The Florida Panthers' Offseason Agenda

Changes that need to be made for the Florida Panthers to become contenders. 

The System 

The Florida Panthers need to play a consistent system. Often times the Panthers played a defensive-minded game with little forecheck. How is a team supposed to mesh well in a system when the next night it's an all-out-attack, like we saw the Panthers do in the last 25 games.

The Devils have yet to change the system they have in place in over ten years and it works because everyone knows what is expected of them. If the Panthers are to be successful, they must stick to a balance system including a solid backcheck and forecheck. You can't win if you only score one or two goals, but you can't win either if you give up four or five goals.

Management

Everyone has had doubts about Jacque Martin's future. He may not lead this club to a championship, but getting rid of him and starting a whole new system under someone else is ridiculous and would not solve all the problems. Look for Martin to give up his position as coach or GM, and try to stick to one. Most fans like JM as a GM. Giving away his coaching position will not change the system much...remember, he gets to choose his coach.

Players

Guys Who Aren't Going Anywhere

Booth—Big year for the young fellow. Looks to be a solid second liner with Horton and Weiss for the next few years.

Weiss—Showed leadership throughout the year. Didn't put numbers up he is capable of, but still played good two-way hockey.

Olesz—JM loves this kid, who really showed how well he can play when healthy, and he was tremendous on the PK.

Mclean—Great season. He kept a positive attitude with the media when the team struggled during the season. This guy was absolutely the offensive MVP of the team the second half of the season.

Zednik—Showed what he can do right before he got hurt. Has the ability to be a 20 goal scorer and put up 40-plus points

Kreps—Look to see Kreps improve again next year in numbers. Kreps is a better stick handler than Booth and creates space for himself, but Booth is the guy who can finish, something Kreps needs to work on if he wants to bolster himself in the lineup. Kreps had a really good season ending with 25 points in 76 games, a lot better than last year.

Welch—We didn't see him but for a few games, but scouts say this kid has a solid future on the blueline in the NHL.

Anderson—Anderson proved he has what it takes to be an elite backup and possibly and future starter in the NHL this year, posting ridiculous numbers in the 15-20 games he played in.

Guys Who Probably Won't Be In A Panthers Jersey Next Year

Mezei—Here's a guy who takes too many bad penalties.

Stumpel—Showed major signs of aging this year, being out half the season and not being able to keep up with the rest of the team. Stumpel was exceptionally slow and didn't put up the points he normally does from years past.

Guys Who Wouldn't Be Surprised If They Were Gone

Jokinen—Disappeared the last 25 games and had issues with JM.

Van Rynn—Having wrist problems again and holds a heavy cap space for a team with not a lot of resources.

Murphy—Looked like a future Norris Candidate the first 15 games, but after his injury looked like a typical, nervous rookie in the NHL.

Kilger—Never saw him in a Cats uniform.

Peltonen—Again, similar to Stumpel although not as much is expected of Ville in terms of offense.

Acquisitions To Be Made

If Jokinen stays, a solid first-liner needs to be added to compliment him. Jokinen is a star player who had an off season because he never was given a consistent line. The team needs to add a true center to the team, similar to a Marc Savard or Scott Gomez to open up space for Jokinen who truly has a lethal shot.

Coaches are hoping the minor-league stud, Shawn Matthias, will be this player. But Jokinen's contract is up in two years. Shawn will have to show his ability quick if the Panthers want to keep Jokinen for longer than his current contract. Shawn looked good in four games this year, with two goals.

Prospects

This team has four solid prospects in the deck of cards. They are:

Michael Frolik—Will be a future first-line LW or center. Frolik has great playmaking ability and a decent shot. His biggest problem is consistency, some games he disappears.

Shawn Matthias—The Panthers are hoping this kid will be their next first-line center. At 6'4", 215 lbs, Shawn has the vision and ability to be one of the best in a few years.

Michal Repik—Looks to be a soild RW in the NHL. The guy has a great shot and is a wonderful skater. Shows he can step up in the clutch, leading his Vancouver Giants to the Memorial Cup while leading the team in scoring last year, and is doing the same now this year.

Keaton Ellerby—Ellerby was drafted tenth overall in 2007. As a big, lanky defenseman this kid has tremendous skating ability. Only problem is he's 6'4 and weighs only 190 lbs. He's a twig and at that size, Martin St.Louis would skate right through him.

Ellerby started his 2007-2008 WHL season with the Kamloops Blazers and struggled, three points in 16 games, until he was traded to the Moose Jaw Warriors where we got to see him show a bit of his potential where he played 53 games and had 23 points.

The Panthers are capable of making to the playoffs in 2008-2009. Will they? Stay tuned.