5 free agents the Florida Panthers can sign to get back to playoffs

4. D Mike Green

Green is going into unrestricted free agency as his peak years with the Washington Capitals are getting farther and farther away in the rearview mirror. He’s also coming off a neck injury that shortened his season with the Detroit Red Wings, and he eventually required surgery on his cervical spine.

Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill suggested Green had been playing with that neck issue for a year, with surgery inevitable to occur. That explains why he was not moved at the trade deadline, by a team that was a clear seller with no reason to keep a marketable veteran on an expiring contract around. After the surgery a two-month timetable was given for him to be fully recovered, so Green should have no issue passing a physical with interested teams once free agency starts.

The last of Green’s four career All-Star selections came back in 2013, and his numbers across the board have been in pretty steady decline. He started fast in the scoring column this season though, with four points in his first game and 11 points over his first nine contests.  But with just 22 more points over his final 57 games, the neck and back issue clearly evolved into a crippling problem.

Green is becoming one of my favorite impending NHL free agents. The Panthers don’t really need his offense from the blue line, but if he can effectively run point on the power play he’ll bring much-needed, very specific value.