The Florida Panthers may not have all of their offensive problems taken care of, but the chasm is getting smaller. The Panthers have acquired three time 20 goal scorer (and former Chicago Blackhawk) right wing Kris Versteeg in a trade for two draft picks. Versteeg will bring much needed scoring to the team and will likely form a formidable line with David Booth and Stephen Weiss. Versteeg will not only bring scoring to the club but can also relieve pressure from Booth and Weiss as well as make the players around him better.
The best part of this deal is the sheer underpayment Dale Tallon made for Versteeg. The two draft picks traded were a 2nd rounder in either 2012 or 2013 (Florida’s choice which one to surrender) and a 3rd round pick acquired in a down-trade with the San Jose Sharks in 2012 (this pick would have been an extra pick along with FLA’s 3rd rounder) so essentially Florida will only surrender a second round pick for a proven scorer. Well done, Dale.
Versteeg is only 25 and has played 3 full seasons in the NHL, indications that he will shortly enter the prime of his career. Versteeg has now been involved in 3 traded since last summer, from the Blackhawks to the Toronto Maple Leafs, then from the Leafs to the Phillaadelphia Flyers, and now to Florida. In 27 games with the Flyers, Kris scored 7 goals and racked up 11 points. With stability in Florida one can only imagine what these numbers can become. With much of his former team now with the Panthers and fans at his back, I’m convinced he’ll feel welcome in Sunrise.