Vatrano welcomes change
Newest Panther feels he can succeed here
CORAL SPRINGS — New Florida Panthers forward Frank Vatrano just wanted a change of scenery.
In Boston this season, Vatrano was hampered by injuries and buried on the forward depth chart, relegated to a press-box purgatory as a healthy scratch. Unable to go to the AHL without passing through waivers and unable to crack the Bruins’ lineup, Vatrano languished.
“It was kind of a tough year down there and I kind of needed a change of scenery,” Vatrano said. “I’m glad that the Panthers made a move for me and I feel like this can be a place where I can succeed and fit in well with the young group, and fast-skating team.”
He played in only 25 games this season, scoring just two goals and averaging 9:28 of ice time a game in Boston’s bottom-six.
On the Panthers, only Micheal Haley (7:25) has less average ice time than Vatrano.
“Sometimes, that’s how it goes,” Vatrano said. “Sometimes, they have different views of players and what kind of role they want you in and the role they put me in wasn’t the kind of role I expected to be in. But I’m here now, hopefully playing a different role and I’m excited to be here. Whatever role they put me on, I’m going to play.”
Vatrano practiced Wednesday for the first time since the Panthers traded a third-round pick to Boston for him Feb. 22. He battled a high-ankle sprain that has kept him out of the lineup since Feb. 6, and currently remains on injured reserve.
Panthers coach Bob Boughner said Vatrano would participate in morning skate today and practice Friday with the goal of playing against the New York Rangers on Saturday night.
“I want to see how he feels in the next couple days,” Boughner said. “If not Saturday, it’d be the next game. Fingers crossed, hopefully, it is Saturday.”
Because Vatrano hadn’t practiced with the team, he hadn’t not talked to reporters until Wednesday.
Vatrano, 23, is an undersized but stocky forward at 5-foot-9 and 201 pounds. He dominated in the AHL, scoring 39 goals in 43 games but struggled to carry that production into the NHL. In 108 career games, he has 20 goals and 11 assists.
Vatrano described his game as “fast-paced, northsouth,” fitting the style of play Boughner preaches with the Panthers.
“I know I’m good enough to play in the NHL,” Vatrano said. “That’s my goal is to play in the NHL as long as possible. Obviously, to put me through waivers, they obviously knew someone was going to pick me up because they didn’t put me through that process. I’m glad they traded for me and Florida’s the team that made the move.”
Boughner said the Panthers coaching staff hadn’t figured out where Vatrano would play in the lineup, but he figures to get a shot on the second or third line. With Denis Malgin still out with a knee injury (he skated on Wednesday but is likely out until next week), Vatrano could slot in with Jonathan Huberdeau and Vincent Trocheck on the second line.
When Malgin returns, Vatrano could be bumped to play with Jared McCann on the third line.
“We haven’t even approached that, to be honest with you,” Boughner said. “We’ve been so busy concentrating and focusing on every game that when he gets back there, obviously, we’re going to put him on a line and see how he works and we’ll probably adjust from there.”