George Richards, FHN Publisher
We are now over a week into NHL free agency and three weeks into the Florida Panthers offseason which started when they beat the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on June 17.
It has been a fairly substantial offseason for the Panthers even though they did not make a traditional splash when free agency opened last Tuesday at noon.
That’s because all of their heavy lifting was already done.
We have some thoughts on what Bill Zito & Co. have done thus far in yet another short offseason in South Florida.
Hey, training camp is just over two months away.
Offseason Signings
Aside from Nate Schmidt, the Panthers were able to bring just about everyone back from the Stanley Cup championship team.
Now, we know Nico Sturm and Vitek Vanecek moved on as well, but based on their previous price point, they were always going to be rental players.
Sturm was looked at as an upgrade on the fourth line when they had Matthew Tkachuk’s LTIR money at the trade deadline, but Florida just does not pay that kind of money for the fourth line in the offseason.
Anyway, Zito made good on his comment that he could re-sign Florida’s Big 3 free agents and did just that. Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad each got eight years, with Brad Marchand getting six.
The Panthers now have 10 players signed through 2030 with Niko Mikkola and Sergei Bobrovsky likely to be added to that list with contract extensions in the coming days or months. Eetu Luostarinen probably gets something next year as his contract ends in 2027.
Zito has certainly propped open this championship window for the next, well, five years at least.
When free agency opened, Florida filled Schmidt’s spot on the third defensive pairing by signing veteran Jeff Petry. They traded for backup goalie Daniil Tarasov as well.
Those two could be the only newcomers on Florida’s opening night roster.
Hard to believe a championship team had such little turnover.
Panthers Disrupt the Atlantic
With the Panthers locking down their Big 3 before free agency opened, it kind of messed up the day.
Three big potential free agents off the board made for some pretty boring Canada Day TV.
And that especially hurt the Atlantic.
Now, no one thought Bennett was ever going to leave the Panthers.
But, many figured either Ekblad or Marchand — perhaps both — could be lured away from the Panthers.
Some of the biggest suitors for those two would have been from inside the division.
Ekblad, who said “it was always Florida,’’ would have been wooed in a big way from his hometown Detroit Red Wings perhaps to the tune of $8.5-9 million per season. The Boston Bruins may have even jumped in.
Marchand teased Toronto fans when he spoke highly of the Maple Leafs after the Panthers knocked them out of the second round again.
Toronto had money and would have made a run at Marchand. The Bruins were rumored to be interested in bringing their now-former captain back as well.
Oh well.
A Little More Time
Last year, Zito and his front office were slammed with the business of hockey almost immediately after the Panthers won the Cup.
Florida beat Edmonton in Game 7 on a Monday night, and Zito was flying to Vegas for the NHL Draft by Thursday.
Free agency opened less than a week after the Final ended, one day after the team’s rainy beach parade.
This year, Zito got a few days to breathe — and he made good use of the extra time.
He also did not have to fly across the country to attend the draft since he handled that from the comfort of the IcePlex.
Panthers Goaltending Situation
The Panthers acted fast in finding a new backup for Bobrovsky in sending a fifth-round pick to the Blue Jackets for Tarasov, a player who certainly needed a change of scenery.
Tarasov is big at 6-5, and has high-end skill. He should fit right in with the Panthers having known Bobrovsky for years. The two are not only from the same hometown in Russia, but Bobrovsky’s idol growing up was Tarasov’s father Vadim.
Florida also got a new starter for Charlotte in 27-year-old Brandon Bussi, who has spent the past three seasons with the Providence Bruins.
What’s Next?
The Panthers still have to deal with their restricted free agents, most notably Mackie Samoskevich.
That will get done.
Samoskevich could slide in on the right side of Florida’s second line if Tkachuk has surgery later this summer to deal with his groin injury and the sports hernia he said was also a concern.
We’re not doctors and honestly do not try to play one on here. But it sounds like Tkachuk will not start the season with the Panthers, which could open up a roster spot (and some needed salary cap relief) coming out of training camp.