Smith eager to build on last-season success
It’s funny how a breakthrough season and a fat contract can fill a player with overflowing confidence on the eve of training camp.
That’s how Panthers forward Reilly Smith appeared Thursday morning during a session with the media at BB&T Center.
Smith, 25, scored a career25 goals with 50 points and a plus-19 ice rating last season while playing all 82 regularseason games. He led the Panthers with four goals and eight points in six playoff games against the Islanders. He also played a key role on special teams.
The Panthers rewarded Smith’s season with a fiveyear contract extension for $25 million that kicks in next year. It was one of several long-term contracts doled out to the Panthers’ young core of talent, including Aaron Ekblad, 20, Vincent Trocheck, 23, and Jonathan Huberdeau, 23.
“Management and the organization has done a lot to change the outlook and momentum going into the season,’’ Smith said. “Alot of new contract extensions, more media work, too, but there’s definitely a buzz about the Cats in South Florida.
“It’s great to be a Panther at this time and be part of this new transition we have here.’’
Neither the contract nor his points lessened Smith’s hunger to advance further in the playoffs. He’s been participating in informal practices in South Florida for the past sixweeks.
“Last year didn’t end the way we wanted it to,’’ he said. “We did some great things with our team ... but there’s still the big one at the end of the tunnel that we didn’t come close enough to. There’s a bitter taste in our mouths, and we definitely have enough skill in our dressing room to get back to that point.’’
Hockey News ranks the Panthers eighth of 30 teams. Smith has no issues with the Panthers being perceived as contenders instead of pretenders as they have been in the past.
“I think that pressure builds to greatness, and I think that’s where our team is headed,’’ Smith said. “The Florida Panthers will be a fun team to watch this year, I guarantee that.’’
Smith’s linemates Jussi Jokinen and Trocheck remain in Toronto competing in the World Cup, as are Aleksander Barkov and coach Gerard Gallant. Pardy time?
Defenseman Adam Pardy, one of two NHL veterans along with forward Justin Fontaine to be invited to training camp on a professional tryout offer, realizes the Panthers are loaded on the back end, but he’s counting on the team’s need for more grit on the blue line to help land him at least a two-way contract.
“I do bring that big body out there on the ice, tall and long to cover a lot of space with a big stick,’’ said the 6-foot-4, 227-pound Pardy. “My biggest strength over the course of my career is my penalty-killing and being able to play those hard minutes, being physical shift in and shift out, just doing the things that make your team hard to play against.’’
The fact that the Panthers traded their most physical defenseman in Erik Gudbranson while opting for more mobile blue-liners may open a slot for Pardy, who has played for five teams in parts of eight seasons. He has just four goals and 52 points in 338 career games, but has 263 penalty minutes.
With Ekblad out with a concussion at the start of camp, Pardy may be given more opportunity to display his wares. He’ll be battling Steve Kampfer and Jakub Kindl for a roster spot.