2021 Florida Panthers off-season thread. Free Agent Frenzy July 28th

[violaswallet]

BOS, NJ or ARI?

Boston or Arizona. I wonder for how much though: if it’s Arizona he screwed us jntentjknally

 

[zeroG]

BOS, NJ or ARI?

i thought he could be a good fit in boston for a lot of reasons. i was reading the sweeney thread on the main boards though and folks blanched at the idea of signing him.

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

Boston or Arizona. I wonder for how much though: if it’s Arizona he screwed us jntentjknally

Totally understand!
We added that word to our Canadian vocabulary this past year.

i thought he could be a good fit in boston for a lot of reasons. i was reading the sweeney thread on the main boards though and folks blanched at the idea of signing him.

Would make for a great end to his career to break the record at home.
BOS fans hated him at $6 mil but have seen some be okay if he's around $2 mil per.

 

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

-ghoste

Makes sense, I couldnt understand why a player in the last year of his career would not have Zona on his no trade list. Turns out they are but he would have waived to play with his boy.

 

[Dread Clawz]

Makes sense, I couldnt understand why a player in the last year of his career would not have Zona on his no trade list. Turns out they are but he would have waived to play with his boy.

Dammit, I hate Arizona having a good GM now haha.

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

Zito just interviewed, says "he's speaking with both agents for both Sam's.
Both sides seem open and receptive to term to stay in FLA"

As for free agent market, says "they will of course look and see what's available but more or less said he's happy with what they have right now and doesn't want to mess with it too much"

Surprised he didn't say anything about defense, so maybe he's fine with Nuti, Gudas and Stralman as the bottom 3 guys.

 

[vendetta]

Zito just interviewed, says "he's speaking with both agents for both Sam's.
Both sides seem open and receptive to term to stay in FLA"

As for free agent market, says "they will of course look and see what's available but more or less said he's happy with what they have right now and doesn't want to mess with it too much"

Surprised he didn't say anything about defense, so maybe he's fine with Nuti, Gudas and Stralman as the bottom 3 guys.

I could see a much better year from nutti. He wasn’t healthy looked weak and unsure all year. I think a good offseason will get him back on track. He has never been nowhere near as bad as he was last year with Columbus

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

I could see a much better year from nutti. He wasn’t healthy looked weak and unsure all year. I think a good offseason will get him back on track. He has never been nowhere near as bad as he was last year with Columbus

Definitely agree, he'll be motivated to earn a new multi year deal too, maybe here or elsewhere.
He had Covid and lost training/practice time

 

[Dr Danglefest]

What are we expecting the lineup to look like now on opening night should everyone be healthy?

 

[KW]

Zito just interviewed, says "he's speaking with both agents for both Sam's.
Both sides seem open and receptive to term to stay in FLA"

As for free agent market, says "they will of course look and see what's available but more or less said he's happy with what they have right now and doesn't want to mess with it too much"

Surprised he didn't say anything about defense, so maybe he's fine with Nuti, Gudas and Stralman as the bottom 3 guys.

Our D started getting better. Now with Ek back and KY not back, we improved substantially in two positions. If the other D get ready for the season, and with the depth D pieces, we’ll quite possibly be just fine for the season start.

 

[Dread Clawz]

What are we expecting the lineup to look like now on opening night should everyone be healthy?

Too early for that, one major/medium D acquisition is expected.

 

[ICanMotteBelieveIt]

Hi guys and girls!

So what's the deal with Wennberg? Are you going to re-sign him or not? Do you know what he's asking for?

He had a decent season with you, he scored a lot of goals (compared to his past seasons).


How was he defensively?

 

[Dread Clawz]

Hi guys and girls!

So what's the deal with Wennberg? Are you going to re-sign him or not? Do you know what he's asking for?

He had a decent season with you, he scored a lot of goals (compared to his past seasons).


How was he defensively?

I don't see him being re-signed now. Just too many forwards and we will need every dollar to sign Bennett and Reinhart. Friedman also says we are really making a push for Suter, so I dont know how we are gonna have dollars for Wenny. He's above average defensively but nothing earth shattering. He's poor on faceoffs.

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

Hi guys and girls!

So what's the deal with Wennberg? Are you going to re-sign him or not? Do you know what he's asking for?

He had a decent season with you, he scored a lot of goals (compared to his past seasons).


