The Florida Panthers are about to go from 1st place to zero cap space

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Joshua Deeds
May 27, 2022 (6:53 PM)

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Bill Zito went from the head GM position for the Cleveland Monsters organization to the Florida Panthers GM in 5 years.

Having notoriety for negotiating ground-breaking contracts for players such as Tuukka Rask and Kimmo Timonen, and having the highest-grossing hockey agency in 2013. So his boldness in business should've been an indicator, much like his predecessor Jarmo Kekäläinen, he would make bold moves to turn the Panthers into contenders.

However, in 2021-2022 the team would end up having the best season record before falling victim to the President's Trophy curse. Unironically, cap hell is to follow, as he has 9 UFA's and 2 RFA's with arbitration eligibility.

If Bill wants to keep Claude Giroux, the question is will Giroux stay on a team-friendly deal, considering as a rental the organization didn't deliver a cup. His 8-year, $66.2 million contract expires soon. It is his choice whether he chases contention again, a Cup or money. There has been speculation on where Giroux could land, as a french-speaking player who grew up in Ottawa, I wouldn't put it past him to consider Montreal or Ottawa given his interest last year. Only one team has cash enough for his services unless Kent Hughes works cap magic.

Regardless, the Panthers are short cap space, with just $3.9 million available, adding $1 million would be extremely helpful next season, but that doesn't solve the tricks Zito will have to pull to keep the team with the most goals in the NHL salary cap era together(trick question, he won't be able to)?

With Barkov, Verhaeghe, and Huberdeau all getting raises eating up $19+ million of the cap space, who will survive the off-season? Not to mention having to pay Sergei Bobrovsky $10 million a year. Is the answer to move Patric Hornqvist for someone as skilled for less AAV? I wouldn't say no.

Unfortunately for the Panthers they have $6,575,000 in dead cap space from the buyouts of Scott Darling and Keith Yandle. This lowers the Panthers cap ceiling dramatically.

In terms of older guys like Noel Acciari and Joe Thornton if they want to come back it may need to be in team-friendly deals again because, at this point in their careers, they are depth and leaders in the locker room. This brings me to Mason Marchment, who will seek a bigger payday after his career year with 47 points, who made $800K this year, depth like Marchment you need to keep especially with how he is developing.

As for the defense letting, guys like Ben Chiarot and Robert Hagg walk might be the best as it clears a spot for prospects. I felt like for rentals, all the while they were cheap Ekblad, Montour, Forsling, Nutivaara, and Weegar are priorities. Nutivaara is currently on IR and is a UFA who made $3.3 million this year.

By all means, thank the rentals for their efforts but of course, the starting point is your stars and forwards.

This would be a great game plan to start with and move from there.