"When Panthers General Manager Dale Tallon completed one of the most extensive one-year overhauls in NHL history, he hoped that the handful of players he retained from last year's roster would complement or jell with 14 new additions.

Clearly, they have or the Panthers, despite a recent slump, wouldn't have catapulted from dead last in the Eastern Conference last year to a tie for first place in the Southeast Division at the All-Star break.

For the most part, those core "holdovers," including forwards Stephen Weiss and Shawn Matthias, along with goalie Scott Clemmensen, defensemen Jason Garrison, Dmitry Kulikov and Mike Weaver are enjoying one of the best seasons of their careers."