Florida Panthers free agents outlook and offseason plans |Ep. 8

Florida Panthers free agents outlook and offseason plans |Ep. 8

heat [Music] [Applause] Heat Florida What’s going on everybody Welcome back to the We Want Florida podcast I’m Nathan Bray here with Joe Damer Austin Wiseman It’s been a minute We’re our week post Stanley Cup finals champions I mean how’s your last week been How you guys feeling It’s been fantastic man I mean you know we’re out here just living our best life you know like you know I got a new hat You guys can tell you guys like it It’s cool right You know Um but yeah No I mean it’s Cloud9 man It’s It’s fantastic I spend like a few hours a day just watching videos on either the of the highlights of the game or what they’re doing off the ice you know had a good time at the parade Just been enjoying it Yeah Um just Yeah Cloud9 like you guys said we’re uh we’re happy So obviously no hockey games to talk about but we’re going to go into the off season We’re going to get into contracts We’re going to get into who we think stays who we think goes Um who knows Maybe possible trades July 1st starts the free agency Everybody opens up and uh we’ll see what we got But um Panthers we have 19 million in cap space Obviously we have a lot of guys locked up long term You know first and second liners even Blondelle in the third line Um so so the core kind of stays but we have some guys that I guess you could say are are in the core Um big big time guys And you’ve we’ve heard a lot of talk about the main three being Sam Bennett Brad Marshan and Aaron Neckblad All up for free agency this year So I want to just start with a with a simple I think a simple question Is there a chance or how what’s the percentage that the three of these guys stay Florida Panthers I was a lot um when free agency started I was a lot more down on the chance that it could happen but you know um that’s me not believing in Zitto Magic Uh I I still can’t believe the things he pulls off Uh it could be a situation where he pulls something off but something else might have to give Uh we’ll get into that I’m sure I’m sure that’ll be one of your questions But um I’d say right now uh I’d say there’s like a there’s like a 30% chance we keep all three
That’s way higher than I thought but okay
Yeah I mean they’re going to have to create some magic if they’re going to keep all three I mean with 19 in cap you also got to look at it’s not just those three guys you have to replace Well obviously not replace but there’s those spots There’s also Nate Schmidt who’s up for a contract There’s So that that’s another defenseman There’s uh Samoske who’s an RFA He’s going have to figure out that situation I mean the chances are if it does happen you probably have to see someone either get traded or have to see a massive cut in what a guy’s worth And that’s more on probably Marian or Eblad’s side If they take a pay cut that’s the only chance it’s possible And on a percentage- wise right now I would stick at like 20%
Wow Both Both higher than what I I was thinking Uh
I don’t doubt Bill I don’t doubt him
Yeah I don’t doubt him either You know those taxes
I don’t Yeah I don’t doubt it And I don’t doubt him but I I just don’t see I’m for me it’s all about value right And and I just don’t see the value of spending this kind of money that is being talked about anyway Obviously things happen things change but the numbers that have been floated around for these guys I mean the money is gone It’s even more than than what we have So I I don’t think it’s very likely that we see the three of these guys stick together but let’s start with the K Smite winner um Sam Bennett I I think this is probably the guy that is most likely to stay out of the three just based off kind of what we’ve heard And to have a performance like that in the playoffs I I think that’s what we we see Now his previous contract around 4.5 million I think just shy of four and a half million And obviously he’s going to be worth and we’re going to have to pay him way more than that Um so just kind of give me your thoughts on how long Obviously we’ve heard some eight-year talk and chanced and whatever you want to call it but
just just kind of give me your thoughts on him How long How much What is too much What where where does it go to the line to where you know maybe we do let him walk
