For the last 23 years (13 with The Hockey News) Dobber has reviewed each team from a fantasy-hockey standpoint and graded them.

The 24th annual review will appear here on Dobber Hockey throughout the summer. This is not a review of the likely performance on the ice or in the standings, but in the realm of fantasy hockey both for the season ahead as well as the foreseeable future. Offensively, will the team perform? Are there plenty of depth options worthy of owning in keeper leagues? What about over the next two or three years? These questions are what we take into consideration when looking at the depth chart and the player potential on that depth chart.

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Gone – Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, Mackie Samoskevich, A.J. Greer, Noah Gregor, Sergei Bobrovsky, Daniil Tarasov

Incoming – Brady Tkachuk, Garnet Hathaway, Lars Eller, John Beecher, Radko Gudas, Jacob Markstrom, Akira Schmid

Impact of changes

The Panthers finished 40-38-4 and seventh in the Atlantic Division, missing the playoffs after winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, but injuries played a major role in that collapse. Aleksander Barkov missed the entire season after suffering a serious knee injury, Matthew Tkachuk missed the first 47 games, while Sam Reinhart, Brad Marchand, Anton Lundell, Seth Jones and other depth players also missed time. Rather than simply running the same roster back, which likely still would have been a Cup-contending team if healthy, Bill Zito decided to go one step further and make some significant changes. The biggest addition was Brady Tkachuk, giving Florida another high-end power forward and potentially creating one of the deepest top-nine forward groups in the NHL.

The Panthers also completely changed their goaltending situation, moving on from Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov while bringing in Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid. Markstrom still gives Florida a veteran option who should benefit from playing behind a strong defensive team, while Schmid provides some additional upside and could push for more starts than expected.While the Panthers have lost some familiar names, the overall changes don’t feel like a major step backward. Instead, Zito has reshaped the roster while maintaining the same veteran core that helped the Panthers win two Stanley Cups. The biggest difference is that Florida is betting on a healthier roster while adding another legitimate top-end forward in Brady Tkachuk.

Ready for Full Time

This is where things get interesting because Florida doesn’t necessarily need a prospect to come in and become a star immediately. The Panthers already have a veteran-heavy roster, but there are still several young players who could push for NHL playing time.

Sandis Vilmanis is the first name I would watch. Vilmanis played 19 games for Florida last season and recorded five points and produced 38 points in 48 AHL games with Charlotte while finishing third on the team in scoring.  The question isn’t whether Vilmanis can play in the NHL, but whether he can force his way into the lineup consistently. With Mackie Samoskevich, Evan Rodrigues and several other depth forwards gone, there is an opportunity for someone to step into a larger role. Vilmanis is one of the players who could take advantage of it. I would keep expectations modest. He’s more of a deep dynasty watch than an immediate redraft target, but he is someone worth keeping an eye on if injuries open up a bigger role.

Fantasy Takeaway

I actually think the Panthers are in a better position than they were heading into last season. The biggest reason is simple: health. Florida had one of the more difficult injury situations in the NHL last season with their top players missing significant time. Now add Brady Tkachuk to a lineup that should have Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell and Brad Marchand. That’s a lot of grit and offensive firepower. It also gives Florida plenty of options when it comes to building its forward lines. On the back end, Gustav Forsling, Seth Jones and Aaron Ekblad remain the primary names to watch while the new goalie tandem is where things get really interesting. Jacob Markstrom is the safer fantasy option because of his expected workload and the Panthers’ defensive structure, while Akira Schmid is the upside play. If Schmid earns a larger share of the starts than expected, he could become one of the better late-round goalie values in fantasy drafts.

If anything, Florida may have more fantasy upside than it did a year ago. The biggest concern is uncertainty, primarily surrounding Barkov coming off major knee surgery and Matthew Tkachuk‘s ability to stay healthy. The Panthers also have an aging supporting cast, which adds another layer of risk when looking at the roster from a fantasy perspective. Regardless of all of that, when you combine the return of several key players, the addition of Brady Tkachuk and the potential for a more stable goaltending situation, there is a lot to like here.

Fantasy Grade: A (Last year: A)