The Florida Panthers have released a 32-man roster for training camp. The roster includes most of last year’s Cats, newly-signed forwards George Parros and Peter Mueller and defenseman Filip Kuba, invitees Alex Kovalev and Marek Svatos, prospect Jonathan Huberdeau, and a host of players from the San Antonio Rampage. Conspicuously absent is restricted free agent Dimitry Kulikov, who remains unsigned as of Saturday night. Reports are that General Manager Dale Tallon has been in contact with Kulikov’s agent all week, but a deal has not been reached and he remains in Russia with his KHL team, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.
Forwards
Twenty forwards are vying for thirteen or fourteen jobs. The likely locks are all of last year’s top six (Weiss, Fleischmann, Versteeg, Goc, Kopecky, Upshall) and Jonathan Huberdeau. Reports are that Sean Bergenheim may be injured. If he is ok to play, then he is another likely lock. The remainder of the forwards will be fighting for the six or seven remaining spots. Word is that if Kovalev and Svatos show any of their former scoring prowess, they’ll be offered contracts. The likelihood is that all of the Rampage forwards will be returned to San Antonio before Friday’s game and that we’ll see some of last year’s bottom six on the waiver wire before Saturday.
9 – Stephen Weiss
11 – Jonathan Huberdeau
12 – Jack Skille
13 – Mike Santorelli
14 – Tomas Fleischmann
18 – Shawn Matthias
19 – Scottie Upshall
20 – Sean Bergenheim
22 – George Parros
25 – Jerred Smithson
27 – Alex Kovalev (tryout)
32 – Kris Versteeg
40 – Marek Svatos (tryout)
41 – James Wright
42 – Quinton Howden
50 – Drew Shore
52 – Jon Rheault
57 – Marcel Goc
82 – Tomas Kopecky
88 – Peter Mueller
Defensemen
Nine defensemen are vying for probably seven roster spots. If Kulikov was on this list, my expectation would be that Gudbranson would be heading to San Antonio with Caruso and Petrovic, with Ellerby and Strachan the sixth and seventh defensemen this season. According to the Miami Herald’s George Richards, the Panthers had planned for Gudbranson to spend the season in San Antonio lockout or no. That plan was wrecked by his off-season injury. He’s currently suspended, though it is expected that the suspension will be lifted after physicals are complete. If the situation with Kulikov isn’t sorted out before Saturday’s game, then the team may elect to keep him in Florida.
4 – Keaton Ellerby
17 – Filip Kuba
23 – Tyson Strachan
43 – Mike Weaver
44 – Erik Gudbranson
51 – Brian Campbell
55 – Ed Jovanovski
62 – Michael Caruso
72 – Alexander Petrovic
Goaltenders
As expected, there are three goaltenders on the camp roster. Jacob Markstrom, finally living up to his promise in San Antonio, will go up against the veterans Scott Clemmensen and Jose Theodore. While Markstrom is the goalie who has been playing, the following should be kept in mind for all of those expecting him to win the starter job for that reason. First, the Panthers don’t play a team with a starter whose played this season until game seven (1/31 against Winnipeg). Second, Theodore has a no-trade clause and has said he’s not interested in leaving. Third, Clemmensen has two years on his contract. That said, the Panthers will likely give everyone a fair shot and do what they have to to make things work if they want to start Markstrom.
30 – Scott Clemmensen
35 – Jacob Markstrom
60 – Jose Theodore