{ "blocks": [ { "type": "video", "data": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/6oSa52J5.mp4", "streached": true, "controls": true, "caption": "Hard Rock Guitar Hotel lights up to celebrate Panthers Stanley Cup.", "image": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/6oSa52J5-poster.jpg" }, "cdn": { "service": "jwplayer", "playlistUrl": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/6oSa52J5.m3u8", "sources": [ { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/6oSa52J5.m3u8", "type": "application/vnd.apple.mpegurl" }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/6oSa52J5-6LgJnXEq.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 180, "width": 320, "label": "180p", "bitrate": 440696, "filesize": 9419892, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/6oSa52J5-1QJ1dkot.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 270, "width": 480, "label": "270p", "bitrate": 710913, "filesize": 15195767, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/6oSa52J5-h6aVm5rK.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 720, "width": 1280, "label": "720p", "bitrate": 1778569, "filesize": 38016919, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/6oSa52J5-UQSYMDp9.m4a", "type": "audio/mp4", "label": "AAC Audio", "bitrate": 113488, "filesize": 2425814 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/6oSa52J5-vnHaI3dA.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 1080, "width": 1920, "label": "1080p", "bitrate": 3807382, "filesize": 81382793, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/6oSa52J5-yFReK32n.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 360, "width": 640, "label": "360p", "bitrate": 705871, "filesize": 15088012, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/6oSa52J5-0LealTTd.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 540, "width": 960, "label": "540p", "bitrate": 1186652, "filesize": 25364690, "framerate": 30 } ] } } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "A quiet second day of NHL free agency for the Florida Panthers ended with a nice boost to the team’s back line." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "As afternoon turned to evening, word trickled out that the Panthers had signed veteran defenseman Nate Schmidt to a one-year deal. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "According to DailyFaceoff’s Frank Seravalli, the deal is worth $800,000." } }, { "id": "ohqq9obo-ixl0miqm", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/frank_seravalli/status/1808269491995873551", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1808269491995873551", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "According to Seravalli, Schmidt could have made more money signing elsewhere but wanted to play for the Panthers." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Schmidt previously played for Florida Head Coach Paul Maurice during the latter’s final season in Winnipeg and was keen on a reunion. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Considering Maurice has grown into beloved status while coaching the Panthers over the past two seasons, culminating with a Stanley Cup Win last month, it makes sense why Schmidt would be willing to forego more money and play in a favorable situation for a contending team." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Schmidt, 32, had the final season of his six-year contract, which carried an average annual value (AAV) of $5.95, bought out by Winnipeg earlier this summer. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "While his offensive production has dipped in recent years, his defensive metrics have remained strong. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Overall, Schmidt is a strong skater who can move the puck and, perhaps more importantly, provide stable defensive play in his own end. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Considering the price, this seems like a great signing by Panthers General Manager Bill Zito. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Florida currently has around $5.7 million in cap space, according to CapFriendly. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "A decent chunk of that will likely go to restricted free agent Anton Lundell. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "We’ll see what else Zito and his staff have up their sleeves in terms of filling out the final spots of the roster. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA
" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Florida Panthers change TV partners, will air games for free starting this season" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Florida Panthers full 2024-25 schedule released, and it's a doozy" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Details of $69M Sam Reinhart contract indicate how taking less to stay with Florida still worked out nicely" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Panthers to host Boston on Opening Night next season" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Free agency recap: Panthers add depth forwards, sign Driedger, extend Reinhart, Kulikov" } }, { "type": "image", "data": { "file": { "url": "https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjQxMjA5NjI4NzMxMDIz/unnamed.jpg" }, "caption": "" } } ] }

Panthers to sign defenseman Nate Schmidt following Winnipeg buyout