The Florida Panthers made a significant decision ahead of their matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets. They have chosen to bench forward A.J. Greer due to the impending NHL Trade Deadline on March 6th.
Trade Deadline Implications for the Panthers
Greer will not play in Thursday’s game. This move coincides with the Panthers’ strategy to protect their assets as the trade deadline approaches. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky will also not start, though he will back up Daniil Tarasov during the game.
Reasons Behind the Moves
- Both Greer and Bobrovsky are pending unrestricted free agents.
- The Panthers aim to keep them healthy for potential trades.
The Panthers entered the season with high expectations after winning back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. However, injuries to key players like Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk have negatively impacted the team’s performance. Currently, Florida holds a disappointing record of 30-28-3, placing them second-last in the Eastern Conference.
Current Standings and Statistics
With their current record, the Panthers find themselves 10 points behind the Boston Bruins for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, having played one more game than their rivals.
A.J. Greer’s Performance
- Greer is in the final year of a two-year contract with an annual cap hit of $850,000.
- He has achieved a career-high with 11 goals and 11 assists, totaling 22 points in 61 games this season.
Sergei Bobrovsky’s Situation
- Bobrovsky, in his final year of a seven-year deal, has a cap hit of $10 million.
- This season, he holds a 22-19-1 record and an .873 save percentage over 43 games.
- His recent statistics show -11.95 goals saved above expected, marking one of the lowest performances in the league.
While the Panthers are considering moves involving both players, it remains plausible that they might choose to keep Bobrovsky due to his history of postseason success.
