NHL free agency opens in just under three weeks and the Florida Panthers have a lot of decisions to make.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Their goalie situation is the most obvious one with Sergei Bobrovsky set to walk as a free agent come July 1.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Florida also has some decisions to make on their blue line.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Panthers have, over the past few seasons, signed at least one defenseman to play in their rotation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some have been traditional free agency signings such as\u00a0Niko Mikkola\u00a0and\u00a0Dmitry Kulikov, while others were veteran players added on a one-year, discounted prove-it deal such as\u00a0Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Nate Schmidt, and\u00a0Jeff Petry.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Although the Panthers will likely make a couple of depth signings for their defensemen, barring any sort of a trade before the market opens on July 1, it does appear that Florida is pretty well set defensively.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Last year, the Panthers sustained some pretty heavy losses to injury.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Their defensemen had been immune from serious injury during the previous couple of seasons, but that was not the case last year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Florida lost\u00a0Seth Jones\u00a0and Kulikov for a substantial chunk of the season, with Mikkola,\u00a0Aaron Ekblad, and\u00a0Uvis Balinskis\u00a0being hurt as things went along.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even\u00a0Gus Forsling\u00a0missed some time at the end.<\/p>\n
All are expected to be 100 percent by the time training camp opens in September.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Panthers are pretty deep at the position, with its top two pairings set: Forsling and Ekblad return as the top pair, with Mikkola and Jones as the second.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Florida can run things back with Kulikov and Balinskis on the third, with waiver-pickup (and restricted free agent)\u00a0Donovan Sebrango\u00a0in the mix.\u00a0<\/p>\n
All of the injuries sustained throughout the season meant that the Panthers had to make numerous call-ups throughout the season and a number of Florida\u2019s AHL prospects showed they could be ready for more NHL action.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mike Benning, who has been in the system the past three seasons after leaving the University of Denver, played in 18 games and looked strong in the final weeks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Marek Alscher, a third-round pick in 2022, also did not look out of place in his brief time with the Panthers. A trip to the World Championship with Czechia certainly did not hurt his standing heading into the coming season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mikulas Hovorka\u00a0and\u00a0Ludvig Jansson\u00a0also got a chance to play with the Panthers and will be given a look.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Panthers could also add a defenseman they like with the ninth-overall pick in the upcoming draft although, even if Florida keeps that selection, an 18-year-old defenseman making a Stanley Cup caliber team is a real long shot.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Florida may also bring back versatile veteran\u00a0Toby Bjornfot.<\/p>\n
The Panthers do have about $15 million under the cap right now although a lot of that is going to be eaten away by two goalies and a contract to RFA\u00a0Mackie Samoskevich.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Panthers are not expected to be in the mix for any of the top free agent defensemen only because they could spend that money elsewhere.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Again, Florida\u2019s top two pairings are set. They are looking for depth or find a new piece to a championship team.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Panthers may sign a couple of veterans for around $1 million, bring in the kids, and let things work out in training camp.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But, who?<\/p>\n
There are a couple of \u2018friends of the program\u2019 out there in\u00a0Radko Gudas\u00a0(Anaheim) and\u00a0Erik Gudbranson\u00a0(Columbus) although it would not be surprising to see either player end up staying where they are at.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Brett Kulak, who lost in the Final to the Panthers the previous two summers before being traded twice in this season before ending in Colorado, is a free agent after making almost $3 million at 32.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Perhaps\u00a0Andrew Peeke, the right-handed shot from Parkland, may want to come play for his hometown team for a year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Bruins d-man was drafted by the Blue Jackets when\u00a0Bill Zito\u00a0was there, and knows\u00a0Gregory Campbell\u00a0extremely well.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
More than likely, Zito and the front office will wait to see what new free agents pop onto the market before July 1 through buyouts (like OEL and Schmidt) then move quickly if a player they like is suddenly out there.<\/p>\n
Right now, however, they have bigger concerns.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
ON DECK: FLORIDA PANTHERS\u00a0OFFSEASON<\/p>\n