The Florida Panthers are looking to rebuild their forward depth.
They have signed Matt Luff to a professional tryout agreement, according to David Dwork of The Hockey News. Luff will join the team next week.
Starting his career in 2016 with the Los Angeles Kings, Luff came from the Ontario Hockey League’s Hamilton Bulldogs where he scored 25 goals and 49 points in just 45 games. Despite his large size, he didn’t always play physically, which made him an intriguing choice for the Kings’ tough playstyle at that time.
Most of his time with the Kings was spent playing for their AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign. He did get to play in 64 games for Los Angeles between 2018 and 2021, scoring 10 goals and adding seven assists. After a brief stint with Nashville Predators in 2021-22, he moved on to Detroit Red Wings.
Matt Luff’s Journey:
With Detroit, Luff signed two one-year deals but only played in 19 NHL games where he scored two goals and four points. His real impact was felt with their AHL team, Grand Rapids Griffins, despite dealing with injuries. Over two years there, he played in 54 games and posted impressive stats: 18 goals and 43 points.
Fans might think this is a smart move by the Panthers as they need more scoring depth.
It won’t be easy for Luff to secure a spot on Florida’s reworked bottom-six forwards group. However, his recent success in AHL gives him a fighting chance. The Panthers struggled with scoring last year at their AHL level in Charlotte so they need new talent like him.
What do you think about this signing?
