5 free agents the Florida Panthers can sign to get back to playoffs

GANGNEUNG, SOUTH KOREA FEBRUARY 14, 2018: Olympic Athlete from Russia Ilya Kovalchuk looks on in their men's preliminary round ice hockey match against Slovakia during the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, at the Gangneung Hockey Centre. Valery Sharifulin/TASS (Photo by Valery SharifulinTASS via Getty Images) /

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After narrowly missing the playoffs, here are five free agent targets for the Florida Panthers this offseason.

With 96 points during the regular season, the Florida Panthers became the second team in NHL history to finish with at least that many points and not make the playoffs. A great stretch run, with 25 wins in their last 35 games, ended Bob Boughner’s first season as head coach on a nice note heading toward the offseason and into next season.

Panthers general manager Dale Tallon suggested the team will be fairly selective in free agency right after the season, while more recently saying it’s “in our budget” to go after higher-end options on the open market.

The Panthers could use some forward depth, and more scoring punch overall after finishing 14th in the league goals per game (2.99 per game) this year and tied for 20th in raw power play goals (47). But they could also use some help on the blue line, after allowing 243 goals this season (2.96 per game; tied for 13th in the league). Just one of the 13 teams that allowed as many or more goals made the playoffs, while just two of 17 teams that allowed fewer goals missed the playoffs. So Florida was in, quite literally, a dreaded middle ground.

The Panthers don’t have significant salary cap concerns, and none of their internal restricted free agents are set to break the bank. So here are five free agents who can provide that final push back to the playoffs for Florida next year.

Mandatory Credit: Peter KovalevTASS-Getty Images /

5. LW Ilya Kovalchuk

Kovalchuk is headed back to the NHL, and all early signs point to him signing with the New York Rangers. Florida’s interest in the former No. 1 overall pick dates back to last summer, before he decided to stay in the KHL for at least one more season.

Kovalchuk just turned 35, and he last played in the NHL in 2012-13. But he appears to have plenty left, with 65 points in 55 games for St. Petersburg in the KHL this season (32 goals and 33 assists) and 78 points (32 goals) over 60 games during the 2016-17 season.

Nothing can be official with the Rangers until free agency opens on July 1. The Panthers can offer a better immediate situation for sure, and a healthy Kovalchuk would fit nicely as a second or third-line forward.

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