SUNRISE, Fla. — Wednesday night’s preseason opener may have meant nothing to the Florida Panthers in the standings, but for Dave Bolland it was another step forward in silencing some of his critics.

Signed to a controversial five-year, $27.5 million deal during the offseason, Bolland looked fantastic in his first exhibition game with the Panthers.

Centering the team’s second-line, Bolland notched Florida’s only power play goal in a 4-3 shootout loss to the visiting Dallas Stars. With Stars goaltender Jussi Rynnas heavily screened by both Sean Bergenheim and Jimmy Hayes, Bolland buried a wrist shot from the top of the right circle to tie the game at two with under a minute remaining in the second period. Additionally, he also finished the night as the team’s top faceoff man, winning 56 percent of his draws.

"Dave Bolland played Dave Bolland hockey," Panthers coach Gerard Gallant said. "He was solid. He’s very smart defensively and, like you said, he contributed a power play goal. I like his game, and for his first game with the Panthers, we really liked him."

A Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013, Bolland was one of several veteran players brought in by general manager Dale Tallon during the offseason to add leadership and championship experience to the locker room.

"It brings experience," Bolland said of the team’s veteran additions. "When I was younger I had guys like Marty Lapointe, guys to ask and help you along the way. I know if there are any questions I can always help them out. Experience takes you a long way when you get in those dirty games."

After missing 56 games last season with a torn tendon in his left ankle, Bolland is eager to ditch his injury-prone tag and put his recent underwhelming seasons behind him as he begins the next chapter of his career in South Florida.

"It was tough, it was one of those injuries where you don’t know if you’re going to come back or what’s going to happen," Bolland said of his injury last season. "It was just a long season and a long summer of rehabbing. I’m back to 100 percent now."

A versatile player who could see time on both the Panthers power play and penalty killing units, Bolland feels the team’s mix of proven veterans and young talent has them heading down a path similar to the one that yielded a Stanley Cup in Chicago.

"There’s a lot of young players here that have talent like we did in Chicago that could take this team forward," Bolland said.

EKBLAD WAITING HIS TURN

On the eve of what would have been his first taste of NHL action, 2014 No. 1 overall pick Aaron Ekblad was told he’d have to wait just a little bit longer.

Ekblad, along with several other key players, were held out of Wednesday night’s matchup with the Stars as just 20 of the team’s 50-man training camp roster suited up.

"Obviously all of us want to get our feet wet," Ekblad said. "It’s pretty exciting thinking about your first preseason game. I’m really excited to hopefully get in there in Nashville over the weekend."

Rather than seeing his time in the press box as a night off, Ekblad instead chose to use his bird’s eye view of the game as an opportunity to possibly learn something new as he prepares for his rookie season in the NHL.

"I just want to watch some of the older guys on defense and see what they do out there," said Ekblad. "They have the experience and know what they’re doing. It’s good to pick up on all the little tips and tricks they have, especially when you’re watching a full, live NHL game."

Hoping to take the ice during the team’s preseason double-header in Nashville on Sept. 27, Ekblad will likely be paired with veteran defenseman Willie Mitchell. Entering his first year in Florida and 14th NHL season overall, Mitchell has been embracing his role as a mentor to the 18-year-old Ekblad throughout the first week of training camp.

"Everything," Ekblad said enthusiastically when asked what he’s been able to learn from Mitchell thus far. "Watching his gap control, watching everything he does on the ice. How he interacts with other players and how he pays attention to the entire game. He’s not just a defensive player, he’s always talking to the forwards to figure out what they’re doing, always reading plays."

"I like to just watch what he’s doing. Whenever I get the chance he’s talking to me. Just tips and tricks and all that good stuff."

BRICK HOUSER

Starting the third period of Wednesday night’s game in relief of Dan Ellis, 22-year-old goaltending prospect Michael Houser certainly made the most of his opportunity.

Staring down two of the NHL’s most dangerous offensive weapons in Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, Houser stopped 19 of 20 Stars shots, including 8 saves in overtime alone.

In the shootout, Houser stopped the Stars first three shooters before Ales Hemsky was able to slip the game-winner past him.

Fighting for the starting job with the team’s American Hockey League affiliate in San Antonio, Houser was relieved that he rose to the occasion in his first preseason game.

"Any time you get into a game in preseason, in my situation, it’s probably a good thing," Houser said. "You always fear you won’t take advantage of your opportunities and I thought I approached it pretty well.

"It’s never easy going in with just one period to go but I tried to get my legs under me as fast as I can and just kind of go from there."

WORTH NOTING

— The team’s lone training camp tryout, 31-year-old defenseman Shane O’Brien finished his Panthers debut an assist shy of a Gordie Howe hat trick with one fight and one goal during the team’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Stars.

"Our young guys played well and our veteran guys were great," O’Brien said. "It was fun being out there."

— In a first period in which the defense struggled mightily, defensive prospect MacKenzie Weegar was able to rise above the rest during the Panthers preseason opener. Known mainly for his offense, Weegar racked up three hits in 19:30 of ice time.

"The ice was pretty bad, but other than that, no excuses," Weegar said. "We were moving the puck well on the power play. We just need a couple more shots out there and create more chances."

— The Panthers have returned 2014 second-round pick Jayce Hawryluk to the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League. Hawryluk, 18, competed in one preseason game during his first NHL training camp, recording one shot, one takeaway, two penalty minutes and a minus-1 rating in 11:36 of ice time. The Panthers training camp roster now stands at 49 players.

Had an unbelievable time at @FlaPanthers camp and in my first nhl exhibition game! Thanks for everything! #Firstclass! — JayceHawryluk (@JayceHawryluk) September 25, 2014

You can follow Jameson Olive on Twitter @JamesonCoop or email him at JamesonOlive@gmail.com.