3 Offseason Targets For Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers might be making some big changes after their playoff run because there are some high class free agents on their team without deals yet. They will remain a Stanley Cup contender, but will see some new faces in their lineup.

Alex Lyon

After the team traded Spencer Knight in the Seth Jones deal, the backup role in Florida became a mystery. Vitek Vanecek is nothing more than a sub for the remainder of the season and the Panthers will be looking for their next backup in the offseason. This doesn't have to be overthought too much. Sergei Bobrovsky is still playing well and will be the starter next season. Alex Lyon did a great job getting them into playoffs the last time he was with the team, so why not go back to him for a year. He's proven he can be an NHL backup. It is next season that the Panthers will have to figure out where their goalie situation is going from there.

Pius Suter

With Sam Bennett likely moving on, that will allow Anton Lundell to slide up to the top-6 permanently. That movement will also open up the third line center role to address. Pius Suter, while possibly costing a little more than a normal third line center to acquire, would more than fit the role and make up for some lost production. He has been great in Vancouver this season and if the Canucks can't convince him to come back, he could go to a winner with some extra cap space to address a few holes.

Dante Fabbro

The Panthers have done great with their reclamation projects on defense these last few seasons, so why not continue the trend. Dante Fabbro isn't so much one anymore after he found value in Columbus following a trade from the Nashville Predators, but he is still a player that would fit nicely in on the second pairing in Florida. Assuming Aaron Ekblad doesn't re-sign and Jones moves up to the top pairing, Fabbro is a good age and has the ability to raise his game as he's done this season and earlier in his career with Nashville before his opportunities faded.