Sceviour evolves game for stability
Forward’s versatility on ice leads to contract
CORAL SPRINGS — This offseason was supposed to be one of uncertainty, potentially one of transition, for Panthers forward Colton Sceviour. The 29-year-old was set to be an unrestricted free agent for the second time in his career, racing towards the guessing game that comes with free agency in the NHL.
Then the cloudiness Sceviour signed a three-year, $3.6-million extension that will keep him in Sunrise through the 2020-21 season.
“I’ve only done the free agency thing once, but it is stressful,” Sceviour said over the weekend at the Panthers’ annual Hockeyfest. “There is a lot that goes into it and there’s a lot of uncertainty. Having the deal done before the season ends and going into the summer with it is very nice mentally and it’s obviously exciting for next year.”
Sceviour is one of the steadiest, most unsung players on the Panthers. He mostly plays on the fourth line with Derek MacKenzie and Micheal Haley. He chips in on the penalty kill and had between 23 and 26 points in each of his last four seasons.
But the Panthers aren’t paying him to be one of their top scorers. They’re asking him to be a versatile player that contributes in a bunch of different ways. This season, Sceviour was one of three Florida players to start a game on all four lines. He played all three forward positions.
“I feel comfortable offensively, defensively, in different situations,” Sceviour said. disappeared when