Panthers Could Have Marchand's Replacement In Free Agency
The Panthers are the most likely landing spot for unrestricted free agent winger Michael Bunting, and they could sign him to a one-year deal in Florida specifically to cover for Marchand.
Florida Needs A Fix
Marchand underwent unexpected hip and sports hernia surgery late in the summer and could miss six to 10 games to start the season, with an earliest possible return around mid-October.
The bigger problem is what it does to Florida's books. The Panthers are sitting on just over $34,000 in cap space, all but eliminating any realistic trade option and pushing the front office toward the bargain bin.
The Hockey News' Ryan Lambert laid out Florida's actual options: work the waiver wire and hope something usable clears, sign Bunting outright, or simply gut it out internally until Marchand returns. Lambert leaned toward the front two, with Bunting as the more realistic fit given the money already works.
Bunting Fits The Profile
Bunting checks the boxes Florida typically looks for.
As Lambert put it, "Michael Bunting, who remains unsigned, seems like the kind of player that can find a role in Florida's system. At this point in the summer, it probably won't be too difficult to make the money work. This is, without a doubt, a useful NHL player."
He's coming off a rough stretch, though. Bunting posted just 14 goals and 33 points with a minus-24 rating in 74 games with the Dallas Stars last season, numbers well below the 23-goal seasons that first made him a name in Toronto.
He's bounced from the Maple Leafs to Carolina to Pittsburgh to Nashville to Dallas over the past four years, and his lingering injury concerns from late last season likely limit him to a one-year deal regardless of destination.
Still, a physical, pesky third-line winger who can chip in scoring is exactly the archetype that's defined Florida's championship identity, and with the Panthers having already moved on from several complementary veterans this offseason to address other needs, a role should be available.
With Marchand's return date uncertain and Florida's cap situation leaving little room to maneuver, expect the Panthers to move quickly on a low-cost veteran once training camp gets closer.
