On Friday night, the Florida Panthers traded Drew Shore to Calgary for Corban Knight – a move that has an immediate benefit for everyone except perhaps the Florida Panthers. While Tallon and the Panthers did right by trading Shore to an NHL team that has the space to give him a significant opportunity, the return on that trade isn’t as clear.
Through the trade, the Flames have added a solid center with NHL experience already under his belt, having played 67 games in the NHL, scoring 8 goals and getting 12 assists over the course of two seasons. For Drew Shore, this is finally a real opportunity to play at the NHL level. He’ll start at Adirondack, in what is likely a temporary situation, with the AHL All-Star game coming up and (more importantly) as he approaches waiver eligibility. When he inevitably does get called up, it will probably be for good.
For Corban Knight – it’s continuing the AHL season with new teammates and change of scenery (and less snow). According to Dan Weiss, Knight has already been placed on the Rampage’s second line, in Shore’s old spot between Connor Brickley and Mark Mancari. While he hasn’t put up numbers quite like Shore this season, Knight has 8 goals and 4 assists in 22 games played for Adirondack and he’s on track for his best season to date. In the last meeting between the Rampage and the Flames (that unforgettable 6–2 loss a mere four days ago), Knight put up a goal, an assist, and 5 SOG.
There is no doubt that Knight is a capable player and a solid center. The main issue is the Panthers’ depth down the middle – with young players like Barkov andBjugstad plus the addition of veterans like Bolland and MacKenzie. In the event of an opening at center, it’s far more likely that someone like Pirri, a center playing at right wing in order to get ice time at all, would take that slot. It’s the main reason Shore was traded in the first place.
In addition, Knight and the Panthers don’t have quite a happy history. After being drafted by the team in the fifth round in 2009 (Shore was a second round pick that same year), Knight played for North Dakota until the end of the 2012–2013 season. The Panthers and Knight were unable to agree on a deal, resulting in him being traded to Calgary for a fourth round pick in the 2013 draft. With Knight unable to crack the lineup at a struggling Calgary in the last couple of seasons (1 goal, 0 assists in 9 games), it’s unlikely he’d be able to do any different with the Panthers this season.
In regards to long-term development, Florida’s acquisition of Knight leaves the 24 year old in an unclear situation. With Rocco Grimaldi growing as a flexible forward and the Panthers up to their knees in centers young and old, Knight’s main role for the foreseeable future will be with the Rampage. If he can put up numbers similar to last year with the Abbotsford Heat and his previous years at North Dakota (at least 40 points each season), he’ll have plenty of opportunity to succeed in San Antonio and potentially with the Panthers.
Welcome back, Corban!
Natalija can be reached for contact on Twitter.
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