New Jersey Devils: 5 Teams That Should Be In On Kyle Palmieri

Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers are one of the best stories in the NHL this season. After their spending spree sort of fell flat last season, they are tied with the powerhouse Tampa Bay Lightning for tops in the Central Division. This surprising result could lead to a surprising move at the trade deadline. Palmieri makes a lot of sense for them.

The Panthers aren’t dealing with any injuries right now, which is a blessed existence, but it’s hard to believe that will last into the playoffs. If the Panthers want to make some noise when the postseason begins, Palmieri would be a nice piece to help them keep scoring. The Panthers have had nice seasons from Patric Hornqvist and Carter Verhaeghe on top of the usual stars. Adding Palmieri would make them a scary offense.

There’s also the fact that Florida is letting stadiums and arenas go to full capacity. Florida hasn’t used it to its advantage yet, but once the vaccine rolls out completely, they could look to fill the arena in Sunrise as much as possible. Putting a competitive playoff team on the ice could make up for massive lost revenues.

The Panthers have a ton of really interesting prospects. Spencer Knight is probably untouchable, but it’s weird to think about when he’ll actually have a chance to start. This isn’t even a knock on Mackenzie Blackwood, but getting another top young goalie would put the Devils in an envious position. Owen Tippett is finally getting his NHL chance, but he’s definitely not someone that ends a conversation. Grigori Denisenko is another player with a ton of upside that hasn’t been able to put it all together.

This deal seems like it could easily come together. The Panthers are in a place where a trade makes a ton of sense, plus they have a lot of pieces the Devils will want.