The Florida Panthers were gassed by the last few days of the 2017-18 regular season. Not for being old or outclassed but rather because they chased down a wild card spot for the post season and just missed it on the penultimate day of the season.
A slow start to the season was followed by a wild climb up the Eastern Conference ladder and they just lost out on a post season appearance with a loss that enabled the Philadelphia Flyers to gain the second wild card spot.
Alexander Barkov and Vincent Trocheck led the Panthers in scoring with 78 and 75 points respectively.
Defenseman Keith Yandle amassed 48 assists form the blueline and added eight goals on the campaign.
Evgenii Dadonov picked up 28 goals in 74 games and was a +10 on the season.
The Panthers ranked 14th in the regular season with 245 goals scored for a 2.99 average per game. The reason Florida was chasing the playoffs for most of the season was their goals against record with 243 goals scored against them ranking just 18th in the league.
The penalty killing units for the Panthers were equally mediocre for the season with a ranking of 16th in the regular season at 80.2% kill.
In net, the Panthers suffered through another season with Roberto Luongo on the shelf with injuries but he did play well in the final weeks and helped the club to challenge for the playoffs.
Luongo was 18-11-2 on the season and a 2.47 GAA; James Reimer was 22-14-6 with a 2.99 GAA.
So where does a team turn when it needs to bolster much of its effort across the board? The offense and defense are passable but to avoid the need for another late season push then the Panthers need to make some kind of talent addition at the 15th position in the NHL Entry Draft.
Scoring strength is needed and defensive skills are an absolute requirement. But at 15 in t6he draft, the Panthers will have seen the truly elite of the 2018 class already selected.
A strong two-way player would fit well in Sunrise and Joseph Veleno is still available on the PHN Mock Entry Draft at 15.
Veleno iced for the Drummondville Voltigeurs and is regarded as a gifted scorer with good vision of the ice and high hockey IQ. He was tagged in 2016 as an exceptional player but still needs some work.
At 18-years of age, Veleno is projected from ninth to 13th but that seems optimistic given the talent in the draft. At 15, Veleno would be a good pick for Florida.
With his scoring and ice vision on the upside, Veleno is seen as being less creative when placed in unfamiliar situations and linemates. His detractors see him as limited to set plays in those environments.
When lined with regular teammates, Veleno is a talented set up center and plays well down low and in tight spaces. At 6’1″, 194 pounds, Veleno has the size combined with good skills on the offense and a commitment to defensive coverage.
“With the 15th selection in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, the Florida Panthers select, from the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the QMJHL, center Joseph Veleno.”
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