Stephen Weiss News

The Florida Panthers surprised in 2011-2012, winning the Southeast Division and going to double overtime in Game Seven of their first-round playoff series, but they came crashing to earth in the shortened 2013 season, as injuries and subpar play conspired to leave them with the worst record in the NHL.

The shortened season of 2013 is now long over, and I for one don't know of a better way of moving on from the second worst year in franchise history then to examine how the players fared, or in some cases exceeded, expectations by utilizing Hockey Prospectus writer Tom Awad's VUKOTA system.

Not what you would call ideal preperation for the grueling, condensed, 48-game season tye Panthers faced after the lockout ended.

I can't quite remember who said it because it was so long ago, but I believe it was an Original Six coach who, while lamenting his team's poor performance because of an inordinate amount of injuries.

Florida Panthers goalie Jacob Markstrom stops Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Benoit Pouliot on a penalty shot during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 27, 2013, in Tampa, Fla.

About a year ago, the Panthers left their exit meetings with coach Kevin Dineen and General Manager Dale Tallon with their heads held high after taking the eventual Stanley Cup finalist Devils to a Game 7 double-overtime loss in Florida's first playoff series in an NHL-record 10 seasons.