‘We’re all-in’: How Zito built Panthers into annual contenders
When Bill Zito began his journey as the Florida Panthers’ general manager in September 2020, his initial goal was clear: He wanted the Panthers to be a destination team, one where top players willingly want to play and thrive in the process.
“It is not just a number on a contract, but there is value to your life and with the team,” Zito said. “Fit plays a big part, and we are ever mindful of the fragility of the room, the team and the community.”
That has been at the epicenter of Zito’s cultural overhaul of the Panthers during the past four years. Little by little, addition by addition, season by season, Zito has crafted a roster that has the right blend of talent, trust and togetherness that results in a perennial contender.
And the results have been there — most recently with a trip to the Stanley Cup Final last season and a chance to make a return bid this year.
The Panthers entered Friday atop the NHL standings with a 43-17-4 record, a 90-point mark that has them one point ahead of both the Vancouver Canucks (41-17-7, 89 points) and Boston Bruins (37-13-15, 89 points) in one fewer game played.
“I think we’re a little bit ahead of what I would have thought,” Zito said. “I’d be lying if I told you, ‘Oh yeah, this is the script.’ ”
The script is working.
Players want to come here, as Zito had hoped.
Just ask Matthew Tkachuk, who narrowed his choices to the Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes and St. Louis Blues when he told the Calgary Flames he wanted a trade. Florida ultimately became his destination, and Tkachuk immediately added needed grit and physicality to the Panthers.
Or ask newcomer Vladimir Tarasenko, the 12-year NHL veteran, four-time All-Star and one-time Stanley Cup winner who waived his no-trade clause in his contract with the Ottawa Senators to be traded to the Panthers — and only the Panthers. The Panthers also traded for veteran forward
Kyle Okposo and claimed defenseman Tobias Bjornfot off waivers on Friday to cap a busy trade deadline.
Players want to stay here, too. Just ask captain Aleksander Barkov, who signed an eight-year extension in 2021 that keeps him with the Panthers through the 2029-30 season. Or Gustav Forsling, who on Thursday signed an eight-year contract extension after evolving from a player whom Florida picked up on waivers to being one of the top defensemen in the NHL. Or Sam Reinhart, who is in the midst of a career year and is a pending free agent but made it clear he would like to remain in South Florida.
“I really want to win a Stanley Cup and I feel like this is one of the best teams in the league,” Forsling said. “This is where I’ve got the best chance to win. For years to come, I think we’ve got a really good team. That’s very exciting.”
The players feel the passion