Fort Lauderdale – New season, with sales.
Sales have a fresh face with a drive to reach peaks.
“I have some turnover each year, and I think that will be positive too,” the Florida Panthers said Friday, following the second day of training camp at Baptist Health Iceplex. “We’re going to add people who are excited to come here and be part of what we’re building.”
Among the new faces who are excited to join the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion and seek out the rare three-peat are forward Luke Kunin and defensive man Jeff Petry.
Both players are looking for the first lift for Stanley Lord.
“It’s clearly a special group,” said Kunin, who signed a one-year deal with the Panthers on August 22nd.
A fitting style for the Panthers, Knin owns 142 points (73 goals, 69 assists) and 387 penalties in 434 NHL games.
Last season, Kunin posted 18 points (11 goals, 7 assists) and 55 penalties in 75 games split between the San Jose Sharks and Columbus Blue jackets.
The 27-year-old St. Louis native is more than just a style of play fit, and already has something to do with the locker room.
“He’s one of my best friends,” Kunin said of his longtime friend and fellow St. Louis native Matthew Tokachuk. “It’s pretty cool to be able to play together.”
The already tight locker room, which appears to be approaching during the day, doesn’t take long for the new guy to fit in, especially if many of the teams remained intact this offseason.
“It feels like everyone really cares about everyone in the room,” Petry said. “It’s not just words, it’s actions.”
A huge praise from the veteran who recorded 981 NHL games, 48 playoff games and recorded 385 points (96 goals, 289 assists) in his long career.
Last season, Petry scored eight points (goals, seven assists) in 44 games for the Detroit Red Wings, and on July 1st, Petry signed a one-year contract with Florida.
After seeing the Panthers hold key players like Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekbald and Brad Merchand, Petrie wanted to be part of the organization.
“What was excited about when the opportunity came was seeing them come back,” said the 37-year-old Blu-rayer, who shot right.
It brings a lot of experience to teams already tested in combat, and the fit must be seamless.
“That’s the strength of the Florida Panthers management team,” coach Paul Maurice said of the two players fitting into the system. “They were spectacular in finding players who could adapt the game to the way we play.”
The Panthers will begin their preseason with Nashville’s split squad, doubleheader, which will face predators on Sunday.
Stay tuned at Floridapanthers.com for the latest information on camping and preseasons.
