With just one win in their last seven games, the Florida Panthers need to accept the fact that, now five points out of a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, playoffs aren’t likely. As such, they’ve got some interesting trade pieces they could look at moving.
Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia writes the Panthers “could be on the verge of accepting reality” and entering the trade market as sellers. He mentions unrestricted free agents Mike Hoffman and Evgeni Dadonov as obvious pieces and players that could draw interest prior to Feb 24.
There were pre-existing rumors Hoffman might be moved before the Panthers went on this slide. Florida considered themselves a team that was potent at forward but weaker on the blue line and willing to move a player like Hoffman to get better in that area. Now, it might not matter.
Hoffman has 21 goals and 46 points in 58 games for the Panthers this season. Dadonov is not far behind with 23 goals and 42 points in 58 games. Both are rentals, that after what New Jersey fetched on Sunday, could garner the Panthers a decent return.
Garrioch has also suggested that Panthers might consider moving forward Vincent Trocheck, who is not a rental and carries a $4.75 million cap hit through 2021-22. He’s a talented offensive player and in the right deal, a team looking for a top-six forward with term might be interested. He’s got 8 goals and 32 points in 51 games this season but isn’t far removed from a 75-point season with the Panthers in 2017-18.
This season has not gone according to the Panthers plans and even if they were to squeak into the playoffs, they have such big question marks in goal, they likely wouldn’t get very far. The big-money gamble on Sergei Bobrovsky isn’t looking very good thus far. No big deal though, only six more seasons at $10 million per season to go.
Some Other Panthers News
The Ottawa Senators have claimed forward Jayce Hawryluk off waivers from the Florida Panthers. Hawryluk, 24, has 3 points through 15 games this season.
Related: Devils Not Done Making Deals
