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2013 FLORIDA PANTHERS
FORWARDS
LW SEAN BERGENHEIM, 20
Ht., Wt.: 5-11, 200
Age: 29
Hometown: Helsinki, Finland
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 8/2
Remaining contract*: 3 years @ $2.75 million
Bergenheim will miss the start of the season after getting hurt playing in Finland during the lockout. One of Florida's nice surprises last year with 17 goals in 62 games. Bergenheim is suspended without pay until he is medically cleared to play.
LW TOMAS FLEISCHMANN, 14
Ht., Wt.: 6-1, 192
Age: 28
Hometown: Koprivnice, Czech Republic
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 8/2
Remaining contract: 3 years @ $4.5 million
Florida's leading scorer last year, Fleischmann proved to be durable as he played in all 82 games as well as seven in the playoffs. His 24 goals were a career-high.
C MARCEL GOC, 57
Ht., Wt.: 6-1, 205
Age: 29
Hometown: Calw, Germany
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 8/2
Remaining contract: 2 years @ $1.7 million
A strong puck moving center, Goc will start the season in the injured list after being hurt during the lockout. Florida had him pegged as its No. 2 center after getting 27 assists last year. Goc is suspended without pay until he is medically cleared to play. Goc is expected to be back practicing next week.
LW JONATHAN HUBERDEAU, 11
Ht., Wt.: 6-1, 173
Age: 19
Hometown: St. Jerome, Quebec
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 1/1
Remaining contract: 3 years @ $3.2 million
The third overall pick in 2011, Huberdeau led Florida in scoring last preseason but was sent back to junior. The Panthers expect big things from Huberdeau as he is on their second line.
RW TOMAS KOPECKY, 82
Ht., Wt.: 6-3, 200
Age: 31
Hometown: Ilava, Slovakia
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 7/2
Remaining contract: 3 years @ $3 million
A two-time Cup champ with Detroit and Chicago, Kopecky was durable and dependable for the Panthers last year. Playing in 80 games, Kopecky had 32 points.
RW ALEX KOVALEV, 27
Ht., Wt.: 6-2, 222
Age: 39
Hometown: Togliatti, Russia
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 19/1
Remaining contract: 1 year @ $1 million
A member of the Rangers' 1994 Stanley Cup championship team, Kovalev brings a wealth of experience to the Panthers' second line. Kovalev spent last season in the KHL.
C SHAWN MATTHIAS, 18
Ht., Wt.: 6-2, 213
Age: 24
Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 5/5
Remaining contract: 1 year @ $850,000
Florida's third line center, Matthias had a strong season by scoring a career-high 10 goals as he played in 79 games. Matthias should shoot more with Kopecky up front.
C PETER MUELLER, 88
Ht., Wt.: 6-2, 205
Age: 24
Hometown: Bloomington, Minn.
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 6/1
Remaining contract: 1 year @ $1.7 million
A talented forward, Mueller just needs to stay healthy. Mueller, who is centering Florida's second line, has missed a lot of time with concussions. He has 55 goals in 254 games.
RW GEORGE PARROS, 22
Ht., Wt.: 6-5, 230
Age: 33
Hometown: Washington, Pa.
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 8/1
Remaining contract: 2 years @ $938,000
One of the top enforcers in the league, Parros brings a presence whenever he is on the ice. Parros spent the past six season with the Anaheim Ducks.
C MIKE SANTORELLI, 13
Ht., Wt.: 6-0, 189
Age: 26
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 5/3
Remaining contract: 1 year @ $1.6 million
Santorelli had a disappointing season last year after scoring 20 goals in 2010-11 and getting a two-year deal from the Panthers. Florida plans to use Santorelli as its 13th forward at least for now.
LW JACK SKILLE, 12
Ht., Wt.: 6-1, 205
Age: 25
Hometown: Madison, Wisc.
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 5/3
Remaining contract: 1 year @ $825,000
Skille missed big chunks of last season with shoulder injuries, the final one costing him the final 15 games of the regular season. Skille had four goals in 46 games last year.
C JARRED SMITHSON, 25
Ht., Wt.: 6-3, 210
Age: 33
Hometown: Vernon, British Columbia
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 10/2
Remaining contract: 1 years @ $800,000
Smithson came to the Panthers in a late-season deal with Nashville and scored a goal with two assists in 15 games. The Panthers have him centering their fourth line.
RW SCOTTIE UPSHALL, 19
Ht., Wt.: 6-0, 200
Age: 29
Hometown: Fort McMurray, Alberta
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 8/2
Remaining contract: 3 years @ $3.5 million
A sports hernia cost Upshall all but 26 games last season as he scored a career-low two goals with three assists. Upshall was better once healthy and had a goal with two assists in the playoffs.
LW KRIS VERSTEEG, 32
Ht., Wt.: 5-10, 180
Age: 26
Hometown: Lethbridge, Alberta
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 6/2
Remaining contract: 4 years @ $4.4 million
Versteeg has seemingly found a home with the Panthers as he secured a long-term deal after having a career-high 54 points. Versteeg also scored 23 goals on Florida's top line.
