Zito is getting lucky too, and surely anything can change, but it's actually absurd how many hits he's had in 1 season.
- Carter Verhaeghe UFA 2 years @ $1 mil (36 points in 43 games and a monster possession guy)
- Bennett for 2 2nds, which seemed ridiculously pricey but now.....who knows? RFA control
- Weegar RFA 3 years @ $3.25 mil (probably wishes he added a couple years though)
- Gudas UFA 3 years @ $2.25 mil
- Nutivaara for a sub-AHL Cliff Pu
- Forsling off waivers
- Shedded Matheson's contract for 3 less years of Hornqvist
- Wennberg UFA 1 year @ $2.25 mil
- Duclair UFA 1 year @ $1.7 mil with RFA control
- Montour for a 3rd (Buffalo taint gamble)
- Gusev for pro-rated $1 mil after termination
This is in one season! Almost every one of these players is having a good-great season as a Panther whether in scoring or underlying numbers or both. The underperformers they added are doing better. Lot of cost effective, educated risks where I can see a process. They're the 3rd best possession team in the league. They're just good. The state of that franchise in the last few years and this year is a sea change. Especially with Barkov's status.
God I can't wait to see Chuckles f*** things up with the sole purpose of preventing goals. Bias for action with all the wrong biases. Tally ho.