The Panthers have added some extra forward depth heading into training camp. On the 51-player roster the team revealed today is unrestricted free agent winger Nathan Bastian, meaning that he has signed a PTO with the team.
The 28-year-old spent last season with Dallas after having to wait more than a month last summer to get a guaranteed deal. However, he played a limited role with the Stars, getting into just 36 games, notching six goals and one assist.
He also had three points in four games with AHL Texas on a conditioning stint.
For his career, Bastian has 39 goals and 36 assists in 312 games, split between New Jersey (two stints), Seattle, and Dallas. Notably, he has averaged more than two hits per game in each of his seven NHL seasons, an attribute that is likely of particular interest to Florida, a team that was already gritty and has gotten much more physical this offseason.
There could be a spot up for grabs for Bastian in training camp with the availability of Brad Marchand now in question after he revealed last month that he has undergone surgery. While that spot would likely be on the fourth line or as a reserve player, Bastian should at least get a viable chance to compete for a spot, though he’ll be limited to just two preseason games under new preseason usage rules.
It’s worth noting that Florida is right against the cap ceiling, projecting to have just $34K in cap space, per PuckPedia. Accordingly, if Bastian is able to secure a roster spot, some sort of move will need to be made to afford him on the cap, though that could be moving Marchand to LTIR in the short term.
Failing that, Bastian could be added on a two-way deal or released back into unrestricted free agency a couple of weeks from now.