After 25-point improvement, Panthers eye next goal: return to playoffs

Published Apr. 12, 2015 7:45 p.m. ET

foxsports

SUNRISE, Fla. -- The Florida Panthers are beginning to take shape.

A year removed from a 29th-place finish, the Panthers posted a 38-29-15 record and improved 25 points in the standings to finish the regular season as the most-improved team in the NHL.

After five seasons of effective trades and strategic drafting, Panthers general manager Dale Tallon is now beginning to see the fruits of his labor as the organization's young core continues to blossom into the next generation of superstars.

''This franchise is starting to fall into place,'' said Tallon, who greeted reporters at the BB&T Center following the team's locker clean out. ''I'm excited about the next decade. I think it's going to be great and I think Panthers fans are going to be excited about what's going on.''

For nearly the entire 2014-15 season, the Panthers remained in the playoff hunt as an offseason influx of veterans fit perfectly with the team's young core to create a cohesive unit right out of training camp.

Aaron Ekblad, whom the Panthers selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft, had an historic season for an 18-year-old defenseman (12 goals and 39 points in 81 games as a rookie).

Nick Bjugstad, who led the Panthers in scoring as a rookie last season, had a team-best 24 goals while second-year center Aleksander Barkov saw career bests in goals (16) and points (36).

Jonathan Huberdeau, who endured a sophomore slump after capturing the Calder Trophy in 2013, led Florida with 54 points in his third NHL season.

The average age of those four players: 20

''I'm confident and I think next year is going to be a good season for us,'' said Huberdeau, who is expected to sign a long-term deal with the Panthers this offseason.

''We took a big step, but we're going to take a bigger step next year. At this time (next year) we're going to be in the playoffs.''

Once they do reach the playoffs, however, the Panthers won't be content simply making an appearance.

''The goal is to win the Stanley Cup,'' said Tallon. ''The goal is not just to get in the playoffs and lose in the first round. These guys took 79 games to get knocked out and now it's going to take us 110 games to get knocked out. That's the belief and that's the direction we're headed in. We're excited about our future.''

While a young core looks to provide stability in South Florida for many years to come, it'll be the presence of two elite veterans -- Jaromir Jagr and Roberto Luongo -- that has the most impact on the Panthers' immediate future.

Luongo, 36, continues to provide the Panthers with a reliable backbone in net as the 2015 All-Star posted a 28-19-12 record with a 2.35 goals-against average and .921 save percentage.

As for Jagr, the Panthers made their first big splash of the offseason when it was announced on Sunday that the 43-year-old forward would be returning to Florida for another season.

Acquired from the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 26 in exchange for a 2015 second-round draft pick and a conditional 2016 third-round pick, Jagr notched six goals and 12 assists in 20 games with the Panthers while playing alongside Huberdeau and Barkov on the team's top line.

''I'm glad I got traded here,'' said Jagr, whose 1,802 points places him third on the NHL's all-time scoring list. ''I didn't know how good this team is and how good the organization is. Thankful I had a chance to play the last 20 games here. A lot of people thought I was done, but those young guys give me extra energy, extra life.''

With the announcement of Jagr's return and coming off a 91-point campaign, the Panthers certainly won't be flying under the radar next season as they look to improve upon their already strong foundation.

For teams around the NHL, a trip to South Florida no longer can be viewed as a vacation because although the Panthers may have fallen short of the playoffs, they've succeeded in winning the respect of their opponents.

''It's going to continue to get better,'' said captain Willie Mitchell. ''We're going to have more challenges, that's for sure. Next year there won't be any easy nights because people understand we're a better hockey club now -- that'll be our next hurdle.

''We're going to be good enough to get (to the playoffs), which I thought we were this year, but now everyone is going to be ready for us so we have to get that much better.''

You can follow Jameson Olive on Twitter @JamesonCoop or email him at JamesonOlive@gmail.com.