Although we are only two months away from the start of the season, the final switching deadline is now less than a month away. What is the position of each team and what moves should they seek to make? We continue our look around the championship with the Florida Panthers.
The Florida Panthers are in an unusual position. Usually a team that is defending or selling, the Panthers have reached a whole new level under coach Joel Quenneville, becoming a dominant team in the East, as they are just two points behind first place Tampa Bay with the Carolina Hurricanes just one point behind them. However, no other team is particularly close to these three teams, practically guaranteeing them a playoff spot. The question is, however, can they leave the East?
Record
20-6-4, 44 points, 2nd in the Central Division
Term status
Buyer
Deadline
$ 8.48 million in space for the entire season ($ 15.98 million in the negotiation deadline), 1/3 of the retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used, by CapFriendly
Next draft choices
2021: FLR 1, FLR 2, FLR 3, FLR 4, FLR 5, FLR 6, FLR 7, WIN 7
2022: FLR 1, FLR 2, FLR 3, FLR 4, FLR 5, FLR 6, FLR 7
Swap tokens
The Panthers’ best asset is someone who hasn’t even signed a contract. The Panthers let Henrik Borgstrom leave for Liiga this off-season, but they still retain the restricted rights of the free agent. The once highly praised prospect has struggled in the Panthers organization, despite its incredible success in two years at the University of Denver. Borgstrom played 50 games for Florida during the 2018-19 season, acting mainly on the third row, scoring eight goals and 18 points. The belief last year was that Borgstrom would climb the roster and improve those numbers. Instead, he spent most of the season with the AHL Springfield Thunderbirds, where he fought and it was rumored that he was not satisfied with his role. In spite of everything, it still has value and can be a good chip for a team in reconstruction that needs a player who can immediately join an NHL lineup. With HIFK Helsinki in Liiga, Borgstrom, 23, scored 11 goals and 19 points in 27 games.
Florida also has a full set of draft choices over the next two years, another way to get a veteran player out of selling teams. The team drew up in the last lottery in recent years, but will now do the draw much later. This makes these choices much more negotiable, with many teams eager to get their hands on any player in the first round.
Others to note: F Brett Connolly ($ 2.43 million, 2023 UFA); F Aleksi Heponiemi ($ 925K, 2022 RFA); D Keith Yandle ($ 6.35 million, 2023 UFA)
Team needs
1) Six first attackers: The Panthers have been quite successful this season. They did this with several players who would not normally be considered the top six players of the year, including Patric Hornqvist and Alexander Wennberg. The Panthers would need a big boost if they could add a significant piece to the top six, which would allow Hornqvist or Wennberg to move a line back and strengthen its depth. The Panthers could definitely use more experience up front, pushing one of the two to the third row. Of course, Hornqvist is thriving this year with 11 goals and 24 points in 30 games, suggesting that the Panthers may be better off if they want to add a center, but they can certainly try to add more attack, no matter what it adds.
2) The four best defenders: The Panthers may want to make a move for one of the top four defenders who can play alongside Aaron Ekblad. There are rumors that they are looking at young players like Vince Dunn and Dante Fabbro as potential long-term pieces for the franchise. Panthers have a significant number of possibilities, if they are willing to move them, to acquire a centerpiece and give the team extra defensive depth, even if they are 11th in the NHL in allowed goals.