The NHL is definitely getting younger, as evidenced by the number of teenagers selected in this past draft who are getting substantial playing time.

The Panthers have 19-year-old Dmitry Kulikov logging big minutes and playing on the top power-play unit just months after being selected 14th overall in Montreal. John Tavares, the top pick of that draft, was in town playing the Panthers on Saturday night and came into the game second on the Islanders in scoring.

This season, six rookies from the Class of '09 made their teams' opening night roster. And with more and more teams backed up against the salary cap, the league may welcome even more youngsters in the near future.

``I don't know if they are more ready, but the league is more receptive to bringing those kids in,'' said Florida coach Pete DeBoer. ``Tavares and some of those top picks, things are different. There's marketing and things. Most of those guys are ready. But mid-round guys are more cap-friendly. They bring energy and enthusiasm. You can't deny their skill level.''

But are all these young players cut out for the rigors of an NHL season? Rostislav Olesz, who came to the Panthers as a 19-year-old in 2005, says he has learned plenty since his rookie season.

``I feel so much different than I did during my first year,'' said Olesz, who played in 59 games for the Panthers that season with eight goals and 13 assists. ``That was a tough year. I came from Europe, had to learn the language, a different style of hockey. I feel a lot more comfortable now. I feel like I grew up here.''

BOOTH STILL OUT

David Booth may be traveling to his hometown of Detroit when the Panthers visit there later this week, but for the second time in his career, he'll miss playing against the team he grew up rooting for.

Booth, who suffered a concussion on Oct. 24, still hasn't begun skating. DeBoer says he's talked to Booth about coming on the trip anyway. Florida visits Buffalo, Detroit and New York on its upcoming road trip.

``I've talked to him about it,'' DeBoer said. ``He's a Detroit guy.''

When the Panthers played at Joe Louis Arena in 2007, Booth missed the game with a knee injury and watched the action from a sky box with his family.

• The Panthers had a rare advantage Saturday. For the first time this season, the Panthers had a night off before a game in which their opponent had to play. The Panthers had Friday off; the Islanders were in Raleigh, N.C., handing the Hurricanes their 14th straight loss.

• As for DeBoer's Friday night plans, he says ``it's been so long I didn't know what to do. It was a lot of shows I hadn't seen in a while''