Bill Zito Masterclass
I turn on my phone after the Sabbath, and the first thing I see is this.
We have acquired Claude Giroux, Connor Bunnaman & German Rubtsov and a 2024 fifth-round pick from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Owen Tippett, a conditional 2024 first-round pick and a 2023 third-round pick.
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) March 20, 2022
? » https://t.co/Zwge5dTLgi pic.twitter.com/5uV6V1StjN
Pure and unadulterated joy. Bliss, some might say. Indulge me while I list the projected forward lines for the Panthers for the rest of the season. The top line will have captain Aleksander Barkov centering Claude Giroux and Carter Verhaeghe. LETHAL! Not to be outdone, Sam Bennett will center Jonathan Huberdeau and Anthony Duclair on the second line. DEADLY! Wait, there’s more!? Anton Lundell between Mason Marchment and Sam Reinhart, not good enough for you? And that’s not even mentioning the chaos line, Eetu Luostarinen with Patric Hörnqvist and Ryan Lomberg! They can even send out the fifth line of Joe Thornton, Noel Acciari, and Maxim Mamin. I am going to borrow a meme from Jameson Olive here.
I need to update the size of the sandwich. ? https://t.co/vTq283iLH3
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) March 20, 2022
But that wasn’t the only thing that happened over the weekend.
The Other Moves
Tanklin, Franklin The
He served us well in his time here, but we needed the cap space. Frank Vatrano was sent to the Rangers in exchange for a 2022 Fourth Round pick.
We have acquired a fourth-round selection from the New York Rangers in the 2022 NHL Draft in exchange for Frank Vatrano.https://t.co/dRmaokmWuQ
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) March 16, 2022
Wishing you the best in New York, @frank_vatrano. pic.twitter.com/PmEF7BlLR8
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) March 16, 2022
That pick didn’t stick around long.
Overpay?
Listen. Brandon Montour‘s advanced stats looked terrible when he was traded for at the deadline in 2021. Why can’t Ben Chiarot turn out great as he did? (I don’t particularly appreciate talking badly about players; I don’t have enough street cred for that. So I’ll leave it at that.) We got Ben Chiarot, OK?? In Zito We Trust.
We have acquired defenseman Ben Chiarot from Montreal in exchange for prospect Ty Smilanic, a fourth-round pick in 2022, and a first-round pick in 2023.
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) March 17, 2022
? » https://t.co/vZCoWiVOVy pic.twitter.com/g5I8482duP
So what else happened? Anything on the ice? OH YEAH!
KNIGHTER SHUTOUT!!!!
Granted, it was only 17 saves; it counts! The first NHL shutout for Spencer Knight helped lift the Cats over the Ducks on Friday Night/Morning. (I couldn’t watch, it was the Sabbath.)
What a (K)night ?
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) March 19, 2022
Congrats, @slknight30!! pic.twitter.com/ed0x9EnOQ5
Oh No, Not Again!
The entire Panthers fanbase held their breaths late Friday Night as star defenseman Aaron Ekblad was helped off the ice after an awkward collision. (Again, I wasn’t watching, it was the Sabbath.) Head Coach Andrew Brunette provided this update after the game.
More updates on Ekblad from Bruno:
— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) March 19, 2022
“Nothing structural. We’ll know more tomorrow.”
“It was positive news tonight.”
Breathe, Cats fans!
BREATHE GUYS! HE’LL BE OK!
What’s Next?
The Panthers don’t play another game until they start their Eastern Canada swing with the Montreal Canadians on Thursday Night. This will give new additions Ben Chiarot and Claude Giroux plenty of time to acclimate themselves to the high-flying system that the Panthers run. It also offers players like Aaron Ekblad, Patric Hörnqvist, Anton Lundell, Ryan Lomberg, and Sergei Bobrovsky time to recover from whatever injuries they have been dealing with.
