NHL free agency 2019: 5 most improved teams this offseason

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 05: Columbus Blue Jackets Left Wing Artemi Panarin (9) in action prior to the National Hockey League game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Rangers on April 5, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3 of 5

Charles Trainor/Miami Herald/TNS via Getty Images /

Florida Panthers

Yes, you read that right. The same guy who believes Sergei Bobrovsky’s contract will at some point be deeply regretted believes the Florida Panthers have improved themselves this summer. Let me explain.

Are they going to better, like, five years from now? Probably not. But right now, it’s hard to argue the Panthers aren’t better. It’s easy to see how they could improve immensely from last season.

Additions

Bobrovsky is over 30, which should be causing red flags to fly all over the place for Panthers fans because he signed a seven-year deal. But let’s be real – he’s a two-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender. Bobrovsky’s going to be an upgrade unless something goes terribly wrong.

light. Trending. Each NHL Team's Best Contract

The Panthers got awful goaltending last season, finishing with the second-worst team save percentage in the league (.891%) and allowed the fourth-most goals (273). Had they even gotten league average goaltending last season (.910%), they would have allowed 226 goals, which would have been the 10th-fewest in the NHL.

They also added defenseman Anton Stralman and forward Brett Connolly, as well as a respectable fourth-line forward in Noel Acciari. To top it off, the Panthers hired Joel Quenneville back in April. It will be hard for Florida to earn a playoff spot in the East, but their path is a lot easier now than it was two months ago.

Home/Free Agency