Tomas Nosek says NO to a raise elsewhere and YES to remaining a Panther!

Tomas Nosek says NO to a raise elsewhere and YES to remaining a Panther!

As if we didn’t think that running it back could also add on to another Panther. And now Tomas Noek will be another Panther who will remain in South Florida. [Music] Your Locked On Panthers, your daily podcast on the Florida Panthers, part of the Locked On podcast network. your team every day and welcome into this Wednesday, July 2nd edition of the Lockdown Florida Panthers podcast, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, where it is your team every day. Thank you for making the Lockdown Florida Panthers podcast your first listen of the day. I’m Armando Veles from the Hockey News and you can follow me on Axe at Montoman 12. That is Jacob Winonsens. You can follow him on Axe at Jakew_8. Shout out to every day you should come back here and get your daily Florida Panthers fix. So, Panther fans, free agency has come. It’s gone as the first wave of of it is over. Today, we are going to discuss uh some of the moves that the Panthers made along with retaining some of their big pieces. We are also also going to discuss uh Bill Zto and Aaron Ekblad meeting with the media today and discussing their free agent process. And we are going to discuss in segment number three uh where some of the other UFAS for the Florida Panthers decided to sign and if we have time we will give our biggest winners and losers of free agency. So, Jacob, welcome back to the show. And it’s funny because when the reports came out that the Florida Panthers and Tomas Nochek were uh trying to get in on an extension, I’m just thinking, okay, the Tomas Nochek is making the minimum, the absolute minimum. And if you are working in a in a job and you are working at the minimum, at some point you would want a raise. And to think that Thomas Nochek is another one of the Panthers who decided to stay with the team. For him, it’s a one-year 775k contract, doesn’t get a raise, makes the same exact money that he was making last season to remain with the Florida Panthers and have that fourth line once again together. How shocked were you? Because I was shocked as can be. Yeah, I was very surprised and I think um I think it it a couple things kind of gave me the indication that we might be going in this direction and one was trading Justin sort of um yes, it it sort of screamed to me uh you know his his uh waiver exempt status was was uh not going to be in effect this this season coming up. So, the fact that they traded him told me that they weren’t planning to have him graduate to the NHL level and they knew they couldn’t stash him in the AHL anymore and he would be claimed. Uh, and the only reason I could think of why that would be the case would be if they were really going to bring back pretty much every forward from last year’s group. And that’s exactly what they did. Uh, with the exception of Nico Sturm. I mean, um, I I I think, uh, Nosk really took the job and ran with it in the playoffs after the Toronto series. And that Greer, Nosk, and and Gajovich line became so so valuable to the Panthers that, uh, it almost became a necessity to bring that that group back. And, um, we we know we know how much uh, Paul Maurice likes to rely on on his 4C uh, for faceoffs, for penalty killing, uh, and for for a hard checking style. It doesn’t matter uh if if they score a bunch of goals. Doesn’t really matter if they put up points. It’s about playing defense first, winning faceoffs, penalty killing, and forchecking for for the guys who play on that line. It’s unfortunate that uh Kevin Stenland was ended up really getting a payday after after excelling as the Panthers 4C, but Nok came in and filled that hole um to a tea and and getting to keep him uh without even having to to raise his pay. It’s huge. And it’s also unselfish from Nok because um the the fact that he’s sticking around and didn’t demand an increase in his salary that the Panthers really need every single dollar and every single penny that they can save against the cap right now and and he’s uh he’s he’s agreed to come back at the same salary. That that really says something about the player and the character uh of the player and and I think we should all be appreciative of Nok for uh for for coming back at the same salary. Yeah. uh that line that fourth line was a plus three in the postseason. Their only goal against came in the final in uh in that comeback in game four. And to think that Paul Maurice did not put him in the doghouse after game one after his delay of game penalty that resulted in the dry saddle overtime winner also goes to show how much of a players coach Paul Maurice is. And he’s not going to hold grudges against guys as well. And we also we spoke last a few weeks ago after the Panthers won the cup the second time about the emotion that Nok had with when he embraced Paul Maurice and and just the fact that he gave him a chance. And hey uh it it’s such another one of those great stories. And then even ZTO uh when he met with