Yeah I think for Bennett it looks like it’s almost a sure thing that he’s going to stay a Panther You know he’s announced he said some stuff I don’t know if he was fully sober for those but uh my prediction is he does stay on an 8-year deal worth 7.75 a season Um I think that’d be that’s a little less what he can get on the open market but it looks like he’s not hitting the open market based on what we’re hearing So I don’t know if his agent’s too happy with him for saying all that stuff but I’m going to say Bennett comes back eight years 7.75 I think a team would have offered him like nine or 10 on the open market but looks like he’s staying I’m pretty sure about that Um it’s going to be a huge sign as to um Marian and Eblad as to what um Bennett signs at Obviously uh we could all do math here but um I I honestly think um and you know everything’s been one gigantic rumor and everything and um but honestly with the way things have gone and things have been handled uh I wouldn’t even be surprised if he signed a um 8year deal at 7.5 Um and I think that would be I mean that would be awesome obviously I mean you know that’s that’s what we want But um no man I I just really think he wants to be a Panther Um I think this is home for him Home on that second line with Chucky Uh as far as too much goes you know we obviously you know we need to sign two of the three I mean I I feel like that’s I guess it’s not a need You could look elsewhere for another player but why mess up a good thing You know we just won backtoback cups So you know I think the goal is definitely signing two out of the three Um which I think is completely doable but for too much for Bennett I mean if he if he wanted Man if he wanted like nine that would really put us in a bad spot Yes
that’s that’s exactly where where I was going So I I think
my thought is we got to have in that 105 to 11ish range
Yeah
Hopefully even a little more to kind of accomplish at least one more and then have enough to I I don’t know maybe sign some guys back But it if we if we lo if we get two of these guys I think we can pretty much say most of the rest that are up are gone
And
I I just see you know we’ve heard the eight-year thing and I guess we can we can go with that and say that it’s eight years I would love I I don’t again I don’t see this happening at all I would love a eight-year around seven I I I I think that’s very very undervalued I I think like Austin said he could get 10 I even think there’d be some teams willing to go closer to the 11 range for him And it it it’s just really tough to say how much we really need right because who knows what what’s going through Brad Marshan’s mind but and also Aaron Eblad’s mind So I I think we’re probably looking at the eight years $9 million range That’s that’s kind of where I am Again I would love to see a low seven but I just don’t
Yeah I don’t I think last So last year we signed Reinhardt to an eight-year deal worth 8.6 a season I wouldn’t go any over that Like like I mean I mean I guess if we meant we had we’re keeping Sam Bennett and they’re like you told me right now it has to be 9 million I’m not going to let him walk but I really hope it’s under 8.6 Yeah Just just the value obviously you could argue that again Sam Sam Bennett had you know the most goals in the playoffs but you could argue that Sam Reinhardt is just as clutch in the playoffs I mean we’ve seen what what he’s done and maybe who knows maybe you could argue that he’s even more clutch but we’re not going to go there in this podcast But
um so yeah I definitely agree with with staying under the 8.6 Would be fair Is it I I don’t know I That’s a tough one And then we go to the Brad Marshian side with just over 6 million I think it’s 6.1 in his previous contract A guy at 37 years old Now we’ve seen some guys the age seems to be going up in the league like you see Cory Perry you see some guys that are 39 40 Like you you’re seeing older guys still performing at a high level So I’m not saying 37 he’s done but does a guy at 37 years old obviously big playoffs but regular season does his numbers qualify for a pay increase I think Marian um is yeah like I think he’s gonna be worth whatever contract you give him like as long as three years I think he has good hockey left in him but I think we have to like we’re riding a high note we just won the Stanley Cup Marian is obviously a great addition at the deadline but if we’re only keeping two out of the three guys and we talked about how Bennett’s a sure thing so it comes down to Equad or Marian and we’re hear what I’m hearing a lot is like seeing on Twitter and that it’s looks like Eblad’s gone and Marian’s staying but I just I wouldn’t think that’s the smartest decision Like obviously I want to keep Brad Marshian He was an awesome player for us but he’s 37 years old at the end of the day So like what like like I don’t know how much left he has in him Then Eklad’s 29 His face is he’s on the building of our stadium So he’s a he’s a leader on this team I mean he’s a you draft him first overall He’s not a guy I’d want to I’d pick him over Marian personally but it’s not looking like that And but like going back to your question for Marian I I’m fine like if we bring him back I’m going to celebrate it and I’m fine with giving him anything within three years max then like 7 million per season max Yeah Um Ecklad’s also got a little important uh letter on his