Wednesday: The Panthers have officially announced the hire, introducing Zito as the team’s next general manager. In the release, owner Vincent Viola included an explanation for the move:
We are thrilled to welcome Bill Zito as General Manager of the Florida Panthers. Bill is an excellent mind in our game today who proved during his time with the Columbus Blue Jackets that he possesses great prowess for evaluating talent and building success. He brings great experience to our club and possesses a strong business acumen.
Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reports that Zito received a five-year contract from the Panthers, quite a commitment as the team tries to figure out the roster and return to the playoffs.
Tuesday: After all the hype in recent weeks over Florida’s ongoing search for their next general manager – a list of candidates that included executives and scouts from a number of teams as well as several television analysts – it seems the team will in fact go with a name that had not been publicly mentioned. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that the Panthers are closing in on a deal to make Columbus Blue Jackets Associate GM Bill Zito their next GM. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun adds that a formal announcement is expected on Wednesday.
Zito, 55, has served as an executive for the Blue Jackets since 2013. Initially an assistant GM, Zito eventually took on the role of GM of the club’s AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, and this season was elevated to Associate GM and Sr. VP of Hockey Operations. Prior to his time with Columbus, Zito was a player agent and one of the founders of Acme World Sports.
Now joining the Panthers, replacing Dale Tallon as GM, Zito has his work cut out for him. Fortunately, his familiarity with goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky could help the veteran to settle in during year two after a disastrous first season with the Panthers. More reliable results in net would be a major step for Florida. The team also needs to improve its defense while finding a way to re-sign or replace top forwards Mike Hoffman and Evgenii Dadonov. The Florida Panthers have not won a playoff series since 1996, the worst drought in the NHL, and Zito’s task will be to put together a contender and end that sorry streak as soon as possible.
At first I didn’t agree with the “work cut out for him” line, thinking of their high end talent in Barkov, Huberdeau, etc. and then I looked at the rest of the team and there isn’t much etc. there.
Couldn’t even find a trade with the Pens to propose. Until I thought, new GM and weird owners, you should always make an offer to Florida…you never know…ask George McPhee…
Patric Hornqvist and Jack Johnson for Brett Connolly and Anton Stralman.
Panthers would save $300,000 or so in that deal. They might do it.
Lay off the weeeeeeeed
Did you forget this is the team that gave away Reilly Smith and Jonathan Marchessault for nothing?
take a look at my comment, what do you think?
Nice to see Zito finally get a chance. If he likes a challenge he just found it. Panthers make maple leafs look successful.
Seems like a good hire for the Panthers. Tallon left him with a salary cap conundrum, so Zito has a big puzzle to sort out.
Take a look at my comment, what is your opinion?
That you’re bored
Unfortunately, he is stuck with a rigid roster. It’s not simple to move any of its bottom 6 forwards. Tallon was so “spend-crazy” last season he significantly jeopardized the team. Conolley is definitely an overpay, at 3.5 mil he is going to be hard to move. Stralman is another horrible signing at 5.5 mil. These contracts are horrible, and I believe even if we attempt to move them we will have very poor returns but could help us save salary.
For the next season, I believe that we will part ways with Dadonov, which I do not think is exactly bad. I believe that we will see Tippet taking a Top-6 role, possibly on that top line with Barkov and Huberdeau. That would be a dynamic, long term option for the Panthers.
With Hoffman, I think we could see a whole new formation on that second line. Best case scenario, Denseniko is ready to jump into the NHL and center this line, which would give some much-needed grit and speed we lost in the Trocheck trade. I also think they will partner them with Vatrano, he’s shown to have a scoring touch and good chemistry with Hoffman. But if Densinko isn’t ready, we may see Bogrostrom in this line to some degree, or him being moved with Heponmi for a C/LW pair from another team. The third option is bringing in Wallmark, who I believe is a solid center and brings some value. Also possible they stick to Haula, which I personally think will be another error.
Line three is, unfortunately, one of the biggest mistakes on the Panthers team. This is the line that I find TRULY was overpaid in Connolly/Haula( if he does indeed gets resigned). But this line should play Hunt- Wallmark- Connelly.
Line four is going to be good, and I believe one of the best in the NHL. We will have size, speed, and energy. Lots of defensive competitiveness with an offensive upside. This line will play Toninato- Acciari- Pysyk/Saarela.
The Defense is going to be a different story. This off-season could or could not see the move of Matheson. I believe that Coach Q really does not like to play him, and it was seen in the playoffs on how they avoided using him. Now, if Coach Q wants to be creative, maybe to push him to play the Leftwing on the second line.. food for thought. But I believe he will be traded if we have a buyer that is. I would love to see more of Keeper and Brown next season. Brown could be the Gudbranson we missed the last few seasons. We will for sure see Stillman a lot more, Coach Q likes what he brings. So these are our projected defensive lines.
Weegar – Ekblad
Yandle – Brown / Keeper
Stillman – Stralman
This is considering that Matheson gets traded for draft picks or a line two winger ( highly unlikely). I believe that Stralman is getting moved after this season, and thus game time will be divided between Keeper and Brown.
One of the biggest mistakes that Tallon kept making was he kept going outside the organization for expensive “fixes” that ended up chaining the feet of the organization from moving forward. So look to see that this season and forward, we will see a lot more of our depth talent getting time at the NHL level. Gone are the days of signing Boyes, Upshalls, and Berginhims, we will start to see players we drafted and signed and developed in the system be NHL players. This is the secret recipe for the success of MOST playoff contenders (i.e the Islanders, Flyers, Bruins, Lightening), so its time we start flying by these rules.
Goaltending, same story with Bobrovsky and Driedger. This might be THE SEASON for Bob. He’s a quality goaltender, if it doesn’t pan out this season expect him to ask for a trade. And we could be retaining salary. But I believe that the playoffs gave him some confidence so we may see him as that stellar starter giving a .91-.92 SV% season.
The Line-Up Projection
Huberdeau – Barkov – Tippet
Vatrano – Densinenko/Borgstrom/(Haula- IF RESIGNED) – Hoffman
Hunt – Wallmark/Saarala – Connelly
Toninato – Acciari – Pysyk
Weegar – Ekblad
Yandle – Brown / Keeper
Stillman – Stralman
Bobrovsky – Driedger
Line 2 might change depending on trades, but this is Florida’s best bet to actually be a REAL team.
Let me know all your thoughts.
My two cents…
They have to resign one of Dadonov or Hoffman (I prefer Dadonov). They have to find a way to upgrade their RHD behind Ekblad.
Maybe hope that Bobrovsky develops that equipment allergy that Marian Hossa got, I dunno.
Also, Tippett and Borgstrom have kicked around long enough that they are now suspects, not prospects.
Thats a lot of words….