Florida Panthers
The Panthers are in a very similar spot to where the Jackets were two years ago. A good, young core, but without the star power to make them a legitimate threat. Florida did land Mike Hoffman in one of the oddest trade sequences of the summer, but Artemi Panrin would make them a contender in a very competitive Atlantic Division.
Southern Florida would be a destination Panarin would like and the Panthers have pieces to give up. Nick Bjugstad and Vincent Trocheck are top six forwards that could slide into the Jackets lineup and contribute. So could 21-year-old Henrik Borgstrom.
One of the three would be a must in a trade package for Panarin. Not only because they are all top six forwards, but also to open up cap space for the Panthers.
The Panthers also have a nice stable of high end prospects they could give up such as last year’s first round pick Owen Tippet and last season’s WHL most productive scorer, Aleksi Heponiemi.
The Panthers would need to throw in a prospect or a pick along with one of their top six forwards. That would likely take Tippet off the board but Heponiemi or Serron Noel could be included in the package.
The offseason addition of Hoffman didn’t take the Panthers off the table as a trade destination. But they have to be willing to package a top six winger and a prospect or pick. Florida could be the new home of Artemi Panarin.