Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
GM Tallon defends strategy with emphasis on defense
SUNRISE — Panthers general manager Dale Tallon’s explanation for giving up two of his top-scoring right wings for no on-ice assets in return was that “defense wins championships.”
Panthers’ fans have shown their bewilderment and frustration in the twitterverse since Tallon left forward Jonathan Marchessault off their protection list, thus allowing the Vegas Golden Knights to pilfer Florida’s leading goal scorer in Wednesday’s expansion draft.
Compounding their dissatisfaction was trading forward Reilly Smith to the Knights for a measly fourth-round draft pick in 2018. Smith, 26, scored 25 goals in 2015-16, earning him a five-year, $25 million extension, but slumped to 15 goals this past season.
“We know that defense and up the middle [centers] has been our model since we started building this team, so we felt very confident we would keep our young core of defensemen and keep our young core up the middle,” Tallon explained during a conference call from Chicago on Thursday morning. “The trade scenario gives us some flexibility on the salary cap and gives us some flexibility long-term.
“Our goal is to win multiple championships and these moves that we’re making is looking to not only the present but the future. We will be aggressive moving forward in free agency.”
It was clear the Panthers believed they overpaid for Smith last summer, and Tallon said he has permission from owner Vinnie Viola to use, “”as much as we need,” of their $20 million salarycap funds in free agency to improve the team. Marchessault was a bargain at $750,000, but will be a free agent next season.
Tallon said he had preliminary discussions with Vegas GM George McPhee in an attempt to hold onto Marchessault, but nothing came of it. He expects to be discussing trades Thursday and today at the draft.
“This isn’t necessarily the team we’ll have three months from now. We’re committed and have different scenarios in place to make this team exciting, faster, smarter, grittier,” Tallon added. “You win championships with defense first as you saw in the Finals. … Obviously, we like goalscoring and we’re committed to that as well.”
With respect to the Panthers’ loss of their secondand third-line right wings, Tallon said he’s “looking forward” to resuming talks with Petr Svoboda, the agent of top-line right wing Jaromir Jagr in the next few days in an effort to re-sign the 45-year-old impending free agent.
Tallon is confident he can find offensive replacements in free agency (which begins July 1) or in the organization pipeline with prospects such as Jared McCann, Jayce Hawryluk or Henrik Borgstrom.
He’s also high on recent addition Henrik Haapala, 23, a 5-foot-8 wing who led the Finnish Liiga with 60 points last season and is a former linemate of Panthers Finnish center Aleksander Barkov.
Tallon said that recently hired coach Bob Boughner approved of the 4-4-1 protection list format because he believes he can get more offense out of Florida’s defensive corps.
“He’s coached [defensemen Aaron Ekblad, Mark Pysyk and Alex Petrovic] and has experience with them,” Tallon said. “He thinks that’s the strength of our team and we have a lot of young defensemen in the system as well.”
Tallon said he chose to protect Pysyk over Marchessault and Smith because the 25-year-old restricted free agent was, “game in, game out our most consistent defenseman.” …
Tallon said Boughner should have his assistant coaches in place by Friday.
Panthers hire Pronger
Tallon announced the hiring of Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Pronger as his hockey operations advisor.
Pronger, 42, a potential successor to Tallon, has been working with the NHL’s department of player safety since 2014.
“One of the most dominant defensemen of his era, Chris’ winning resume and wealth of hockey knowledge will be a great asset to our hockey club,” Tallon said.
Pronger, who tallied 698 points in 1,197 games, won a Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007.