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With the NHL regular season right around the corner, TSN.ca profiles each team leading up to puck drop. Next up are the Florida Panthers, who hope another franchise prospect can quickly turn the tides on their fortunes. Catch up on their summer moves and the issues they face this season, as well as Craig Buttons analysis of their top prospect and an analytical breakdown by TSNs Scott Cullen. Division: Atlantic GM: Dale Tallon Head Coach: Gerard Gallant 2013-14: 29-45-8 (7th in Atlantic) Playoffs: Did not Qualify Goals For: 196 (T-28th) Goals Against: 268 (29th) PP: 10.0% (30th) PK: 76.0% (30th) That Was Then: A season removed from their surprising and lone playoff appearance since the 90s, the Panthers were once again suffering through a tough season - this one complete with a coaching change and the familiar lack of offence - when fans were given some hope at the trade deadline. The Panthers reacquired goalie Roberto Luongo - who played for the team for five seasons in the early 2000s - and remained as close to a fan-favourite as possible in South Florida. General manager Dale Tallon was able to land Luongo in part because the 35-year-old had long been disgruntled with his situation in Vancouver but also because for the first time in his tenure leading the Panthers, the financial constraints were lifted. Shortly before Floridas acquisition of Luongo, Tallon announced that new owner Vincent Viola, who bought the team less than a month into last season, had given him the go-ahead to spend to the salary cap. For the first time since the cap was introduced in 2005, the Panthers would have the ability to spend up to it. Of course, Violas money came too late to help the roster last year; limited to signing veterans to Professional tryouts in the off-season, the Panthers toiled in the Eastern Conference basement all year, finishing above only the Buffalo Sabres in the standings. However, with the season already all but lost when hope of escaping the realities of a salary floor team came, a high draft pick for next season and beyond was essentially an added bonus for Tallon and the Panthers. And as we now know, that high draft pick turned out to be the highest draft pick a€“ promising defenceman Aaron Ekblad. Another bright spot for the Panthers last year was the emergence of young centres Aleksander Barkov and Nick Bjugstad, who played well enough to support Tallons belief hes found his top two centres for years to come. Scott Cullens Analytics Panthers 2013-14 Stats by Quarter Games GPG GAA SH% SV% SAF% PTS% 1-20 2.35 3.45 7.0% .895 48.3% .300 21-41 2.57 2.86 8.4% .925 50.9% .571 42-62 2.86 3.90 5.8% .900 49.9% .405 63-82 2.00 3.05 4.9% .910 46.9% .325 NHL AVG 2.67 2.67 7.8 .922 50.0% .562 Key: GPG= goals per game, GAA= goals-against per game, SH%= even-strength shooting percentage, SV%= even-strength save percentage, SAF%= score-adjusted Fenwick percentage (differential of shot attempts faced vs. shot attempts, excluding blocked shots, adjusted for game score), PTS%= percentage of available points. Analysis: Games 1-20: The goaltending tandem of Tim Thomas and Jacob Markstrom didnt give the Panthers a chance early. Games 21-41: Thomas rallied, possession improved and record was okay despite some lopsided losses. Games 42-62: Offence dried up, goaltending slumped again. Games 63-82: Roberto Luongo improved goaltending but late-season attack was led by Brandon Pirri, Jimmy Hayes and Vincent Trocheck, auditioning for 2014-2015. Key 2014 Additions: C Dave Bolland, LW Jussi Jokinen. C Derek MacKenzie, D Willie Mitchell, G Al Montoya, LW Shawn Thornton Key 2014 Subtractions: G Scott Clemmensen, D Tom Gilbert, C Jesse Winchester This Is Now: Tallons biggest signing a€“ both in terms of dollars and debate a€“ was former Chicago Blackhawk and Toronto Maple Leaf Dave Bolland. The 28-year-old Bolland received a five-year, $27.5 million deal, making him the highest paid forward on the roster. Depending on which side of the analytics debate youre on, you either loved or hated this signing and it will be interesting to see where Bolland is slotted on the centre depth chart in regards to Barkov and Bjugstad. The team also hoped they added a Top Six winger in Jussi Jokinen (four years, $16 