Summer Skate: Florida Panthers

Using the VUKOTA projection system of Hockey Prospectus, Insider is taking the temperature of key players on every NHL team, continuing with the Florida Panthers. For a detailed explanation of Prospectus' proprietary GVT value metric, read more here.

Summer Skate -- Florida Panthers

In only the second year of a rebuild under GM Dale Tallon, the Panthers rode lucky performances in close games -- and a down year by the Washington Capitals -- to a berth in the playoffs for the first time in 12 years, as the winners of the Southeast Division. With power-play ace Jason Garrison gone to Vancouver, even a stellar season by replacement Filip Kuba will leave the Panthers hard-pressed to repeat atop the division. And frankly, even if the oft-rumored trade for Roberto Luongo takes place, the Panthers still look like long shots to repeat.

Trending up: F Sean Bergenheim
Last season: 2.4 GVT | VUKOTA projection: 5.8

To read the full story about the Panthers' summer projections, as well as Insider's complete NHL coverage, sign up for ESPN Insider.

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Craig Custance

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• Senior NHL writer for ESPN The Magazine
• Wrote for Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• Wrote for The Sporting News