George Richards, FHN Publisher
The Florida Panthers defense will likely have many of the same faces and names it has over the past couple of years but make no doubt, it will look different in 2020-21.
Bill Zito’s work with the Florida blueline started at the end of September when Kevin Weekes — the former NHL goalie, TV analyst and interviewee for the Florida GM job — broke the news that Mike Matheson was being traded.
That deal took a little longer to work out than perhaps both the Penguins and Panthers expected, yet a day after Weekes’ tweet, Florida had indeed sent Matheson to Pittsburgh for veteran forward Patric Hornqvist.
Matheson, once considered one of the stalwarts of the Florida defense for years to come, had his share of struggles with the Panthers over the past two seasons and a change of scenery may just do him well in finding his game once again.
In the coming weeks, Zito kept working at it.
Zito traded Josh Brown to Ottawa for a draft pick, acquired Markus Nutivaara in a deal with the Blue Jackets and then signed bruiser Radko Gudas to a three-year deal a day later when free agency opened.
Mark Pysyk, who spent most of last season playing forward, was allowed to walk.
Pysyk signed a one-year deal with Dallas for the bargain-basement price of $750,000.
When the Panthers do eventually return to the ice (there are already a handful in town gearing up for the start of training camp), coach Joel Quenneville and new defensive coach Ulf Samuelsson (hired Nov. 9) — who has replaced the departed Mike Kitchen — will have to figure out where all the pieces fit.
MacKenzie Weegar likely goes with Aaron Ekblad on the top pairing as has been the case for some time, but what happens after that?
MacKenzie Weegar — Aaron Ekblad
Weegar remains unsigned but that should be resolved in the coming days.
A restricted free agent, Weegar is scheduled for his arbitration hearing on Saturday and while the two sides remain apart financially, time remains in which Weegar could still sign an extension with the team before a ruling is handed down.
Weegar, 26, has evolved into one of Florida’s most consistent defenseman and playing with the steady-handed Ekblad certainly has not hurt.
It cannot be a surprise Florida’s top defensive pairing features what are, more than likely, the team’s two best defensemen.
Ekblad, 24, continues to improve as he has become the team’s defensive rock. Ekblad is big, skates well and is very efficient (as is Weegar) in moving the puck out of his zone and creating offense up in the play.
Anton Stralman — Markus Nutivaara
Stralman is the cagy veteran of the Florida d-core and , over the course of his career, has shown to be very adaptable at playing with a variety of partners and their different styles.
Last season ended with Stralman playing with Riley Stillman and the thought here is he goes into the season paired up with Nutivaara. Both players are very adapt at clearing the zone and are both technically sound.
Neither player gets caught out of position often and Nutivaara, despite being more of a stay-at-home d-man, can add a touch of offense.
Stralman was signed to a three-year deal prior to the 2019-20 season after fighting injury in what would be his final season with the Lightning. After offseason surgery, Stralman played in every game for the Panthers and became a very trusted defensive player.
Keith Yandle — Radko Gudas
Yandle saw his 5-on-5 icetime reduced last season as he went from a top-pairing with Ekblad at times to being a 5-6 guy with a number of different partners including Matheson.
On the power play, few players are as counted on as Yandle as he is one of the top point producers from his position in the league. An All-Star two seasons ago, Yandle could benefit from having the likes of a bruising Gudas nearby.
Gudas did not have a great season in his one year with Washington, but gets a three-year deal from Florida as the Panthers try and get a little tougher.
Just suiting up Gudas improves Florida’s toughness meter. If Gudas gets back to form defensively, you could see him get increased minutes and responsibilities this coming season.
Fighting for a spot
Riley Stillman
When the season started, Stillman appeared to be very close to cracking the Panthers roster but he was a player who seemingly took to some extra work in the minors.
When he returned to the team for a second time, his improvement was noticeable — as was Quenneville’s faith in his defensive play. Stillman worked his way into being one of Florida’s most trusted d-men logging big minutes and being on the ice in key moments.
On paper, it looks like Stillman loses out in the numbers game here, but if he comes to camp playing like he did in the second half of last season, he may force his way into the lineup.
Brady Keeper
After a disappointing training camp, Keeper was sent to the minors where his game took off in what was his first full pro season after being a free agent signing out of Maine.
Keeper put in the work on and off the ice, using the time during the pandemic pause to continue getting into great shape — something that was very noticeable. Quenneville was impressed by Keeper’s play during training camp and rewarded him with playing time in Toronto. The Panthers are bullish on Keeper’s future and feel he is close.
Chase Priskie
Vying to become the first South Florida native to play for his hometown Panthers, Priskie came home to Florida as part of the Vincent Trocheck deal with Carolina in February.
Priskie was hurt on the first day of training camp in Carolina and probably pushed things a little too hard upon his summer return and spent time off the ice with an aggravated lower body injury. Florida’s young d-core is getting deeper despite the trades of Matheson and Brown.
Priskie has his work cut out for him, as it stands right now, in making the opening night roster.