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3 players Panthers could target with playoffs on the line

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Here come the Florida Panthers.

The Cats are roaring, rattling off a perfect 3-0 showing in their recent tour through California with victories over the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, and Los Angeles Kings.

It was the first time in the franchise's 24-year history that it swept the California road trip. That performance pushed the Panthers to third in the Atlantic, holding down a playoff position with 25 games to go. The Panthers are hot, winning seven of their last eight contests.

Prior to Saturday's win, Dale Tallon, Panthers president of hockey operations, stated he'd like to add prior to the March 1 trade deadline. The good news is the Panthers have plenty of financial wiggle room, with just under $10 million in projected cap space. That leaves the team fairly flexible ahead of the deadline.

The biggest issue, quite simply, is Florida needs to score more goals. League-wide, only eight teams have tallied fewer times than the Panthers, while Florida is also the only Eastern club currently slotted in a playoff position despite a negative goal differential (minus-14).

With that in mind, here are three possibilities to help the Panthers jump-start their offense before the postseason.

Thomas Vanek

It's no secret the Panthers could use another triggerman in their offensive arsenal, and the Detroit Red Wings veteran forward provides that in spades. With the Red Wings poised to miss the postseason for the first time since 1990, expect general manager Ken Holland to begin the sell-off, and that includes Vanek.

The experienced winger has had a turnaround season with the Red Wings after the Minnesota Wild bought out his contract a year ago. Vanek has collected 36 points on the season and sits second in team scoring behind captain Henrik Zetterberg. Carrying a manageable $2.6-million cap hit, Vanek would be a cost-effective addition for the Panthers.

Patrick Sharp

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Winners know how to win, and that's what the Panthers would get with Sharp. The Dallas Stars winger has struggled through his second season in Texas, and with the Stars fighting to stay alive in the playoff race, a trade appears to be in the cards for the veteran forward.

Missing 26 games due to a concussion, Sharp has struggled to find consistency through the campaign. A change of scenery could be the perfect scenario for Sharp, while a move to the Panthers would reunite him with Tallon. The two were part of Chicago Blackhawks' 2010 Stanley Cup win.

Johnny Oduya

Could the Panthers consider a bigger deal with the Stars and bring in Sharp plus his teammate Oduya? The veteran blue-liner brings Stanley Cup experience, having won the silver mug with the Blackhawks in both 2013 and 2015, and some added offensive presence on the back end.

Oduya has scored seven points in 36 games this season after tallying 21 a year ago. The left-shot defenseman could slot into the Panthers' bottom pairing alongside Alex Petrovic, a role currently held by Mark Pysyk. The 35-year-old Oduya carries a $3.75-million cap hit but is an unrestricted free agent at season's end, leaving the Panthers with a clean slate in the summer.

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