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(Sports Network) - The Florida Panthers didn't wait until the NHL resumed play to begin making what's expected to be sweeping changes prior to the upcoming trade deadline.

One day after dealing away defenseman Jordan Leopold, the Panthers will be trying to halt a season-long six-game losing streak when the struggling club visits the Atlanta Thrashers this evening in the first game for both Southeast Division members following the league's shutdown for the Winter Olympics.

Florida figures to be one of the most active sellers up until Wednesday's deadline, with ownership sending out a public letter to its fan base just before the Olympic break explaining of the need to revamp the roster and rebuild for the future. The Panthers, who haven't reached the postseason since 1999-00, are presently tied for 12th in the Eastern Conference with 58 points and six points out of a playoff spot.

The letter came one day after Florida traded center Dominic Moore to Montreal in exchange for a second-round selection in the 2011 draft. On Monday, the Panthers obtained a second-round pick from Pittsburgh in this year's draft for Leopold, set to be an unrestricted free agent at season's end. The seven-year pro, acquired by Florida in an offseason trade that sent highly-regarded defenseman Jay Bouwmeester to Calgary, had seven goals and 11 assists in 61 games.

Florida's performance during the abbreviated February schedule helped trigger the anticipated overhaul. The Panthers went 0-5-1 for the month, with the only point coming in a 3-2 shootout setback to Boston on February 13.

The loss marked the 13th straight time the Panthers have scored two goals or less, and the club has lit the lamp a mere six times during its present slide. For the season, Florida ranks 27th in the league with an average of 2.41 goals per game.

The Panthers did receive strong goaltending from Tomas Vokoun against the Bruins, with the two-time All-Star recording 37 saves in regulation and overtime. The 33-year-old served as the regular netminder for the Czech Republic in the Olympics and was one of two Florida players to compete in Vancouver, along with defenseman Dennis Seidenberg (Germany).

Atlanta has also done some retooling over the past few weeks, with the most notable move a five-player trade that shipped star sniper Ilya Kovalchuk to New Jersey and brought back defenseman Johnny Oduya and young forward Niclas Bergfors from the Devils. The Thrashers made a smaller deal on Monday, acquiring enforcer Evgeny Artyukhin from Anaheim for minor-league defenseman Nathan Oystrick and a conditional 2011 draft choice. The 6-foot-4, 255-pound Artyukhin compiled 151 penalty minutes for Tampa Bay last season.

The Thrashers entered the break with 62 points, two behind Montreal for the eighth and final postseason berth in the East, and went 2-0-2 over their final four contests before the stoppage. Atlanta came up a bit short its last time out, dropping a 5-4 shootout decision at Central Division leader Chicago on February 13.

Atlanta was well represented at the Olympics, with five current players participating in the Games. Oduya and fellow blueliner Tobias Enstrom were members of Team Sweden, forward Maxim Afinogenov was on the Russian squad and defenseman Pavel Kubina played for the Czech Republic. Goaltender Ondrej Pavelec, who came up with 35 saves in the Chicago loss, was Vokoun's backup for the Czechs.

The Thrashers have gone 3-2-0 against the Panthers so far this season and handed Florida a 4-2 defeat at Philips Arena on February 6. Florida also lost in its other previous visit to Atlanta in 2009-10.