the media which we’ll get more into his availability later credit to that that whole line on just how they were able to recover after being scratched for most of the playoffs here. And yeah, you said that the Panthers need as much cap room as they need to try to squeeze everything out. They extended Denil Terasoff um who was an RFA after they traded for him for fifth round pick one times 1.05. Uh Zitto said that Lou identified the him and also uh were were really high on him. So he gave a lot of credit to the goalie excellence uh department. They also uh signed uh Jeff Petri uh veteran defenseman, former second round pick from the 2006 draft, right-handed shot, more of an offensive guy. I don’t think he’ll be playing the same role as necessarily Oel and Nate Schmidt. So, that is not really my expectation there. I’m expecting Bolinskus to really take that role. I’ll be surprised if Jeff Petri with the exception of injury will play more than half of the games this season. So, uh, your thoughts on the Panthers filling in, uh, the rest of the lineup at at this point because they also signed, uh, Nolan Foot To2, uh, and they also signed, uh, and we’ll get to the two other signings as far as goalenders in just a bit, but as far as like the current lineup for the Panthers. Uh, what are you thinking about those? Yeah, I think Petri is an interesting one. Uh, he at one point uh, at the prime of his career was one of the best right right shot Dmen in the NHL. uh had some great years with Montreal. There was a time back when Dale Talon was GM where we know the Panthers were after him in a trade back then when he was when he was really at the height of his career. So obviously he’s 37 years old. He’s he’s winding down and wants a shot to contend for a for a Stanley Cup at this stage in his career. Um I love that the deal is league minimum and comes with a lot of a lot of bonuses that he can achieve. Um if there’s injuries and he’ll absolutely get a chance to do that. Uh it definitely speaks to the Panthers being an organization that uh that that is attractive to uh to journeymen and to guys later in their career trying to either win before they retire or guys who are trying to boost their value one more time. Um it it it’s been the case the past couple of years. I mean you saw uh even going back to Radco played the best hockey of his career here in Florida and ends up getting a huge contract with the Ducks. Uh Mark Stall looked like he was at the at at the doorstep of retirement and comes to Florida and plays second pair of minutes all the way to Stanley Cup final. Um then you have Oel and you have Nate Schmidt, which we all know what those two guys produced in in roles where they had to come revitalize their career. So Jeff Petri is going to get an opportunity. Uh the Panthers definitely needed an extra right shot given that Eblad’s got a pretty extensive injury history and I’m sure he’ll miss a handful. um that that’s that’s something you expect. He’s not going to play a full 82. That’s the the nature of the way he plays the game. Uh and and having an extra right shot is big. Uh so even if he starts as a seventh D, he’s a good veteran presence to have. And uh Nolan Foot is a very interesting signing to me. I I think uh analytically he might be a hidden gem. Uh I I think uh I think he he has some real potential. If they if he starts in Charlotte, that that’s the expectation. He’ll perform well in Charlotte. But if he gets an NHL opportunity, that’s a guy with some sneaky sneaky potential and and could really contribute. Uh he’s probably my favorite signing of the day. Um but we can yeah, we can get more into a couple of the other guys uh as we get later on in here. Yeah. Uh former first round pick from the 2019 draft from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Um hasn’t played more than 10 games in an NHL season. did play some time with his brother Caloot, who is currently under trial during for the thing that went on in the 2018 uh Canadian World Junior scandal in London, Ontario. So, uh and he’s also the son of current Vancouver’s Conucks coach Adamfoot. So, there’s also a family relation there. Also, the Panthers signed uh two goalenders. One of them is a draft pick of theirs, Carrill Gimmchuk, uh to a two-year entry- level deal. He was a fifth round pick in 2021. he was getting close to the signing age. Uh and by the way, uh with the CHL and the NCA agreement, all the signing periods for all the leagues are now going to become universal, the same. So the confusion between I I mean CHL is two is uh two two years while NCA is four. But still, the fact that it’s now under under the same, it’s going to be the same is great. And also Brandon Busy who played with the uh Pro Providence Bruins this year over a 900 save percentage around two GAA. Uh he was act he did not he was not the starter during the their postseason. It was actually uh Mike Dpietro um who played for the Providence Bruins who the Checkers beat but still high upside that and once again they’re trying to see what they can find in for