Yet again, Bill Zito has engineered a blockbuster trade. Six days before the trade deadline and following a Saturday afternoon shutout win over the Calgary Flames, and a scoopful of former Florida Panthers, Zito sent a lightning bolt through the trade scene with a deal that brought high-end, high-dollar defenseman Seth Jones to Sunrise.
Since becoming the general manager of the Panthers, no front office in the NHL has been as bold and aggressive as Zito’s in acquiring big name players that fit the vision and culture that he and head coach Paul Maurice have meticulously developed. As Friday’s trade deadline looms, Zito received an unexpected surplus of available cap room with the placement of star winger Matthew Tkachuk on the long-term injured reserve. Armed with over $8.7 million in space, Zito could be active once more on the trade market. If he is, what might he target and who would be a fit?
A Middle Six Forward
With Tkachuk sidelined, the Panthers have a noticeable gap in the lineup. Tkachuk brings fire, intensity, and high-end playmaking. Zito isn’t going to find that wrapped up into one player available on the market. However, there are some intriguing names that have popped into the rumor mill over the last few days. Zito could elect to add some scoring punch or some checking line grit and agitation, but there will be no direct replacement for Tkachuk’s leadership.
The Wishlist
Alex Tuch, Right Wing – Buffalo Sabres (Signed through 2025-26 at $4.75 million AAV)
If you can’t replicate Tkachuk or acquire his younger brother, Brady, Alex Tuch might be the next best perfect fit for the Panthers. He’s got size, skill, and the mentality of a true power forward. While he wasn’t on the Golden Knights when Vegas defeated the Cats two seasons ago to lift the Cup, he does have 66 games of playoff experience and has produced a half a point per game in the postseason over his career. For the Panthers, Tuch could step in right next to Sam Bennett and Mackie Samoskevich on the right wing and also get power-play minutes. There are two glaring obstacles in the way for the Cats. The first are the Sabres. At this point, how many more deals do they want to make with Zito? But also, the Sabres are likely looking for NHL ready talent at this point in their rebuild and the Panthers have little to offer that could pry Tuch from Buffalo. This is not a player that is going to be had for mid-level prospects unless Buffalo goes into complete fire sale mode. Also, if Zito were to bring in Tuch, the Panthers would eat up another chunk of salary for next year that would make it difficult to retain one or both of Bennett or Aaron Ekblad. Ultimately, Tuch is probably too expensive on two fronts for the Panthers and his scoring ability is more of a luxury than a need for the Cats.
Brandon Tanev, Wing – Seattle Kraken (Signed through 2024-25 at $3.5 million AAV)
A familiar player to Paul Maurice after playing 195 games in Winnipeg under the now Panthers head coach, Brandon Tanev is nearing the end of his career as a serviceable middle-six winger. Probably best suited for the fourth line on most teams, Tanev’s ferocious forechecking style could play up in Sunrise with the likes of Eetu Luostarinen and Anton Lundell. Tanev is a high-motor, contact-first type of F1 forechecker that has enough offensive skill to contribute. He is one of Seattle’s top penalty killers and would certainly be added to the rotation in Florida. Tanev is a player that can lengthen a lineup and provide some versatility to the roster. The price shouldn’t be too high for him as a pure rental — don’t be surprised if the Panthers are attached to Tanev as the rumor mill continues to heat up.
Kyle Palmieri, Wing – New York Islanders (Signed through 2024-25 at $5 million AAV)
Not a likely option before the injury to Tkachuk, Palmieri is the epitome of a second tier, middle-six scoring wing. He’s a little undersized, but he’s fiery and scores a lot of goals tight to the crease. Sound familiar? He plays the right wing primarily, so he’s a logical option to test out with Bennett and Samoskevich as well as on the power play. Unlike Brock Nelson, who doesn’t seem to be quite as available for Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello, Palmieri seems to be very much in play. The Panthers could be at an advantage because Zito can now take on the full cap hit of his contract and the Islanders will be up against the cap if Mathew Barzal returns this season. Despite nearly 900 games and 15 years in the NHL, Palmieri has only played in 68 career playoff games. He has a 16-team no-trade list, but I doubt the Panthers are on it. Watch for Florida to be connected to Palmieri as well.
Lawson Crouse, Wing – Utah Hockey Club (Signed through 2026-27 at $4.3 million AAV)
The former Panthers draft pick has not adjusted well in the transition from Arizona to Utah. Prior to this year, Crouse’s trajectory was shifting upwards with seasons of 20, 24, and 23 goals and upwards of 17 minutes of ice time. This year, he’s only scored nine goals in 60 games and is playing just 14 minutes a night. Crouse plays a spirited game and isn’t afraid to engage in physical play. He fits the Panthers more now than he did when he was drafted, but there are still some concerns about how consistent a player he will be as he is now in his prime years. At age 27, Crouse could be on the younger side of Florida’s core and a complimentary forward in the middle six. Utah is a wild card this trade deadline. There is no guarantee that general manager Bill Armstrong is going to sell, but Crouse seems like of the few assets he might be willing to part with at a reasonable price.
JJ Peterka, Wing – Buffalo Sabres (Signed through 2024-25 at $855,834 AAV)
A relatively new addition to the rumor mill, Peterka is player with buckets of scoring skill and a sound puck retrieval game. He’s already scored 28 goals in a season in the NHL and is on pace to crack the 20-goal mark again this year. He’s a freshly minted 23-year-old, but Buffalo seems to be putting just about everyone in play. Peterka’s price tag will no doubt attract suitors, but the championship contenders will probably focus on more veteran and proven players. The Panthers may have the luxury of acting as poachers when it comes to Peterka. Florida has a very strong top six in place and an established bottom six. Peterka is most likely not a fit at this time. It is most likely that if Peterka goes, it will be to a team building towards contention, but you can’t fully take anything off the table with Zito calling the shots.
Vladimir Tarasenko, Wing – Detroit Red Wings (Signed through 2025-26 at $4.75 million)
Familiarity has value. We’ve already seen Zito acquire a player that he knows very well in Jones. Would he go out and get Tarasenko a second time? Vlad could step right back into the role he had in the Stanley Cup playoffs as a third line winger with Lundell and Luostarinen and also on the second power play unit. He hasn’t found his footing in Detroit, but that world-class shot hasn’t disappeared. Plus, he’s a two-time Cup winner that did everything Maurice asked of him last season. The Panthers likely wouldn’t want to acquire him at his full price for next year as well, but Detroit has all three of its retention spots open and there is always the possibility of a third team. The price for him last year with retention ended up being two third-round picks. There is a chance that has gone down slightly. Tarasenko has a full no-trade clause, so if Yzerman wants to move him, then the Tank will have to sign off. Again, expect Florida and Tarasenko to be linked this week.