Jaromir Jagr and Roberto Luongo didn't have their typical summer of work.
While Jagr probably didn't do as much as he has been accustomed to off the ice, Luongo did more than ever as he worked his way back from hip surgery.
Both veteran players reported to Florida Panthers training camp on Thursday morning and will officially begin their new season at practice early Friday.
Some weren't sure Luongo would be ready for the start of the season after he spent most of May on crutches.
Friday, he was medically cleared and said he has no limitations on his physical workload and plans on getting in one of Florida's early preseason games.
"I'm good to go," said Luongo, the Panthers all-time leader in every franchise goaltending record worth having.
"It took a lot of hard work over the summer but I'm really happy with the way things progressed. Going into it, I wasn't sure how things would go but I'm here for the first day of training camp with a clean bill of health."
Jagr spent much of his offseason in the Czech Republic as his father had medical issues and didn't get in as much offseason work as he has in the past.
"I didn't want to change things, but I wanted to spend more time with my parents, especially my dad," he said.
That doesn't mean Jagr's not ready, however, as he looks trimmer than he did last year after he swore he was going to pick up his pace on the ice following being shutout in Florida's opening-round playoff loss to the Islanders.
"You have to improve because the league is getting better," Jagr said. "You have to adjust; if you don't adjust you're going to die. That's not just sports, that's every day life.
"You're always moving in a certain direction. ... We have to be better because we know the competition is going to be better. We have to take things step-by-step to make the playoffs again."
The Panthers, as they did last year, are relying on both veteran players to help them improve on what was a franchise-best season.
Jagr led Florida in scoring at age 44 last year, potting 27 goals with 39 assists.
The Panthers expect to reunite their top line of Jagr, Sasha Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau when the season opens against New Jersey on Oct. 8, the trio putting up top numbers league wide the past season-plus they've been together.
"You can always get better," said Jagr, who is third on the NHL's all-time scoring list _ 19 points back of Mark Messier for second _ and will turn 45 during this coming season.
Luongo, 37, had one of his best years with the Panthers last season, but he will get a little help in net after Florida signed James Reimer to a five-year deal when the free agency period opened.
Reimer, 28, is expected to give Luongo a lot more rest than he has gotten in the past with goalie coach Robb Tallas already planning on playing Reimer much more than Florida backups have previously.
The thought is, more rest will benefit Luongo as Florida moves into the crunch time of the postseason.
And, unlike past years, the playoffs are an expectation around the Panthers as they are considered a legitimate Stanley Cup contender in the Eastern Conference.
"I think it was important [to sign Reimer] because you have to look at the big picture," Luongo said. "As much as I would like to play 70 games, I don't think that's wise. James is a guy who has been a No. 1 before, has carried the ball. I think we have confidence he can step right in."
Both also come into the season flashing their fashion. Jagr is continuing to grow out his hair _ the Jagr Mullet is looking strong _ and joked that the ceramic hair on the bobblehead the Panthers will give out to fans in the second game against Detroit is too short.
Luongo now sports a full beard, something he began growing this summer because "I just didn't feel like shaving. I was too lazy."
As a bonus, however, Luongo at least looks ready for a long postseason run.
"I'm in playoff mode already," Luongo said.
