Panthers Preview: Aleksander Barkov Autographed Card

(team and product links go to sponsored Amazon products, player links go to related pages on my blog, news links go to source pages)

This will likely be the preface to all of this year's Season Preview posts: Unlike in the distant past where I would post different texts on this collectibles blog and my personal one, I've been using a new format for the past couple of years, where I'll copy the same text on each one. As a father of two young kids, I just do not have enough time to write two separate posts per day on each blog. This year again, the entire scope of the analysis will take place first and the featured player will have a direct or perhaps indirect connection to what's written, below.

Caveats: At this point, despite training camp being set to start in a little over a week, several players haven't found a team yet, (at least) three star players have active trade requests, and a few clubs are currently above the salary cap, which means there is much left to do.

Key exits: Sergei Bobrovsky (G), Evan Rodrigues (C), Mackie Samoskevich (RW), Daniil Tarasov (G), Jesper Boqvist (C), Tomas Nosek (LW), A.J. Greer (LW), Luke Kunin (C), Vinnie Hinostroza (RW), Noah Gregor (LW), Mike Benning (D), Nolan Foote (LW), Jack Studnicka (C), Wilmer Skoog (C), Ben Steeves (LW)

Key Arrivals: Brady Tkachuk (RW), Jacob Markstrom (G), Radko Gudas (D),Lars Eller (C), Garnet Hathaway (RW), Akira Schmid (G), Sam Lafferty (C), John Beecher (C), Alexander Petrovic (D), Angus Crookshank (LW), Bokondi Imama (LW)

Top prospects: Simas Ignatavicius (RW, 18), Marek Alscher (D, 22), Ryder Cali (C, 18),Jack Devine (RW, 22), Gracyn Sawchyn (C, 21), Sandis Vilmanis (LW, 22), Linus Eriksson (C, 20), Matvei Shuravin (D, 20)

15 exits including a Hall of Fame goalie, one star forward and a former star goalie coming in, in addition to the league's most dangerous hitter - to the most rugged team in the NHL.

What makes their odds look good:
So much firepower up front, with captain Alexander Barkov returning, Brady joining brother Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Anton Lundell, and Brad Marchand, among others, three proven offensive defensemen, three proven rugged defensive defensemen, one of the most knowledgeable coaches in the game in Paul Maurice... Despite missing the playoffs (due to too many injuries) last season, they enter this one as the clearest Stanley Cup contenders in the East.

Question marks:
Markstrom was a Vezina-level goalie with the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames, but looked lost with the New Jersey Devils - which Jacob shows up in Florida? How many man-games will be lost to injury on one of the league's oldest rosters?

Outlook:
The deepest offense in the league, the meanest defenseman in the league, Gustav Forsling, Seth Jones and Aaron Ekblad all in their primes on D, and what I believe will be Markstrom's comeback. Like everyone else, I see this team right back on top.

Prediction:
1st in the Atlantic Division.

Sasha Barkov missed the entire regular season last year due to ACL and MCL damage; he also missed the Olympics, but was able to suit up for Team Finland at the World Championships after the Florida Panthers missed the playoffs, scoring 3 goals and adding 8 assists for 11 points in 10 games, helping Finland to the gold medal and earning a spot on the tournament's All-Star Team. He also has a silver medal from the 2016 Worlds, and a bronze medal from the 2014 Olympics.

Here he is repping the Cats' white (away) uniform on card #495 from Upper Deck's 2021-22 O-Pee-Chee set:

He signed it in thick blue sharpie after a game against the Ottawa Senators at the then-Scotiabank Place.