jersey too But um yeah No I mean Marian dude like you know 51 points this year Um he’s 37 years old So that I mean the difference between you know you see Ovetchkin and and you know and Crosby Well I mean those are you know some of the two greatest players of all time But I’m saying you know Corey Perry and Marian all four of them they’re old whatever But they were born to play hockey bro And they’re they’re going to stick with it until the wheels fall off And for all of them it doesn’t really look like the wheels are falling off anytime soon Uh and Marian I could say that with confidence I mean the line he you know the line he plays on um they elevate his game um a lot I mean we saw his you know um saw his um plus minus um in the in the playoffs and you know when he played with the Panthers uh even in you know the few games he did in the regular season Um it was definitely an improvement from when he came from the Bruins Um so that line really elevates him So if anything it’s not like he’s on a mission alone on that third line So he doesn’t really got to press his body in a certain way that’s like you know I got to you know make the big moment of all you know all the time or whatever you want to call it But yeah I agree with Austin I think Eklad is definitely the smarter move But once again will not be upset if Marshian is back Going back to what uh Joe said real quick like I think him being 37 what him playing with the young 24y old Anton Lendell and whatever Lucarin is probably about 26 27 maybe 25 He’s 37
Yeah Like their young legs just brought something out of him that I feel like you know getting on a new team like a lot of that brought a lot of energy out of him that made him a lot better player than he was in Boston Obviously he’s still a great player in Boston this year but um and then and then him it works both ways What they do for that line did for each other he’s making them better hockey players with his experience how good he is with the puck and his veteran leadership So that’s definitely something I’d like to see for a full 82 is what Lundell and Lucarin would be with Marian for a full 82 and a 20 game playoff that looked pretty awesome So I I think I’m going to be the Well just based off what you said I am going to be the lone wolf on this I don’t see the value Again it was it was all about value for me And a 37year-old Brad Marshian fine He he performed It was fantastic Big part of winning the Stanley Cup Brad Marshian that’s $7 million If we’re talking Sam Bennett on the low end at 7.5 it’s it’s probably going to be more But on the low end 7.5 we’re down to 5 million right And yeah you could argue that that’s enough But uh for me for Brad Marshian to stay I think it has to be closer to the 5 million mark And that’s a pay cut And I don’t think that’s going to happen I think that somewhere some team will give him more and and I’m I could be wrong on this but I just don’t see the value there at 7 million That that’s that’s my take on it And here’s another thing that I’m definitely off with you guys on Eblad was on a seven.5 million deal you I get he’s a fundamental player of this team He’s he’s a big part of it I don’t see in this circumstance where we are a 7.5 million 7.5 million contract making sense And here’s why We have Seth Jones who can step up in into that role if needed You know we have Forsling We have Mika who’s up next year but I think a no sign with Eblad we we’ll have a lot more room to play around with with resigning Mikula So I don’t think our defense obviously no part of our team is a huge problem right now but I I would rather see some money go to our fourth line and the goalending And I I understand Aaron Eblad is a much bigger fundamentally big player than the fourth line But I I just don’t see the value at 7.5 million I if he if he wants to go a little less I’m fine I I think it’d be more in the six and a half range I’m sure there’s going to be teams out there that are willing to give him seven and a half or eight whatever Who who knows The market’s kind of looking like it’s going to be interesting this year But the value is just not there for me for Aaron Ecklad It’s probably a hot take among all of Panther fans but that’s uh that’s how I see it
I’m I’m with you on that I think if you look at seven and a half valuewise I think it would be a little bit of an overpay but more on the Eblad thing is I don’t really care what the AAV is going to be I’m more on Eklad compared to Bennett is I care about the term because look he’s a guy that’s he’s been hurt basically every year that he’s played in the last five So you know I don’t want to you know we give him an eight-year deal What is a 36 year old Aaron Ecklad going to look like one day And I don’t think it’s going to be pretty He’s already losing his legs but I I give him seven and a half It’s a four or five year term Um
