Panthers looking to add to back line as NHL Draft, free agency approaches

Injuries suffered during Florida's Stanley Cup Final run may impact how the team approaches the offseason

A quick Sunday update as the league prepares to converge on Nashville for a week of hockey fun.

First comes NHL Awards on Monday night before the 2023 NHL Draft on Wednesday and Thursday, all taking place at Bridgestone Arena.

Then on Saturday, free agency begins.

Are we excited?

Looking ahead, the Panthers will have a couple of people up for awards on Monday night.

Matthew Tkachuk is a finalist for the Hart Trophy and Bill Zito is one of three nominees for the General Manager of the Year award.

We’ll have more for you on Tkachuk and Zito here on THN between now and the NHL Awards show.

As for the NHL Draft, the Panthers have five selections, and only one in the first three rounds (No. 63 overall).

There will be lots more on the draft in the coming days, and THN will be there in Nashville to cover every angle of the Panthers, whatever may happen.

Award winners, draft picks…perhaps a trade?

Time will tell.

Looking at what Panthers General Manager Bill Zito might be up to over the next week, there are several potential avenues he could choose to go down.

One idea that has been gaining traction is that Florida is looking to add to its back line.

Under Zito, the Panthers have often looked at adding defensemen, hitting on some (Gus Forsling, Josh Mahura) while missing on others (Olli Juolevi, Noah Juulsen).

Add to that the possibility of Aaron Ekblad and/or Brandon Montour missing time next season and it takes you to the current state of the Cats. 

According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, Florida is looking to bring in a mobile defenseman.

Trades are always a possibility with Zito, and he’s been fielding calls in the days since Florida’s season ended in Las Vegas after Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Regarding potential free agents, the Panthers will be an ideal landing spot for any defenseman willing to bet on themselves with a good team on a short-term deal.

Players like Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Shayne Gostisbehere are a couple that come to mind, but only if they’d agree to the aforementioned contract stipulations.

The same can be said for Minnesota's two right-shooting UFA rearguards, Matt Dumba and John Klingberg, depending on what they're looking for. 

Florida has become a place where players can flourish. The days of paying a little extra to convince a guy to come to Sunrise are over. The skate is on the other foot now. 

How this year's free agents approach that in the coming days and weeks will be interesting to see. 

Do you take less money and term to play for good team that gives you a chance to cash in a bigger deal, assuming you have a good year too, or do you take what you can get now, even if its a fraction of what a bounce-back season will earn?

Stay tuned to THN in the coming days for more on NHL Awards, the NHL Draft, free agency and everything in-between.