C&C-Featured-09-07-20

Good morning and welcome to "Cats & Coffee," a weekly segment, presented by Koffee Kult, in which we serve up an exciting look at what's on deck for your Florida Panthers. Like our friends at Koffee Kult, this forecast serves up only the best -- so sit back, sip and enjoy our latest brew of news, notes and information.
Bill Zito is already hard at work.
In the short amount of time that has passed since he was introduced as general manager of the Florida Panthers early last week, the 55-year-old longtime executive has barely had a chance to sleep or even catch his breath while diving headfirst into everything that his new position entails.

"My brain can't stop working," Zito said shortly after he was hired. "I can't wait to get to work."
When asked about his long to-do list, Zito, who spent seven seasons as an assistant general manager in Columbus prior to taking on this new role, said that his immediate goal was to "get the word out," which meant connecting with the team's players, scouts and other various staff.

Zito-Breakfast

Of course, it also meant doing a lot of media.
From telling the story of his first initial meeting with Panthers President & CEO Matt Caldwell to sharing how he plans to upgrade the team's roster and prospect pipeline, Zito has been building a lot of buzz while making the rounds at a wide variety of outlets throughout the NHL in recent days.
If you've got some time on your hands, here are some of his best media pit stops to check out.
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Miami Herald: Zito talks about why he's excited to take over in South Florida.
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Florida Hockey Now: George Richards sits down with Zito for a Q&A.
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Sportsnet: Zito joins Hockey Central to discuss the challenges the Panthers face.
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560 WQAM: Zito joins the Joe Rose Show to talk about achieving a lifelong dream. 
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The Athletic: Zito chats with Pierre LeBrun about his offseason plans with the Panthers.
Stay tuned to @FlaPanthers on Twitter for more Zito-related updates in the coming weeks.

VIRTUAL VAULT ANNIVERSARY

It's been just over one year since the Panthers breathed new life into their riveting history.
In September of 2019, the team partnered with Heritage Werks in order to collect, curate and digitize countless treasures from the franchise's history. This "Baptist Health Virtual Vault" is available for fans to view at FlaPanthersVault.com and includes a wealth of items and photos.
An agency for sports, brands and entertainment, Heritage Werks specializes in establishing and maintaining state-of-the-art archival programs and curating compelling content and narratives to fuel interactive experiences through social content, exhibits, storytelling campaigns and more.

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      Panthers Archives: Online Tour

      In June, the Panthers explored the vault with fans during a digital Hockey Heritage Night.
      "Heritage Werks is proud to protect, preserve and share the Florida Panthers' history," Heritage Werks Founder and CEO Keir Walton said in 2019. "Every Panthers fan has a connection with a favorite player, moment or milestone. The Virtual Vault will give fans all over the world a place to re-live great memories and see up close what makes the One Territory so special."
      What's your favorite item in the vault? Tell us at @FlaPanthers on Twitter!

      STAY SAFE AND LOOK SHARP

      Masks aren't just for goalies!
      With the release of their new "Stay Safe" T-shirts, the Panthers are hoping to not only spread the word about good health practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, but also raise funds for the Florida Panthers Foundation's efforts to assist the local community in these difficult times.
      All proceeds generated from sales of these mask-themed shirts will benefit the Foundation.
      To make a purchase, please follow the link in the tweet below.

      LABOR DAY IN THE TERRITORY

      Whether you're enjoying a well-deserved day off or still hard at work, we here at the Panthers want to wish everyone throughout South Florida and beyond a safe and happy Labor Day!

      CATS CLIP OF THE WEEK

      What's next for Bill Zito? The Panthers general manager joined NHL Now to discuss his new role.

      CATS IN THE COMMUNITY

      TERRITORY TALK

      On the latest episode of the Territory Talk podcast, new Panthers general manager Bill Zito joins the show to discuss the hiring process, his diverse background and plans for the future.
      Territory Talk: Florida Panthers Podcast
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      COLD COFFEE (IN CASE YOU MISSED IT)