General Manager Dale Tallon certainly expected consistent offensive production from the experienced Vrbata following the acquisition. Fans were enthusiastically optimistic regarding the potential beneficial impact Vrbata could provide to Florida’s top six.
Vrbata resurrected his declining career last season in Arizona by shockingly registering a team-leading 55 points (28 point improvement from 2015-16), on an offensively challenged Arizona Coyotes team.
Following an awfully impressive preseason and training camp, Head Coach Bob Boughner evidently decided slotting Radim on the second line alongside dominant force Vincent Trocheck, with hope that it would bolster and stabilize the second line.