Florida Panthers
NHL Trade Deadline: What the Florida Panthers Can Do In Goal
With less than a week before the NHL Trade Deadline, the Florida Panthers already made one of the biggest moves of the season.
On Saturday night, the Panthers and Chicago completed a monster trade with Florida getting defenseman Seth Jones and a fourth-round draft pick; the Blackhawks got Spencer Knight and a first.
Although Jones solves one of Florida’s weaknesses, the trade of the 23-year-old Knight creates another.
With Knight and Sergei Bobrovsky, the Panthers had a pretty darned solid 1-2 punch in net.
Knight will get a chance for more playing time with the rebuilding Blackhawks; Bobrovsky may get more starts leading into the playoffs than the Panthers had initially planned for.
On Sunday, the Panthers brought back Chris Driedger to replace Knight.
Again, with the trade deadline coming on Friday, it is not known just yet if the Panthers plan on making this a semi-permanent move.
UPDATE: Wednesday, the Panthers traded with San Jose for Vitek Vanecek. Driedger is expected to be returned to AHL Charlotte.
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Driedger, one may remember, was pretty good the last time he was with the Panthers.
After signing an AHL deal with the Panthers in 2018 and spending that season with Florida’s minor-league teams in Springfield and Manchester, Driedger got a two-way deal the following season and ended up replacing Bobrovsky in net at times.
Driedger spent two seasons with the Panthers, winning 21 games during that time. He even got some playoff starts.
Injuries have slowed him since he was taken by Seattle in the 2021 expansion draft, but Driedger had a strong training camp after re-signing with the Panthers — and went 10-6-4 with a 2.97/.878 with AHL Charlotte.
Returning to Florida Panthers ‘Easy Decision’ for Chris Driedger
The Panthers know Driedger, and he knows them; he may just be the backup goalie for the remainder of the season.
But after putting Matthew Tkachuk on LTIR, the Florida Panthers have about $8.7 million under the salary cap per PuckPedia going into the trade deadline.
That could get them a goalie, if they want.
But who is out there?
The Panthers have a goaltending department headed by Roberto Luongo which is always scouring the nooks and crannies of the goalie world.
There are, almost assuredly, a number of goalies on Florida’s radar either for this season or in the future that many of us have not even thought of.
But, with the NHL Trade Deadline coming up, here are the biggest names who are reportedly available:
Jordan Binnington, St. Louis: OK, the Panthers are not in the market for Binnington. The 2019 Stanley Cup winner probably stays with the Blues, and if he is moved, it is going to be for more than the Panthers can offer. Binnington, 31, has two more years at $6 million each which is a pretty good deal for a starting goalie — which means his price on the market will be steep. With Bobrovsky signed through next season, Florida is not in the market for a starter.
Jonathan Quick, New York Rangers: We’re not sure Quick is going to be on the move, but if the Rangers decide to deal off most of their UFAs as has been rumored, he would make for a real nice emergency piece for the Panthers. The 39-year-old made his bones with the Los Angeles Kings and comes with a $1.275 million cap hit — which expires this season. Very affordable, very reliable.
John Gibson, Anaheim: Many think that if Gibson, 31, is moved it will be to a team looking for some real help in net like Edmonton or Carolina. This price tag will probably be too rich for the Panthers, and with two more years at $6.4 million per, Gibson is paid $2 million more than Knight was making. That’s a lot for a backup.
Dan Vladar, Calgary: Well, hello there. Vladar was very impressive in net for the Flames on Saturday against the Panthers all while Bill Zito was on the phone moving Knight to Chicago. Vladar is only 27, has an affordable contract ($2.2 million) and is a free agent. He could be a rental, but if he’s moved, the team Vladar goes to has a chance to kick the tires and be first in line to try and work out a new deal. Calgary has rookie starter Dustin Wolf in place, so Vladar may be expendable if the Flames decide chasing a playoff spot just isn’t in the cards for them this season.
Vitek Vanecek, San Jose: The former Devils goalie is on the market after a rough season with the Sharks (3-10-3) but he has experience as an NHL starter from his days with the Capitals and New Jersey. The Sharks held him out Tuesday in Buffalo pending a trade.
Anton Forsberg, Ottawa: Forsberg, 32, is in the final year of his three-year deal ($2.75m) with Linus Ullmark the new king of the Ottawa net. The Senators are hot on the chase for a playoff spot so they probably won’t trade him — not to a Florida team they could play in the postseason, anyway.
ON DECK: GAME No. 62
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING AT FLORIDA PANTHERS
- When: Monday, 7 p.m.
- Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise
- Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FtL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (SWFla)
- Streaming: Panthers+, ESPN+
- Radio: WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
- Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
- Season Series (Lightning Lead 1-0) — At Tampa Bay: Sunday; Ap. 15. At Florida: Lightning 4, Panthers 0 (Dec. 23); Monday.
- Last Regular Season: Panthers Won 2-1
- All-time Regular Season Series: Florida leads 77-52-19, 10 ties
- All-Time Postgame Series: Lightning Leads 2-1 (won 2021 first-round, 2022 ECS); Florida d. Lightning 4-1 in 2024 first-round.
- Up Next for the Panthers: Thursday vs. Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.
