What kind of a difference can a new coaching staff make?

4. Is Roberto Luongo still good enough to steal some victories for the Panthers? -- The Panthers' decision to bring back Luongo last March, despite his contract, was made not only to re-energize the franchise, but also to provide some stability in the net. The Panthers needed their goalies to win games for them last season, but instead Tim Thomas was merely adequate, while Scott Clemmensen and Jacob Markstrom both fell below that line.

Luongo had a .924 save percentage in his 14 games with the Panthers last season, and the team gladly would take that figure again over the course of a full season.

5. What kind of a difference can a new coaching staff make? -- Tallon indicated after letting interim coach Peter Horachek go after last season that he wanted someone with NHL coaching experience, and that's what he got with Gallant.

Furthermore, Gallant was behind the bench for the Canadiens' run to the Eastern Conference Final last season and new assistant Mark Morris was instrumental in developing many of the players who helped the Los Angeles Kings win two of the past three Stanley Cup titles in his role as coach of the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League for the past eight seasons.