life after Sergey Babski. Definitely. And I think uh when you look at the the goalenders, I think uh plus he’s going to be perfectly good uh AHL goalender. I think he’ll start the year as the number three. Um Boston was very high on him at one point. Uh and just with the the tandem that Boston ran over the past few years, having having Swayman and and for for a few years there, he was just blocked. He had really no way of getting to the NHL. Um but that definitely is not a knock on him as a player. I think he he definitely has uh NHL backup potential. Um and I think right now he’ll be a great uh third goalie, but the guy I’m excited about today is uh Carl Jurassim. I think he he could be the Panthers goalie of the future. Um just a quick glance at his numbers. I mean, we don’t all get to watch a whole lot of Russian hockey here, but uh his numbers are absolutely absurd in in Russia. Uh I mean last I think 23 24 season in the MHL uh he he had a 953 save percentage over the whole year uh goals against was at 1.5 and and and won a league championship. Uh and if you look he’s played in the NHL, the VHL uh he’s played in a couple of different leagues over there. So that’s the uh Junior League and then the equivalent of Russian AHL. Um he hasn’t had below a 920 save percentage in the last five years. and he’s only 21 years old. So, that’s a that’s a kid who uh he’s got some really high potential and I think the Panthers are are are gonna really see that he he might be a gem and he could be the air parent to uh to Sergey Babrowski. And then, you know, you got Terasov, you got Bob, you kind of have this Russian goalie pipeline now that Cooper Black as well. You have Cooper Black in in in the AHL, the the 68 kind of monster of a goalie. So, you’ve got a couple of different prototypes. You’ve got you’ve got the big guys like Terasov, you got in and black and then you’ve got uh Jerasimuk who’s 6’2 180. So very similar to the Bob build. And it’s like you you have you have a couple of options in a couple of different goalending styles. And I think the Panthers might be in really good shape right now as far as goalies are concerned both now and for the future because there there’s definitely some high potential behind Bob that could replace him when the time comes, which is super exciting. But, uh, we’re going to transition over to segment number two where we’re going to discuss more about Aaron Ecklad and Bill Zito’s uh, meeting with the media on Tuesday and we’ll discuss our thoughts on what they had to say. We’ll discuss that more next on here on the Lockdown Florida Panthers podcast. Today’s episode is brought to you by Monarch Money. And ever wish managing your money felt easier? With Monarch Money, it can. Whether you’re growing your savings or planning a big purchase, Monarch puts you in the driver’s seat. It’s like having your own CFO giving you full visibility and control over your finances. Monarch is more than a budgeting app. It’s a complete financial command center. You can track your accounts, investments, and spending in one place. So, in addition to managing your money, you could also build wealth. And sir, there were some subscriptions that I didn’t know that I still had. And thanks to Monarch Money, it made me aware of those subscriptions in order for me to cancel some of them. So, thank you Monarch Money for making me aware of that. And take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code locked at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. That’s monarchmoney.com. Code locked for half off of your first year. Segment two here on this Wednesday, July 2nd edition of the Lockdown Florida Panthers podcast. Thank you once again for making the Lockdown Florida Panthers podcast your first listen of the day. Armonz here with Jacob Wynins here on another edition of Wins Wednesday. And Jacob the Aaron Neckblad and Bill Zto spoke to the media today. Uh Zitto’s was in person at the Baptist House Iceplex as development camp is going on. Uh, also credit to uh, Jordy Conair getting this development camp off after the checkers uh, went on a long playoff run. So Jared Stall is getting the opportunity to deal with the kids and also the development camp uh, they were at the Marlins game on Tuesday as Marlins have won eight straight now. Uh, so we’ll see what happens uh, from from there and we also need to not have development camp happen in the same week as free agency can so that we could talk about both in separate weeks. That’s just my request personally, but uh let’s get let’s get right to the what they had to say. Uh Erin Necklad uh spoke about the pride in his career when it comes to uh just being in South Florida and also the fact that it was a driving factor of him being with Forsling and having him as his D partner. Obviously, when you go somewhere new and you get a higher raise, it’s it’s you know, the style of play and also the results might not always be the same. And you know, it’s always thinking about the unknown. And also, Bill Zto referenced it to Aaron Ecklad, it’s just about