Team MVP Aaron Ekblad - D Last year..."/> Team MVP Aaron Ekblad - D Last year..."/>
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Florida Panthers 2015-16 NHL Preview

By Josh Hill

Dec 16, 2014; Sunrise, FL, USA; Florida Panthers center Derek MacKenzie (17) reacts after his goal against the Washington Capitals with teammates in the first period at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 16, 2014; Sunrise, FL, USA; Florida Panthers center Derek MacKenzie (17) reacts after his goal against the Washington Capitals with teammates in the first period at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Team MVP

Aaron Ekblad – D

Last year was an alright rookie season for the future of the Florida Panthers, but this is going to be the season that we’re all watching for him to take a step to the next level.

Young talent in the NHL takes a while to develop, but with the success of Nathan MacKinnon in Colorado has some believing that young talent can be developed faster than it before. That’s not something to rest hopes on in Florida, but this is a season where Ekblad can soak up the veteran leadership that is around him and advance his hockey IQ and his skills at the NHL level. It’s a tall order, but Ekblad is the future of the franchise, and a superb season from him might make missing the postseason not sting as much as it could for fans.

Mar 14, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; Florida Panthers defensemen Aaron Ekblad (5) skates with puck against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The Florida Panthers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 2-0. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; Florida Panthers defensemen Aaron Ekblad (5) skates with puck against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The Florida Panthers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 2-0. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

Best Case Scenario

We’ve seen teams with a mixture of young talent and veteran leadership turn things around and make runs in the past. The Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild and even the Boston Bruins have all gone from being on the fringe to being teams with massive potential to surge ahead in their conferences.

Florida is on the cusp of that, as they have players like Aaron Ekblad who are the wave of the future while veteran talent like Dave Bolland, Jaromir Jagr and Willie Mitchell who want to win now and have the knowledge to help the team go to the next level. The Panthers aren’t a favorite to contend in the East, but if the chips fall in the right place we could see the Panthers become a sleeper team that makes a push for the postseason. Even if they don’t make the playoffs this year, the Panthers might be the first team out, and will have pieces in place for a serious run in 2016-17.

Worst Case Scenario

While it’s hard to see a team that is already looking at a best case scenario that involves missing the postseason, there are pitfalls that Florida will want to avoid. The old talent on the team is there to help but it could also result in the wheels falling off and the bottom falling out on Florida.

If that happens, it’s really not the worst thing in the world but it would be cruel for fans who are entering this season with hope that everything can come together. Even if the talent comes together, the window is small for the Panthers to win with this team, so maybe reality setting in is the worst case scenario this season.

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