2005 FLORIDA PANTHERS PREVIEW

---




Straight Ups NHL Money Lines NHL Puck Line Wagering NHL Teasers NHL Proposition Betting NHL Futures "IF" Game Betting IN Game Wagering

We strive to bring you the very best coverage of the Florida Panthers. Included on this site you'll find an NHL team index and resource pages, Hockey Wagering Previews, Standings, NHL Matchups, stats, injuries, transactions, and online sportsbook hockey betting information. It's truly all right here!!! NHL Hockey Guide >>>

2005-06 Florida Panthers preview

(MySportsbook.com) - The Florida Panthers organization has been full of promise, with prospects like Jay Bouwmeester, Nathan Horton and Anthony Stewart cutting their teeth in preparation for a step up in class.

Well, the time has arrived for those prospects to begin paying dividends. With Mike Keenan as general manager and Jacques Martin behind the bench, the Cats have glued the young roster together with a group of experienced veterans.

Between last summer and now, Keenan has added the likes of Gary Roberts, Joe Nieuwendyk, Jozef Stumpel, Martin Gelinas, Sean Hill, Eric Cairns, Chris Gratton, Alexander Karpovtsev, Jamie McLennan and Joel Kwiatowski. Overall the 10 players have logged 6,922 games and captured seven Stanley Cups.

Roberts and Nieuwendyk were the key additions this past summer, coming as a package deal so the childhood friends could finish their careers together.

And, of course, you cannot overlook the presence of Martin, who makes his second head coaching stop after spending nine years with the Ottawa Senators. Martin helped build the Sens into a perennial playoff club and set every major team coaching record.

Keenan and Martin, who played college hockey together at St. Lawrence University, have a track record working together as well. Martin was one of Keenan's assistant coaches with Chicago in the late '80s, and they coached together in juniors too.

The hope in South Florida is that the duo's chemistry can continue in Sunrise, thus bringing the Panthers back into the playoffs.

FORWARDS - After struggling to find himself, center Olli Jokinen has turned into the Cats' offensive leader. The past two seasons he has posted 65 and 58 points, respectively, including 26 goals and 32 assists during the 2003-04 campaign. He has also become more of a presence in the dressing room by taking the reins as Florida's captain.

Suddenly Jokinen finds himself as the spearhead of a very deep rotation at center, with Nieuwendyk and Stumpel now in the mix. Nieuwendyk, a three-time Cup champion and former Conn Smythe Winner, will be looked upon for his know how from the younger players, but he won't slouch on the stat sheet. In 03-04, despite playing in only 64 games, he still proved productive with 22 goals and 28 assists.

Stumpel is still a capable double-digit goal and 30-assist man so long as he remains healthy, while Stephen Weiss needs to prove worthy of the fourth overall pick the team used on him in 2001. Weiss tallied 12 goals and 17 assists in 50 games during 03-04, and was solid for San Antonio in the AHL last season during the lockout.

Horton and Stewart are two players who were drafted to add some toughness to the Panthers' young harvest. Horton got a taste of NHL life with 55 games in 03-04, tallying 14 goals and eight assists, but had his season interrupted by a shoulder injury. During the lockout he played with San Antonio, but only logged 21 games before sustaining another shoulder injury. The Cats hope this won't become a pattern for the rugged winger.

Kristian Huselius took a step back with only 10 goals in 03-04, after posting over 20 in each of his first two seasons. Juraj Kolnik, meanwhile, appeared in 53 games last season, netting 14 goals with 11 assists, and should compete with Horton for ice time on the right side.

Last, but certainly not least, is Gelinas, who simply makes things happen at both ends while on the ice. He was a key component in the Calgary Flames' run to the Finals in 2004, netting eight postseason goals. His contribution will be even more valuable if the Cats can make a playoff run, as he has been to the Cup Finals four times, winning it in 1990 with Edmonton.

DEFENSE - The time has come for Bouwmeester to become the anchor-type defenseman he was expected to be when the Panthers took him third overall in 2002. Last year he played in the AHL and enjoyed a solid season, but the pressure will be on him this time around. Not only does the team's brass need him to be a point producer, but they want to see the nastiness worthy of his 6-4 frame.

