Florida Panthers Extend Cup Winning Depth Forward

Gadjovich NHL History

Gadjovich played his first amount of significant hockey in the NHL in 2021-2022. He played 43 games with the San Jose Sharks that year. Recording three points. Gadjovich went to Florida ahead of the 2023-2024 season, where he played 39 games. Gadjovich brings a certain skill set that some call a lost art in the NHL. Playing more of an enforcer role, Gadjovich recorded 104 penalty minutes that season.

Last season, Gadjovich played in 42 games. Scoring four times, with no assists. Once again penalty minutes were his main contribution to the score sheet, with 60 of them. In the playoffs, Gadjovich played in 16 games, scored twice, had one assist, and 33 penalty minutes.

Regardless of how you feel about Florida’s style of play, Gadjovich fits right into that exact thing. He stabilizes their fourth line with solid physical play, and he will drop the gloves whenever he needs too.

What a Gadjovich Extension Means For Florida

Florida gets steady reliable play out of Gadjovich, and it makes sense they’d be looking to bring him back. At close to the league minimum, it’s a solid investment for a team looking to three-peat. With Matthew Tkachuk on long-term injured reserve and Aleksander Barkov out for the year, Gadjovich fills a hole currently in the lineup. Florida extended a large part of their cup winning team over the past two years, and well, Gadjovich was also part of that group.

Gadjovich most likely will not see minutes in the top six forward group for the Panthers. But he can score, maybe the increase in minutes due to injuries could see him find a more offensive game. And if not it is totally worth $905k per year for the Panthers to have a great fighter on the ice.