Florida Panthers Sign Two Players To PTO Contracts
The Florida Panthers have added a pair of names to the organization under Professional Tryout Contracts (PTOs). Both Justin Fontaine and Adam Pardy will now look to find a place in the system this training camp.
Fontaine, 28, had spent his entire professional career with the Minnesota Wild organization after spending four years at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Basically, since 2007 Fontaine has been involved with something Minnesota related.
Florida Panthers Sign Two Players To PTO Contracts
A free agent this offseason, he never received a contract offer and will now likely look to make a case to be a part of a potentially young Springfield Thunderbirds roster.
His second year in the league, in which he played 77 games, saw him post over two points per 60 minutes played.
You can almost say that Fontaine would be a perfect option on the team’s fourth line, but he has a steep mountain to climb after the Panthers brought in both Colton Sceviour and Jonathan Marchessault – both right wingers – into the mix on NHL contracts.
Fontaine has put up eerily similar numbers compared to Sceviour, while Marchessault is the most inexperienced of the bunch. Sceviour has played in 170 games (27 less than Fontaine), has scored one more goal, with seven less assists (six points overall less).
A more likely scenario is Fontaine landing with Springfield, and getting a chance in Florida at some point in Florida, unless he comes into training camp and completely outshines Marchessault and Sceviour.
Pardy Could Provide Minor League Depth
Pardy split last season between the Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets, but just played in 23 games overall. A depth defenseman, Pardy has only played in 26 games at the AHL level since 2008, but has only amassed 338 NHL games in that span.
In those games played, the former sixth round pick of the Calgary Flames back in 2004 has registered just four goals and 52 points overall. He hasn’t scored a goal in the NHL since the 2010-2011 with Calgary.
While Florida’s defense is pretty much set at the NHL level, there is some room with Springfield should Pardy come in and play well enough to earn a minor league contract.
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