The Florida Panthers have signed unrestricted free-agent defenseman Jeff Petry to a one-year deal at the league minimum salary of US$775,000, with additional performance bonuses, the club announced. General manager Bill Zito described Petry as a “skilled, puck-moving defenseman” whose experience will deepen the blue line of the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champions. Petry, 37, enters his 16th NHL season after stints with Edmonton, Montreal, Pittsburgh and, most recently, Detroit. Injuries limited him to 44 games last year, but the veteran said he is fully recovered from an abdominal issue and eager to join a contender. He has appeared in the playoffs four times, reaching the 2021 Stanley Cup Final with the Canadiens. The Panthers have made a habit of revitalizing careers of experienced defensemen—most notably Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Nate Schmidt—before each moved on following championship runs. Petry said Florida’s track record, along with the recent re-signings of core players Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand, made the decision to head south “a no-brainer.”