This week, the Eastern Edge takes a look at a trio of young Panthers.

Last season, only Buffalo had fewer points than the Florida Panthers. This year, the Panthers are only three points out of the last playoff spot in the East. Realistically, not too many prognosticators gave this team much of a chance to make the playoffs and if I were a betting man, I wouldn’t put much money on Florida playing any post-season shinny at the end of this campaign either. That doesn’t mean that all is lost in Florida, they have some nice pieces in place.

Last season, big (6-6, 218 pounds) Nick Bjugstad unexpectedly led the Florida Panthers in scoring with a paltry 38 points as a rookie. He did play in 11 NHL contests the year before, recording one lonely point. In that 2012-13 campaign, Bjugstad also played for Team USA at the World Championship, coming away with two points in 10 games. He also had 36 points in his final 40 games of college hockey and 42 points in 40 games the season before that. In addition, Bjugstad played in the 2012 World Junior Hockey Championship, recording six points in six contests.