GM Chuck Fletcher knows value when he sees it. In Sean Bergenheim he got just that. Giving a 2016 3rd round pick is the type of low risk/high reward deal that might pay huge dividends this season.
As Minnesota entered tonight they were barely holding onto the last playoff spot in the West over Calgary and San Jose by one point. The are only 6 points behind the slumping Blackhawks for 3rd in the Central with a game in hand.
Minnesota gets the perfect type of player for their playoff push and potential berth. Bergenheim is a much more solid player than most Panther fans and his former head coach will give him credit for. He is a cheap rental. He is known for being clutch in the postseason. Most importantly, he’s bitter and more than ready to take advantage of the ice time he deserves.
Time will tell if Panthers head coach Gerard Gallant publicly called out the wrong player which subsequently lead to this trade.
There are many that think the Cats were a better team with him playing regularly. Many Corsi stats prove just that. For a team that is struggling to score it’s hard to fathom why they would jettison player that makes everyone around him better.
A world beater he is not. But he certainly fills a role that every playoff team needs in terms of a solid two way game and scoring at the right time.
Fans and media in Minnesota will appreciate what Bergenheim brings to the table both on and off the ice. As he showed in Tampa in 2011 and Florida in 2012 he plays his best when the lights shine the brightest. It will be interesting to see how he helps a new team in a similar playoff dogfight as the Panthers.
Dan Spiegel Florida Panthers Media