NOTEBOOK: Plenty of Depth; Reinhart on Top

In today's Baptist Health Practice Notebook, the Panthers showed off their increased depth on the first day of training camp, Sam Reinhart carved out a spot on the top line and much more!
SUNRISE, Fla. -The Panthers are officially back in action.
Taking the ice at FLA Live Arena for their first practice of training camp on Wednesday morning, players had grins glued to their faces as they ran through various drills and started to get back into the swing of things in preparation for what is shaping up to be a riveting 2021-22 campaign.

"Everybody came in with a smile," defenseman Radko Gudas said. "It was great to be back."
Only a season removed from finishing with the fourth-best record in the league, the amount of confidence the Panthers have in camp in palpable. Players come across as lighthearted in their interviews, but there's also a strict sense of purpose in how they're going about their business.
With several months having passed since their loss to the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Lightning in the first round of the playoffs, they've had plenty of time to assess what separated them from their cross-state rivals and feel they've done enough since then to narrow that gap.
"This year, it's going to be our turn," forward Patric Hornqvist said matter-of-factly. "We're going to make sure that we don't let it slip like that in those big parts of the season. I like our chances."
A big reason for the buzz surrounding the Panthers both internally and externally is their depth.
With only a handful of players not returning from last season's successful squad, there a couple additions -- both new and old -- that are expected to put them over the top in all areas of the ice.
"The depth is high-end," coach Joel Quenneville said when asked to assess the team's roster. "When I say high-end, I mean deeper - deep, deep, deep - as far as guys that can push the play. We'll have some decisions on [who will play]. They'll be some depth organizationally."
In the defensive zone, the Panthers will undoubtedly benefit from the return of star defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who is coming back from a lower-body injury suffered in March, while the rookie-veteran tandem of Spencer Kight and Sergei Bobrovsky should provide a one-two punch in net.
The depth at forward, however, is what really sticks out to Quenneville.
After scoring the fourth-most goals in the league last season, the Panthers bolstered their attack even further with the offseason additions of Sam Reinhart and Joe Thornton. And when you add those two talented newcomers into an already gifted group featuring likes of Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Bennett and Anthony Duclair - as well as numerous other players looking to prove themselves - it's hard to keep your heart from racing.
"We felt like we had six lines strong of guys that we'd be comfortable playing in the NHL," Quenneville said of the forward group. "It's a good situation to be in as far as looking at options. Right now, we're trying to give everyone a chance of where we'd thought they'd fit to begin."
In the coming weeks, finding where guys fit will be Quenneville's top priority.
With a deeper roster than ever before, the competition for spots in the lineup should be at an all-time high. Sure, there's a group of guys that definitely have a place on the roster locked in, but even for them there's always an opportunity to enhance that position and climb the depth chart.
As the preseason rolls along, more than a few players will have a chance to make their case.
"We want to make sure that we've got some enthusiasm to start our season, condition as well," Quenneville said of the organization's internal competition. "The players will make the decisions for us with how they play and how they compete. … There are a lot of guys that are all of the sudden in the mix for where they're going to start. Organizationally, it's a good position to be in."

REINHART ON TOP

The Panthers didn't mess around when it came to their lines on the opening day of camp.
Back together after a strong showing in the postseason, Huberdeau and Owen Tippett were spotted flanking Bennett as the top line in Group 2, while Verhaeghe and Barkov, who found instant chemistry together last season, were joined by Reinhart on the top line in Group 1.
"We've got a couple guys that are in pretty good spots right off the bat," Quenneville said.
Acquired in a trade with the Sabres in August, it should come as no surprise that Reinhart is lining up where he is with the Panthers. A lethal threat on offense, he led Buffalo in both goals (25) and points (40) this past season, with his 25 goals placing him tied for 11th in the league.
"Sam's got good instincts," Quenneville said. "I think he's got a real good feel for the game. I think he's got real patience and play recognition and a shot and good hands. I think [that whole line] has that type of thing. They've got some speed. They're going to have the puck a lot."
No matter who lined up with Verhaeghe and Barkov last season, puck possession was a given.
When they were deployed together at 5-on-5, the Panthers controlled 60.64% of shot attempts, 63.25% of scoring chances while outscoring the opposition 28-12, per NaturalStatTrick.com.
"It's a new situation for me," Reinhart said of taking his talents to South Florida. "It's exciting."
Giving fans a taste of potentially what's to come, check out the tweet below for a slick goal.

MISC. NOTES

-- Florida's first-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, Anton Lundell missed this morning's practice while recovering from an injury, but is expected to be back on the ice sooner rather than later.
"We'll see how he is tomorrow," Quenneville said. "I think he'll be skating by Saturday."
-- The Panthers will host the Predators for their annual preseason doubleheader on Sunday.
With tickets sales directly benefitting the Florida Panthers Foundation, fans can secure seats (first come, first served) for just $10 with parking included for both games by clicking HERE.

WEDESDAY'S LINES

GROUP 1
Forwards
Carter Verhaeghe - Aleksander Barkov - Sam Reinhart
Mason Marchment - Joe Thornton - Anthony Duclair
Ryan Lomberg - Juho Lammikko - Grigori Denisenko
Logan Hutsko - Cole Schwindt - Henry Bowlby
Defensemen
Gustav Forsling - Brandon Montour
Markus Nutivaara - Radko Gudas
Lucas Carlsson - Noah Juulsen
Braden Hache
Goaltenders
Sergei Bobrovsky
Sam Montembeault
Evan Fitzpatrick
GROUP 2
Jonathan Huberdeau - Sam Bennett - Owen Tippett
Frank Vatrano - Noel Acciari - Patric Hornqvist
Aleksi Heponiemi - Eetu Luostarinen - Maxim Mamin
Justin Nachbaur - Zac Dalpe - Serron Noel
Justin Sourdif
Defensemen
MacKenzie Weegar - Aaron Ekblad
Matt Kiersted - Kevin Connauton
Max Gildon - Chase Priskie
Goaltenders
Spencer Knight
Christopher Gibson