Florida Panthers
Before the NHL season was indefinitely suspended, the Florida Panthers were in a battle with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. It appeared as though the Leafs were going to take it and push the Cats to the outside looking in.
If the Panthers don’t think that they have a postseason worthy roster, the offseason will be the opportunity to turn things over. With many players about to hit free agency, this is a good opportunity for GM Dale Tallon to make changes.
Mark Pysyk
On Florida’s current roster is hockey’s version of a utility player. Mark Pysyk has been bounced back and forth between being used as a forward and a defenseman. Head coach Joel Quenneville reduced his minutes but did give him a chance to find other uses on the ice instead of putting him in the press box. As a bottom of the lineup player, this ability makes Pysyk very useful.
Evgenii Dadonov
The Pathers have more traditional players about to become UFAs. Evgenii Dadonov who recently turned 31 will be looking for a new contract. He is a hard-working right-winger who has no fear flying into the corners. He is coming off a very team-friendly three-year contract worth $12 million or $4 million annually.
Over the span of that deal, Dadonov scored 81 goals and 101 assists for a total of 182 points. Now looking for a new deal, he will certainly be looking to cash in on his next contract.
Mike Hoffman
Mike Hoffman has also been a big point producer for the Cats. After coming back from a 36 goal and 34 assists season, Hoffman tallied 29 goals and 30 assists this year. There’s no doubt that at age 30 he will also be looking to get himself another solid contract. This year he earned $5.1875 million.
Erik Haula
Erik Haula is a two-way center who was a seventh-round draft pick in 2009. Unlike most who get selected that late, Haula managed to carve out a good career in the NHL. He has played 405 games through seven seasons in the league.
Haula joined the Panthers after being included in the package they received for trading away Vincent Trocheck. Knowing that Haula had an expiring contract when the Panthers dealt for him, there’s a good chance that Tallon is prepared to let Haula walk in the offseason.
Brian Boyle
The last pending UFA on the Panthers is a former Maple Leafs center, Brian Boyle. His time in Toronto was very short, lasting just 21 games. At that time he got just three points, all of them on assists. At age 35, Boyle’s coming off a season where he played 39 games and scored six goals and nine assists. At this point in his career, Boyle will be looking to join a team that values veteran leadership.