I’m very confident in this team’s ability and we can succeed if everything stays together. I can’t wait, this team is on the up turn and it’s great to be part of it.”

 Wilson quickly looked to add some solid depth at the Draft by adding top centre Travis Zajac and once again bringing on Defenseman Brendan Witt.  Looking to add its depth through free agency rather than trade, the Panthers quickly went out and signed veteran forwards Jerred Smithson, Owen Nolan and Steve Sullivan to strengthen the wings, and adding veteran goalie Chris Osgood to split time with Steve Mason in net this season.  Then the team spent the bank to bring in prized free agent defenseman, Brian Campbell.  “We were ecstatic to sign a guy of Campbell’s caliber in free agency. This really strengthens our back end and just makes our team that much more competitive.”

The team also has a huge influx of rookies entering this year that will hopefully make big contributions. Up front the team has elite young centre Matt Duchene who will play on the top 2 lines, along with young wingers Viktor Stalberg and Tyler Ennis, who both look to make big contributions to the team this year along with their RFA signing Joey Crabb who looks to try and make a bottom line role with the team.  Rookies Carl Gunnarsson and Michael Del Zotto also look to make a big play to make the pro team and play big minutes.  That’s just the influx this year, as they expect guys like Alex Pietrangelo, Scott Glennie and recent top pick Tyler Seguin to make the youth movement take another huge step.

 The Panthers then right before camp named Brian Campbell as the teams new captain, after going through 3 captains last year(McCabe, Peca, Tucker) the team hopes this one will remain for a lot longer. “We feel like he adds a big boost to the locker room, on and off the ice which defines the leadership he shows, and we are glad to have him.” The team also named David Clarkson and Travis Zajac as the assistants.

 There is definitely quiet optimism in South Beach, and no its not about the Heat.  There is something really good growing there in Florida and the team is hoping to really step in the right direction this season. And hopefully both they and the farm team can taste playoff action for the first time under Dylan Wilson. Only time will tell.