Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Panthers re-sign center McCann to two-year contract
CORAL SPRINGS — The Florida Panthers forward depth has been secured, most recently with the signing of restricted free agent Jared McCann to a two-year, $2.5 million, one-way contract on Sunday afternoon.
McCann joins Frank Vatrano as RFA forwards the Panthers signed in the past week, leaving just two players that finished last season on the Florida roster as RFAs: defensemen Alexander Petrovic and MacKenzie Weegar. Florida offered qualifying offers to both Petrovic and Weegar, along with AHL center Curtis Valk.
McCann just finished his second year with the Panthers organization, playing 68 games and racking up nine goals and 19 assists. The 28 points were a career-high for the 22 year old and four of his goals were game-winning. He had a plus-11 rating.
“I think he’s earned it,” Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said. “He had a good year last year, especially the second half. He was our leading plus-minus. He played a shutdown role, and I look for him to get better offensively.”
McCann added: “I’m ecstatic to sign with such a special team. I really think that this team has a very bright future.”
McCann — a first-round pick in 2014 — was acquired in the summer of 2016 from Vancouver for defenseman Erik Gudbranson. The lefthanded center is known for his shot, but made strides on the defensive side of the puck last season.
For the first time in his career, he started more shifts in the defensive zone than the offensive one. By the end of the season, McCann entered Florida’s penaltykilling rotation and he averaged a career-high 33 seconds per game on the PK.
“At the end of the year, I kind of showed there that I could take on more of a role,” McCann said. “This year, I feel like I’ve earned the coaches’ trust. I’m just looking to build on it some more and be used in every situation.”
The Panthers now have 16 forwards under contract competing for 12 spots, not including AHL prospects Dryden Hunt and Anthony Greco or Finnish import Henrik Haapala.