From the Miami Herald's George Richards:

The Florida Panthers made a nice deal at the trade deadline to help with their run to the playoffs.

Although that postseason push has stalled, don’t blame Thomas Vanek for it.

Florida goes into Friday’s game against the Minnesota Wild with losses in six of its past seven games including all three since acquiring Vanek from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a third round draft pick and depth defenseman Dylan McIlrath.

Vanek, who spent the past two seasons with the Wild before having the final year (this one) of his contract bought out, scored his first goal with the Panthers in Florida’s eventual 5-2 loss to the Rangers on Tuesday.

“He’s a really good player and we knew what we were getting when we traded for him,” interim head coach Tom Rowe said Friday morning. “He has obviously brought the offense and has a real confidence about himself in the locker room, really calm on the bench. That rubs off on everyone.”

Continued