Panthers Add Plenty of Depth Heading into Playoff Push

SUNRISE, Fla. - Bill Zito rewarded his players with reinforcements this week.
In the hunt for first place in the Central Division with a record of 26-12-4, the Panthers general manager fervently worked the phone lines over the last several days, making a series of moves to bolster the team's lineup heading into what is shaping up to be a stirring push to the playoffs.

"Our Florida Panthers, the effort that they're putting into this, physically and emotionally, is really something," Zito said after Monday's NHL trade deadline wrapped up. "You really have to give significant credit to this room. We did feel an obligation to help them as much as we could."
Wasting no time, Zito actually got most of his work done long before this afternoon's deadline.
After clearing up some cap space by trading forward Vinnie Hinostroza to the Blackhawks on April 2, the Panthers made yet another deal with Chicago on April 8, acquiring forward Lucas Wallmark and defenseman Lucas Carlsson in exchange for forward Brett Connolly, defenseman Riley Stillman, the rights to forward prospect Henrik Borgstrom and a 2021 seventh-round pick.
Wallmark, who suited up in seven games with the Panthers last season after being acquired from Carolina at the deadline, has posted three assists in 16 games with Chicago this season, while Carlsson has appeared in 12 games in the NHL and seven games in the AHL in 2020-21.
"It gives us some depth in the middle, gives us a penalty killer," Panthers coach Joel Quenneville said of bringing back Wallmark. "He's a smart player. Purpose-wise, he can give us some options with combos. I think you can never have enough guys in the middle of the ice."
Bolstering their blue line, the Panthers then added Brandon Montour on April 10.
Sending the Sabres a third-round pick in 2021 in exchange for his services, the 27-year-old defenseman will be a part of the ongoing group effort to replace the void left by Aaron Ekblad, who will miss the remainder of the season after sustaining a lower-body injury late last month.
Putting up consistent numbers on offense throughout his career, Montour compiled 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 39 games with Buffalo before being dealt. A second-round pick of Anaheim in the 2014, he's tallied 105 points (29 goals, 76 assists) in 281 career NHL games.
Also showing his value on special teams, Montour ranked second among Sabres defensemen in minutes on the penalty kill (68:31) and netted a team-high two shorthanded goals this season.
"Montour was always a guy that we really liked," Zito said. "Everybody in our staff unanimously really liked him. He's a good fit. We're thrilled to have him. I think he's going to fit in pretty well."
Moving from one of the worst teams in the league to one of the best, Montour is also excited to play a role in Florida's playoff push. After reaching the postseason in his first two seasons with the Ducks -- including a trip to the 2017 Western Conference Final -- he hasn't been there since.
Quenneville said Montour will likely make his Panthers debut on Thursday against the Lightning.
"The playoffs are what it's all about," said Montour, who has tallied eight assists in 21 career playoff games. "[It was] my goal coming into this season. Obviously, in Buffalo we had a tough, tough go so far. I just want to end on a good note, get a good playoff stretch here.
"These guys are having success and doing well this year, so I just want to join that and keep the train rolling. The playoffs are around the corner. I'm just having that itch to get back in. Any hockey player, especially with the experience that I've had there, you want it that much more."
Turning their attention from defense to offense, the Panthers then made possibly their savviest move of the week by signing free agent forward Nikita Gusev to a one-year contract on April 11.
A former MVP in the KHL, Gusev has already proven that he can put up points on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. After registering a career-high 82 points with St. Petersburgh in the KHL in 2018-19, he went on to produce 44 points in his first NHL season with New Jersey in 2019-20.
But with the Devils struggling as a whole this season, Gusev, like many of his teammates, saw his numbers dip. And after recording five points (two goals, three assists) in 20 games, he was placed on waivers and then later had the final year of his contract bought out by New Jersey.
A seasoned veteran at 28 years old, Gusev should provide some affordable production for the Panthers, especially since he's not far removed from a great rookie campaign. And if he can get close to putting up the numbers he did in the KHL, then the move will be nothing short of a steal.
In 391 career games in the KHL, he recorded 332 points (119 goals, 213 assists).
"He's a tremendously skilled player," Zito said of Gusev. "There should be some opportunity for him on our club. He's excited to come in and show what he can do."
Like Montour, Gusev is expected to make his Panthers debut in Tampa Bay on Thursday. And, based on what Quenneville said, it sounds like he'll be given a great opportunity out of the gate.
"Highly skilled, power play guy, can score and can play with good players," Quenneville said of Gusev. "He gets an opportunity maybe right off the bat. We'll see how he handles it, and then we'll find out. You've got some good options with him in the lineup."
Having already added several players in the days prior, the Panthers made just one move this afternoon, acquiring forward Sam Bennett and a 2022 sixth-round pick from Calgary for a 2022 second-round pick and the rights to forward Emil Heineman, who was a second-round pick in 2020.
The fourth-overall selection in the 2014 draft, Bennett recorded 140 points (67 goals, 73 assists) in 402 games during his career with the Flames, including 12 points in 38 games this season. He's also had a lot of success in the playoffs, earning 11 goals and eight assists in 30 games.
A versatile skater, Zito said Bennett told him that "I can play anywhere, and I have!"
"He's a guy that probably projects a little more on the wing than center," Zito said of Bennett's role. "He's maybe had a little more success there, but he can really play across the spectrum in the lineup and up and down. We'll just have to see where the coaches deploy him."
With the playoffs on the horizon, Bennett is eager to show his new team what he can do.
"I've always been a guy that tends to get up for big games and elevate my game," Bennett said. "I love the style of playoff hockey -- it's physical, it's fast. I think that compliments my game. I'm looking forward to the playoffs, for sure."
A restricted free agent this summer, Zito also noted that Bennett, who is only 24 years old despite being in his seventh NHL season, could be a part of both the team's short and long-term plans.
"He does fit into our plan because we can keep him for a while after this year," Zito said. "He has [19] points in 30 playoff games. This is a competitor, somebody that can help this team."
By adding several new weapons to the team's already talented core of players like Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau, Zito is confident that the Panthers can make some noise.
"The long-term goal is that we want to win Stanley Cups," Zito said. "That's the goal and we should expect nothing less. In the short-term, we want this team to challenge. We want this team to compete. We want this team to grow and get better every single day. Our expectation is to go as far as we can this year in the playoffs. We'll see what happens."