Panthers GM promises fans “Our window is opening”

You could easily forgive Florida Panthers fans if they're a little bit confused when it comes to the direction of their favorite Elite Hockey Experience team. The approach of first-year General Manager Jeff Kuntz has been a little unorthodox, to say the least.

Ordinarily a bottom five team in the over-all standings would be looking to deal its established players in exchange for draft picks and prospects. But rather than announcing themselves as sellers, multiple reports said that Florida was looking to acquire a top-6 forward in preparation for next season.

Kuntz explained that he was in talks with multiple GMs throughout the course of the day, including a serious dialogue with one Gretzky Conference team.

“If I could have added the right player at the right price to our organization, I would have done it without any hesitation whatsoever,” said Kuntz, adding, “And I don't give two bits if it would have cost us some ping pong balls [in the upcoming draft lottery].”

Kuntz continued, “But it didn't work out that way. The other GM wanted 3 or more primo assets, we were offering 2, and the deal just kind of fizzled out. But we certainly tried, and perhaps laid the groundwork to work something out in the off-season.”

Despite the Panthers' lousy record this season, Kuntz remains optimistic.

“Lindholm, Rielly, Domi and Cizikas have shown tremendous improvement this year. We have our goaltending tandem set, and we have our Top-4 on the blue-line already in place for next year. We need to add one Top-6 forward for sure, and maybe a quality middle-6 – but that could even be Casey [Cizikas], we'll have to wait and see,” explained Kuntz, adding, “And then I think we're there. Our window is opening in the 2019-20 season.”

Florida's GM then went on to explain his team's draft strategy: “Unless we win the draft lottery, we're trading both of our first round picks, and probably our second. We'll use those assets to get that Top-6 guy we're missing, and if we can't get it done at the draft we'll deal our 2019 picks for 2020 picks to use THOSE picks to get our guy hopefully in the off-season or, worst case scenario, during the 2019-20 campaign.”

“But I promise you this,” said Kuntz, “We will be patient, and diligent, and I promise you we will get that missing piece one way or another.”

Kuntz did confirm that if the Panthers win the draft lottery, they would use the pick on presumed number one over-all center Jack Hughes. “That one's a no-brainer. You have to take that player if you get the chance, and wait for him to be able to contribute. But if we don't win the lottery I'll be working the phones hard. And I wouldn't mind that at all.”

Florida currently sits in 14^th place in the Lemieux Conference with 55 points, highly unlikely to qualify for the post-season.

The Panthers made a minor move during the trade deadline, dealing their 2019 5^th round pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Colorado's 4^th round pick in 2020.