the relationships across the ice. So, it just goes to show how much of the bond that they build, not only on the ice and that just building the chemistry, but what they’ve did away from it as well is just so great to see. Yeah. I mean, we we’ve talked about it many times over the past couple years that the Panthers are a destination franchise and and people from the outside looking in um want to be a part of it, but you really see that when it when it when it’s guys who’ve been here and and instead of just guys on the outside looking in wanting to be a part of it, it’s the guys that are already within the organization that want to stay a part of it. And and you don’t often see that when when teams win. Uh, and it’s not just hockey, it’s it’s across all sports. When teams win championships, guys get paid. They get big offers to go elsewhere. Teams break up. And and and you know, like Ryan Lombberg said last year, we live together forever after this one. Yeah. Yeah. Ch and championship teams, they I guess I I I don’t know what the the word would be for it, but in theory, yes, your team is is together forever uh united by that championship. But the Panthers seem to actually literally want to be together forever because these guys are lining up to sign contracts for six, seven, eight years uh to stay in to stay with the team, keep this group together, and everyone is taking discounts. Uh and I think I think a lot of that starts with Bararkov and Kachchuck both coming in at at 10 and 9.5 in their AAVs. And I don’t think a single guy is going to stand up there and say, “I’m I’m more important than Barov. I deserve a higher salary than Barov.” I I I think when you have your your captain taking a reasonable salary, everyone’s going to follow behind. Uh and I think um on the defensive side, I mean, Gus Forsling set the example when he took a huge discount to stay. Uh everyone everyone follows suit and they’re like, “This this guy’s taking a discount. This guy’s taking a discount. Who am I to be the guy who who breaks the bank and causes us to to split this team up?” And I think that unselfishness um the Panthers deserve every amount of success they’re having when when every single player that comes up for a payday within reason is is taking a discount to stay a part of the group. Um there’s something special about this culture right now. And I think uh I think it’s rare. You don’t really see this much in in in sports where championship teams are able to run it back uh with more or less the entire same group uh ju just based off of the players unselfishness. Yeah. And even Aaron Ekbot even said it in his uh decision that it says it’s easy to want to stay here and all and credit to him uh that he spoke about how it was stressful one what both sides are playing hard ball but he also feels that it was the right deal and that he feels respected and that it’s a huge weight off his shoulders and uh and also he spoke about the poker group how there’s going to be more raised in the buyin. So, uh, the fact that there’s two different group chats for the regular for the actual team and then the guys who like to play poker. So, I I wish I were fly in the wall to see how those uh how competitive those guys can get and the maybe the maybe even the the chirping as well of what goes on between the guys as well. But I you one thing that stuck out with Bill Zto and what he said was was how humble he was in his response and just the ability to fit everyone. And Bill Zto was quick to say it was them. And you know, yeah, you’re the GM, you’re constructing the team, but also for Bill Zitto’s awareness to know that he’s not the one on the ice taking the hits over and over again. He’s uh yeah, he’s on the team playing. Yeah, he’s on the buses, but he he doesn’t he doesn’t need to be the one to be uh be ri ring up the group. He and we talk about how player driven this is and the fact that they do it themselves and the fact that he puts the he’s the he’s the one who puts the ingredients together. He’s not the one who cooks it. He gives you he gives Paulice the ingredients and he allows to use the resources in order to provide the ingredients. Uh and and that’s the great thing about what Bill Zto is has been able to do and and says it was them and he said even this quote he felt for a long time that it was them who made the who wanted to make the decision to stay. So he thinks that it was made a long time ago. So humble response by Bill Zto. I thought so too and that’s kind of been his entire personality since he took over the GM job. Um, you could easily see him sit up there and and have a bad attitude and and demand attention. And I mean, he’s been snubbed for GM of the year three years in a row. Uh, he he definitely could have a chip on his shoulder and be upset about it and and want and want some credit for the the good work he’s the great work he’s done, but he’s he’s a team first guy the same way every player in that locker room is a team first guy. And uh I I think it it says a lot about about his character as a GM, giving the