Reto Berra was acquired by the Panthers in June as, what general manager Tom Rowe would later say, an insurance policy in case Roberto Luongo couldn’t start the season after having hip surgery.
Well, Luongo started training camp and Florida’s opening night game against the Devils leaving Berra as the third wheel in a two-man rotation.
After spending the season down on the farm, the acquisition of Berra is proving fruitful for the Panthers.
With Luongo out for the time being with a lower body injury believed to be somewhat related to his offseason surgery, Berra is back in the NHL and back with the Panthers for the first time since training camp.