Front office shakeup continues as Eric Joyce leaves Florida Panthers

In the wake of Bill Zito taking control of the Florida Panthers’ hockey operations, assistant general manager Eric Joyce has left the team after seven years.

Jason Bukala, who had been the Panthers’ director of amateur scouting, is also no longer with the team.

Joyce, 42, who had been with the Panthers the past seven years will be joining the Toronto Maple Leafs’ as their new director of hockey strategy.

Joyce had served as the GM of Florida’s AHL teams in San Antonio, Portland and Springfield during his time with the Panthers.

“Eric is a great guy and there is no ill will on either side of this,” said team president Matt Caldwell, a close friend of Joyce since they were both at West Point.