Panthers add Ekman-Larsson to bolster defense corps

After the NHL Draft, free agency and other offseason moves, NHL.com is examining where each team stands in preparation for the 2023-24 regular season, which starts Oct. 10. Today, the Florida Panthers:

2022-23 season:42-32-8, fourth in Atlantic Division; lost Stanley Cup Final

Key arrivals

Oliver Ekman-Larsson, D:The 31-year-old signed a one-year contract July 1 after he had the final four seasons of his eight-year contract bought out by the Vancouver Canucks on June 16. He had 22 points (two goals, 20 assists) in 54 games last season. … Evan Rodrigues, F: The 29-year-old signed a four-year contract July 2. He had 39 points (16 goals, 23 assists) in 69 regular-season games for the Colorado Avalanche last season and five points (one goal, four assists) in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games. … Niko Mikkola, D:The 27-year-old signed a three-year contract July 1. He had six points (one goal, five assists) in 51 regular-season games for the St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers last season and two assists in seven playoff games. … Dmitry Kulikov, D:The 32-year-old signed a one-year contract July 1. He had 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) in 67 regular-season games for the Anaheim Ducks and Pittsburgh Penguins last season. Kulikov played for the Panthers from 2009-16. …Anthony Stolarz, G:The 29-year-old signed a one-year contract July 1 and is expected to add depth behind Sergei Bobrovsky and Spencer Knight. Stolarz was 5-6-0 with a 3.73 goals-against average and .899 save percentage in 19 games (12 starts) for the Anaheim Ducks last season.

Key departures

Radko Gudas, D: Signed a three-year contract with the Ducks on July 1. He had 17 points (two goals, 15 assists) in 72 regular-season games, three assists in 21 playoff games and his 312 hits were second in the NHL last season. … Marc Staal, D: Signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on July 3. He had 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 82 regular-season games and no points in 21 playoff games. … Anthony Duclair, F: Traded to the San Jose Sharks on July 1. Duclair missed 62 games last season because of a torn Achilles. He had nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 20 regular-season games and 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 20 playoff games to help the Panthers reach the Stanley Cup Final. … Alex Lyon, G:Signed a two-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings on July 1. He was 9-4-2 with a 2.89 GAA and .904 save percentage in 15 games (14 starts) and 1-2 with a 3.63 GAA and .888 save percentage in four playoff games (three starts).

On the cusp

Mackie Samoskevich, F:The 20-year-old signed a three-year, entry-level contract May 8. Samoskevich had 43 points (20 goals, 23 assists) in 39 games as a sophomore for the University of Michigan last season before joining Florida's American Hockey League affiliate in Charlotte on a professional tryout. He had two assists in four regular-season games and four assists in seven Calder Cup Playoff games. …Video: VAN@NYI: Ekman-Larsson evens game in 1st period, F:The 22-year-old signed a two-year contract July 1 after he had three assists in 18 regular-season games. He played one game during the 2023 postseason. … Aleksi Heponiemi, F:The 24-year-old had three points (one goals, two assists) in 10 regular-season games last season. Heponiemi also had an AHL career-high 43 points (12 goals, 31 assists) in 62 regular-season games and seven points (one goal, six assists) in seven playoff games.

What they still need

A goal-scoring wing and top-four defenseman. Mikkola, Kulikov and Ekman-Larsson will take up minutes until Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour return from their injuries, but the Panthers still need to fill voids created by the departures of Gudas and Staal.

They said it

"We're going to have a real challenge this year. We've known that some of our players are hurt, and they may miss part of the early season and we can't replace that money. If we spend it and they come back, we're shot, we can't do it, so now our (salary) cap is really, effectively, even lower … But we'll get it done. We're going to have a team on the ice opening night and we're excited." -- Panthers general manager Bill Zito

Fantasy focus

Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky reminded the fantasy world that he has a high ceiling, going 12-6 with a 2.78 GAA, .915 save percentage and one shutout during Florida's run to the Final last season. Though Bobrovsky has an underwhelming save percentage (.905 in 185 regular-season games) with the Panthers, he was quietly tied with Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning for the NHL lead in wins (39 in 54 games) two seasons ago, is a two-time Vezina Trophy winner with the Columbus Blue Jackets (2013, 2017) and should be considered a top 10 fantasy goalie again. -- Pete Jensen

Projected lineup

Carter Verhaeghe -- Sam Bennett -- Matthew Tkachuk

Evan Rodrigues -- Aleksander Barkov -- Sam Reinhart

Eetu Luostarinen -- Anton Lundell -- Nick Cousins

Ryan Lomberg -- Kevin Stenlund -- Steven Lorentz

Oliver Ekman-Larsson -- Niko Mikkola

Gustav Forsling -- Dmitry Kulikov

Lucas Carlsson -- Josh Mahura

Sergei Bobrovsky

Anthony Stolarz