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Tuesday Caterwaul: Florida Panthers Open Forum

While the Florida Panthers did not make any roster moves on Monday its AHL affiliate the Charlotte Checkers announced that they have signed goaltender Evan Fitzpatrick to a two-year AHL contract and forward Karch Bachman to a one-year AHL contract.

Fitzpatrick, 23, enters his fourth season of professional hockey. Fitzpatrick went 2-0-0 with a 1.65 goals-against average, .930 save percentage and one shutout in three games with the Utica Comets last season. A second-round draft choice (59th overall) in of the St. Louis Blues in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Fitzpatrick played eight other AHL games with the San Antonio Rampage in 2018-19, going 2-3-0 with a 2.66 goals-against average and .901 save percentage.

Fitzpatrick has also appeared in 37 career ECHL games with the Tulsa Oilers and Brampton, Beast where he posted a 15-5-5 record, 3.50 goals-against average and .873 save percentage. Prior to turning pro, he won a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League championship and Memorial Cup with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in 2017-18. He also earned QMJHL All-Rookie honors in 2014-15 and played in the CHL Top Prospects Game in 2015-16.

Bachman, 24, enters his second professional season after spending the 2020-21 campaign with the Checkers’ ECHL affiliate in Greenville, SC. In 32 appearances with the Swamp Rabbits, he produced 14 points (10G/4A) and 13 PIMs. Selected in the fifth round (132nd overall) by Michael Dale Tallon in the 2015 draft, Bachman posted 69 points (29G/40A) in 143 games over the course of a four-year career at Miami University in Ohio. In his senior season, he tied for second on the team with 31 points and earned the National Collegiate Hockey Conference’s Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year award.

NHL signings

Defenseman Ryan Murray signed a one-year, $2 million contract to join the Colorado Avalanche. The second overall pick in 2012 draft, Murray spent seven seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets before moving on to New Jersey prior to the 2020-21 season. (Mile High Hockey)

The Arizona Coyotes inked center Blake Speers and defensemen Cam Dineen and Dysin Mayo to one-year, two-way deals at the league minimum. All three players were members of the AHL’s Tuscon Roadrunners last season. (Five For Howling)

The Dallas Stars signed defenseman Jerad Rosburg to two-year, two-way contract. Rosburg, 25, appeared in 36 games for the Texas Stars of the AHL last season. (Dallas Morning News)