The positive energy and optimism surrounding the Panthers and their future has been almost palpable since the team took the significant step of re-signing Olli Jokinen and Chris Gratton last Thursday.

Pardon the pinch of pessimism, but why?
The team sits 13th in its 15-team conference, ranks last in the East in scoring, and its goaltender is on track to break records for shots against and saves that he set two years ago.

"I do believe this is a good team," said left winger Jon Sim, who, having played in Dallas and Philadelphia, should know one when he sees one.

"We're a much better team than we were early on," added defenseman Mike Van Ryn. "That's from guys playing together, learning the system. We've learned a lot this year from our coaches."

Experience necessary

While the Panthers may have overpaid in handing Jokinen $21 million for the next four seasons, that single move reflected a confidence and commitment from ownership that has been absent in the recent past. While the other four teams in the 11th-15th spots in the East all were sellers at the trade deadline, Florida made the statement that there's a lot to like about its makeup and, with or without a few more pieces, the future looks bright.

"You hate to make excuses," goaltender Jamie McLennan said, "but we had a tough November (1-9-3 record), we had key injuries... It goes down the line."

Panthers coach Jacques Martin made it clear before the deadline that he had no interest in trading for prospects or draft picks. In Stephen Weiss, Nathan Horton, Jay Bouwmeester, Rostislav Olesz, Lukas Krajicek and Anthony Stewart, the Panthers have a solid young nucleus.

Now, they just have to play.

"Look around and a lot of guys have barely had 200 games in the NHL," Van Ryn said. "They haven't been around that long. As a defenseman you don't really understand the game until you're up around 300." (His 210 is second to Sean Hill's 742 among Panthers defenders.)

Some teams, such as the Carolina outfit the Panthers played the past two nights, picked up the nuances of the new NHL almost from the start of the season. The Panthers almost were the complete opposite.

They had a new coach and general manager, and GM Mike Keenan wanted Martin to assess his lineup before making changes. Krajicek, Sim and Steve Montador played their way onto the team. Kristian Huselius, Niklas Hagman, Eric Cairns and Alexander Karpovtsev played their way off it.

The huge influx of new players meant working out new roles. Jokinen returned as captain, but the leadership brought by Joe Nieuwendyk and Gary Roberts changed that dynamic. Jozef Stumpel needed time to find his playmaker role. Jokinen played extensively at wing before returning to center. Gratton, at first a checker, became a scorer.

There's always next year.

All that will be in the past by next season. While some faces will change, the core of the team will be set from the start of training camp. The continuity set by Thursday's signings will be key to progressing from there.

"I read on the Internet where someone wrote it was one of the most positive signs for the franchise in years, and I believe that," McLennan said.

"You nip and tuck with a player or two this summer and it's not far away. I'm a big believer of who we have in this (locker) room."

The statistics keep piling up for John LeClair – and so do the honors.
LeClair will reach yet another career milestone the next time he lights the lamp. The 15-year NHL veteran has 399 goals and could reach 400 when the Penguins welcome the Florida Panthers on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Mellon Arena.

In his first season with the Penguins, LeClair established himself as one of the NHL’s premiere power forwards in a distinguished career that saw him play in Montreal and Philadelphia as well.

“I remember watching him in Montreal, he was as good down low as any player I’ve ever seen,” Penguins veteran radio play-by-play announcer Paul Steigerwald said. “He didn’t have big numbers back then, but he was a young player. Then, he went to Philly and it all came together. Seeing him in Montreal, there was no evidence he was going to be a big goal scorer, but you knew he was a guy who could grind it out down low and he was a really valuable power forward in that respect. Then, the goals started coming and you see how skilled he is. He worked at becoming a great goal scorer and he deserves what he gets. What makes him cool is that he’s kind of an indomitable force in front of the net.”

LeClair, a Vermont native, will become only the seventh American-born player to reach 400 goals. Joe Mullen (502), Mike Modano (484), Jeremy Roenick (483), Pat LaFontaine (468), Keith Tkachuk (443) and Tony Amonte (404) are the only Americans in the exclusive 400-goal club.

Already this season, LeClair reached 400 assists, 800 points and 900 games played. In 935 games, he has 399 goals, 403 assists and 803 points. In his last 16 games, LeClair has 16 points (7+9). He ranks third on the Penguins with 42 points (17+25).

“He missed all of last year and was coming off back surgery, too,” Steigerwald said. “To me, he is a real valuable guy to have and I hope he comes back next year. I feel bad for him that the season didn’t work out the way he wanted it to – he’s going to miss the playoffs for the first time in his career. But, at the same time, if he hangs around here for next year, I think he’s going to have a real good time.”

LeClair has brought a valuable veteran presence to a team filled with youngsters.

“I think it’s just a pleasure having him around. He’s just a nice guy. He’s a good person,” Steigerwald said. “He’s one of those quiet guys who goes out and just does his job. In that respect, he’s also a leader. He doesn’t say much, but you can tell he takes his job seriously. He’s like a warrior.”

The Florida Panthers shoot for their fourth straight win tonight when they welcome the Washington Capitals to the BankAtlantic Center.

Florida has come on late to make a playoff push, but sits 12th in the Eastern Conference -- seven points behind the eighth-place Atlanta Thrashers in the playoff race.

On Monday, Olli Jokinen scored the game-winning goal with 1:44 left in overtime to lift the Panthers past the Tampa Bay Lightning, 6-5, in Sunrise.

Jozef Stumpel netted two goals and had one assist, while Ric Jackman and Steve Montador also tallied goals for the Panthers, who squandered a four-goal lead, but have now won three straight and six of their last seven games. Roberto Luongo made 29 stops on 34 shots.

The Panthers will host the NY Rangers on Friday.

Washington, meanwhile, has lost its last six games. On Monday the Caps dropped a 4-2 tilt to visiting Montreal, as Michael Ryder, Alexander Perezhogin and Mathieu Dandenault scored during a 2:06 span of the second period to lift the Canadiens.

Alexander Ovechkin and Brian Sutherby scored for the Capitals, who tied a season-high with their sixth straight defeat. Olaf Kolzig ended with 28 saves in the loss.

Ovechkin checks in with 44 goals, including eight in the first 11 games after the Olympic break.

The Caps open a seven-game road trip tonight and will visit Tampa on Thursday.

Florida is 6-0 against Washington this season. However, all but one of those games was decided by one goal.