Florida hopes Dadonov can replace Jagr on top line
SUNRISE — This week, the Panthers and coach Bob Boughner got their first look at the team’s first line of Aleksander Barkov flanked by Jonathan Huberdeau and Evgenii Dadonov. Well, the projected first line, at least.
“Supposed first line,” Boughner joked.
Barkov, Huberdeau and Dadonov figure to be the Panthers’ top trio this season, with Dadonov replacing the departed Jaromir Jagr. The line first practiced together on Thursday morning and did so again on Friday morning.
Boughner said the club intended to roll the line out for a few of Florida’s upcoming exhibition games, hoping “they can gel right away and mesh right away.”
“You can see there’s some chemistry with Huby and Barky, and I think Dadonov’s going to take some time to adjust,” Boughner said. “When they’re on the cycle and they’ve got possession and the puck, they’re tough to defend. It’s going to be fun to watch.”
Barkov and Huberdeau have played together for years and were rarely separated from Jagr during his tenure in Florida. (The Panthers elected not to resign the 45-year-old Czech, championing a younger and faster approach to roster-building.) Last year, interim coach Tom Rowe dismantled the trio briefly in an attempt to find a scoring spark.
Enter Dadonov, whose game, at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, is different than the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Jagr. In parts of three seasons with Florida, Jagr scored 49 goals and assisted on 81 others.
“Evgenii is quicker, he’s really quick and has a really good shot, too,” Huberdeau said. “So I think we’re going to try to feed him a little bit. I think it can be interesting with three skill players. I think offensively, we just got to move the puck.”
Barkov added: “Jagr is bigger and he plays a lot with the puck in the corners and he creates space for every other player. He can make a pass. He has a great shot. Dadonov is a little bit smaller, but he’s fast. He’s skilled. He can make a pretty good pass too. He can see everything there on the ice. We haven’t played a game yet, but I’m pretty sure he’ll be one of the best players in the league right away.”
Dadonov comes to Florida after spending five seasons in the KHL in Russia. He averaged 20.2 goals and 24.6 assists over those five years, including a career year in 2016-17, when he notched 30 goals and 36 assists. (“He’s not a bad player,” Huberdeau deadpanned.)
Dadonov was originally drafted by the Panthers in the third round back in 2007 and played parts of three seasons in Florida. In 55 games, he had 10 goals and 10 assists. Dadonov brushed aside the notion that he would be filling Jagr’s shoes.
“I just do Dadonov said.
Huberdeau and Barkov combined to miss 71 games due to injury last year, but still totaled 31 goals and 47 assists.
“When three guys are familiar playing with each other, they sort of know where to get open,” Boughner said. “I think that’s [Dadonov’s] biggest thing. He’s going to have to find those little, small areas where to get open for pucks. That’ll come just playing together and practicing together.”
Huberdeau said he wasn’t sure how long it would take to get used to his new linemate, adding that “it didn’t take long for me, Jagr and Barky to get along.”
“We all have good vision,” Huberdeau said. “I think what we’re going to my job,” work on is probably going to be our defensive play. We got to be good and it’s going to start from there. After that, we’re going to have some offensive chances for sure.”