Petrovic wants to earn Panthers’ trust
The Florida Panthers will return for the 2018-19 season with their talented, young core still intact. Aleksander Barkov, Vincent Trocheck, Jonathan Huberdeau, Aaron Ekblad and Mike Matheson are all signed to long-term contracts.
But there could still be change on the periphery with expiring contracts. The Panthers enter the season with two unrestricted free agents and four restricted free agents.
The most interesting case, though, could be defenseman Alexander Petrovic, who will be a RFA again this summer.
This summer, Radim Vrbata and Connor Brickley are UFAs. Vrbata is retiring, and Brickley was a healthy scratch in 27 of the final 33 games of the season. Jared McCann, Frank Vatrano and MacKenzie Weegar are all RFAs.
Unrestricted free agents are free to sign with any team they like. Restricted free agents can leave their current team if they are not given a qualifying offer or if their team does not match an offer sheet signed to play for another team.
Petrovic, a 26-year-old right-handed defenseman, played primarily on the third pairing this season with rookies Weegar and Ian McCoshen. He had two goals and 11 assists while averaging 14:39 of ice time a game, and rebounding from eight consecutive healthy scratches earlier this season.
This summer will be the third time he’s been a RFA. In 2015, Petrovic signed a two-year, $2.1 million contract. In 2017, he signed a one-year, $1.85 million contract. On Tuesday, during Panthers exit day interviews, Petrovic made it clear that he would like to stay in Sunrise.
“I’d love to sign a longterm deal, but they need to trust me coming into next year being a good player,” Petrovic said. “Whatever pans out, I’m just going to come in in great shape and just be a good player, play my role. That’s all I can control.”
Petrovic was originally a second-round pick in 2010 and has been with the organization his entire professional career. The Panthers protected him during last summer’s expansion draft.
Panthers coach Bob Boughner said Thursday morning on 560-WQAM that the team could use another defenseman to take the load off Keith Yandle on the top pair. Yandle is known more for his offensive skillset and passing ability than the shutdown role Boughner used him in.
“But one more guy on the back end would really help solidify things, I think,” Boughner said. “I’m being selfish, from a selfish point of view as a coach. That’s my wish list, but it always doesn’t work every time.”
Florida has three nearly untouchable defensemen in Yandle (no movement clause, signed through 2022-23), Ekblad (signed through 2024-25) and Matheson (signed through 2025-26).
McCoshen still has one year left on his entry-level contract. Weegar just completed his first NHL season. Mark Pysyk has two years remaining on his contract.
That leaves Petrovic, who quietly had a solid year on the third pairing. Petrovic and Weegar were the only Panthers defensemen that generated more shot attempts, shots on goal and scoring chances than the opponent when they were on the ice.
“[Boughner] wants me to come in and be one of the top defensemen next year,” Petrovic said. “Just got to prove that to them and make them be able to trust me. Just going to go into the offseason, hit the ground running and go from there.”