head coach: Doug MacLean

roster: C - Kirk Muller, Rob Niedermayer, Dave Gagner, Steve Washburn, Chris Wells. LW - Johan Garpenlov, Dave Lowry, Bill Lindsay, Radek Dvorak, David Nemirovsky. RW - Scott Mellanby, Ray Sheppard, Jody Hull, Tom Fitzgerald. D - Robert Svehla, Gord Murphy, Ed Jovanovski, Paul Laus, Terry Carkner, Rhett Warrener, Dallas Eakins. G - John Vanbiesbrouck, Mark Fitzpatrick.
*-Unsigned free agent.

injuries: None.

transactions: XX/XX - Re-signed unrestricted free-agent Kirk Muller. 07/04 - Signed unrestricted free-agent center Dave Gagner (Calgary) to a three-year contract; re-signed defenseman Terry Carkner to a three-year contract; bought out the final year of center Martin Straka's contract, making him a free agent. 07/07 - Signed free agent center Dallas Eakins (NY Rangers). 07/29 - Named Joe Cirella assistant coach. 08/01 - Re-signed defenseman Paul Laus to a four-year contract; signed defenseman Trevor Doyle. 08/28 - Signed a one-year affiliation agreement with Fort Wayne of the International Hockey League. 09/05 - Signed free-agent left wing Esa Tikkanen, who had been with the New York Rangers, to a one-year contract with renewable options; re-signed goaltender Mark Fitzpatrick to a one-year contract. 09/10 - Signed left wing Bill Lindsay to a new four-year contract. 09/11 - Signed right wing Scott Mellanby to a new four-year contract. 09/13 - Re-signed free-agent center Rob Niedermayer to a three-year contract.

standings:

1996-97 FINAL RESULTS
RECORD:     
 OVERALL      35-28-9
 HOME         21-12-8
 ROAD         14-16-11       
POINTS:             89  (7th)
GOALS SCORED:      221 (21st)   
GOALS AGAINST:     201  (4th)
POWER PLAY:      14.2% (21st)
PENALTY KILLING: 85.5%  (7th) 

game results:

PRE-SEASON RESULTS
9/13 Boston            W 2-1 @Charlotte
9/14 Boston            L 4-2

team news:

by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief

CATS MAY NOT LAND ON FEET

The Florida Panthers were the darlings of the NHL when they made their surprise run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1995. Last season they got off to a hot start and then faded down the stretch before barely showing up in the first round of the playoffs against the New York Rangers. Now the team has to try and regroup to find its winning ways before it falls completely out of the playoff picture. And it's going to have to do it without former captain Brian Skrudland.

OFFENSE: Skrudland and Hough Will Be Missed

He didn't score many goals or make any flashy plays, but Brian Skrudland was the heart and soul of the Florida Panthers. When the captain wasn't in the lineup, the Panthers were hardly the same club. Well, now the Panthers are going to find out what it's like to play an entire season without him. Skrudland elected to leave town this summer, accepting a lucrative free- agent deal with the New York Rangers. Skrudland wasn't the only vet to split, tho'. Mike Hough also grabbed the free-agent cash and signed with the Islanders.

It's easy to underestimate the loss of Skrudland and Hough. After all, they were just two old, slow guys that didn't score. They shouldn't be hard to replace, right? Normally that would be the case, but this situation is different. Not only were they the club's top pair of penalty-killers, Skrudland and Hough were also two of the original Florida Panthers. The gave this team its identity through their hard work and defensive approach to the game. The Panthers can find people to fill their roster spots, but they'll never find people to replace what Skrudland and Hough represented. They were the Florida Panthers. They'll be missed.

Looking to fill the void somewhat will be Esa Tikkanen, who was signed away from the Rangers. It was Tikkanen that scored the overtime goal that knocked the Panthers out of the playoffs last season. Now the 32-year-old Finnish winger will be trying to help the Cats with his timely scoring and abrasive nature. The Panthers also signed center Dave Gagner out of Calgary. Gagner scored 27 goals and 60 points last season for the Flames and has scored 30 or more goals six times in his career. He should help the meager Florida attack. But at 33, he's definitely on the downside of his career, so how much he'll help is open for debate.

Florida's top line will once again feature Rob Niedermayer at center with Scott Mellanby and Johan Garpenlov on his wings. The trio has a bit of everything. Niedermayer supplies speed, Mellanby muscle, and Garpenlov is the playmaker.