How was he defensively?

We don't really have room to bring him back now unless Vatrano is moved.

No rumblings of what he's asking, Zito said he's been in contact with the UFA's but may circle back

He's 27 in September, coming off his best year in 4 years.
Not sure if he prefers another short term deal but he may be forced into it to fully show last year wasn't a fluke at just under .5 ppg.

Maybe 2 years x $3 million, or just under it? as a 3C or 3rd line winger.
He can play 2C in a pinch but not recommended for full year.
Decent defensively, still has good to great speed.
Was horrible on faceoffs to start the year but got better as year went on.
Wouldn't count on 20+ goals, think he just got lucky in that department but 10-13 goals/35ish pts should be doable

 

[ICanMotteBelieveIt]

I don't see him being re-signed now. Just too many forwards and we will need every dollar to sign Bennett and Reinhart. Friedman also says we are really making a push for Suter, so I dont know how we are gonna have dollars for Wenny. He's above average defensively but nothing earth shattering. He's poor on faceoffs.

Alright, thanks.

 

[vendetta]

What are we expecting the lineup to look like now on opening night should everyone be healthy?

Ver/bark/duc
Hub/bennett/Tippett
Rein/lundell/vatrano
March/acciari/horny
A lot of flexibility here with guys that can play all over. Deni full year in ahl. Or if lundell is t ready deni can play 3w and reinhart can play c or switch Bennett and reinhart. So many options

 

[KW]

I think the comparison of Wenny and Vatrano is interesting. If you could only keep one (ignoring using Vatrano in a trade — just comparing the players), which one? Assume the money is about the same.

I think majority will say Vatrano but I’m not totally sold on that because Wennberg is better on D and much better playmaker.

 

[Dread Clawz]

I think the comparison of Wenny and Vatrano is interesting. If you could only keep one (ignoring using Vatrano in a trade — just comparing the players), which one? Assume the money is about the same.

I think majority will say Vatrano but I’m not totally sold on that because Wennberg is better on D and much better playmaker.

Wennberg is a better player but since he's a UFA that makes the decision easy.

 

[KW]

Wennberg is a better player but since he's a UFA that makes the decision easy.

Yeah I know, but ignoring that… I’d also keep Wenny over Frankie.

 

[KW]

I keep trying to like the idea of Suter coming our way but I haven’t warmed up to it yet.

At the very least I’d need to know he’ll play physical and say he gets a two year deal that he’ll look at it as the best chance he’s ever had to win the cup. I want him mentally committed 100%. Then I’d be okay. That’s my hang up.

 

[Dread Clawz]

I keep trying to like the idea of Suter coming our way but I haven’t warmed up to it yet.

At the very least I’d need to know he’ll play physical and say he gets a two year deal that he’ll look at it as the best chance he’s ever had to win the cup. I want him mentally committed 100%. Then I’d be okay. That’s my hang up.

If he's coming here it's because he's decided that the Panthers give him the best chance.at a Cup, he wants a Cup. He's never been that physical but he's been one of the top defensive D-men over the last 20 years. That's what we need.

 

[VijayPatel11]

Ver/bark/duc
Hub/bennett/Tippett
Rein/lundell/vatrano
March/acciari/horny
A lot of flexibility here with guys that can play all over. Deni full year in ahl. Or if lundell is t ready deni can play 3w and reinhart can play c or switch Bennett and reinhart. So many options

swap reinhart and duclair

 

[ProjectPanthers]

I could see a much better year from nutti. He wasn’t healthy looked weak and unsure all year. I think a good offseason will get him back on track. He has never been nowhere near as bad as he was last year with Columbus

He showed promise near the end of the season and really started to turn his game around. He even looked decent in a couple of Tampa games but was also outmatched badly at times.

I'm willing to keep him as a bottom pairing guy but I still feel this team needs a proper partner for Ekblad or Weegar because Forsling is a lock for that #3 role but I don't see anyone else on the roster that I'd be comfortable in giving them top 4 minutes when defense was by far the position we need to upgrade the most.

 

[FlaPanthers11]

Has anyone run the numbers on what this team could look like for the 22 and 23 seasons when Barkov Huberdeau and Weegar need deals?

 

[pantherbot]

I think our D is fine. Don't see us really adding much more to be honest. This roster is good enough to get into playoffs. Save assets for deadline you address whatever we need.