The Florida Panthers needed forwards and today they got them, making three signings on the opening day of NHL free agency.
Florida brought back a former player by signing KHLer Evgeny Dadonov to a three-year deal worth $12 million. The Cats drafted Dadonov 71st overall in 2007 and he played 20 games for the club before he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes.
The 28-year-old Dadonov has spent the last three season with powerhouse SKA Saint Petersburg, winning two Gagarin Cup titles. Last season, he totaled 66 points on 30 goals and 36 assists (all career-highs) in 53 games. Daonov set the KHL record for most in the playoffs in 2015 when lit the lamp 15 times.
New head coach Bob Boughner will have a familiar face on the roster as the Panthers signed San Jose Sharks forward Micheal Haley to a two-year, one-way contract.
Haley posted a career-high 12 points (2G/10A) and 128 PIM in 58 games with the Sharks during the 2016-17 season.
The 31-year-old Guelph, Ontario native has appeared in 130 NHL games for San Jose (2014-17), the New York Rangers (2012-13) and New York Islanders (2009-10), recording 16 points (5-11-16) and 350 penalty minutes. Haley was originally signed by the Islanders as a free agent on May 19, 2008.
The Panthers added more offense by inking 36-year-old veteran Radim Vrbata to a one-year deal worth $3.75 million.
Vrbata suited up in 81 games in his third stint with the Arizona Coyotes during the 2016-17 season, recording 55 points (20-35-55) to lead the Coyotes in all scoring categories.
The 6-foot-1, 194-pound Czech native has appeared in 1,015 regular season NHL games, producing 609 points (279-330-609) for the Arizona/Phoenix Coyotes (2016-17, 2009-14, 2007-08), Vancouver Canucks (2014-16), Tampa Bay Lightning (2008-09), Chicago Blackhawks (2005-07), Carolina Hurricanes (2002-05) and Colorado Avalanche (2001-03).