What do Panthers need?

At the end ofmost FloridaPanthers’ seasons, discussions of another roster overhaul generally follows. Not this year. While they still haven’t won a playoff series since 1996, the Panthers set franchise records for wins (47) and points (103) this season, and reeled off a 12-game winning streak while winning theAtlantic Division.

Sure, they fell short in the playoffs, losing in six tight games, including three overtime defeats, to the New York Islanders, but most hockey pundits agreed that the Panthers controlled the play throughout the series.

If not for a missed Aleksander Barkov penalty shot, an overturned Aaron Ekblad goal and an obvious trip on Vincent Trocheck that wasn’t called, the Panthers could be playing their intra-state rival in Tampa in the conference semifinals.

But as general manager Dale Tallon said under his breath just before he delivered an optimistic postseason wrap-up, “Coulda, shoulda, woulda.”

Tallon and coach Gerard Gallant agreed the bulk of the roster will be returning, but tweaks and improvements must be made for the Panthers to take the next step and realistically compete for a Stanley Cup next season.

In-house free agency

Re-up Jagr: The top priority has to be to bring back Jaromir Jagr, who at 44 became the oldest player in NHL history to lead his team in scoring with 66 points. While Jagr extended his playoff goal drought to 37 games, it wasn’t for lack of opportunity. Jagrand his top line dominated puck possession and had a 60 percent shot advantage over their defenders. At even strength, Jagr was fifth in the NHL, averaging 2.51points per 60 minutes.

Jagr, who only signs one-year deals, said he loves playing with and mentoring his younger teammates, such as Barkov, who is a finalist for the Lady ByngMemorial Trophy, and Jonathan Huberdeau, whileTallon said bringing back Jagr is a “win-win,” situation.

Farewell captain: While captain/ defensemanWillie Mitchell hasn’t announced his retirement, at 39 and after dealing with concussions the past two seasons, there’s no way the Panthers will bring him back on the ice. That doesn’t rule out a position as an assistant coach/penalty killing adviser.

“Big Cubano”: Do the Panthers resign backup goalie AlMontoya, who’s coming off a sensational bounce-back season in which he notched a 12-7-3 record with a career-best 2.18 goalsagainstor go after a young successor to 37-year-old starterRoberto Luongo? Luongowon 35 games but admitted to exhaustion after playing three games in four nights in the playoffs. ThePanthers need to take a run at free-agent goalie James Reimer, resign Montoya or wait for prospect Samuel Monte mb ea ult to develop.

Bring back “Soup”: Panthers defenseman Brian Campbell is coming off a stellar season in which he notched a plus-31 ice rating to lead all NHL defensemen while setting a franchise record. He’s a young 36 and led the team in time-on-ice while mentoring five defensemen in the playoffs who were 25 or younger. So Tallon should re-sign Campbell to add stability and experience to the blue line, but only at a hometowndiscount.

Tall on is expected to make multiyear offers to restricted free agent defense man ErikGud brans on and blossoming center Vincent T roche ck.

Outside free agents

The salary cap is expected to rise to about $74.4 million next year, so the Panthers willhave about$25million in cap space after the anticipated departures of Mitchell, Jiri Hudler, Teddy Purcell and possiblyMontoya, as well as a drop in Campbell’s cap number.

Tallon, who prefers to promote from within, isn’t expected to make a big splash in free agency on July 1 for offensive stars such asStevenStamkos, Kyle Okposo, DavidBackes or Andrew Ladd. However, he may take a run at Rangers defenseman Keith Yandle, who would automatically bolster the Panthers’ inconsistent power-play unit (20 power-play assists this season).

Boston Bruins free agent and soon to be 30-year-old forward Loui Eriksson could be on Tallon’s radar with 30 goals, including 10 on the power play. According to a source, thePanthers are in talks with top-6 right wing Alexander Radulov, a former first-round pick who scored 44 goals in his first two seasons with Nashville before playing in theKHLfor the past five seasons.

Draft help?

Don’t expect any immediate help from this year’s draft, as team success breeds few impact picks. ThePanthers have five, including a middle-of-thepack first rounder, a fourth, a fifth and two in the sixth round.

Eleven of Florida’s own draft picks made their post season debuts, and several prospects will be competing for roster spots next season, such as forwards Kyle Rau, Lawson C rouse, Rocco Grimaldi, Jay ce H awry lu kan dJ u ho Lammikko, as well as defensemen MikeMatheson, Jonathan Racine and IanMcCoshen.

Third line boost

ThePantherswere ranked eighth in scoring this season while boasting four players with 25 or more goals and a franchise-recordsix players with 50 or more points. That said, the bulk of their offense came from the top two lines; most Stanley Cup winners feature at least three productive lines.

Tallon tried to bolster the third line with trade-deadline rentals Purcell and Hudler (both free agents), but after Purcell scored a goal in the first two minutes of Game 1, they were thoroughly outplayed by their younger Islanders counterparts Ryan Strome, Alan Quine and Shane Prince, while losing the Corsi battle (40 percent). It didn’t help that their centersTrocheck andNick Bjugstadwere either injured or not100 percent physically.

Gallant drastically reducedHudler’s ice time as the playoffs progressed, so don’t expect him or Purcell to return, given the Panthers’ forward depth in the organization.

To go deep in playoffs

The Panthers are out of the playoffs because of inferior special teams.

Their power play was 23rd for the second consecutive season and they converted just 2 of 15 against the Islanders. Their penalty killwas 24th for the second consecutive season and gave up 5-of-21power-play goals in the playoffs, including the game-winning goal by Quine in Game 5.

The Panthers were ranked sixth in even-strength goals and itwould probably be better if their top-liners such as Barkov, Huberdeau and Jussi Jokinen weren’t expending energy on the penalty kill. Provide center Derek MacKenzie with penalty killing help.

The Panthers’ blue line is solid, and theywere seventh in the NHL in fewest goals allowed(2.44). Still, they need to decide ifMontembeault is their future goalie. If not, draft, sign or trade for an eventual successor to Luongo.