The Florida Panthers roster for the 2024-25 season continued to take shape with the team signing defenseman Nate Schmidt and forward MacKenzie Entwistle on the second day of free agency.
Looking to replicate the success he had with Oliver Ekman-Larsson last year, general manager Bill Zito inked Schmidt, who was bought out of the final year of his contract by the Winnipeg Jets on June 30, to a one-year deal worth just $800K.
Schmidt played for Paul Maurice in his final (partial) season coaching the Winnipeg Jets, so there is familiarity between player and coach, and wants another crack at the Stanley Cup after coming up short as a member of the inaugural Vegas Golden Knights, who were beaten in five games by the Washington Capitals in 2018.
Last season, the 32-year-old appeared in 63 regular season games with Winnipeg. He produced two goals and 14 points and was credited with 75 shots, 66 hits and 16 PIM while averaging 16:48 TOI. He suited in three of the five games of the Jets first round playoff loss to the Colorado Avalanche, scoring a goal in Game 4.
Schmidt has played a total of 661 regular season games and amassed 47 goals and 220 points. He has also appeared in 76 Stanley Cup playoff games.
The Cats added depth to the forward group by signing Entwistle to a one-year, two-way contract that pays $775K at the NHL level.
Entwistle, 24, appeared in a career-high 67 games with the lowly Chicago Blackhawks in 2023-24, and matched his career-high goals with five and added six assists. His 139 hits were the third most among Chicago’s forwards and he registered 66 shots on goal and accumulated 47 PIM while averaging 11:23 TOI.
Schedule
The champs will open the season by raising the 2024 Stanley Cup champions banner at Amerant Bank Arena against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, October 8 at 7 p.m. before heading out will on a four-game road trip to Ottawa, Buffalo, Boston and Columbus from October 10 to October 15.
The first of two 2024 Stanley Cup Final rematches with the Edmonton Oilers will be at Rogers Place in Edmonton at 8:30 p.m. ET on Monday, December16. Connor McDavid’s crew will stop by Amerant Bank Arena at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 27.
Florida’s first meeting with the new Utah Hockey Club will take place on Wednesday, January 8 at 10 p.m. ET at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The Clubbers will pay their first visit to Amerant Bank Arena on Friday, March 28.
The Panthers will play two against the Dallas Stars in two games at Nokia Aren in Tampere, Finland on November 1 and 2 as part of the NHL’s Global Series.
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