How the Florida Panthers are Going to Approach the Draft – The Hockey Writers –

The Florida Panthers enter their offseason a little earlier than they’re used to. After winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, they missed the playoffs for the first time in five seasons. This is the first time in NHL history that a team that has won consecutive titles has failed to qualify for the postseason.

When the team traded for defenseman Seth Jones last season, they shipped over a first-round pick. That pick came with a catch: it is top-ten protected. After the team finished with the eighth-worst record in the league this season, the clause was activated, giving the team the eighth overall pick in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. With the San Jose Sharks moving up to second in the draft lottery last week, that pick fell one spot to ninth overall. Overall, the team has seven selections this year, with three within the first two rounds.

With that in mind, general manager Bill Zito has a plethora of options at his disposal. On top of that, he could have some holes in his roster, primarily in the goaltending department. Panthers fans have one question in mind: What will he pull out of his bag of tricks for the upcoming draft?

Trade the Ninth Pick for a Veteran Player

Zito hasn’t shied away from trading a first-round pick before, and this offseason may be no exception. Multiple veteran players are on expiring deals or might be looking for a way out of their current situation.

For example, they could look into bringing in Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck after a frustrating season for him. Additionally, there have been rumors swirling around about Ottawa Senators forward and captain Brady Tkachuk coming down to play with his brother Matthew.

Keep It and Draft Some Talent That Can Play Right Away

The draft this year is deep in talent, making this pick incredibly valuable. Plus, Zito has hit in the first round before with the likes of forward Anton Lundell.

To fix their issue between the pipes, they could select Bradley Knowing, one of the best goaltending prospects to come out of the draft. To have some more stability on their blue line, they could look into picking Daxon Rudolph, who is a top defensive prospect.

Attempt to Move Up for a Better Prospect

Going back to the earlier point, the talent in this year’s draft is excellent. But as with all drafts, there are still better prospects that are going to go early.

The team could look into a guy like defenseman Keaton Verhoeff, who is arguably the best defenseman in this draft class. However, some mock drafts have him being taken as early as a top-five pick. If Zito is willing to get crazy, he could create a package with some young talent, prospects, and a bundle of picks to move up a few big spots and land a big fish.

It’s All Pure Speculation With This Organization

Over the last few seasons, the team has thrown curveballs with what they’ve done with their picks. They’ve shipped off future picks to land guys like Brad Marchand and Claude Giroux.

But given their prospects, they may be a tad hesitant in doing so this time around. However, they also want to keep their Cup window open for longer. Ultimately, the decision is in the front office’s hands on how they want their future to go. But regardless, someone is coming to a championship culture that emphasizes winning. Those lessons and experiences will stay with them for years to come, wherever they may wind up.