The Florida Panthers dipped into the NHL’s pool of unrestricted free agents and signed former Winnipeg Jets goaltender Michael Hutchinson to a one-year, one-way contract reportedly worth $1.3M on Sunday.
Goaltender @mhutch34 on joining the #FlaPanthers organization. pic.twitter.com/KpFPeQNnHj
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) July 1, 2018
Hutchinson will take over Harri Sateri’s spot as the main man in Springfield and number one option if Roberto Luongo or James Reimer is injured.
The 28-year-old split the season between the Jets and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Manitoba Moose. The 6-foot-3, 202-pound native of Barrie, Ontario, appeared in three games with Winnipeg, and posted a 2-1-0 record, 3.26 goals against average and .907 save percentage.
Hutchinson, originally a third round pick of the Boston Bruins in 2008, has played in 102 career NHL games, all with Winnipeg, posting a 43-39-11 record, 2.65 goals against average, .910 save percentage and three shutouts. During the 2014-15 season, he helped the Jets make their first Stanley Cup appearance since moving to Manitoba in 2011-12, by producing a career-best 21-10-5 record, 2.38 goals against average, .914 save percentage and two shutouts.
While Sateri earned a lot of positive vibes from the fan base last season, I think this is an upgrade as Hutchinson has a lot more NHL experience and has the measurables you look for in a goalie.
The Panthers also took care of another one of its restrcited free agents by inking forward Jared McCann to a two-year, one way deal with an AAV of $874,125 according to CapFriendly.
Forward @jaredmccann19 on re-signing with the #FlaPanthers. pic.twitter.com/OW2AyhWSVq
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) July 1, 2018
The 22-year-old appeared in 68 games with Florida, producing career-highs in assists (19) and points (28), while tying his career-high in goals (9). McCann led the Panthers with a plus-11 rating and posted career-bests in game-winning goals (4), and shots (143), while averaging 13:15 TOI.
He has played in 166 NHL games with Florida (2016-17 to 2017-18) and Vancouver (2015-16), amassing a total of 53 points on 19 goals and 34 assists.
The Panthers still have to work out new deals for defensemen Alex Petrovic and MacKenzie Weegar.
Are you happy with the Hutchinson signing?
| Yes | 100 |
| No | 12 |