The Florida Panthers; what exactly are they doing?

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Tyler
July 31, 2022 (0:12)

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Revisiting pre-NHL trade deadline, the Florida Panthers were in the midst of a sensational season and GM Bill Zito made some rental additions to his squad before the playoffs commenced.

Now, close to a month post-NHL Stanley Cup final; and the Panthers have re-upped with Ben Chiarot on a four-year deal carrying a $4.75 million dollar aav , Chiarot was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for prospect Ty Smilanic and their 2023 first-round draft pick.

The Panthers recently dealt Quebec winger Jonathan Huberdeau; who is a UFA at the end of the 2022-23 NHL regular season, along with defenceman Mackenzie Weegar, prospect Cole Schwindt and a 2023 first-round draft pick to the Calgary Flames for left-wing Matthew Tkachuk; signing him to an eight-year extension worth $76 million.

They also saw centre Claude Giroux; former captain of the Philadelphia Flyers, and more recent trade deadline acquisition sign a three-year deal with the Ottawa Senators worth an aav of $6.5 million.

The Panthers also fired interim head-coach Andrew Brunette, and brought in veteran coach Paul Maurice.

Since January 1, 2022, the Panthers have added a total of 11 players, and four draft picks (2022 6th and 7th round picks, 2024 and 2025 fourth and fifth round pick respectively.

The Panthers additions are highlighted by Matthew Tkachuk and centres Nick Cousins and Colin White. Austrian Rudolfs Balcers, a pair of veteran defenceman in Del Zotto and Marc Staal - forward, Connor Bunnaman; goaltender, Alex Lyon and Forward, Yegor Korshkov round out the additions.

Bill Zito was busy shipping out players also, dealing 20 players, along with five draft picks - including: three first round draft picks for the 2023, 2024 and 2025 NHL Drafts, along with a third and seventh round selection in the 2023 draft. Of the players departing from Florida, seven names were bona-fide NHLers; including Weegar, Huberdeau, Giroux, Chiarot, Vatrano, Marchment and Tippett. Additionally the Panthers lost the services of Ty Smilanic, Petteri Lindbohm, Chase Priskie, Maxim Mamin, Tyler Inamoto, Robert Hagg, Markus Nutivaara, Noel Acciari, Joe Thornton and German Rubtsov, along with Cole Schwindt.