and we have Seth Jones and Gus Forsling both into 2030 and and Forsling’s 2032 I think 203 It’s not going to be easy to replace a right shot defenseman and like I I think you know Joe brought up Brent Burns is on the market but I mean it’s not that’s a hard position to replace And with Seth Jones who would step on to the first pair I believe like he’s a complete different player don’t get me wrong than what he was in Chicago but when he was playing the first pair he wasn’t as good as him playing on the second pair obviously just because time on ice and whatever but I wouldn’t
getting paired with Forsling is is something completely different
Keith Yandel brought this up uh is like Forsling and Eblad together are they elevate each other’s game when they’re not with each other It’s not the same So I’d like to keep those two together Yeah I mean I I agree Um Yeah Um Aaron Ecklat at you know 36 I I don’t know if it’s a secret I don’t think it’s going to be he’s not going to be Marian at 36 you know but I mean despite the fact that they play different positions I obviously got that But yeah No Um I’ve seen this on on Twitter X whatever you want to call it everywhere And it’s it’s everyone’s going around and saying uh right-handed shot defenseman don’t grow on trees And it’s like it’s definitely something to factor in I mean you know you got other defenseman that you know are up like you know you could look into an orlov or you know I said Burns whatever Um but it’s not you know I don’t know man It’s it’s Eblad’s just such a big piece It’s just it would be hard for you know Yeah
We’ve talked like we’ve talked about one thing we’ve talked about how good this team’s depth is So if we were to lose a forward like Marian we have a guy like Macki Samos who didn’t play a lot in the playoffs We have a guy Jasper Bquis who’s sitting down there didn’t play in in the Stanley Cup except for game one So we have the depth to replace forwards Do we have the right-handed defense depth to replace Eblad unless he were to go out and sign a free agent for you know whatever it is I mean I’m going to believe in what Bill Zto comes up with in this off seasonason but there’s definitely there’s more depth at forward So
that’s a great point
Should be a priority in my opinion
Yeah that that’s a great point there I mean we we definitely have the forward depth Again though how much forward depth Obviously when you sign a guy it it it really doesn’t matter how much is in the cap but eventually contracts come up So in three four years when we have some other guys up even in two years you know Boquist Rodriguez Lucyan but it it I just don’t know if the seven and a half makes sense That’s that’s what gets me caught up But I guess we’ll uh we’ll see what happens That that that’s a good point that that you make Our defense is not what it our offense is And we have guys on defense up like Nate Schmidt who was on a $800,000 contract Yeah So signing
that’s done Um I think we uh we know where that’s going And that
boy’s gonna hit the open market and get four millie Watch this
Yep Yeah for I I know I lowballed the man a little bit in like a week ago after the playoffs I said Nate Schmidt just locked himself up two million and you guys uh came after me for that a little bit But um again that that’s a good point with with Eblad So to Nate Schmidt real fast if Eblad doesn’t sign does Nate Schmidt sign Yeah I mean I think that’d be a good idea like to bring Nate Schmidt back because he’s not going to be as expensive as Eblad Um I’d say his contract looks about like two to three years at you know two and a half to four million But my thing on Schmidt is I think he’s a guy you see walk because look last season we signed Ecman Larson to a one-year deal He raised his value in Florida got money from somewhere else and left I think Nate Schmidt the guy that came in to replace him is literally the same thing He may got him on a small contract He raises his value in Florida from this system and how good the Panthers are at hockey
and he goes to the open market and someone gives him a contract that
I don’t think the Panthers should go to if it’s 4 million That’s for sure Not that I don’t think he’s worth that I think he is
But
in our position it just doesn’t make sense We’re like we know what type of game he has if another team who’s looking at him from afar wants to raise his value just like you know we’ve raised the value on a guy like Ryan Lombberg last year Kevin Stenland Ecman Larson and a lot of those guys left mour because of how good they played in Florida and got contracts that they’re not going to live up to in other places because they’re not on the Florida Panthers anymore So I think Schmidt’s a guy I see walking but uh what a what a job he did in the playoffs and I’m going to miss uh what he brought to the team and what he brought to the elbow room as well