C STEPHEN WEISS, 9
Ht., Wt.: 5-11, 180
Age: 29
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 11/11
Remaining contract: 1 year @ $3.1 million
A free agent after this season, Weiss finally made the playoffs last year as he scored 20 goals with 37 assists. Florida's all-time leader in games played, Weiss had three goals in the postseason.
LW JAMES WRIGHT, 41
Ht., Wt.: 6-4, 200
Age: 22
Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 2/1
Remaining contract: 2 years @ $650,000
A fourth-round pick of the Lightning in 2008, Wright has played in 49 NHL games -- all with Tampa Bay. Florida picked him up in a trade last year and he has five goals with AHL San Antonio this year.
DEFENSE
BRIAN CAMPBELL, 51
Ht., Wt: 5-11, 185
Age: 33
Hometown: Strathroy, Ontario
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 11/2
Remaining contract: 4 years @ $7.14 million
The first defenseman to win the Lady Byng Trophy since the 1950s, Campbell led the league in ice time with just three penalties. Campbell played in all 89 games and finished second among d-men with 53 points.
MICHAEL CARUSO, 62
Ht., Wt.: 6-2, 190
Age: 24
Hometown: Mississaugua, Ontario
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 1/1
Remaining contract: 1 year @ $600,000
Now in his sixth season with the Panthers organization, Caruso may get his chance because of injuries on Florida's blueline. Caruso had four points in 32 games at AHL San Antonio.
KEATON ELLERBY, 4
Ht., Wt.: 6-4, 200
Age: 23
Hometown: Strathmore, Alberta
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 4/4
Remaining contract: 1 year at $700,000
Florida's seventh defenseman much of last season, Ellerby could see more playing time this year. As it was, Ellerby played in 40 games last season and notched five assists.
ERIK GUDBRANSON, 44
Ht., Wt.: 6-4, 195
Age: 20
Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 2/2
Remaining contract: 2 years @ $900,000
Gudbranson injured his shoulder wakeboarding in over the summer and was suspended by the team during the lockout. Gudbranson had a strong postseason -- and led Florida in hits during the regular season. Gudbranson is practicing with the team and could start the season on a rehab assignment with AHL San Antonio.
DMITRY KULIKOV, 7
Ht., Wt.: 6-1, 183
Age: 22
Hometown: Lipetsk, Russia
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 4/4
Remaining contract: TBA
Kulikov may play in Saturday's opener against the Hurricanes if he gets everything cleared with his contract. Kulikov spent the lockout playing for his youth club in Russia.
ED JOVANOVSKI, 55
Ht., Wt.: 6-3, 218
Age: 36
Hometown: Windsor, Ontario
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 17/6
Remaining contract: 3 years @ $4.15 million
'JovoCop' played in 66 games last season after missing time with a broken hand. Jovanovski had a strong postseason for the Panthers and had seven hits and three blocked shots in Game 2.
FILIP KUBA, 17
Ht., Wt.: 6-4, 226
Age: 36
Hometown: Ostrava, Czech Republic
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 13/3
Remaining contract: 2 years @ $4 million
Kuba played in parts of two seasons with the Panthers -- who drafted him in 1995 -- before trading him in 2000. Kuba is a strong veteran player who will initially be paired with Campbell.
ALEX PETROVIC, 72
Ht., Wt.: 6-4, 206
Age: 20
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 1/1
Remaining contract: 3 years @ $870,000
Petrovic made his pro debut last spring during the AHL playoffs and could see playing time with the Panthers early on this season. Petrovic had 12 points in 35 games with San Antonio.
TYSON STRACHAN, 23
Ht., Wt.: 6-3, 215
Age: 28
Hometown: Melfort, Saskatchewan
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 4/2
Remaining contract: 1 year @ $600,000
Strachan did a good job on a fill-in basis for the Panthers last season to earn a spot on this year's team. Strachan spent the lockout playing in San Antonio.
MIKE WEAVER, 43
Ht., Wt.: 5-9, 186
Age: 34
Hometown: Bramalea, Ontario
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 11/3
Remaining contract: One of the Panthers most dependable defensemen, Weaver played in all 89 games last season. Weaver, whose 16 assists were a career-high, led the team in blocked shots.
GOALIES
SCOTT CLEMMENSEN, 30
Ht., Wt.: 6-3, 205
Age: 35
Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 11/4
Remaining contract: 2 years @ $1.2 million
Clemmensen helped the Panthers out numerous times last season -- most especially during the playoffs when he was forced into service. Clemmensen went 14-6-6 and signed a new deal in the summer.
JOSE THEODORE, 60
Ht., Wt.: 5-11, 181
Age: 36
Hometown: Laval, Quebec
NHL seasons/With Panthers: 15/2
Remaining contract: 1 year @ $1.5 million
Theodore had a strong bounce-back year for the Panthers as he notched three shutouts -- not including one in the playoffs against the Devils. Theodore went 22-16-11 with a 2.46 GAA.
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