Gagner should be centering a second line with sniper Ray Sheppard on his right side. Sheppard led Florida in scoring last season with 29 goals and 60 points. He's just a natural goal-scorer. He'll get his goals no matter who he's playing with, but having Gagner in the middle is a definite bonus. Gagner's arrival means that Kirk Muller could shift from center to his natural position of left wing. A second line of Gagner, Muller, and Sheppard should do quite nicely, thank you very much.

The third line will be centered by the great Tom Fitzgerald. One of the game's best role players, Fitzgerald is an excellent penalty killer and a prototypical third line center. Bill Lindsay, Fitzgerald's partner on the penalty kill, should be back on Fitzgerald's left side at even-strength, as well. Lindsay has good speed and never takes a shift off. He finishes all his checks and will do anything to annoy the opposition. Speaking of annoying, Tikkanen would be a perfect fit on the right side of this line.

That leaves veterans Dave Lowry and Jody Hull, along with youngster Radek Dvorak, to fill in where needed. Chris Wells, David Nemirovsky, and Steve Washburn should also see some playing time.

Florida has never had a great offense, but when you look at their roster this season, things don't look that bad. They may not be able to ring up goals with the Avalanche, but the Panthers' top three lines appear solid.

DEFENSE: Svehla Leads the Way

The great, but unknown, Robert Svehla will once again head up the very capable Florida defense. Svehla, one of the most complete blueliners in the league, teams up with veteran tough guy Terry Carkner to give the Cats a steady top pairing. This could be the year that Svehla emerges as the serious Norris Trophy candidate he is. He's just that good.

Florida's second pair will probably be made up of Rhett Warrener and Gord Murphy. Both men are extremely mobile and move the puck well. Murphy has the better offensive skills, including a gun from the point, but Warrener has quickly established himself as a very good defensive defenseman. He also isn't scared to play physical. There was even a time last season when coach Doug MacLean said that Warrener was his team's best defenseman. That's strong considering Svehla was around.

While Warrener's stock has been on the rise, Ed Jovanovski's has been in a constant free fall since his impressive 1995-96 rookie campaign. Eddie Jo was absolutely brutal last season, making bad decisions all over the ice and seeing his playing time cut back dramatically. The Panthers are hoping it was just a sophomore slump. They need Jovanovski to be at his hard-hitting best in order for them to make some noise in the postseason. One guy who always hits hard is Paul Laus. Often written off as just a thug, Laus is quite the capable defenseman. But he could play like Larry Robinson and still have it get lost in the shadow of the league-leading 39 fighting majors he earned last season. To put that total in perspective, Tie Domi was second in the league with 26 fights. Laus is a great guy to have around.

The top six is solid, but the Panthers could use a bit more depth on the blue line. They traded Per Gustafsson, who was generally the seventh defenseman last year, to Toronto for a prospect. He will be replaced by journeyman Dallas Eakins, who was also signed away from the Rangers. But defense shouldn't be a major concern, especially if Jovanovski returns to form.

GOALTENDING: Same Old, Same Old

John Vanbiesbrouck and Mark Fitzpatrick will once again return as the goaltending tandem. The duo has been in there for every step of the Panthers' four-year history and will be good to go in this their fifth season together. They're really the perfect combination. Vanbiesbrouck is as good as it gets as a number one and Fitzpatrick wholeheartedly accepts his role as the backup.

GEE, THAT'S SWELL

* John Vanbiesbrouck gives the Panthers a chance to win every game they play.

* Robert Svehla is a major talent on defense.

* The addition of Gagner gives the club a legitimate second line.

TROUBLE

* It will be tough to adjust to life without Skrudland and Hough.

* The offense isn't getting any younger.

* Ed Jovanovski needs to prove himself.

1997-98 OUTLOOK: The Panthers lost a great deal of their identity when Brian Skrudland and Mike Hough left town. That leadership void will be hard to fill. On paper, the roster looks deeper and more talented than it has been in the past. But how the club reacts to not having Skrudland and Hough around will determine the club's fortunes.

PREDICTION: Fifth place in the Atlantic and in the playoffs. The Panthers could collapse in the wake of losing their veteran leaders, but guys like Mellanby, Lowry, Fitzgerald, and Vanbiesbrouck won't let that happen. They may not be Cup contenders, but the Panthers should still have enough to sneak into the playoffs.

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