Free Agent Frenzy? Panthers may be patient when market opens Friday

Those expecting a ton of news to come out of Sunrise when the opening of the free agent market Friday opens at noon may be in for some slight disappointment.

It is said patience is a virtue, and for the Panthers, it could just be good business sense.

New Florida GM Bill Zito has already shown he is not afraid to wheel-and-deal, making three trades (not counting swapping some draft picks) since taking over at 1 Panther Parkway on Sept. 2.

Yet no one knows what the market will look like in this most uncertain NHL offseason.

We do know there are going to be some big names available. That has not changed from one year to the next.

The big difference will be the money being thrown around.

No one, Zito and the Panthers included, want to open up spending big when you don’t necessarily have to.