The Florida Panthers were headed into Monday's NHL trade deadline with a roster in need of a big winger and some extra defensive depth, but GM Dale Tallon decided Saturday was as good a time as any to take care of his shopping. In a clear indication that Tallon believes his talented, Atlantic-leading team is ready to compete for the Stanley Cup now, the Panthers acquired forwards Jiri Hudler and Teddy Purcell and defenseman Jakub Kindl in exchange for four draft picks.
Hudler, 32, probably represents the most talented player acquired by Tallon on Saturday. Hudler had an extremely productive year in 2014-15 - 31 goals, 76 points - but has slowed to some extent this season as the entire Flames team struggled to recreate the prior year's magic. The being said, the well-respected veteran still managed to collect 35 points through 53 games this year and will be a welcome addition to a Panthers forward group that's skilled, but lacks leadership and experience beyond Jaromir Jagr.
"We are very pleased to welcome Jiri to the Panthers," Tallon said, per the team's webite. "He is a highly skilled and experienced player that adds leadership, character and offensive ability to our team."
Picking up Hudler cost Tallon a second-round pick in 2016 and a fourth-round pick in 2018.
But Hudler wasn't the only addition Tallon made to his forward corps this weekend. According to George Richards of the Miami Herald, Tallon also shipped a third-round pick to the Edmonton Oilers for Teddy Purcell. Purcell is a big winger - 6-foot-2, 195-pounds - with middling offensive ability. He's not going to make any "wow" plays, but he adds a physical presence that Tallon had been seeking for some time.
Rounding out Tallon's Saturday's move was former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jakub Kindl. Kindl, 29, is a former first-round pick who never seemed quite able to get on former Detroit head coach Mike Babcock's good side and, though he played well at times, ultimately failed to develop into the kind of impact blueliner the franchise obviously thought he could be when they selected him in 2005.
Kindl is in the third year of a four-year, $9.6 million deal that carries a $2.4 million cap hit. He cost Tallon and the Panthers a sixth-round pick in 2017.
