There's nothing like a late-August trade to get you amped for the coming NHL season.
Arizona and Florida made music Thursday, as the Panthers sent top prospect Lawson Crouse - drafted 11th overall in 2015 - and Dave Bolland to the Coyotes for a third-round selection in 2017 and a second-round pick in 2018.
Related: Panthers trade top prospect Crouse, Bolland to Coyotes for 2 picks
Here are three takeaways from the deal:
Panthers serious about success
The Panthers had their best-ever season in 2015-16, surpassing the century mark in points for the first time in club history with 103. The season was an unmitigated success, despite a six-game loss to the New York Islanders in the first round of the playoffs. When you've only made the postseason once since the turn of the century, you're damned right making the dance is an accomplishment worth celebrating.
Florida did trade its top prospect Thursday, a tough pill to swallow for any supporter, but getting out from under Bolland's contract gives the Panthers $9.2 million and change in available cap space, according to General Fanager.
Bolland will earn $5.5 million over the next three seasons, and Florida won't pay a cent. Indeed, giving up Crouse is a steep price to pay, but Florida's positioned well to add pieces at the 2017 trade deadline - or sooner.
There's no telling how much Crouse would have contributed in 2016-17, especially considering the Panthers' top-six forwards all had 50 points or more last season.
Panthers GM Tom Rowe on Bolland trade: "We plan to use this cap space to continue to aggressively build on the steps we took this summer."
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) August 25, 2016
Florida's in win-now mode, and Crouse can't help - not yet, at least. But in a way, he's helped already.
The legend of Chayka grows
Coyotes general manager John Chayka is just 27 years old, in case you were feeling good about yourself and your life choices. And he continues to reshape his team by using what's arguably the most crucial asset in a salary-capped NHL: cap space.
Former Arizona general manager Don Maloney started the trend by trading for Chris Pronger's contract last June, and Chayka's now following in his footsteps.
One such move was Chayka's trade for Pavel Datsyuk, who's the Coyotes' highest-paid player despite playing in the KHL. Arizona moved up four spots in the draft by taking on Datsyuk's contract in a deal with Detroit, selecting defenseman Jakob Chychrun with the 16th overall pick.
By using his abundant cap space to acquire Bolland - who now becomes the Coyotes' second highest-paid forward - Chayka also adds Crouse to a stable of promising young players that includes Max Domi, Anthony Duclair, Dylan Strome, and Christian Dvorak.
Crouse was taken 11th overall in 2015. His addition gives the Coyotes five first-round picks from the last two drafts:
- Clayton Keller, 7th overall in 2016
- Chychrun, 16th overall in 2016
- Strome, 3rd overall in 2015
- Crouse, 11th overall in 2015
- Nick Merkley, 30th overall in 2015
Bolland's contract is a disaster
When the Panthers gave Bolland five years and $27.5 million in free agency, many scoffed at the term and the tag. They were right. Think about it - when the Toronto Maple Leafs of two years ago walk away from a guy like Bolland, you know it's a buyer-beware situation.
Regardless of what happens to Bolland in Arizona - whether he plays or not - the center was a bust in Florida. He played only 78 games, scoring seven goals and adding 21 assists.
Money matters down south, and the remaining $16.5 million on Bolland's contract is $16.5 million that Florida will need to lock up Jonathan Huberdeau.
It's hard to admit your mistakes. Bolland was one, and he cost the Panthers a prospect with a bright future.
