Welcome to all as we embark on another wild and wooly summer.
After getting his goaltending sorted out by acquiring Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid over the last two days, Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito doesn’t have too much left to do, which is good, because he doesn’t have much in the way of cap space (currently a shade under $4.5 million) to work with, so he will need to be both wise and frugal putting the finishing touches on a squad that looks to not only return to the playoffs after an off-year, but bring home the franchise’s third Stanely Cup championship.
On the list for Zito will be finding a solid low-priced center to anchor the fourth line and getting Schmid to sign on the line which is dotted to back-up the 36-year-old Markstrom.
The Panthers currently have 12 forwards signed for the big club and if they re-up Radko Gudas, who like Schmid also needs a new deal, they’ll have seven NHL-level defenseman in place. Add a fourth line center and pencil in up-and-comer Sandis Vilmanis and you’ve got a complete (and enviable) 23-man roster.
If you’ve been with us for any of our past “Free Agent Frenzy” threads you’ll be familiar with the surroundings: post your own thoughts, reactions, any rumors that catch your eye (please source them), favorite breakfast or lunch spot, streaming show recs, World Cup, what have you. Whether it’s about the NHL in general or the Panthers in particular, feel free to share it.
The free agent “fireworks” begin at 12 p.m. ET, so keep your orbs glued to the interweb so you don’t miss anything.
– Florida’s salary/roster situation courtesy of PuckPedia
– The Panthers’ current NHL level unrestricted free agents:
- Sergei Bobrovsky (signed with Toronto)
- Daniil Tarasov (signed with Detroit)
- Tomas Nosek
- Vinnie Hinostroza (signed with Colorado)
- Cole Schwindt (re-signed with Florida)
- Donovan Sebrango (re-signed with Florida)
– The Panthers current AHL level unrestricted free agents:
- Luke Kunin
- Noah Gregor (signed with Winnipeg)
- Nolan Foote (signed with Philadelphia)
- Jack Studnicka (signed with Phiadelphia)
- Louis Domingue
- Wilmer Skoog (signed with Detroit)
- Mike Benning (signed with Calgary)
- Evan Nause
Panthers signings
- Eetu Luostarinen signed an eight-year contract extension with a $5 million AAV.
- Radko Gudas signed a six-year contract with a $1.5 million AAV.
- Sandis Vilmanis signed a two-year contract extension with a $925K AAV.
- Cole Schwindt has reportedly been re-signed to a two-year contract.
- Donovan Sebrango has reportedly been re-signed to a one-year contract.
- Lars Eller signed a one-year contract with an $850K AAV.
- Alex Petrovic signed a two-year contract.
- Sam Lafferty signed a one-year, two-way contract.
- Tobias Bjornfot has been re-signed to a one-year, two-way contract.
- John Beecher signed a one-year, two-way contract.
- Bokondji Imama signed a one-year, two-way contract.
- Casey Fitzgerald signed a one-year, two-way contract.