Change for the sake of change can sometimes be counterintuitive, especially when dealing with the unknown. The Panthers, with one of the NHL's most talented young cores surrounded by Matt Olson Jersey a bunch of question marks, are about to find out for themselves.

Florida entered 2016-17a popularup-and-comer on the heels of a division title, but the team came undone through injury and inconsistency on the way to a sixth-place finish. To correct the 22-point year-over-year swing,general manager Dale Tallonopted for sweeping changes, riddingthe Panthers of five of their top eight scorers from last season and .

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Among the departed: Jonathan Marche sault, their breakout 30-goal scorerinexplicablyleft unprotected in expansion;Reilly Smith, a 26-year-old winger traded for peanuts one season removed from 25 goals and 50 points; and JaromirJagr, their fan-favorite leader who at 45 finished fourth on the team in scoring.

Then came last week's head-scratcher: Jason Demers, a dependable if not highly valuable top-four defenseman, was traded to the Coyotes for winger Jamie McGinn. At best, the move seemed unnece sary, but it also carried the optics of a cap dump (Demers costs$4.5 million with four years remaining; McGinn$3.3 million and Chad Pinder Jersey two).

It was a hockey trade, Tallonexplained. Basically, it was a need for us. Bottom line.

So what's the end game?

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Any roster that underachieves as much as the Panthers should be given a shakein the summer.But it doesn't look like they got better.

In effect,EvgenyDadonov, a30-goal scorer from the KHL with 55 NHL games to his credit, likely will get the first crack at replacing JagralongsideJonathan HuberdeauandAleksander Barkov.Another import,Henrik Haapala, signed with the Panthers out of Finland to bring depth to the depleted wing. AndRadim Vrbata, 36, e sentially fills in forJu si Jokinenand Jagras a veteran presence who hopefully has a season or two left in Chris Hatcher Jersey him.

Are the Panthers any better off with those guys than the group from April? Well, that's a good question.

Florida Panthers schedule 2017-18

The Panthers open the 2017-18 season on the road Oct. 6against the Lightning, the first game in a home-and-home with their Florida rival. That first month will be a tough stretch Terry Steinbach Jersey ; they'll seeTampa three times,defending champion Pittsburgh twice andSt. Louis, Washington and Anaheim in between. They play 15 back-to-backs, aboutaverage, and travel 44,395 miles in total, sixth most in the league. Florida's season ends with seven games in 10 days, including five against Atlantic Division opponents. That stretch could well decide the Panthers' playoff fate.

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Panthers' key offseason additions

EvgenyDadonov (free agent), Radim Vrbata (free agent), Henrik Haapala (free agent),Brandon Pirri (free agent),Jamie McGinn (trade)

Panthers' key offseason departures

Jaromir Jagr (free Ramon Laureano Jersey agent), Ju si Jokinen (free agent), Thomas Vanek (free agent), JonathanMarche sault (expansion draft),Reilly Smith (trade),Jason Demers (trade)

Panthers' projected lineupForwards

Jonathan Huberdeau -Aleksander Barkov -EvgenyDadonovJamie McGinn -Vincent Trocheck -Radim VrbataJared McCann -Nick Bjugstad -Brandon PirriHenrik Haapala -Derek MacKenzie -Colton Sceviour

Defense

Keith Yandle - Aaron EkbladMichael Matheson - Alex PetrovicIan McCoshen -Mark Pysyk

Goalies

Roberto LuongoJames Reimer

Panthers' best-case scenario is

It's e sential thatJonathan Huberdeau andAleksander Barkovplay injury-free seasons, as the Panthers have shown they're a shell of themselves without their top two forwards. They do, and continue to be every bit the dominant top-line force they've shown when healthy. Brandon Pirri's most productive seasons came in Florida and that continues in his reunion. Aaron Ekbladrebounds from a forgettable 2016-17, reminding everyone why he's the NHL's next dominant defenseman. Roberto Luongo, at 38, has plenty left in the tank to help the Panthers disrupt the order in an up-for-grabs Atlantic and return to the playoffs.

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