After spending the early weeks of the 2016-17 campaign near the competitive line in the Atlantic Division, the Florida Panthers ended with a 35-36-11 record and a long drive from the post season. They were 14 points out of playoff spot in the division.
The Panthers were 23rd in goals for last season with 2.50 scored per game; they 
yielded 2.82 goals per game ranking 20th in that category.
On special teams, Florida was 24th in the NHL on the power play with a 17.0% success rate; the penalty kill was ranked second in the league behind the Boston Bruins at 85.3%.
Jonathan Marchessault was the leading goal scorer for the Panthers last season but he will ice for the Las Vegas Golden Knights this coming season.
Vincent Trocheck netted 23 goals and Aleksander Barkov added 21 markers on the season.
Jaromir Jagr kicked in 16 goals on the season but he remains an unsigned free agent.
Keith Yandle scored five goals last season and added 36 assists for 41 points and was a-6.
This off season, the Panthers signed Radim Vrbata is a one-year deal worth an estimated $2.5 million. Vrbata scored 20 goals for the Arizona Coyotes last season and added 35 assists to lead the team in points.
Can he add some offensive punch to the Panthers’ effort this season?
“We knew that this would be a good situation, a good fit,” Vrbata said. “[Aleksander] Barkov, Vincent [Trocheck], those are great young centermen that can make plays and like to pass to puck. I’m the guy that likes to shoot the puck.”
Having a supporting cast for Trocheck and Barkov can only help the offense.
“Radim is a proven goal scorer who will complement our young centers,” general manager Dale Tallon said on the Florida website. “He’s a smart, skilled player and a reliable offensive presence on the power play. We are pleased to have signed Radim and welcome him to South Florida.”
Forward Micheal Haley was signed to a two-year deal by the Panthers. Haley scored twice and added 10 assists in 58 games last season in San Jose for the Sharks.
“Micheal will help support our core group with his leadership and toughness,” said Panthers Head Coach Bob Boughner. “I know what sort of impact he has in the room and on the ice. He’s the type of person and player that we need.”
Additional offense was added with the signing of Evgeny Dadonov to a three-year contract that is worth an estimated $12 million.
Dadonov iced in the KHL for the past five seasons.
“He’s a totally different player than when he first came over,” Tallon said. “He’s got high speed, a great work ethic, gets on pucks, makes plays, and our fans are really going to like him. He plays a hard, 200-foot game. He’s very creative and very fast.”
He netted 30 goals and 66 points last season in the KHL with St. Petersburg SKA.
Defenseman Mark Pysyk, 25, was resigned to a three-year deal.
“Mark is a young, intelligent defenseman who has become an important part of our future,” Tallon said. “He was one of our most consistent players last season and was a solid presence on our penalty kill. We look forward to Mark being a steadying force on our blue line for years to come.”
He iced in all 82 regular season games for Florida and collected three goals and 14 assists on the year.
A more robust offense and supplemented defense would be beneficial to the goalie corps for the Panthers. James Reimer (18-16-5) and Roberto Luongo (17-15-6) were beleaguered for much of last season.
GM Tallon is on the hot seat this season in Sunrise. The Panthers need to get out of the gate fast and maintain some sense of consistency. They may still be a year away from truly competing in the Atlantic Division and then hope first round draftee, Owen Tippett is the real deal when he shows up in south Florida.
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