George Richards, FHN Publisher
At lunchtime on Monday afternoon, the Florida Panthers were about $6 million under the salary cap. After trading Anton Stralman later that day, GM Bill Zito gave himself almost $12 million with free agency opening up Wednesday at noon.
Although the Panthers have a few more players left to sign to contracts — with Sam Reinhart getting the lion’s share of that money — Zito now has some breathing room to make bring in a free agent or two.
And, if Zito could move another contract on Tuesday, he will have even more to throw around.
Where could Zito be looking?
As we noted on Monday, the Panthers are probably set as far as forwards go.
There could be a player bought out or not tendered a qualifying offer who could pique their interest, but we don’t expect the Panthers to invest any big money on forwards. They have done that already.
What is more likely to happen is the Panthers go looking for some defensive help.
And, if we have learned anything over the years, it does not come cheap.
Florida has now unloaded two veteran defensemen in Stralman and Keith Yandle and with that, it has saved almost $11 million against the salary cap this season.
Trading away Stralman’s contract came with plenty of sweetener as Arizona picked up a promising defensive prospect in Vladislav Kolyachonok and their second-round pick in 2024.
Buying out Yandle also came at a price — one with a few zeros on the end of that check. By allowing Yandle to walk away (and sign with a new team come Wednesday), the Panthers paid him almost $8 million.
Yes, the cost of carving out salary cap space is expensive.
The Panthers, right now, have a couple of top-end defensemen in Aaron Ekblad and MacKenzie Weegar with Gus Forsling looking like a solid top-4 option. The Panthers also have Radko Gudas, Markus Nutivaara.
That’s five NHL defensemen. Battling for a roster spot come October will be rookie Matt Kiersted as well as Noah Juulsen, Chase Priskie, John Ludvig, Kevin Connauton and Lucas Carlsson.
It is safe to say the Panthers will sign at least two defensemen in the coming days — and one may be a big name.
The Panthers are rumored to be hard after Ryan Suter, the 36-year-old who had the final four years of his contract bought out by Minnesota earlier this month.
Suter is reportedly looking for a four-year contract (who isn’t?) but that probably won’t fly.
The Panthers are a contender — which is what Suter is apparently looking for — and have some cap restrictions especially next season when Sasha Barkov’s new contract kicks in and most of Yandle’s pre-buyout cap hit is on the books.
The Panthers will also be paying Carter Verhaeghe considerably more in 2022-23 when he signs his contract extension this week.
What Suter has to offer is solid defensive play in what the Panthers would like to add on their second pairing, either with Weegar or Forsling.
Suter has almost 1,200 NHL games with the Wild and Predators but is still chasing that ring.
The Panthers hope he brings a hunger with him.
If Suter’s term and financial demands prove too much, the Panthers can probably find some help elsewhere.
Ian Cole, whom Zito and the Columbus Blue Jackets traded for in 2018, is a free agent. At 32, he may be more of a 5-6, but he would bring some size and toughness. So would David Savard who played in Columbus until being traded to the Lightning at the deadline. But would either of these two be a fit?
The Panthers aren’t really looking for a bottom-pairing player to go with Gudas, although if the price was right, who knows?
Ryan Murray played close to 19 minutes a game for New Jersey last season after having a variety of injury problems in Columbus. He would find bigger money elsewhere, but may be in the mood to win.
Florida could also circle back and re-sign Brandon Montour whom they acquired in a deal with the Sabres at the deadline. Montour may want to check what the market has to offer and, if he doesn’t like what he sees, could return.
If Florida hasn’t signed Suter by then, that is.