NOTEBOOK: Vatrano Showing Versatility; Keeper Ready to Work
SUNRISE, Fla.- Frank Vatrano got in quite the workout this morning.
With the Florida Panthers spending the majority of Monday's practice at BB&T Center working on special teams, the versatile forward was spotted lining up on both on the penalty kill and power play - an important dual role he hopes to continue after carrying a similar workload last season.
After amassing just 4:26 on the penalty kill over the first 205 games of his NHL career, the 26-year-old piled up 86:36 this past season while also leading the club in shorthanded goals with two. He also skated 100:27 on the man advantage where he chipped in two power-play goals.
"Whenever you can get that extra ice other than 5-on-5, it's obviously great," Vatrano said. "It's something you've got to earn; it's never given to you. For me, obviously last year playing on the PK the first time, I liked it a lot, using my speed to create offense and also killing power-plays, too."
For Joel Quenneville, one of the things that sticks out about Vatrano is his competitiveness.
In addition to racking up 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists) in 69 games last season, he also finished second among Florida's forwards in hits (102) and third in blocked shots (43).
"I like his pace," Quenneville said. "I think he did a good job in the offseason there, did some skill work. I think he's always had quickness. He has some tenacity to his game. He's got a terrific shot. He's a competitive guy. You can use him in multiple situations. I think last year he had some real good stretches.
"When he's committed to every single shift, you notice him. That's not an easy thing to do, but he has that ability and that hungriness that he can provide his linemates. It's something that we look forward to having more of that in our lineup. I think he's one of the guys we expect to count on in that department."
With less than a week left until the Panthers open their season against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday in Sunrise, Vatrano has spent the past few days of training camp on what looks like a potential third line with a pair of very talented rookies in Eetu Luostarinen and Owen Tippett.
The offensive potential of that trio was evidenced during today's practice.
On one particular shift up the ice, Vatrano skated with the puck in the zone before sending it to Luostarinen. After that, he disrupted the defense by skating through the slot, which created just enough space for Luostarinen to send a pass to Tippett, who then scored a goal from in close.
"Two young guys who are great players," Vatrano said of his linemates. "They play with speed and have a lot of skill. For me, I'm just trying to create energy and be there to help them. Obviously, there's going to be some questions [with them] not having much [NHL] experience. I'm just there to help them and to create my energy and speed and get open at the same time."
Finding chemistry early on, Vatrano believes the entire Panthers locker room is gelling quickly.
"In the hockey world, it's easy to create that bond with one another," said Vatrano, who's scored 45 goals in 166 career games with Florida. "Everyone, for the most part, has the same goals and everyone is pushing for the same thing. It's easy to fit into a hockey locker room. You've got 23 guys all pushing for the same thing. When everyone's on the same page, it's very easy to fit in."
KEEPER HAS POWER
Brady Keeper has been given a great opportunity to shine early on in camp.
Heading into his second professional season, the 24-year-old defenseman spent this morning's practice quarterbacking the second power-play unit - a role Quenneville believes he can relish.
"He's had a good camp," Quenneville said. "I think one thing with Keeps is that he gives some real patience with the puck. He's a good play-recognition guy. He likes to shoot it and can shoot it hard, but he's really poised and patient with the puck… I think his composure is a great asset."
Expounding on that assessment, Quenneville noted that Keeper never seems to get rattled and is always calming things down when he's manning the blue line. Even in situations where things seem to start to fall apart - turnovers, odd-man rushes, etc. - his confidence rarely ever wavers.
"When he has the puck, he settles things down," Quenneville said.
No stranger to running point on the man advantage, Keeper previously held down that key role during his two seasons at the University of Maine. During his final collegiate season in 2018-19, he led all Black Bears defensemen goals (7), power-play goals (2) assists (15) and points (22).
After appearing in one game with the Panthers during the 2018-19 campaign, Keeper tallied six goals, 12 assists and 118 penalty minutes in 61 games as a rookie in the AHL this past season.
"I think he's just giving me a chance to show what I can do," Keeper said of Quenneville's decision to try him on the power play. "I've got to bear down and come in and work hard every day on and off the ice. I've had a good summer, so I'm pretty excited to get everything going."
Making his transition to the NHL game a little bit easier, Keeper said he's been able to lean on veterans within Florida's defensive core throughout camp, including Radko Gudas, a hard-as-nails veteran defender who joined the Panthers on a three-year contract during free agency.
Like Gudas, Keeper also projects as a player that can provide a mix of skill and toughness.
"He's a hard worker," Keeper said of Gudas. "Obviously, he's got that gritty game. He's also pretty funny on the ice. He has a sense of humor and all that kind of stuff. It's been good playing with him and learning from him as well because he's been in the league a long time."
Looking ahead, Quenneville said the Panthers will hold another instrasquad scrimmage on Tuesday. After that, they'll practice once again on Wednesday and then have the day off on Thursday. Following their return, they'll practice every day until hosting Chicago on Sunday.
In that time, Keeper plans to do everything he can to lock down a roster spot.
"All I can control is what I do, just come out and skate hard and play my game," Keeper said.
CATS CLAIM JUULSEN
The Panthers continue to mine the waiver wire for diamonds in the rough.
Only a couple days after claiming Gustav Forsling from the Carolina Hurricanes, the Panthers nabbed fellow defenseman Noah Juulsen off waivers from the Montreal Canadiens on Monday.
Originally selected by Montreal in the first round (26th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Juulsen appeared in 13 games with AHL Laval this past season, registering three assists. An intriguing player when healthy, he's tallied eight points (two goals, six assists) in 44 career NHL games.
Still only 23 years old, he was a two-time WHL All-Star during his junior playing days.
"A young defenseman with some promise," said Quenneville, who found out about the news just as he had left the ice following practice. "It certainly gives us a lot more options on the backend."
MONDAY'S PRACTICE LINES (GROUP 1)
Forwards
Carter Verhaeghe - Aleksander Barkov - Anthony Duclair
Jonathan Huberdeau - Alex Wennberg - Patric Hornqvist
Frank Vatrano - Eetu Luostarinen - Owen Tippett
Mason Marchment - Noel Acciari - Brett Connolly
Defensemen
MacKenzie Weegar - Aaron Ekblad
Riley Stillman - Anton Stralman
Kevin Connauton - Radko Gudas
Gustav Forsling - Brady Keeper
Goaltenders
Chris Driedger
Sam Montembeault
Group 2 Participants:Keith Yandle, Chase Priskie, Aleksi Heponiemi, Grigori Denisenko, Scott Wilson, Vinnie Hinostroza, Ryan Lomberg, Cole Schwindt and Philippe Desrosiers.
