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

[BabyBennettov]

Viola for giving Zito the job and then staying the hell out of the way (other than supporting his financial decisions). By doing that, V looks like a friggen genius.

I know what you mean by staying the hell out… He made a mistake, or a couple…

Good businessmen don’t do the same mistake twice !

Viola has learned his lessons, putting some of his people being willing to learn, getting his man (Bill Zito), and letting him build his view and support him in every decisions (hiring quality hockey people, expanding like with the Goalie Department, etc…), giving him the money and investing in the team… Vinny knows now that he needs HOCKEY-people to run a hockey-business… And I’m convinced that with his background, Zito seems to be one of the best !

Really, Viola has made his mistakes and he has seen it too… Pretty sure he knows the last one he made was letting DT sign Bob ! That still shows he is willing to put his money where his mouth is, whatever is the expression hehe

Bill Zito will get this done !

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

Viola for giving Zito the job and then staying the hell out of the way (other than supporting his financial decisions). By doing that, V looks like a friggen genius.

In order for this board to acknowledge that Viola might be a pretty smart dude they'd have to admit that letting Dale and Gallant go along with their "old school hockey" format was the correct move... and that's not gonna happen.

 

[Gentle Man]

Verhaeghe getting an extension already is a pleasant surprise.

Maybe trying to buy another year or two low still.

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

Vinny knows now that he needs HOCKEY-people to run a hockey-business

Dale was a hockey guy so that's not exactly the truth... Zito is essentially a numbers guy who understands hockey culture and how to build a team. Dale was a complete mess on his player evaluations and, thus, in contract negotiations.

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

Verhaeghe getting an extension already is a pleasant surprise.

Maybe trying to buy another year or two low still.

Zito smaat. This is the perfect EASports NHL20 moment to lock a player for a $3milx8 deal before he breaks through, scores 100pts and demands afterwards a $11mil per deal.

 

[Gentle Man]

Lol hol' up.

Virtanen being bought out? It only makes sense right? Lol

 

[PSLguy]

Lol hol' up.

Virtanen being bought out? It only makes sense right? Lol

Canucks move on from Virtanen after tumultuous, disappointing six years

 

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

Andy retires

Lol hol' up.

Virtanen being bought out? It only makes sense right? Lol

He's been bad and is facing sexual assault allegations. I don't know if an NHL team would even take a flier without them but they make him unsignable.

 

[BabyBennettov]

Dale was a hockey guy so that's not exactly the truth... Zito is essentially a numbers guy who understands hockey culture and how to build a team. Dale was a complete mess on his player evaluations and, thus, in contract negotiations.

Dale was an old dinosaur who still kind of replenished our system the first time, and kind of get us back on track after the Keenan/Martin fiasco… But yeah, he was a hockey-man !

Zito has been a fan of the sports forever, played it in college and has been growing his pedigree and knowledge for his dream-job which is being an NHL GM…

I’m glad Viola chose him, and Zito chose us !

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

He's been bad and is facing sexual assault allegations. I don't know if an NHL team would even take a flier without them but they make him unsignable.

Bergevin sighted...

 

[Gentle Man]

Lol nah Ryan.

Nahhhh

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

Lol nah Ryan.

Nahhhh

Martinez... $4.5milx2-3.

 

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

4 years at 36 with 1200 games played and the most mileage of anyone in the game on him? Is he high?

 

[floridada]

Who the hell is offering Suter 4 years? Buffalo?

 

[MillarWithASave]

If Tallon was the still the GM a cold sweat would drip down my back seeing that Suter wants 4 years.

 

[Gentle Man]

Suter is simply trying to get bought out by two teams concurrently.

Pure genius.

 

[Gentle Man]

Lol what is the deal with these two. You know they will discuss it.

 

[ursavolta]

Martinez... $4.5milx2-3.

GRROOOOSSSS. This makes me want to vomit. BIG no to Suter. F&%@ that.

 

[ursavolta]

We should just bring up the d we have and stick with that. We have enough.

 

[Dread Clawz]

Per LeBrun in The Athletic, when speaking about Zito, and the Reinhart acquisition:

In the meantime, I believe the Panthers are very close to re-signing RFA Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe, who has another year left on his deal but can be extended as of Wednesday. I believe you’ll see both those deals announced this week.

I'm thrilled that they are close to re-signing Verhaeghe.

 

[Gentle Man]

We should just bring up the d we have and stick with that. We have enough.

No.

We have an LD problem.

Weegar should be on the 2nd pair with Forsling or the new LD.

Nuutivara should be 3rd pair, 2nd at most

 

[Ryuji Yamazaki]

4 years? Lol no thanks Suter.

2 would be ideal, 3 I guess I could stomach.

 

[KW]

4 years? Lol no thanks Suter.

2 would be ideal, 3 I guess I could stomach.

He lost me with the 4 year talk. That means to me that he’s not that interested in winning the cup. He’s way more interested in his contract.

Pass. Don’t even return calls anymore. Just… suter off.

 

[GrumpyKelly]

Even three is too long. He'll probably get it but that last year is going to be balls if not earlier.

 

[Crossbar]

I guess it's only natural to ask this question and not sure if this was already discussed, but....

OEL in Vancouver now and we still have Stral who wanted to play with him in Arizona. Vancouver wants to trade Nate Schmidt and it seemed like Zito tried to get him when we hired him, could that be a potential swap if we can't sign any of the UFAs?