In his 14 games with the Panthers last season

"We've added so much character," Tallon said. "We brought in some Stanley Cup champion guys that are excited about coming to Florida and not only being successful in their own right, but also helping our young guys develop quickly. Obviously it's going to take a little time with new coaching and a lot of new faces. It's going to take a little time to jell, but I like the direction we're headed." Perhaps the most significant personnel change from the start of last season was goalie Roberto Luongo, who was brought back for a second stint with the Panthers in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks in March.

In his 14 games with the Panthers last season, Luongo had an impressive .924 save percentage, a figure that actually tops his career mark of .919. Tallon is hesitant to pinpoint how many victories Luongo's presence could mean, but he's quick to say the three-time All-Star goalie should make everybody around him better.

"[His presence] means that our players will have a lot more confidence out front that they know they're going to have solid goaltending, especially our young guys," Tallon said. "They'll know that mistakes will be covered up by his play."