Yeah I mean I I can’t agree more I think he uh there’s no doubt in my mind uh that he walks Uh he definitely seems like one of those situations where he’s going to go get his bag Uh and to bring up the point where uh if Aaron Eblad doesn’t sign and um Nate Schmidt’s you know out there or whatever um I like Nate Schmidt I really do Um I don’t think he’s the answer to replace Eblad I think you look to go elsewhere at that point Uh especially with his value being um so high as it is right now Um I think you look to go to another defenseman Um or possibly Okay so possibly if you’re going to say right now okay we’re not signing ECBud just put it out there this isn’t happening then maybe and we do sign Marian and Bennett right Theoretically then maybe you go out and trade a Rodriguez unfortunately or a Boquist Uh I’m not going to say Lucen even though he’s up in the same year Um um Rodriguez is up because Louis Shireen is way more valuable to our team in my opinion I think in everybody’s opinion but um yeah if you go out and trade for one of those get a defenseman back that you know like a Seth Jones situation gets to the team and you know fits right in and does damage then yeah I think that’s a good move
Yeah that’s a that’s a Hold up one second That’s a great point and I was going to bring that up is I think the only way you bring back all three in my eyes is like it’s either if they take a massive pay cut which I’m not projecting is if one of Rodriguez or Bokeis get traded and that’s you that’s the Panthers using their forward depth and capitalizing on it which they could flip a guy like Rodriguez or Bokeis and I don’t and I love those guys so I don’t want to lose them but if it makes sense for the team you flip them for maybe a maybe a depth defenseman maybe a backup goalie you get rid of that 3 million and use that for Eblad use that for Marshian It makes a lot of sense Especially if we’re going to go into the season and one of them is going to be like if Boke this is going to be scratched Hey if a team’s willing to take that 3 million hey I’m for that
Yeah So I actually was going to get to that but let’s let’s go to it since we’re there the the possibility of trades because you have a guy like Evan Rodriguez that if he gets traded like you said that opens up $3 million which could be very valuable in the fourth line which I will come back to But you have a guy like Mackie Samuskevich that can replace Rodriguez I mean obviously it’s a little younger guy I understand Rodriguez might have a little more experience but you have a young guy that can come in and fill that role that needs this playing time to maybe hit his his potential um in in a few years And back to Nate Schmidt real fast you have an Aaron Ecklad at 29 or 28 Nate Schmidt’s 33 So yeah Nate Schmidt walking definitely makes sense Um I don’t see Bokeis getting traded That that doesn’t make a lot of sense to me because it’s not like we’re getting much out of that I think it’s what a one and a half
It’s more of just a cap relief situation But to me a million and a half isn’t going to solve our problem
Yeah I think Rodriguez makes the most sense Honestly I think he’s definitely the odd man out I mean
Yeah Yeah
it’s definitely if if anyone was to go it would be Rodriguez And I have full confidence in the world however Paul wants to do it That’s the thing about Mackey I have full confidence in the world whether obviously he’s going to play on the second or third line right I have full confidence in the world that he will fit in either one of those lines and be fantastic
Yeah I I think the Panthers have to make it a priority to get make give him a chance Like if you’re going to have a kid like that down there at 30 points in his rookie year which is pretty solid you’re going to have a kid down there on your fourth line or scratch you’re ruining his development So they have to find a way even that means losing a player like Rodriguez they have to find a way for him to be a top a second line or a third liner So if that’s going to mean losing one of Rodriguez or Marshian walks it’s just what they have to do Like you have to let that kid develop
Yeah And I think back to the fourth line I’ve talked a lot about it and the fourth line is a big part of our game the the physicality and we have AJ Greer Jonah Gajovic um locked up I think till next year they’re both up but this year they’re neither one or up But you have no second and Sturm both up this year And obviously Sterm was a deadline trade who’s at a $2 million uh contract I think he’s gone It we didn’t see that work out very good on that line However you have Thomas Nosk and he had a $750,000 I think right around that range
