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Thursday Caterwaul: Florida Panthers Open Forum

Mar 12, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen (27) hits the crossbar with the puck as he shoots past Dallas Stars defenseman Jani Hakanpaa (2) and goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) during the third period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

In his article Each NHL team’s most interesting prospect heading into the 2024-25 season ($) for The Athletic, Corey Pronman tabbed Spencer Knight as the Florida Panthers player of interest.

Knight has been through a lot in recent years, with major highs a few years ago and a tough 2023-24 season, in which he was inconsistent at the AHL level, even though I thought he looked better than his mediocre numbers in games I watched. I do still believe in this player and think he can be a regular NHL goaltender. He’s a clear NHL athlete with NHL-level hockey sense. Florida is paying him a lot of money to be in the AHL, and I expect him to get a long look.

Panthers prospect Kirill Gerasimyuk made his third start of the season and stopped 18 shots in SKA Neva St. Petersburg’s 4-2 road win over Olympia in action from Russia’s VHL. He is now 3-0 with a 1.64 GAA and .947 save percentage. Gerasimyuk was selected by the Cats in the fifth round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

Albert Wikman played on the third defense pairing and went scoreless in Södertälje SK’s 2-1 overtime loss to BIK Karlskoga in a preseason game between the two HockeyAllsvenskan clubs. Wikman was selected by the Cats in the fourth round of the 2023 draft.

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed 32-year-old defenseman Jani Hakanpää to a one-year contract worth $1.47 million. Hakanpää appeared in 64 games with the Dallas Stars last season, putting up two goals and ten assists.

Toronto also inked veteran forward Max Pacioretty to a Professional Tryout Agreement. Pacioretty, 35, produced four goals and 23 points in 47 games with the Washington Capitals last season.

The Utah Hockey Club signed forward Kailer Yamamoto to a Professional Tryout Agreement. Yamamoto, 25, tallied eight goals and added eight assists in games with the Seattle Kraken last season.

The Colorado Avalanche signed veteran forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare to a Professional Tryout Agreement. Bellemare, 39, produced four goals and seven points in 40 games with the Kraken last season.

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