players the credit. Uh he knows he knows that these these guys are taking deals that are below what they could get on the open market. That is no secret. And he knows that when they do that, the most of the public is not crediting them for being unselfish. Most of the public is complaining about tax-free state and the Panthers have an unfair advantage and all these ridiculous arguments. So, if no one is going to credit the players for being unselfish, he’s going to credit the players for being unselfish. Uh, he he’s going to he’s going to put the praise on his own guys, and I I respect him for doing it. Um, and I think I think there’s a a really rare synergy that that you see right now between Zitto and Maurice. They’re so in sync and in tune with what this roster needs. Um, who who who’s essential to keep and who’s not and uh what they need to add. And like you said, it’s the about the ingredients. Uh he’s the best in the business right now, putting the right ingredients and and right now Paul Murice is the best chef in the league, too, because he knows how to take those ingredients and put together something special. So I think we’re we’re very fortunate and we’ve talked about this so many times. It just it reminds me so much of Pat Riley and Eric Spolstra in their in their their best years with the Heat. How uh every single move that they that they made and every single roster construction they put together just seemed to be a step ahead of the rest of the league. And I think that’s where Azito and Paul Murice are right now. Yeah, it truly is like the mightest touch as well for for this for how they’ve been able to put it together. Also, he spoke about Marshian’s personality and how he how they wanted to get make that work. And I mean, when you really also think about it, when you think about how this roster is constructed, only three of them are actual Panthers draft picks. I mean, if you count Kulikov, but he left and then came back, uh, it’s four, but three who stayed the the whole time. We talk about the Vegas Golden Knights and their misfits. I mean, you could argue that it’s Panthers and they’re they are a fair share of misfits. Why do you I mean when you think about Brad Marshian saying thanks fill in the blank for the team on his Instagram story uh when when it comes to that. So uh it’s just great to see how a lot of PE players who were doubted elsewhere had it’s just been able to work here in South Florida. And uh no update on Matthew Kachchuck by the way. Um he he was asked about that, but the writing’s on the wall based on how the cap is looking if you guys were to look on Puckedia, but also he was asked on how they’re going to handle a summer in uh how they deal with a short one once again. And he said that they need to be proactive. They need to be creative. So, I trust that this um front office is going to find a way in order to still give the team the necessary rest in order to still be ready for a midApril uh which is the most uh important time of the year. It feels like Christmas obviously for us hockey fans. But we’re going to transition over to segment number three where we are going to discuss some Panthers that we have to say goodbye to uh as they went they went elsewhere and also were able to get a a raise for for for themselves and their families. We’ll discuss that more next here on the Lockdown Florida Panthers podcast. Segment three here on this Wednesday, July 2nd edition of the Lockdown Florida Panthers podcast. ing you once again for me get a lockdown Florida Panthers podcast. Your first listen of the day here on a Wednesday. Armadz here with Jacob Winens here on on Wein’s Wednesday. And so the following players have signed elsewhere. Uh and the most the the one that we expected to leave the most is is Nate is Nate Schmidt. Uh and and for and for the and for Nate Schmidt, he signs a three times $3.5 million deal with the Utah hockey um with the not hockey club, Utah Mammoth. Uh and VTEC Vanichek also signs with the Utah um Utah Mammoth at 1 time 1.5 and Nico Sturm 2 * 2 million with the Minnesota Wild and Jacob Magna 2 * 800K. So happy for them. Magna gets term after being bouncing up and down the AHL and previously with Chicago. Plantation Florida native. Sturm got his two stanley Cups gets term as well. Nate Schmidt bought out just like Oel gets a new new deal. So h very happy for those guys that they got their their pay. Yeah, they uh they all earned it. I think um Schmidt definitely top of the list. I think uh he probably quite literally added an extra million to 1.5 million per year to to his next deal just off of the way he played in the playoffs. He was absolutely spectacular in the postseason. Uh if you think back to his series against Tampa um first couple of games he was the he was a goal scoring machine. He he was huge to start that series and and then he came up three goals in two games which is ridiculous. um came up huge against Edmonton a couple times when uh the and and late in the Carolina series when the Panthers top power play unit struggling. Uh Nate