Yeah Um previously I’m okay I I don’t think Tomas no sex value has skyrocketed I I don’t see that And you look on the open market this year there’s not a lot of fourth liners that pop out to me that for for decent value Obviously there’s a few up there in the four five $6 million range but in the $1 to2 million range there’s not many that stand out to me I think we see Tomas Nok come back and I think it’s a smart move to bring Tomas Nok back Um maybe just only on a one-year deal I mean we have and and let all three of them go up next year and see who’s out there Maybe sign one or two of them back But I think we see Tomas Nok come back Maybe it’s somewhere in the 1.2 to 1.5 range If if it’s there I I’m I’m completely good with that
Yeah I’d love to bring Thomas Nok back on this team to be our fourth line center but here’s the problem fourth liners on championship winning teams their value gets in the on the market goes up and we saw it literally last season we won the Kevin Stenland got two years four million two per season Ryan Lombberg got something similar and there’s just like I don’t we can’t afford to give nok that kind of money so if a fourth liner on championship winning team we’ve seen it Panthers we’ve seen the Golden Knights fourth liners we’ve seen uh yeah um
no no sec is not a Kevin Stenlin or Ryan Lombberg
Sure But the way he played in the Stanley Cup and you look at I mean the way he penalty killed uh you could see a team going out there and saying “Hey we can use a guy like this.” So but if the value is right we bring him back One-year deal two two-year deal two million one per season I’m all for that But I don’t know I think a team’s going to go out there and give them a decent contract It’s just what happens when you win the ch Stanley Cup Yeah I agree I um you know I I I do think he I think somebody overpays for him for sure Um I I do think the hype is there and um you know especially that series against Toronto and how that fourth line was able to bring us back into it and um you know especially you know how they how he showed especially him how he uh can bounce back and he’s got that resilience and whatever and and teams out there need that right because you know not every club is like the Panthers right so you know that some teams are looking for a culture change and you know the fourth line with the energy
He’s not a culture changing player Come on
The fourth line with energy bro
Yes
Tomas knows that going to another team is not a culture changing player It’s a start So you said overpay What’s overpay to you What what what is overpaying for Tomas Nok
I think it’s just I you know like I brought this up I look at last year I wanted to bring back Kevin Stenland He got overpaid on the open market So like that he got two years two million a season That that’s for a fourth line line player That’s not what you’re trying to give up Especially when you have a lot of players that you have to resign
Four is fine Four is ridiculous
Yeah
For Tomas Nok
If it’s two years one and a half I’m interested I’m interested at two At at 2 million at two years I’m interested Now I’m not saying we do it I take a long look at it and I think it’s it’s a smart move Yeah But here’s a thing is I don’t know how the Panthers view Jesper Jesper Bokeas at center because he’s played it in his career He played a little bit in the regular season Obviously I don’t think we needed they didn’t need him to play there I have no idea how they view him as a center but he’s an option on the fourth line next year as he’s done it in his career But I Maurice doesn’t usually want to you know take a winger and put him at center but I think it’s an option they should look at Yeah I I’d be okay with with that move But as far as the fourth line goes I I think we need to to keep one of those two And I think Nok is the better player But I think uh we’re going to next episode we’re going to talk about pretty much the whole league the open market who we think might come to the Florida Panthers for these replacements And I’m going to leave the goalending for that episode because we we kind of have a little bit of a I don’t want to say a goalending problem because we have Sergey Babroski next year but I think we’re going to have some different opinions on that So and I want to just kind of take a look at who’s out there So I’m going to go and close this one out I think that we have an idea of who we see come back Hopefully the value the prices make sense And uh July 1st it’s going to be a big day So we’re going to hopefully by the end of this week we’re we’re filming this on Tuesday so hopefully by Friday definitely before uh next week we will have the whole league um free agency video podcast episode out for you So Austin Wiseman Nathan Bray Joe Damer let’s go Cats
Let’s go Cats Back-to-back champs Let’s go Eight more years baby Eight more years Florida

WeWantFloridapod discusses the panthers plan for the offseason regarding trades and free agents. Going over players up for contracts like Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekbald, Brad Marchand and more!