Bouwmeester could be helped along by Hill and Cairns, who will provide a stable veteran presence on the back line. Hill, 35, can help Bouwmeester become a defenseman who can play in all situations of a game, while Cairns can teach him the physical stuff.

Mike Van Ryn flourished in his first season with the Panthers two years ago, registering 13 goals and 24 assists in 79 games. Karpovtsev is an 11-season veteran who has battled injuries his entire career, but is dependable when healthy.

GOALTENDING - Roberto Luongo is one of the league's best, to put it simply. Perhaps an improved defense in front of him will allow him not to finish first in the NHL in shots-against. That's why his spectacular .931 save percentage in 03-04 didn't quite match up with his 2.43 goals-against average. Nonetheless, he still was a Vezina Trophy finalist.

Veteran understudy Jamie McLennan was brought in to back up Luongo. In 03-04 with Calgary and the NY Rangers he went 13-12-3 in 30 appearances (28 starts). A capable backup will be key for Luongo, so he doesn't have to appear in 72 games like he did last time out.

WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE - The Panthers were one of the more aggressive teams during the free agent frenzy in August. While they didn't add any superstars, they filled holes with veterans who are still productive. And in the age of a salary cap, finding the right mix of youth and savvy could be the key to success. The biggest thing to keep an eye on with Florida is its defense, which has been horrible at times over the years. If Martin can get the Panthers to play solid team defense in front of Luongo, he will win a Vezina and not just get nominated for the award. That could lead to a playoff berth.

MySportsbook has all the lines on all your favorite sports!

Since their launch in 1997, MySportsbook.com has been recognized as a safe and secure provider of online gaming services - offering both a virtual casino and online sportsbook. This track record has made MySportsbook.com one of the top and most reputable online gaming companies in the world. Promo's Include Neteller SignUp Bonuses, Free $10 NHL Bet, Betting Specials, and their NHL Bet Promos are the best you'll find anywhere online.

Click Here To Bet On The Florida Panthers Today With Our Recommended NHL Sportsbook - MySportsbook.com - The Best Online NHL Sportsbooks - Better Than Vegas - (10% Money Bonus When You Deposit)

BODOG.COM - Florida Panthers betting sportsbooks

World’s Most Comprehensive Online Sportsbook, Casino and Poker Site Leads Trend for Wagering on Big-Time Events

Bodog.com located in San Jose, Costa Rica, is federally licensed by the Costa Rican and UK governments. One of the pioneers in the field, Bodog.com is the top-ranked US facing online gamblíng brand, with highest site traffic amongst multi-product US gaming web sites. Bodog.com, valued at over US $1 billion and ranked in the Power 10 online companies by eGaming Review. Bodog.com is turning into a marketing giant with their ads prominently displayed in Esquire magazine for starters. They are definatly here to stay. BoDog.com is always coming up with contest, promotions and awesome ideas for ways to improve their book for the player. They are a top NHL Bet website and have a 20% bonus with a 1 time roll over which you will not find anywhere else on the Net.

Click Here To Bet On The Florida Panthers Games Today - Bodog NHL Sportsbook Lines - (10% Free Money Bonus On Deposit)

NOTE: BoDog.com, MySportsbook.com, and Betus.comare our live Stanley Cup Betting matchups partners, and bring you up to date nhl and olympic hockey odds and lines, as well as great Stanley Cup Betting action, NHL sportsbooks action, and multi-sport parlay entertainment. These companies in our opinion are the best NHL sportsbooks online with great hockey matchup information, including NHL betting odds, LIVE NHL lines, fantastic customer service and fast payouts. Click the links to go to Bodog, Betus and My Sportsbook today, and bet Bet online in their NHL hockey sportsbooks today. Click any of the links in side the VIP sports information area including, NHL matchups, NHL previews, NHL standings, NHL live scores, and more today.

Florida Panthers Preview | Stanley Cup Lines | Hockey Sportsbooks