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The Florida Panthers made a huge trade on Saturday evening, but now they have to make a big decision about their goalkeepers.
In a deal with the Chicago Blackhawks, Florida exchanged the young goalkeeper Spencer Knight and a 1st round pick for defender Seth Jones and a 4th round pick.
Adding Jones brings a huge boost to the Panthers Blueline.
He is great at reading plays and blocking photos and adds an attacking element that is missing this season from the back line of Panthers.
There is no doubt that the chances of Florida to repeat, because Stanley Cup champions are much better after making this exchange.
But now general director Bill Zito and his staff at Florida have to decide how they want to replace Knight.
The 23-year-old former 13th General Pick has been completed in shape in recent months and played some of his best, most consistent hockey as a professional.
Zito and Co. Would have been more than comfortable to enter a different cup yacht with Knight as their target insurance.
Now that he is now moving to Chicago, a decision must be made.
The Panthers still have 21 games about their regular seasonal schedule, including five back-to-back sets in a period of 30 days.
The person who makes Sergei Bobrovsky backup, they will do much more than sit on the couch.
The NHL -Handelsdeadline is Friday.
Will Zito focus on another goalkeeper between now and then? That is the question.
Flames -goalkeeper Dan Vladar, who had a performance on Saturday at a loss for the Panthers in Sunrise, plays $ 2.2 million on a sloping contact and is available.
It is clear that veteran John Gibson is a man where each team would be more than comfortable as part of their tandem after the season, but his price tag of $ 6.4 million is a bit high and runs until 2027.
If we call Gibson, we must also add Jordan Binnington and his $ 6 million contract to the mix of boys who would certainly like Florida, but would probably have to make the financial data to make it logical. His deal also runs until 2027.
There are also lower expensive options for the forging contracts.
Anton Forsberg from Ottawa earns $ 2.75 million, David Rittich from Los Angeles earns $ 1 million, and at the end of this season Karel Vejmelka plays a $ 2,725 deal, but all three will be free agents.
Both goalkeepers from San Jose, Alexandar Georgiev and Vitek Vanecek are reportedly available and each play at respective $ 3.4 million cap -hits.
Also in consideration, the No. 3 must be goalkeeper Chris Driedger in Florida.
It is three would apparently slide into Knight’s site, at least in the short term, while Zito is evaluating the situation.
We will see how things take place the next week.
Stay informed.
Caption for photo on top of page: December 3, 2024; Calgary, Alberta, Kan; Calgary Flames goalkeeper Dan Vladar (80) saves a rescue against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the third period in Scotiabank Saddledome. (Sergei Belski-Imagn images)
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