With plenty of holes to fill on the bottom 6 forward group, potentially signing the experienced Stafford would essentially provide a veteran presence and a consistent point producer. Following the departure of 5 notable forwards from the 2017 Panthers club, the Cats can’t place a boatload of pressure on the inexperienced youngsters right away. Florida must ease them into the big leagues where they can be mentored by a successful veteran like Drew Stafford.
Adding Stafford could prove to be cost-efficient because his value has drastically plummeted due to his struggles and injury history this previous season. In 40 games for the Winnipeg Jets this past season, Drew contributed an underwhelming line of 4G and 9A for 13 points.