The Florida Panthers top four defensemen all played well over the course of the 2017-18 season; however, the Cats should look to acquire another shutdown defenseman.
Aaron Ekblad had a good bounce back year after his concussion and rough 2016-17 campaign, while Keith Yandle continued to contribute consistently on the offensive end, as well as tighten up defensively too.
Both Michael Matheson and Mark Pysyk continued their steady form, despite facing rough patches during chunks of the year. However, the problem with three of those four is that they are more committed to going for goal than protecting their own, with Pysyk being the only exception.
That’s why, during this offseason, the Panthers need to acquire a shutdown, defensive defenseman for the top four. With plenty of money to spend, as well as assets to trade, the Cats should definitely have this concern at the top of their bucket list.
Here are four players that Dale Tallon should look at during the offseason.
Let’s jump in!