"We knew that this would be a good situation, a good fit," Vrbata said. "Aleksander] Barkov, Vincent [Trocheck], those are great young centermen that can make plays and like to pass to puck. I'm the guy that likes to shoot the puck."
***[ [RELATED: Fantasy impact of Vrbata signing with Panthers ]*
Vrbata, 36, led the Arizona Coyotes in goals (20), assists (35) and points (55) last season. He has played seven of his 15 NHL seasons with the Coyotes, and his 157 goals are eighth in Coyotes/Winnipeg Jets franchise history.
"I like to think that I'm a professional," Vrbata said. "I try to take care of myself. I try to do the right things in the summer and during the season. I try to come in and do my job."
Selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the seventh round (No. 212) of the 1999 NHL Draft, Vrbata has 609 points (279 goals, 330 assists) in 1,015 regular-season games with the Coyotes, Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Chicago Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes. He has 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 42 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"Radim is a proven goal scorer who will complement our young centers," general manager Dale Tallon told the Panthers website. "He's a smart, skilled player and a reliable offensive presence on the power play. We are pleased to have signed Radim and welcome him to South Florida."
