Panthers offseason preview: Cap situation, free agent targets, 3 big questions and more

There’s a case to be made this was the best season in the history of the Florida Panthers. Even though they only had the 17th-best record in the league and didn’t qualify for the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs until the final week of the regular season, the Panthers reached the Stanley Cup Final for only the second time, won a game there for the first time, hard a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy for just the third time and did it all with a core of 20-somethings who are locked up for years to come.

It all should have Florida itching for more.

The Panthers clearly have a group capable of contending for a Stanley Cup — they had the fourth-best record in the league two seasons ago, won the Presidents’ Trophy last season and made the Cup Final this season — and won’t lose any of their top six forwards or three defensemen, or their their starting goaltender. Instead, they have about $10 million in cap space to try to augment this core.

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General manager Bill Zito has the luxury of options this summer.

It will be easy for Florida to just run it back, if he so chooses, and use his cap space to upgrade his defense or forward depth. The free agent class, however, is weak and so Zito — with plenty of room to take on a big contract and plenty of young talent on his roster — could swing big again and make another major trade.

It has been less than a year since Zito dealt star left wing Jonathan Huberdeau and star defenseman MacKenzie Weegar to the Flames to get superstar right wing Matthew Tkachuk, who promptly became a finalist for the Hart Trophy. He also got forward Sam Reinhart in a trade with the Sabres the year before. He’s not afraid to be aggressive on the trade market.

Florida Panthers’ pending free agents

Contributors: G Alex Lyon, D Casey Fitzgerald, D Radko Gudas, D Marc Staal, LW Givani Smith (RFA), C Eric Staal, C/RW Colin White (RFA)

The rest: G Evan Fitzpatrick, D Lucas Carlsson, RW Patric Hornqvist

Only who were in uniform for Florida’s final game of the season Tuesday are free agents this summer, and none of them are among the Panthers’ top six forwards or top three defensemen.

Only one of those five free agents has spent multiple seasons in South Florida, too: The Panthers’ biggest decision will be on the future of Radko Gudas.

The 33-year-old Czech joined Florida in Zito’s first offseason and has been instrumental in changing the organization’s culture across the past three seasons. He’s still a valued part of the club, even as a third-pairing defenseman, and the team would love to have him back. The GM was able to get a good value on Gudas’ value around the trade deadline, too, when he was one of the main targets other teams reached out about when they thought the Panthers might sell.

Defenseman Marc Staal, and forwards Colin White and Eric Staal are the only other everyday players set to be free agents this summer, and all three should be able to be had cheaply, if the Panthers want them for depth. Coach Paul Maurice especially valued the Staals’ contributions, and both would probably be benefited by smaller roles if they want to stay in Florida to chase a Cup.

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As for the rest:

• Alex Lyon probably earned an NHL contract with his play at the end of the regular season, and the Panthers probably don’t have room for him, depending on the status of fellow goaltender Spencer Knight.

• Defenseman Casey Fizgerald is Tkachuk’s cousin, played in the Final and is in a pretty good situation, as long as he’s OK with mostly playing in the American Hockey League again. The same is true for left wing Givani Smith.

• It would be hard to blame defenseman Lucas Carlsson for looking for a change of scenery after not getting much of an NHL shot this year.

• Right wing Patric Hornqvist, who was Zito’s first ever addition as GM, will probably retire after sustaining multiple concussions this year and finishing the season on long-term injured reserve.

Potential Panthers free agent targets

Dimitry Orlov, D, Bruins

Dimitry Orlov is probably the free agent on the market, a top-pairing defenseman for the best team in the league last year and maybe the most surefire contributor available. The 31-year-old Russian will seek a long-term deal, projected around $6 million per year, according to Evolving-Hockey.com. He would certainly boost Florida’s short-term prospects, but he’s older than most of the core and his contract may not age well.

Tyler Bertuzzi, LW/RW, Bruins

Another Bruin, Tyler Bertuzzi was one of Boston’s standouts from its first-round series with the Panthers. The 28-year-old winger is probably the top forward available, and plays the rugged style Maurice implemented and Florida bought into during its run to the Final. The Golden Knights overwhelmed the Panthers with depth to win the championship and it’s easy to imagine Zito trying to upgrade the bottom six this summer. The Canadian forward is in the perfect age range, too, and projects to sign for four years for $5.4 million per year.

Shayne Gostisbehere, D, Hurricanes

Anytime a South Floridian is available, the Panthers are obligated to be tied to him. In the case of Shayne Gostisbehere, Florida needs help on defense, anyway. The offensive-minded 30-year-old, however, doesn’t seem like a clean fit in a top four also including defensemen Aaron Ekblad, Gustav Forsling and Brandon Montour, especially if he signs for more than $5 million per year.

Jonathan Toews, C, Blackhawks

Two years ago, the Panthers brought in six-time All-Star center Joe Thornton. Last year, they brought in Staal, who also has been to six NHL All-Star Games. Jonathan Toews, 35, is another aging six-time All-Star center, if Florida wants to try this again. Star right wing Patrick Kane is the other aging superstar available, and a hip injury, which could keep him out for much of the season, could make him a target for some long-term IR shenanigans.

Sean Monahan, C, Canadiens

Zito has a type and it’s former top-10 picks who might be struggling in their current situation. Center Sean Monahan fits the mold. The 28-year-old Canadian was the No. 6 pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and used to be the No. 1 center in Calgary before injuries derailed him. Left wing Jonathan Drouin, his teammate with the Canadiens and the No. 3 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, also fits this mold.

Three big Panthers offseason questions

What’s up with Spencer Knight?

Knight entered the NHL’s and NHL Players Association’s joint player assistance program in February and missed the rest of the season. He’s supposed to be one of the best backup goaltenders in the league and the Panthers’ goalie of the future, but Florida would need to find a good backup if he’s not going to be ready for the start of the season. Lyon could return, then. The 22-year-old American’s $4.5 million salary also doesn’t count against the cap while he’s in the player assistance program.

Will the Panthers extend Sam Reinhart, Gustav Forsling and Brandon Montour?

Reinhart, Forsling and Montour are all entering the final years of their deals, which means it’s decision time. Signing them to extensions would give the Panthers a clearer idea of how much they can spend this summer in free agency.

Does Bill Zito have another big trade up his sleeve?

If extension talks stall, Reinhart, Forsling and Montour could become trade chips, just like Huberdeau and Weegar were last year as they entered the final seasons of their contracts. With a weak crop of free agents, a trade might be the best way to dramatically improve this roster. Florida’s main challenge, though, is it doesn’t have a first-round pick to trade until 2026.