Schmidt would was running the second unit and that unit really became the top unit. They the second unit was scoring. He was racking up primary assists. He was uh he was a monster against Edmonton early in that series. So, I think Nate Schmidt um more than deserving of his new deal. Uh and and it very likely could carry him to the end of his career. Uh, and and what a way to finish it uh with with um a nice bump in salary and and getting on a team out in Utah which is kind of on the rise right now. I don’t think it’ll be long before he’s playing playoff hockey again. Uh so so big for him. Uh definitely happy for Nico Sturm going back to Minnesota. Um two-year two year two million per year on his deal. uh led the NHL in faceoff percentage uh heading into the trade deadline last year which is why the Panthers picked him up. Did a great job on on the fourth line until uh the NOS sack line, replaced him halfway through and um I I I thought he was great in his role. If I’m not mistaken, Nico Sturm took the Kylo route and uh didn’t score a goal as a Florida Panther. um which is always funny when you get a forward who comes in and plays the role to a tee like that but ends his Panthers career with a Stanley Cup and and no goals which is always funny you have more championship rings than goals scored with a team but uh he was he was great in his role um Magna was a guy we were super happy for a plantation native getting to lift the cup in in a Panthers jersey growing growing up in South Florida um that that was that was a pretty cool moment for uh for everyone in in in South Florida, seeing that come to fruition. Then Vanichek. Uh we love Vany for his antics against facing off with Steuart Skinner pregame, the staring right into his soul. Um I I thought uh I thought he made that was his big impact on the on the Stanley Cup finals. So Vanity Oh yeah, we uh we we definitely wish Vanichek the best. And Utah’s kind of taken a bunch of our our former players out there and they like to and Toronto, it’s it’s Utah and Toronto that love to scoop up our our former champions. So, we wish them the best all of them out there in the West. I love when our guys head out west after they uh after they leave the Panthers. You don’t have to play against them as much. Yeah, even the teams that didn’t win uh the championship. I mean, Calgary has a few former Panthers. Uh Seattle as well. So, uh, they’re former Panthers are everywhere, um, that have been on pretty long runs, uh, for for them. Also for AHL guys, Kappell Kakadan, who was part a big part of the checkers playoff run. He signed with the Montreal Canadians. John Leonard uh, has signed with the Detroit Red Wings. Also, no qualifying offers for Zachary Euans, Nathan St, who is big part of winning the Kelly Cup with the Florida Everblades the last two years. Also, Tobias Bejfoot, Mackenzie Antwist, Alvar Koulier, and Wilmer Skoo are free agents. So, those are other guys who will hit the open market. But now, let’s get to the part of the show where we discuss our big winners and losers of free agency. And honestly, this was an underwhelming free agency because a lot of the deals got done prior to and not a lot of the big names got got in. So, which the biggest fish to land is going to be is going to is Mitch Martner. And he is why he is why Vegas is one of my winners uh for for what they what they did in free agency, being able to trade him, get Nicholas Wah’s uh contract off the books. Also, I thought Anaheim was a big winner uh using their cap space to bring a big uh top six forward in MueL Granland who could who could play who could play up and down the lineup on the on the top power play. Uh New York, they got a first round pick for Keandre Miller. They brought a defensive uh defenseman in uh Gabricov into the mix and also Carolina. uh they were able to to also uh sign Logan Sangovven into an extension uh as well as I don’t know if Keandre Miller fits Rod Brymore system but hey uh I’m going to I’m going to let that be a TBD when it comes to when it comes to that and they also have a chance to still sign Nick Eelers which I believe Carolina is still the favorite for him. So winners uh for your for you uh Jacob? Yeah, my winners. I’ve got New York Rangers. I thought had a fantastic day. Um I I think Kandre Miller kind of underwhelmed for them. I thought they I think they were uh really hesitant to give him term and the AAV that he was going to get um on on this deal. Um really talented player. I just don’t think he’s a fit next to Adam Fox and and we kind of saw that. Uh so I think they were they were smart to move on from him and I think they got an absolute hall. Uh, I think I think the the draft picks are great that they got back. But, uh, Scott Morrow, I I I thought that was a piece that that that Yeah, that’s a good get for them. I know he played really poorly in the playoffs thrown in against the Panthers, but who wasn’t going to play poorly against the Panthers the way they were rolling in that series? I I think uh he was in a little bit a little bit too deep uh for