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

GANGNEUNG, SOUTH KOREA FEBRUARY 14, 2018: Olympic Athlete from Russia Ilya Kovalchuk looks on in their men's preliminary round ice hockey match against Slovakia during the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, at the Gangneung Hockey Centre. Valery Sharifulin/TASS (Photo by Valery SharifulinTASS via Getty Images) /

5 of 5

Mandatory Credit: Len Redkoles-Getty Images /

1. D Ian Cole

The Panthers got solid offense from the blue line this year, with Keith Yandle (56 points), Aaron Ekblad (38 points; a career-high 16 goals) and Mike Matheson (10 goals) all producing well. But they could use a more rugged defense-first guy in their own zone, after the allowing the third-most shots on goal in the league this year (34.6 per game). Cole finished third in the league in blocked shots back in 2016-17 with the Pittsburgh Penguins (194), and for his career he is averaging 1.7 blocked shots per game.

Cole was part of Pittsburgh’s back-to-back Stanley Cup winners in 2016 and 2017, and he tallied nine assists during the 2017 playoff run. He was traded just before the trade deadline this year, and posted a plus-minus of plus-11 in 20 regular season games for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Panthers were not a good puck possession team this year, and they were in the bottom part of the league in goal differential at even strength. Cole’s Corsi and Fenwick puck possession percentages were slightly to the positive side this year, and his combined plus-minus with the Penguins and Blue Jackets (+14) would have led the Panthers.

Next: 5 free agents the Canadiens can sign to get back to playoffs

Cole is probably going to be seeking a little more than the $2.5 million he made this year on the open market. But he is a good fit for what Florida needs most on the back end, and a group of defenseman that lacked experience beyond Yandle going into this season could use another veteran presence.

Home/Florida Panthers