Florida’s rapid reshaping of their roster continues. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link) that the Panthers have agreed to a three-year deal with center Noel Acciari. The contract is believed to be worth around $5MM in total, a considerable raise on his $725K AAV over the past two seasons.
The 27-year-old was a fixture on Boston’s fourth line last season. In 72 games, he had a career-high 14 points (6-8-14) while chipping in with 221 hits, also a career mark. Acciari also picked up four points (2-2-4) in 19 postseason contests.
Florida is certainly also encouraged by the progress that Acciari made at the faceoff dot last season, upping his success rate to 49.6% after being well below that in his first three years. This contract suggests that they’re comfortable penciling him in as their new fourth-line center behind returnees Aleksander Barkov, Vincent Trocheck, and youngster Henrik Borgstrom. RFA Denis Malgin also figures to be in the mix as well.
No Panarin for Florida it would be safe to say. Money trumps his bromance with the Bob.
$5MM is an overpay, even for Acciari and his newly acquired faceoff prowess Maybe $2MM-3MM would have been more palatable.