million), although hell be hard-pressed to match his offensive output with the Pittsburgh Penguins in South Florida. They also added grit to their fourth line with the signings of Shawn Thornton and Derek MacKenzie. On defence, new addition Willie Mitchell (two years, $8.5 million) acts as a bridge in the top four as the teams young talents Dmitry Kulikov, Erik Gudbranson, and, of course, Ekblad take on more responsibility and minutes. The influx of new players was only part of the teams new look moving forward. Gerard Gallant, the former Columbus Blue Jackets head coach who spent last season as an assistant with the Montreal Canadiens, was hired to replace interim coach Peter Horachek after an extensive search. Gallants time in Columbus was unsuccessful but he was never given a very talented roster to work with. Hes been well-liked and respected by players as an assistant so theres hope his second go-round as bench boss will be more successful. Luongo gives the Panthers a chance next season but unless their young core, and especially Jonathan Huberdeau, can generate more offence than a year ago theyll once again be in tough to make the playoffs. DEPTH CHART Forwards Left Wing Centre Right Wing Jussi Jokinen Aleksander Barkov Brad Boyes Jonathan Huberdeau Nick Bjugstad Tomas Fleischmann Sean Bergenheim Dave Bolland Tomas Kopecky Scottie Upshall Derek MacKenzie Jimmy Hayes Drew Shore Brandon Pirri Shawn Thornton Quinton Howden Vincent Trocheck Joey Crabb Defence Left Right Brian Campbell Dmitry Kulikov Willie Mitchell Erik Gudbranson Dylan Olsen Aaron Ekblad Colby Robak Alex Petrovic Mackenzie Weegar Jonathan Racine Goaltenders Roberto Luongo Al Montoya Dan Ellis Craigs List TSN Director of Scouting Craig Buttons Top Prospect: Aaron Ekblad TSN Scout Craig Button on Aaron Ekblad: Aaron is a pillar defenceman. Rock solid, can support a partner and anchor a defensc. There isna€?t a situation in the game in which he cana€?t make an impact. He has a thorough understanding of the game and, more than that, he has a competitive desire to make a difference. He has a physical and mental detail in his approach whereby he can play important minutes and seemingly get stronger as he plays more. He is not an end-to-end sexy type but is a player who considers all plays important and carries them out with a very high rate of success. Fantasy - Cullens Player to Watch - Jonathan Huberdeau After he won the Calder Trophy as the leagues top rookie following the 2012-2013 season, Huberdeaus production collapsed in his second season, finishing with fewer points (28) in 69 games than he had as a rookie (31) in 48 games. Huberdeau also finished the year with just one goal in his final 22 games, so hes ready for a fresh start, with a new coaching staff and a team with greater depth of talent. Last years lack of production makes Huberdeau something of a sleeper; it wont require an early pick to get him, but hes a 21-year-old with size and skill, so hes worth a look in later rounds. Womens NFL Jerseys Discount . 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The operation was performed Thursday in Los Angeles.MILWAUKEE -- The Chicago Cubs have placed struggling reliever Jose Veras on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique. Right-handed reliever Brian Schlitter was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to take Veras spot in an inconsistent bullpen, and arrived in Milwaukee in time for Saturday nights game against the Brewers. Veras had a 15.88 ERA over six games, blowing both his save opportunities. Chicago signed the righty in the off-season to a one-year deal after he had 21 saves in 2013 between Houston and Detroit. Schlitter pitched six games for the Cubs this sseason before being sent down April 12.dddddddddddd He had a 6.35 ERA with no record in Chicago, and a 3.60 ERA with three saves for Iowa. The Cubs bullpen overall was 1-5 with a 4.03 ERA entering Saturday. Pedro Strop is Chicagos closer. Veras had only pitched twice since blowing a save April 11, last taking the mound Thursday and giving up two runs in the eighth inning of a 5-2 loss to Arizona. Veras said he started feeling the strain a couple of days ago. "Its the best thing to for him to get him back on track," manager Rick Renteria said. ' ' '