Arrr, the Panthers be signin' swashbucklin' free agents Ekman-Larsson and Kulikov, while tradin' young Duclair to them Sharks!
2023-07-03
Arrr, me hearties! The Florida Panthers be plunderin' the free agency seas, signin' the likes of Oliver Ekman-Larrsson, Dmitry Kulikov, Niko Mikkola, and Mike Reilly to their crew. A fine haul indeed! Avast ye, they be ready to set sail!
The Florida Panthers have made some significant moves in the off-season to address potential gaps in their player roster. General manager Bill Zito has been busy in free agency, bringing in several defensemen to bolster the team. This comes at a time when they had to trade away fan favorite Anthony Duclair. The team has signed defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, a two-time All-Star, on a one-year deal, along with Dmitry Kulikov, who previously played for the Panthers in 2012 and 2016. Mike Reilly and Niko Mikkola have also joined the blue line, with Reilly signing a one-year deal and Mikkola signing a three-year contract. The Panthers have also retained defenseman Lucas Carlsson on a one-year, two-way contract. Ekman-Larsson was bought out by the Vancouver Canucks, but the Panthers were able to secure his services for the upcoming season. Kulikov, who still has ties to South Florida, will have the opportunity to join a team that is considered a contender for the Stanley Cup. The Panthers have also added forward Evan Rodrigues on a four-year, one-way contract, and have signed Grigori Denisenko and Kevin Stenlund to bolster their forward lines. Despite these acquisitions, the team has also had to say goodbye to defenseman Radko Gudas and goalie Alex Lyon, both of whom played significant roles in the team's recent playoff run. Overall, Zito has expressed gratitude for the players leaving the team and excitement for the new additions.