Veteran Forward Impressing at Florida Panthers Training Camp

While speaking with reporters, Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said that Eric Staal has impressed at training camp. With that, Maurice said that Staal is a “legitimate contender” to earn himself a spot on their NHL roster for the season.

Staal signed a PTO with the Panthers at the beginning of free agency after not appearing in an NHL game in 2021-22. Instead, the veteran center represented Team Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics and appeared in a few games for the Iowa Wild. Yet, clearly, the time away from the NHL hasn’t impacted him negatively, given Maurice’s public comments of praise.

If Staal continues to impress, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him ink a league-minimum deal with the Panthers before the start of the regular season. We here at NHL Trade Rumors are rooting for his success, as who wouldn't love to see the veteran return for another year?