The forecheck is one of the most simple and devastating concepts to hockey when used to its fullest potential. Forechecking creates some of the simplest chances to score, forcing a goalie or defenseman into making a mistake in their own zone.
Fortunately for the Florida Panthers, they have one of the better forecheckers in the NHL, in Colton Sceviour. Unfortunately, he’s on an expiring contract that will end after this season, pushing into Free Agency.
Colton Sceviour was brought in from the Dallas Stars in the summer of 2016 to provide a younger/quicker presence towards the fourth line. Sceviour’s proven to be much more than a guy who lays the body, as he’s quick in split situations and is a valuable penalty killer.
Sceviour was put to work on the penalty kill from the beginning of last season by playing on the first penalty killing unit, then switching over to the second unit under Bob Bougher. Sceviour popped up with four shorthanded strikes for Florida last season and has just one by his name this year. Sceviour’s tenacity to stay with the puck and force chances has made him involved offensively.
Colton’s actually become more involved in Boughner’s more attacking system, which has benefitted Sceviour offensively. Seven goals in forty-four games this season is a massive improvement to last season’s tally, where it took the 28-year-old eighty games to pot nine goals. Three of those nine goals from last season came in one game against the Detroit Red Wings, in which he recorded his first career NHL hat trick.
The goals he’s scored this season have all been perfectly timed too, where he’s always seemed to pop up during the big occasion. His goal against the Lighting in game #2 came from him jumping up in the play at the right moment, thereafter squeaking a shot by Andrei Vasilevskiy.
He also recorded his 100th NHL point this week against the Buffalo Sabres in a typical move and goal. After Jared McCann won the puck back from Rasmus Ristolainen, Sceviour charged full steam ahead at Chad Johnson before backhanding a shot at the near post to secure the victory. His tenacity and drive makes him so much better, and someone the Panthers can utilize in many situations.
Colton Sceviour regains the Panthers two-goal lead (4-2): pic.twitter.com/awEFc9SRqG
— The Rat Trick (@FanSidedTheRat) February 2, 2018
The question of his contract remains in doubt as Free Agency approaches fast. Sceviour is being paid slightly under $1,000,000 and will be a UFA at season’s end.
The Panthers also have only two other players as UFA’s, with it being veteran forward Radim Vrbata and third net minder Harri Sateri. Vrbata’s been seriously under-performing and may not be brought back, while Sateri, who deserves credit as of late, may be re-signed to a cheap two-year bridge deal.
The RFA’s are where the questions lie. How much money should the Panthers shell out to Jared McCann, Mackenzie Weegar, Alex Petrovic, and Connor Brickley?
Next: Has Bob Boughner temporarily found the solution to secondary scoring?
As the market continues to rise, Sceviour may demand more than what he’s already making, but for what he offers in grit, determination, and keeping our penalty kill strong, he may be deserving of a contract extension.