Wilfredo Lee / AP

Goalie Tomas Vokoun almost backstopped Florida into the playoffs last season.

Stanley Cups: 0

2008-'09 record: 41-30-11, 93 points (3rd in Southeast, 9th in East)

2008-'09 playoffs: Did not qualify

General manager: Randy Sexton (30-114-15, 4th NHL year, 2nd team)

Coach: Peter DeBoer (41-30-11, 2nd NHL year, 1st team)

Captain: Bryan McCabe

Top returning scorer: C Stephen Weiss (14 goals, 47 assists, 61 points)

Top returning goalie: Tomas Vokoun (26-23-6, 2.49, .926)

Key additions: G Scott Clemmensen; D Ville Koistinen; D Jordan Leopold; D Clay Wilson; LW Jeff Taffe; D Dennis Seidenberg; C Stephen Reinprecht.

Key subtractions: D Jay Bouwmeester; G Craig Anderson; D Karlis Skrastins; D Nick Boynton; RW Anthony Stewart; LW Tanner Glass; D Steve Eminger; D Jassen Cullimore; LW Ville Peltonen; C Brett McLean; LW Richard Zednik; C Drew Larman.

Top line: LW David Booth, C Stephen Weiss; RW Nathan Horton

Top defensive pairing: Keith Ballard, Bryan Allen

Goaltending: Vokoun became the 53rd goalie in NHL history to reach 500 career games played as he nearly backstopped the Panthers to the playoffs. Altered his game over the years to where he’s more of a stand-up netminder than his past almost-exclusive butterfly style. Among the game’s greatest improvisers, will make spectacular saves when it looks a certainty that he’s beaten.

Player to watch: RW Michal Repik. Played on top line with Rochester (AHL) last season right out of junior and led club with 49 points. Capable of playing either wing, scored twice during a five-game call-up to Panthers. Incredible speed and change of pace in his skating. Only 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, but unafraid to venture into high-traffic areas to get puck and create scoring chances.

Icing: Booth has gone from three goals in the 2006-07 season to 22 the following season to a team-high 31 last season. Under DeBoer in his first season as coach, the Panthers posted their best record in nine years. Florida earned points in 31 of its last 45 games.

Outlook: The Panthers continue to ride the treadmill and last season’s second-half surge will likely be scuttled by the offseason loss of Bouwmeester and the uncertainty over the club’s ownership situation.

Prediction: 84 points (4th in Southeast, 13th seed in East)

NHL TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEWS Teams listed in predicted order of finish; x-playoff team ATLANTIC x-Penguins x-Flyers x-Devils x-Rangers Islanders Vote: Winner? CENTRAL x-Red Wings x-Blackhawks x-Blue Jackets x-Blues Predators Vote: Winner? NORTHEAST x-Bruins x-Canadiens Sabres Maple Leafs Senators Vote: Winner? NORTHWEST x-Flames x-Canucks Oilers Wild Avalanche Vote: Winner? SOUTHEAST x-Capitals x-Hurricanes Thrashers Panthers Lightning Vote: Winner? PACIFIC x-Sharks x-Ducks Stars Kings Coyotes Vote: Winner?

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