Follow @SpiegelSports For years, the Florida Panthers have been that "up and coming" team with a talented young nucleus in the maturation process.
GM Dale Tallon has something to say about that, and the time is now for these young players to take control and lead this team where they want it to go.
Jonathan Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov, Vincent Trocheck, Aaron Ekblad, and Nick Bjugstad have been that core. Now they are practically veterans, all under 26 years old, that will be counted on to mentor the Owen Tippetts, Jared McCanns, Mike Mathesons, and MacKenzie Weegars of this roster as they move forward in Tallon's vision.
There was more to not re-signing Jaromir Jagr this summer. Amidst all the disappointment from fans, Tallon knew he needed to get younger and faster. Perhaps as important was the message he wanted to send to his young squad that they are now in charge.
No more deferring to the old guys in the room.
No more letting them set the example and following suit.
It was time to hand the keys to the core, whether they all think they are ready or not.
Every team has veteran leadership in the form of older players. Captain Derek MacKenzie, Radim Vrbata, Keith Yandle, and Roberto Luongo provide the counterbalance to the youthful exuberance in the locker room.
Not even ten years ago, Florida was considered a team where such older players could finish out their career in the sun and collect a paycheck.
Now they come to help an ascending young squad take that next step.
Two years ago the Panthers had their most successful season in franchise history with 103 points. Ownership/management made the decision to go in a more analytical approach to assembling the roster.
Tallon, a highly respected "old school" hockey man, was pushed out from his normal duties. He spent most of his time traveling and scouting while others made most of the personnel decisions.
A disastrous 81 point season due to a myriad of issues was all owners Vinnie Viola and Doug Cifu needed to see.
If there is one thing this organization specializes in it's transparency. They owned their mistakes, asked Tallon to take full control back, and are marching forward together.
Tallon holds no grudges at the experiment gone wrong, and is thrilled to be back in the saddle doing what he loves.
Part of that is letting the blueprint he discussed when arriving in South Florida blossom. It took a step back last year, but on paper this club isn't far from where it was two years ago.
Speed, size, smarts, and sandpaper is what Tallon wants. With the addition of Evgenii Dadonov (3rd round Panthers draft pick in 2007) to take Jagr's spot on the top line as well as the opportunity he is giving some of the younger players in the organization, he is standing firm on building success from within.
He needed the right complements around his drafted core and jettisoned those (Marchessault and Demers) that weren't his signings. He knows what he wants, and now can make it happen.
The natural pessimism amongst the Panther fanbase has many thinking this is not a playoff roster. One reason is there are so many new pieces as well as a new coaching staff headed by Bob Boughner. The other is time. The pain of the past is hard to shake when there has only been five playoff appearances in the franchise's history, and not being out of first round in 21 years.
If healthy, which is pararmount, this team can hang with anyone in the league. It may take a little time for the new faces and systems to become cohesive, but there is a tremendous amount of talent on this roster.
The difference moving forward is it will be up to the young men in the locker room to deal with the ups and downs of a full NHL season with only the mirror holding them accountable. It may not always be pretty, but this will likely be the most valuable season to date for the vaunted core.
Jonathan Huberdeau was a wiry 169 pounds when he was drafted with the 3rd overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft. Even after a devastating Achilles injury suffered a year ago, he is up to 205 according to Tallon.
It's not just this type of physical maturity that is symbolic of how this team is growing. It's the noticeable attitude that comes with it. It's that attitude...the sandpaper...that will have this team moving up the NHL ranks sooner than later.
Dan Spiegel Florida Panthers Media Follow me on Facebook Follow me on Twitter Join the Florida Panthers Insiders FB Page Connect with me on Google Plus