Florida added some grit on Monday as it signed A.J. Greer to a two-year contract worth $1.7 million ($850K AAV). The 27-year-old left-winger tied his career high in points (12) in 2023-24 with Calgary, picking up six goals, 12 points, and 35 PIMs in 59 games played.
The reigning Stanley Cup Champions have added to their defensive depth on Monday as they added winger Tomas Nosek to a one-year deal worth $775,000. The 31-year-old veteran is entering his 10th NHL season with his fifth team and had two goals and six points in 36 games with New Jersey in 2023-24.
Fresh off of helping Florida win its first Stanley Cup, 33-year-old Dmitry Kulikov has signed a four-year contract extension worth $4.6 million ($1.15M AAV). The veteran defensemen just completed his 15th NHL season and had a goal, 20 points, 63 PIMs and a +15 plus/minus in 76 games played.
Reinhart absolutely exploded in his contract year, scoring 57 goals, 24 more than his previous career high. He also added 37 assists, to give him 94 points, 12 more than his previous career high. Reinhart was also very strong during the Panthers run to the Stanley Cup, posting 16 points (10G / 6A) in 24 games and scored the Stanley Cup winning goal. Look for him to remain on a line with Aleksander Barkov for the foreseeable future.
Asplund spent the entire 2023-24 season in the AHL, where he led the team in assists (35) and was second in points (44) in 67 games. Asplund should once again be a fringe NHLer for the Panthers and one of the first depth call-ups if he doesn't make the team out of training camp.
Schmidt is in the final season of a six-year, $35.7 million contract that he signed with Vegas back in 2018 and has been placed on unconditional waivers for the purposes of a buyout on Sunday. The 32-year-old is in his 12th NHL season and is set to be owed $5,950,000 in 2024-25. In 63 games played with Winnipeg in 2023-24, he had two goals, 14 points, 75 SOG and a +10 plus/minus.
Boqvist was expected to earn $2.6 million in 2024-25 but has been placed on unconditional waivers for the purposes of buyout on Sunday by Columbus. The 23-year-old defender was drafted by Chicago back in the 1st round (8th overall) of the 2018 Draft and was a key piece in the trade which sent Seth Jones to the Blackhawks. Boqvist appeared in 35 games with the Blue Jackets in 2023-24 and had one goal, 10 points, 45 SOG and a -8 plus/minus.
Kiersted spent the 2023-24 season with Charlotte (AHL) and has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract extension to remain with Florida next season. The 26-year-old defensemen will provide the Panthers with some depth after putting up four goals and 15 points in 57 games with Charlotte last season.
Giles spent 2023-24 with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) and earned himself a two-way, two-year contract extension with Florida on Friday. The 24-year-old had 13 goals and 23 points in 66 games played in his third season with Charlotte.
It is do or die for Game 7 as Sergei Bobrovsky looks to end Florida's current three-game losing streak and finally close out the Stanley Cup Finals in Florida's fourth and final chance on Monday. The 35-year-old veteran netminder seemed a lock for the Conn Smythe Trophy just three games ago but has posted a 0-3-0 record, 4.00 GAA and .793 SV% in Florida's previous three Stanley Cup-clinching games. He will look to close out the playoffs on a positive note on Monday and add to his 15-8-0 record, 2.38 GAA and .903 SV% in 23 playoff games this season.
Bobrovsky continued his historical Stanley Cup Finals play in Game 3 as he stopped 32 of 35 shots (.914 SV%) for his sixth straight victory to take a 3-0 finals lead and will expectedly take the crease for Game 4 on Saturday. The 35-year-old is eyeing the coveted Conn Smythe trophy after posting a 3-0-0, 1.33 GAA, and .953 SV% so far in the finals. He will look to shut down the Oilers in Edmonton on Saturday and bring home Florida's first-ever Stanley Cup since the team's inauguration in 1993-94.
Bobrovsky stopped 18 of 19 shots (.947 SV%) to extend his playoff win streak to an impressive five games and take a commanding 2-0 lead on the Stanley Cup Finals. The 35-year-old will expectedly start Game 3 on Thursday in Edmonton and will be looking to build off his 14-5-0 record, 2.02 GAA, .916 SV% and two shutouts in the playoffs so far. He will look to continue to shut down one of the league's best offences as Florida heads to Edmonton on Thursday, who finished the regular season the leaders in SOG/GP and fourth in the NHL in goals per game.
Barkov left Game 2 in the second period after a high hit from Leon Draisaitl and had some positive news and signs on Wednesday as he returned to Florida's practice in full. The 28-year-old centre has been the definition of lock-down this offseason and is producing on both ends with his six goals and 19 points in 19 games played. He is expected to be a full go for Game 3 on Thursday in Edmonton.
Barkov left Game 2 in the second period after a high hit from Leon Draisaitl and had some positive news from his head coach Paul Maurice on Tuesday. Maurice announced that the Panthers' captain was progressing and the team will be taking a day-to-day approach as they head into Game 3 on Thursday. A further update should be provided on Wednesday as the team partakes in their regular off-day practices.
Barkov was taken out midway through the second period of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals after a high hit from Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl with an upper-body injury and did not return to finish the game. Head Coach Paul Maurice could not provide any updates in his post-game press conference for the Panthers' captain. Florida's next game is Thursday and we expect more updates to trickle out as the Panthers return to practice in the upcoming days.
Bobrovsky was sensational and unbeatable in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals as he stopped all 32 shots he faced for his second shutout of this year's playoffs and a commanding 1-0 lead on the series. He will start Game 2 as expected on Monday and will look to build off his already impressive postseason numbers with his 13-5-0 record, 2.08 GAA and .915 SV%. He is sure to be busy on Monday as he looks to shut down the Edmonton Oilers again on home ice, who led the NHL in shots on goal per game (33.8) during the regular season.
