"Listen, what Florida GM Bill Zito pulled off this offseason was quite impressive. While the Panthers were basking in a second straight Stanley Cup victory, Zito managed to re-sign Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand, while also acquiring an intriguing backup goalie in Daniil Tarasov. All good ... right? Florida can't be concerned about their depth when they've kept so many key players in the fold ... correct?"
"There's an excellent chance that growth from within - from top young players like Mackie Samoskevich - will give Florida quite an edge in their bottom six. But there's also the fact Matthew Tkachuk's health status is in doubt - that torn adductor and sports hernia issue suffered at the 4 Nations Face-Off has been a problem for Tkachuk ever since, and may hold him out to start the season - and there's no telling what shape Tkachuk will be in when he can return."
The Florida Panthers began training camp in Ft. Lauderdale with Group 1 and Group 2 skating at scheduled times. General Manager Bill Zito re-signed Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand and added backup goalie Daniil Tarasov while the team celebrated a second straight Stanley Cup. Salary-cap investments in top skaters raise depth concerns, though internal growth from prospects like Mackie Samoskevich could help the bottom six. Matthew Tkachuk carries a torn adductor and sports hernia from the 4 Nations Face-Off, creating uncertainty about his availability and condition. Fatigue after deep playoff runs remains a potential factor.
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