Don’t expect much to change for the better in Florida Panthers next season. After coming up dry at the end of the playoff hunt last season, Florida lost their most talented player, when Olli Jokinen was traded to Phoenix for Nick Boynton and Keith Ballard.
Florida was apparently set on bolstering their defense this offseason. Boynton and Ballard are both solid performers, as is newly acquired Karlis Skrastins. Wade Belak was picked up from Toronto Maple Leafs, and his physical presence will be appreciated. Chad Kilger is a solid veteran, known for his defensive ability and penalty killing skills. Veteran Cory Stillman has been a productive forward on a number of different teams, but none of these new acquisitions will be able to take the place of Olli Jokinen. Over the past three seasons, Jokinen has put up 121 goals and 251 points.
Florida’s emphasis on defense may pay off in a division full of talented offenses in Tampa Bay, Washington, Carolina and even Atlanta. But you can’t win games if you can’t score goals, and Tomas Vokoun is not the kind of Hall of Fame goalie that can carry a team to the playoffs with little to no offense.
