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Florida Panthers Looking To Add Veteran Defense

February 4, 2020 at 3:53 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee 15 Comments

The Florida Panthers dressed seven defensemen against the Toronto Maple Leafs last night—though the hat-tricking Mark Pysyk should probably start thinking of changing to the wing full-time after that performance—but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still looking to add on the back end. Dale Tallon spoke to Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com and explained he’s looking for another defenseman for a very specific role:

I’d like to acquire a veteran D if I could to play with [Aaron] Ekblad and settle things down a bit back there. We need to be more consistent on the blue line.

Ekblad skated beside Mike Matheson for most of last night, who has become something of an enigma since signing his eight-year, $39MM contract in 2017. Once seen as a core piece that would eventually become a leader on the team, Matheson’s minutes have been drastically reduced this season. In fact, over his last five games the 25-year old has averaged just over 15 minutes a night, a far cry from the 22:19 he averaged last season.

If Matheson isn’t the answer next to Ekblad, it’s hard to imagine exactly who would be. Tallon’s search for a defenseman will be limited by the salary cap, given the team is already using long-term injured reserve space provided by Chris Driedger’s injury. Moving money out might be the only way to really upgrade on the back end, which certainly raises more questions.

The Panthers have three players on relatively expensive contracts that will become unrestricted free agents this summer in Pysyk ($2.73MM cap hit), Mike Hoffman ($5.19MM) and Evgenii Dadonov ($4.0MM), but each come with various levels of value to the club. The fact that Tallon suggested a “steadying influence” at forward might also be on the wish list only complicates things.

It would be hard to blame the Panthers for making a big splash though now that they find themselves in a playoff position. The franchise has almost no success since they entered the league in 1993, making the playoffs only five times in 25 seasons. They haven’t won a playoff round since their Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup Final in 1996, making this current opportunity seem like a dominant performance.

The Panthers are tied for third in the Atlantic Division with the Maple Leafs, but have two games in hand and an extra regulation win.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

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Dale Tallon| Florida Panthers

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View Comments (15)

Comments

  1. cyclone24

    5 years ago

    Take Mark Stahl off of our hands

    Reply
    • manos

      5 years ago

      Who and who’s hands?

      Reply
    • MacJablonski--NotVegasLegend

      5 years ago

      @manos – Marc Staal, Rangers D.

      Reply
  2. MacJablonski--NotVegasLegend

    5 years ago

    @cyclone24 – Marc Staal maybe? His numbers don’t look so hot this year. Has he been scratched a lot, or injured?

    Reply
    • cyclone24

      5 years ago

      Very good defensively but not offensively . They have 3-4 good defensive prospects that should be up soon

      Reply
    • cyclone24

      5 years ago

      0. Tarmo Reunanen, Left Defense
      17. Zac Jones, Left Defense
      15. Joey Keane, Right Defense
      14. Yegor Rykov, Left Defense

      Reply
    • cyclone24

      5 years ago

      11. Matthew Robertson, Left Defense
      8. Nils Lundkvist
      4.K’Andre Miller

      Reply
    • riverrat55

      5 years ago

      You also got K’Andre Miller seen him in World Juniors Tournament

      Reply
    • cyclone24

      5 years ago

      That’s why I want Stahl off our hands

      Reply
  3. andrewgauldin

    5 years ago

    Dillon from SJ or Del Zotto from Anaheim. Obviously Del Zotto would be cheaper.

    Reply
    • MacJablonski--NotVegasLegend

      5 years ago

      @andrewgauldin – I’d give the nod to Dillon for the role of “steadying influence” over Del Zotto there, even though he’d be quite a bit costlier.

      Reply
  4. rdiddy75

    5 years ago

    Gotisbehere for Matheson would be a great trade for the Flyers and Panthers. They both have regressed with their teams and change of scenery for both would be great.

    Reply
  5. dugdog83

    5 years ago

    Detroit will give you their entire blue line for one draft pick.

    Reply
  6. mcase7187

    5 years ago

    The Bruins will give you John Moore for a box of hockey cards

    Reply
  7. riverrat55

    5 years ago

    Maybe Hronek from Detroit in on deal.

    Reply

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