Panthers gain added flexibility for free agency
Pierre LeBrun: The Florida Panthers hope they are able to take a run at Columbus Blue Jackets pending UFAs Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky. Yesterday’s trade givens them some added flexibility to do so. They could wait until July 1st or they could check in before the trade deadline to see if it makes sense.
Waiting until July 1st makes more sense as they wouldn’t have to give up assets to acquire them.
Chris Johnston: Florida Panthers GM Dale Tallon yesterday after the trade: “We’ve freed up a lot of space for an aggressive summer in free agency.”
Chris Johnston: Tallon when asked if they could trade newly acquired Derick Brassard before the trade deadline: “performance will determine what we do with these players.”
David Pagnotta: The Panthers have already started looking at moving Brassard. Don’t know if anything isn’t imminent. He will be traded before the deadline.
The New York Rangers have a group of players that will interest teams
Chris Nichols of Nichols on Hockey: Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek on 31 Thoughts: The Podcast we’re talking about the New York Rangers.
“Kreider, Hayes, Zuccarello, those are the obvious names,” began Marek, who then added McQuaid.
“McQuaid for sure,” agreed Friedman. “If I was an NHL team that thought I could win and needed some edge, I would be going after Kreider. But I could see the Rangers wanting to keep him. This is supposed to be a one-year thing, and then they’re going to be in the free agent market. So I wonder what they’re going to do there. But I really like Kreider. I like him a lot. I think he’s a guy who just runs over people and you need that.”
Freidman adds that he thinks the Calgary Flames could be one of the teams interested in Mats Zuccarello for added depth, and the Edmonton Oilers have definitely looked at Zuccarello and maybe Chris Kreider.
Friedman when Marek brings up the Colorado Avalanche and Kevin Hayes.
“Yes, but I’m not sure they’re going to do that,” said Friedman. “And I think also when Duchene gets set, then Hayes is going to come up. And he’ll get some interest.”