for being as young and inexperienced as he is, but I think his potential is really high, especially as a right shot D. So I think long term this could end up being a couple of great draft picks and a top four defenseman that they get for Keandre Miller. So I and then to then replace Miller with Gabricov on less of an AV than Miller got in Carolina. That’s good business. So I thought the the Rangers were a winner. Um I want to say I do want to say Vegas is a winner. Um I’m a little concerned about their defense. I think the right side of their defense looks really shaky right now. Um no longer playing probably. Exactly. Exactly. As of right now, they project to have Braden McNab on the top pair on the right side. He’s a lefty. Um I don’t love their the way their defense looks, but I think forward-wise, uh they can score with anybody now. Uh Mitch Mner, I I I would not be shocked to see him play better in the postseason um now that that he’s in a much less much lower pressure environment than Toronto. So, I I think I think they’re a winner. And uh as much as it pains me to say it, I think Toronto did pretty well too for their free agency here. Uh you get Tiver for for for cheap. You get N on a really good deal. I mean that N contract is really nice. Um I think they made I see what you did there. It’s really nice. I think they they made a they made a couple of of really solid moves. So I think Toronto is definitely a free agency winner so far. Yeah. Uh no doubt. They also extended Steven Lawrence uh 1.35 uh three for for three years. So he want hey he’s from Ontario. He wanted to stay there. So and and the trade with uh the trade with Utah the the Machelli deal that that’s a great deal. They they got him for nothing really. Yeah. Um losers of this uh free agency period. Vancouver is one of them. I don’t understand how you throw Brock Besser under the bus, you take him to free agency where he can’t get the eighth year, and then he comes back. I get it’s a it’s a not wanting to change locations. Uh but the whole story was, oh, they can’t afford to keep him uh and everything. So, and then the fact that they extended that Demco for just over 8 million where he’s had injury issues, I thought he was going to be a trade piece to possibly Edmonton. uh at at probably a reduced uh salary and we spoke about the culture culture issues a few times and then they bring a Vander Kane into the mix as part of a trade. Los Angeles is one. Yes, we spoke about Gabriov as far as uh going to uh New York, but uh I know Cory Perry is still an absolute grinder, but the age is eventually going to catch up there. Cody Cece, we’ve seen him uh in Edmonton in the final. We saw him in Dallas and we see how if he you have to play shelter him a good amount of minutes or else he’s going to get exposed. Boston uh signing uh signing Tanner Jano to for a fourth liner to almost 3 million AAV for him. That one is a little bit confusing. Morgan Geeky I feel like he’s a little overpaid for what he’s uh he brings to the table. So I think Boston’s a but a little bit of a loser. I also think that Boston’s also embracing the fact that they’re in a little bit of a change of direction. And Edmonton, they lost. They didn’t really add to their goalending. They had to subtract from their roster. Connor Brown signs with the Devils. They trade Victor Arvdson to the Bruins. Um, and then even though they had the captain for Cory Perry, they didn’t they didn’t uh they didn’t give him they couldn’t beat out LA’s offer. And also, yeah, the the Ken Holland factor is real in Los Angeles. So, I get why uh Cory Perry decided to sign sign there. So, uh your losers uh Jacob. Yeah, I think you you honestly had my have my exact list. Um we we are in sync right now because I think Edmonton’s a big loser. I I think Evan Bashard definitely I I don’t know. I don’t know if I would have given him that kind of that kind of money. And also, uh, it seems like you’re caving on everything he’s asking for because Boo wanted a shorter deal. I think he wants to get a giant payday, uh, when this contract is up. And I mean, a giant payday when the cap is high. Uh, so if if you’re caving on the term, you think you could get him to to lower the salary ask a little bit, but they I mean, they kind of gave him everything he asked for, and you end up uh having to purge from your roster and not really adding anything else. So, I thought I thought Edmonton definitely got worse today. Um, I think I think LA had a brutal day. Uh, I I think calling them just a loser is is a I think that’s an understatement. I thought they had a horrendous day. Uh, Cody Cece makes no sense. Four years, 4.5 per year, 31 years old, and he has been awful in in playoff situations in in his last two stops. Um, that just that that contract makes no sense to me. But then to double down and and pay Brian Dumlan uh three years at four million per year for a guy who uh yeah plenty of playoff experience, won a couple of cups, but he is he’s played a lot of hard minutes. He he’s not a good skater anymore. Uh he’s injuryprone