The Florida Panthers have stated publicly that they're looking to make a big splash in the off-season. This is the third part of a league-wide search for great potential trading partners for the Panthers. Today we will look at the Montreal Canadiens.
If you missed the previous teams you can find them here...
Montreal Canadiens
Arizona Coyotes
Ottawa Senators
Buffalo Sabres
Detroit Red Wings: (30-39-13 73 points)
Draft picks owned: 1st round (#6 & #29), 2nd round (#33, #36), 3rd round (#67, #81 & #84), 4th round (#98), 6th round (#159 & #160), 7th round (#191)
UFA's: Mike Green (D), David Booth (LW)
RFA's:Andreas Athanasiou (C), Dylan Larkin (C/LW), Anthony Mantha (RW), Tyler Bertuzzi (LW), Martin Frk (RW)
The Detroit Red Wings and general manager Ken Holland may have one of the most complicated off-seasons among NHL teams. Numerous under-achieving, aging veterans with large cap hits have drastically slowed the rebuilding process in Detroit. After making the playoffs 25 straight seasons, going to the Stanley Cup Finals six times and winning the Cup four times, the Red Wings have missed the playoffs two years in a row.
Now the Wings lay in cap hell. Overpaying role players and having far too much loyalty to guys like Justin Abdelkader, Darren Helm, and Luke Glendening have created a very middling effect on the Red Wings. They're not bad enough to be in the top five in the draft, and they're nowhere to compete for a playoff spot.
On top of this, the young players that Red Wings fans have to be excited about all have to get signed to new deals. Dylan Larkin set a career high with 63 points, Andreas Athanasiou had a career-best 33 points in 71 games and Anthony Mantha had a breakout year scoring 24 goals and getting 24 assists for a career-high in both.
New York Rangers forward Vladislav Namestnikov is an excellent comparable to Mantha. Both players are restricted free agents and will no doubt look for a similar number (albeit Namestnikov is two years older and therefore will have unrestricted rights sooner). Both players ended with similar stats including scoring 48 points each. Mantha likely has a higher ceiling though. The Wings will certainly want him to stick around long-term.
Larkin should receive a nice payday and will cost the Wings upwards of five to six million in cap space. Look to the Toronto Maple Leafs William Nylander as a comparable in terms of age and point totals. Again, both players RFA's so they will no doubt play off one another for similar contracts.
While those two should be the priority, that leaves another RFA that may be easier to move. Remember back to the last off-season where the Holland got into a contract battle with Athanasiou and he wasn't back until after the regular season had begun. He's now eligible for arbitration, but the Wings would be wise not to allow such a spectacle to go on. It's time to trade the former 2012 fourth round pick.
The Florida Panthers need a speedster like Athanasiou to round out their top nine and give them greater flexibility throughout their lineup. Also, playing on a much better team should allow Athanasiou the opportunity to reach a new level in his game. Five-on-five, Athanasiou has the same goals per 60 as Nashville's Kevin Fiala at 1.05 and is just behind Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon (1.06).
If the Wings were to give up the London, Ontario native, it will require giving up an asset that allows Detroit to build for their future. What makes the most sense is the Panthers first round draft pick at 15th overall. Defensemen are aplenty in the this draft and is the Red Wings greatest need.
It's almost a foregone conclusion that four of the top five players in the draft are forwards, and then there's a slew of solid defensemen available. Picking at sixth overall already, the Wings will be able to take a defenseman, and then with the 15th selection, they can take yet another. This drastically improves a blueline that is one of the worst in the NHL.
To Florida Panthers
Andreas Athanasiou
To Detroit Red Wings
First Round Pick #15
Simple and sweet trade and benefits both sides.
The next potential trading partner for the Florida Panthers is the
Vancouver Canucks. Thanks for reading!
Florida Panthers Blogger • 
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