FORT LAUDERDALE — The Florida Panthers led the NHL with 540 man-games lost to injury last season, a staggering toll that knocked the defending champions from playoff contention — but also served as an audition stage for a roster’s worth of AHL call-ups who parlayed the playing time into new contracts across the league.
By season’s end, all six regular defensemen were sidelined, Florida Hockey Now reported, a cascade that began when Dmitry Kulikov was hurt in the second game of the season and accelerated with injuries to Seth Jones, Niko Mikkola and Uvis Balinskis, plus the trade of Jeff Petry. GM Bill Zito’s preseason depth signings — low-risk, one-year deals for players with untapped potential — became the backbone of the lineup.
Backup goalie Daniil Tarasov, who hails from the same Russian hometown as starter Sergei Bobrovsky, was showcased by coach Paul Maurice down the stretch, starting five of the last six games. Tarasov parlayed the exposure into a one-year, $2 million deal with Detroit, nearly doubling his Florida salary. The Panthers replaced him by trading for Akira Schmid.
Donovan Sebrango, claimed off waivers from Ottawa after Kulikov’s injury, became a second-half regular on the depleted blue line and earned a new one-year deal at the increased league minimum of $850,000 — a one-way contract that gives him salary protection as he battles Balinskis and veteran Alexander Petrovic for the seventh defenseman spot.
Mike Benning, far down the depth chart before his late-season call-up, played the final 18 games and recorded two goals and six points. He looked so comfortable that Maurice deployed him in overtime against Columbus, where he assisted on Sam Reinhart’s game-winner. Benning signed a two-way contract with his home-province Calgary Flames.
Vinnie Hinostroza, a journeyman who has suited up for seven NHL teams across 11 seasons, scored on his first shot on goal after Zito acquired him at the trade deadline. He added an assist for a two-point debut and second-star honors, then signed a two-year deal at slightly above minimum with Colorado. Forward Wilmer Skoog, who took his rookie lap at age 26, posted two assists in three games and signed a one-year minimum-wage contract with Detroit. Jack Studnicka, bouncing between the NHL and AHL for five years, produced 12 goals and 30 points in 40 games with AHL Charlotte, earning a two-year, two-way deal with Philadelphia. Nolan Foote, cut loose by New Jersey before last season, also landed with Philadelphia.
Cole Schwindt, a 2019 Panthers draft pick claimed off waivers from Vegas, lost most of his season to injury but still received a two-year, one-way contract — notable for a player with six NHL career goals. AHL defenders Toby Bjornfot and Mikulas Hovorka each accepted new one-year, two-way deals, with Bjornfot earning a far-above-average minor league salary.
Panthers training camp opens Sept. 17 in Fort Lauderdale, with the preseason beginning Sept. 20 against the Carolina Hurricanes and the regular season opener set for Sept. 29 at Carolina at 5 p.m. on ESPN.