[Cali Panthers Fan]

Just reviewing Capfriendly, and there are a few things for any new GM to deal with. Currently just over $20 million in cap space.

Goaltending

Lots of money locked up long term. You have to hope Bobrovsky just had an off year and he has one of his patented bounce back campaigns. Otherwise, it's gonna be ugly. Currently signed:

Bobrovsky
Dreidger/Montembeault

Notable UFAs: None.

Notable prospects: Spencer Knight, Ryan Bednard

I expect Knight to take another 2-3 years to develop, but then it will be his net. At that point, you might see Bobrovsky bought out if he isn't at the top of his game. Until then, the Panthers are stuck with their big free agent signing.

Defense


Again, a lot of money locked up, but there are some spots open. I don't see much changing for next year on the back end, and it's the area that needs the most improvement. Despite additions of guys like Stralman, they just don't have enough guys that are strong defensively. Currently signed:

Yandle/Ekblad
Stralman/Matheson
Stillman

Notable RFAs: Weegar/Brown
Notable UFAS: Pysyk

Notable prospects: Emil Djuse, Brady Keeper, Max Gildon, John Ludvig, Vladislav Kolyachonok

I don't see Pysyk back. Brown will be qualified, but Weegar may not be due to arbitration rights. We shall see what a new GM wants to do.

Stillman looks like a solid NHLer, so that takes up one of the spots on the bottom pair. They don't have a lot in the pipeline ready for the NHL, except for Emil Djuse who had a strong AHL campaign, but he's already 26. Brady Keeper has a shot at a job too if he continues to improve. A couple of decent prospects who are a few years away, but a LOT of work to do to improve the prospect pool. More than likely, it will be Josh Brown's job to lose. I wonder if they try to move out a contract in a trade and find a quality UFA to improve the mix of defenders.

Forwards

Not a terrible news story with the talent at the top, but still so much to do. Currently signed guys:

Huberdeau-Barkov-Connolly
Vatrano-Acciari-Sceviour

end of list.

Notable UFAs: Hoffman, Dadonov, Haula, Boyle, whole lot of filler
Notable RFAs: Toninato, Saarela, Hunt, Walmark

I think they need to re-sign at least two of Hoffman, Dadonov, and Haula, with Dadonov being the odd man out for me preferably. Give $5.5-6 million for Hoffman and $3.75 million to Haula. Probably another bottom 6 signing as well if the prospects don't work out.

Notable prospects: Owen Tippett, Grigori Denisenko, Mason Marchment, Dryden Hunt, Aleksi Heponiemi, Logan Hutsko, Serron Noel, Cole Schwindt, Henrik Borgstrom.

I'm betting that Tippett, Hunt, and Borgstrom make the team next year to fill out the bottom of the roster. There is some talent coming, but it's still several years away. It would be nice to see Heponiemi adapt to NHL size. His skill is really high end.


Even if they re-sign a couple of their scoring forwards, this is still a team that isn't going to be good enough and has little in the pipeline ready to help. There's a lot of work to do to make this team a contender, but there are some key pieces already in place for a skilled GM to work with. They still need a solid top line player to go with Barkov and Huberdeau. Maybe Connolly Here's my projected lineup:

Huberdeau-Barkov-?
Hoffman-Haula-Connolly
Vatrano-Acciari-Tippett
Hunt-Borgstrom-Sceviour

Yandle-Ekblad
Matheson-Stralman
Stillman-Weegar/Brown

Bobrovsky-Driedger

Unless Bob is better, this team misses the playoffs again.