Florida Panthers sign Casey Fitzgerald for one year, two-way contract
The Florida Panthers continued to address their defensive depth on Monday by bringing back Casey Fitzgerald on a one-year, two-way deal.
We have agreed to terms with defenseman Casey Fitzgerald on a one-year, two-way contract.
📝 » https://t.co/XUgakbYgIE pic.twitter.com/7UOTstf9or
Fitzgerald joined Florida last season after the club claimed him off waivers from the Buffalo Sabres in January. He skated with the Cats four times during the regular season and twice again in the playoffs, where Florida advanced to the Stanley Cup Final before being ousted by the Vegas Golden Knights in six games.
Fitzgerald has split most of his pro career between the Sabres and their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, for whom he has suited up 79 times. A third-round selection in 2016, the 26-year-old was a four-year standout at Boston College, where he was captain from 2017-2019.
Florida GM Bill Zito saw enough from Fitzgerald in his limited time with the club to bring him back from unrestricted free agency to a team that has scrambled to fill defensive holes throughout the summer.
The Panthers’ woes began when Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad, the team’s two power-play quarterbacks, got shoulder surgeries after playing hurt throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
When Marc Staal, who had partnered Montour throughout his breakout season, and Radko Gudas left in free agency to the Philadelphia Flyers and Anaheim Ducks, respectively, Zito and coach Paul Maurice found themselves with four new holes in their opening-night roster.
To the team’s credit, Florida has found several cheap, high-reward solutions this offseason. Former All-Star Oliver Ekman-Larsson joined on the first day of free agency on a one-year contract, and in the weeks since NHL journeymen Dmitry Kulikov and Mike Reilly have joined on single-season deals of their own. Zito then gambled on a three-year contract for former Rangers and Blues banger Niko Mikkola.
Only two of those contracts have to hit by the time Ekblad and Montour return to the lineup, but if one or more goes south in the meantime, Fitzgerald will be ready for another shot with the Panthers.