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Lars Eller a Welcome Veteran Add for the Florida Panthers
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- Lars Eller a Welcome Veteran Add for the Florida Panthers
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
FORT LAUDERDALE — Lars Eller fits the definition of veteran presence perfectly: One of the newest members of the Florida Panthers is 37, has 17 NHL seasons with six teams not counting four seasons in Europe.
His production has been down in recent years, but Bill Zitoand the scouting staff recognized that he is still strong fourth-line talent as well as a superior penalty killer and faceoff specialist.
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Eller has the maturity to accept different roles and can handle being an occasional healthy scratch.
He has a one-year deal at the league minimum of $850,00 so the risk is minimal. During his peak years with Montreal and Washington he earned upwards of $4 million.
He won a Stanley Cup with Washington in 2018. That was the season he had a career high 18 goals.
The Panthers are hoping that he turns out to be as effective a fourth line center as Tomas Nosek and Kevin Stenlund had been before him.
"They're first over the boards a lot in the penalty kill,'' Paul Mauricesaid. "That's every bit as critical as Barkov going over the boards on a power play… They (fourth line centers) have been a really important part of our team. Lars will fit in and excel and make us better."
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Eller, who signed with Florida on July 1, is the first Danish player to be a first-round draft selection (No. 13 overall by St. Louis in 2007) and the first from Denmark to play in 1,000 regular season games.
"Lars is a dependable and diligent veteran forward whose selfless style of play matches our team philosophy," said Zito. "A Stanley Cup champion, he has had success at all levels of hockey, and we're excited for him to join the Panthers."
Eller will more than likely center a fourth line with former teammate Garnet Hathaway on the right wing. The two are familiar with each other, having been teammates for three seasons with Washington.
With Jonah Gadjovich not expected to be ready to play for a while, there will be a lot of competition for the left wing spot.
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"I think Garnett is easy to play with," Eller said. "We communicate a lot, have some familiarity with each other on the penalty kill and five-on-five, so we're not strangers to each other. Hopefully that will help us throughout the season. I'm very comfortable with him. Hard worker and really good forechecker. I think that's going to be some of the keys to our game to make us successful."
He has only spent a few days in training camp but has learned much about the Panthers style, culture and Maurice as a coach.
"Paul is very clear and very direct in the meetings and there's been a clear purpose with every practice and every drill systematic wise,'' Eller said. "I think the message is pretty clear that this is the Panther way, this is what we're going to work on today. There are no question marks or gray areas so that's been good…"
As for the Panther culture he observed what almost every newcomer quickly learns about the team.
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"I've only been here for a short time but obviously everybody is very comfortable with each other. You can tell the guys who have been around for a long time,'' Eller said. "Everybody is comfortable in themselves. Everybody in here can be whoever they are and go about there way and when you get out there we're a five man unit or a team. In the past that has shown that it gets the best out of everybody individually and as a team.
"They're just continuing the road that they have built and established here for years."
FLORIDA PANTHERS ON DECK
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Preseason (All Games on Scripps/Panthers+) — Game 1: Panthers 6, Carolina Hurricanes 3 (Sunday) ; Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Panthers 2 SO (Tuesday) ; Game 3: Thursday at Tampa Bay Lightning , 7 p.m.; Game 4: Saturday Sept. 26 vs. Lightning, 6 p.m.
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2026-27 NHL Season Opener: Florida at Carolina Hurricanes; Tuesday, 5 p.m. (ESPN)
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2026-27 NHL Home Opener: Minnesota Wild at Florida; Oct. 10, 6 p.m. (Scripps)
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