Overall, the Panthers had seven players earn a spot in the top 100.
"They are arguably the deepest fantasy team entering the new season," NHL.com senior fantasy editor Pete Jensen said on the latest episode of the Territory Talk podcast. "The whole thing pieced together is a really appealing team to target in fantasy. Whether you're drafting one guy like one of the top dogs or three or four in the middle or late in the drafts, there's so much to take from Florida in a good way."
After ranking fourth in the league on offense with an average of 3.36 goals per game last season, Jensen and his fellow fantasy gurus over at NHL.com believe the high-flying Panthers are poised to pack an even greater punch during the upcoming campaign thanks to several key moves they made in the offseason.
In addition to locking up center Sam Bennett (68th on the top 250) and winger Anthony Duclair (160th on the top 250), the Panthers also went out and acquired one of the top goal-scorers in the league last season when they plucked versatile forward Sam Reinhart (67th on the top 250) away from the Sabres.
Acquired from the Flames at last year's trade deadline, Bennett posted 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 10 games after joining the Panthers, while Duclair, who was playing on a one-year deal, registered 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists) in 43 games while lining up primarily within Florida's top-six forward group.
Reinhart, meanwhile, led Buffalo and ranked tied for 11th in the league with 25 goals in 54 games.
"They have two of the elite options in Barkov and Huberdeau**.
