I will be rating each team on three different areas which of course are goalies, defensemen and forward. The ratings are from 1 to 10. The rating consists of his personal ability and his importance to the team. This means that a player who scores way more points might get the same rating as someone who does not. There are two categories that i will rate: Every position as whole and then every single player. I will also put in the lines that i think/hope they will play next season. Then last i will give a grade to the whole team.
Florida Panthers
Goalies
Jose Theodore: Theodore is a good goalie, but was a back up last year so it might take a few minutes to get back to being a starter. He is old, but as a goalie he still has some years left. In, my opinion not a NHL level starter anymore. Rating: 7
Scott Clemmensen: Clemmensen is much like Theodore. Solid as back up, but not good enough for a starting role. He has been putting up good numbers and if he can keep it up he should serve well. There will be more time available than during Vokouns era. Rating: 7
Florida has two goalies that I think are more suitable for back up roles. Since their defense is not exactly rock solid I anticipate hard times for the two. Overall Rating: 7
Defensemen
Nolan Yonkman: He is more suitable for the AHL, where he has spent most of his career has been in the NHL on four occasions, but has never played more than 40 games a season. Rating: 7
Mike Weaver: Weaver was a top pair defender last season and played a good season. He was the only defender who played over 30 games and had a positive +/- ratio with +1. Rating: 8
Dmitry Kulikov: He has been improving and there is no reason why he should stop now. He is developing into a fine defenseman. Led Panthers defense in points with 26. Rating: 8
Ed Jovanovski: Jovanovski brings veteran presence to the Panthers blue line. He is good in offensive and defensive duties and handles them well. Good acquisition by the Panthers. Rating: 9
Jason Garrison: Garrison led all panthers in average ice time with over 22 minutes a game. He was really important last year and will probably be even more important this year. Rating: 8
Keaton Ellerby: Decent defender who fight for the last opening night spot with Nolan Yonkman.
Bottom pair material. Rating: 7
Brian Campbell: He had a couple of spectacular season, but right now he is just one of the most overpaid players in the entire sport. He is not bad, but not worth the 7,1 million annual salary he currently receives. Rating: 7
Florida´s defense is not anywhere near the best ones in the national hockey league, but it should get through the worst. I know that the average rating is higher than my overall rating but, Rating: 7
Forwards
Stephen Weiss: Perhaps the single most important player in the Panthers squad. He is gifted and plays higher average minutes than most defensmen in the squad. He will be an old face among many new so hopefully he will take the role of a leader and lead the Panthers to a brighter future. Rating: 9
Kris Versteeg: Florida is the fourth team for Versteeg within two years. He is a very talented player and hopefully he will find a new home in Florida. Rating: 8
Scottie Upshall: Upshall brings some scoring ability, coming off a career high 22 goal season. He is a good right winger who should be able to establish himself as a top-6 forward. Rating: 8
Scott Timmins: Timmins is still young and learning on his level, but will most likely only receive
NHL games if someone is injured. Still a kid. Rating: 6
Jack Skille: Skille is one of those who had a bright future, but was never really able to leap to the NHL level. He is not spoiled with age so he still may have a breakthrough season. Rating: 7
Mike Santorelli: Santorelli had a really good year in Florida and will probably keep his role as number 2 center. He scored 20 goals and added 21 assists which is really well. Rating: 8
Michal Repik: Young Czech has been getting more responsibility every year, but i think he will not this year since the acquisition of nine new players. Rating: 7
Shawn Matthias: Decent bottom line froward who does not particularly excel in any aspect of the game. Still decent bottom liner. Rating: 7
Tomas Kopecky: Kopecky doubled his last years output with the Blackhawks last year. If he can keep on contributing he will be a really good acquisition. Kopecky might get a bigger role in the weaker Panthers squad than he previously had in Chicago. Rating: 8
Tim Kennedy: Small left winger has not been able to breakthrough to the NHL and he threatens to be one of those eternal promises. Rating: 7
Bracken Kearns: Kearns has never played in the NHL so i really have no idea what so ever about him. His statistics in the AHL are decent, but sine i never have actually seen him play. Rating: -
Marcel Goc: Goc has been putting up some nice number as a bottom line forward. He is good player and has potential to play in a bigger role. Rating: 8
Tomas Fleischmann: Put up some really impressive performances in the short period he played with the Avs last season before being diagnosed with pulmonary emboli. He is really good and when healthy will be a huge asset for the Panthers. Rating: 8
Evgeny Dadonov: He played fairly well, but does not seem to be the wonderkid Florida needs to advance to the next level. He will most likely develop into a good bottom 6 forward. Rating: 7
Matt Bradley: He is a good checking/bottom line winger, who is not exactly a huge offensive threat, but he has been quite high in hits with the Capitals squad, considering his small average ice time. Rating: 7
David Booth: Booth has an impressive career high of 31 goals, which he recorder 08-09 season. He is has been one of the most important players for the Panthers with Stephen Weiss. Really important for the Panthers. Rating: 9
Sean Bergenheim: Played sensationally during the post-season, but has never been that good during the regular seasons. If he can play regularly like he did during the post-season he will be an amazing capture by the Panthers. Rating: 8
Florida has a squad filled with decent players, but superstars are conspicuous by their absence. Floridas forward department is better than last year, but like their defense their offense is much weaker from the best squads in the league. Overall Rating: 8
Lines
Booth-Weiss-Versteeg
Fleischmann-Santorelli-Upshall
Bergenheim-Goc-Kopecky
Dadonov-Matthias-Bradley
Garrison-Weaver
Jovanvoski-Campbell
Kulikov-Ellerby
Theodore
Florida improved from last year, but this still looks like an empty post-season for the Panthers. Their squad has the potential to fight for the two last playoff spots so i will give them overall Rating: 8
Key factors:
+Some good acquisitions
+They spent some money which is a good thing
-They are quite weak on goalie department
-Drastic changes, hopefully they will blend in well
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