at this stage in his career. I thought that was a bad deal. Uh Anton Forsber, they signed him uh to to help out with goalending. That one I like though. Yeah, I’m okay with that. I’m okay with that one. Um and then Corey Perry. I mean, yeah, he he he definitely showed he had a lot a lot left in the tank, but how much is that really going to show in in the in the LA system? It’s not like he’s going to be on Dry Cidle’s wing or McDavid’s wing anymore. Uh who Cory Perry doesn’t doesn’t create his own offense at this stage in his career. So, who’s going to generate offense for him in that LA system? I just don’t know. So, LA is a big loser for me. Um I think I think Boston’s a loser. I I cannot really justify the fact that they didn’t want to pay Marshan uh his ask, but then you’re going to give that same amount of money to Jano and Arbitson combined. I I don’t get that at all. That just makes no sense to me. And and I think if you’re going to embrace the rebuild, you’re going to embrace the tank, you do that by getting veterans on short-term deals. You don’t take on veterans with you don’t sign veterans with with long-term contracts that that are much harder to trade when you’re rebuilding. You want to get veterans on short deals that you can trade at deadlines and get additional picks. You’re not trading Tanner Jano anytime soon and I don’t understand why you sign into that deal. Um so I thought Boston had a had a really rough day. Um I do think the Morgan Geeky contract they the extension they gave him may turn out to be a pretty good deal. um he had a breakout season, but uh again, he he might struggle going forward. His shooting percentage is really really high this year. It doesn’t look sustainable and he’s gonna be on Yeah, he’s going to be on bad teams for the next couple years. So, how much is he really going to produce at that cap hit? Um so, yeah, LA I thought Edmonton got worse. I think uh Boston had a tough day. Um who was your other pick for Vancouver? Vancouver. They’re not as big of a loser for me. Um, I do think they they’re a loser. I think keeping Basser is good, but they could have kept his AAB lower if they had given him that eighth year. So, I don’t understand why you don’t do it. Um, Evander Kane, that’s a just weird trade to me because sure, he might add something to your lineup, but he’s gonna you’re helping your biggest rival out of Cap Hell. Like, why would you do that? Um, and then Connor Garland, that contract might turn out okay, but six by six for a guy who’s really, really small. uh and and maybe isn’t going to produce his own offense long term. Um I don’t know. Questionable moves there. Uh but big loser for Vancouver is their own fans. Why are you jumping your new trade addition in the street? I Yeah. Why are we beating up Evander Kane after he just got traded to you? That’s right. I forgot about I forgot about that. But I I actually really like Connor Garland. He’s a He’s a little He has a little rat in him as well. So Oh, definitely. He’d be a wonderful Florida Panther. But I got Soh. All right. Well, that’s gonna do it for this edition of the show recapping free agency. You can follow Jacob on on X, Jakew_8. You can follow me on X at Monomoman2. Uh and and we’ll be back here on continuing this week and we’ll discuss more of the Panthers cap as they still have a decision to make on Evan Rodriguez and also how what to do with Mackie Seis’s contract. So, Jacob, thank you so much for joining me and I’ll see you next week, my friend. Can’t wait. Thanks. And if you like what you’re hearing, please subscribe to the podcast to be notified every single time the Lockdown Florida Panthers podcast jumps into your podcast feed. Don’t forget to also subscribe to the other shows in the locked on network including locked on locked on fantasy hockey flip living stone and steel rodent and locked on a NHL prospects. Thank you once again for making lockdown Florida Panthers podcast your first listen of the day with Jacob Winins and you’ve been listening to Lockdown Florida Panthers podcast part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. We’re your team every day.

On today’s edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast, Armando Velez(@Mandoman12) and Jacob Winans(@JakeW_8) to discuss the decision for Tomas Nosek to remain with the Panthers on the same exact salary from the previous year, how shocked were they that he decided not to go for a raise as a fourth line center? The Panthers also have their 7th defenseman in 37 year old Jeff Petry, what do they expect out of him? Bill Zito and Aaron Ekblad spoke to the media today about the free agency period. Zito especially was humble about the fact that the band wanted to come back together, and Aaron Ekblad stayed right at the place he’s called home. The big wave of free agency for the most part is over with, who are their biggest winners and losers? We discuss all of this and more on today’s edition of the Locked On FLORIDA Panthers Podcast: Your Team, Every Day.

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