SUNRISE, Fla. -As the rumor mill churned, MacKenzie Weegar didn't pay much attention.
In the weeks before putting pen to paper on a new three-year contract with the Florida Panthers, the 26-year-old defenseman's future was one of the few remaining big stories fueling the flames of the NHL's offseason hot stove as whispers about his future grew louder and louder each day.
Weegar Thrilled to Stick with Panthers

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Weegar Availability 11/09/20
By
Jameson Olive
FloridaPanthers.com
For the former seventh-round pick, being in that sort of spotlight was certainly flattering, but also not something he necessarily was seeking as a restricted free agent. And although his agent told him to prepare for anything, deep down he knew exactly which team he wanted to sign with.
He wanted to be a Panther.
"I was taking it as a positive, now that my name's out there and other teams want me, which was pretty cool," Weegar said during a Zoom teleconference on Monday. "Ultimately, for me, I wanted to stay in Florida as many years as I possibly could. That's kind of where I've always been at with my head. I just wanted to stay in Florida. I'm happy we could get a deal done."
After playing on one-year deals the past two seasons, a multi-year contract was also welcome.
"It feels great," Weegar said. "That was another key point that I've always told my agent. The one-year deals have, I wouldn't say taken a toll on me, but they're not easy. You don't really know where you're going to be at the end of the year or anything like that. I just wanted to get more than one year done with Florida. I couldn't be happier that I've got three years left."
Although he's flown a bit under the radar during his first three seasons in the NHL, Weegar has quickly become a name those both within and beyond South Florida are beginning to hear a lot more about, especially given the big uptick in both his responsibility and production in 2019-20.
Playing alongside Aaron Ekblad on Florida's top-defensive pairing throughout the majority of the season, he registered new career-highs in both goals (7) and points (18) while averaging 20:07 of ice time over 45 games before the coronavirus pandemic brought the hockey world to a halt.
In the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers, Weegar recorded one assist, seven hits and seven blocked shots in four games.
"MacKenzie is a solid two-way competitor who brings tenacity and skill to our lineup," Panthers general manager Bill Zito said after the signing. "He has developed into a key member of the Panthers both on and off the ice and we look forward to him taking the next step in his career."
Since taking over as general manager back in September, Zito has rapidly been revamping the team's roster from top to bottom. Through free agency and savvy trades, he's worked tirelessly to change the identity of the Panthers, bringing in players known for their tenacity, grit and skill.
Watching these moves unfold from afar, Weegar liked what he saw.
"I think it's been great," Weegar said of Florida's offseason changes. "That's kind of right up my alley. Playing a little more of a grittier, in-your-face kind of style is what we need… I know [Zito is] excited about all his free agent signings and I think I blend well with what he's trying to build."
One addition in particular that sticks out is the addition of fellow defenseman Radko Gudas. Known for his punishing play on the ice, Weegar expects to learn a lot from the tough veteran.
"I'm looking forward to meeting him," Weegar said. "Watching him over the years with Philly and then Washington, he closes space on you really quick. His gap's great. Then finishing his hits is one of the things I think that's gotten him to where he's at in the league for all these number of years. I'm going to learn a lot of things [from him]. It might get a little bit feistier out there."
While he often ranks among the leaders in hits and blocks on the Panthers, Weegar has also evolved into one of the team's top players in terms of driving possession as well. According to NaturalStatTrick.com, he sat second on the team with a 53.25 CF% at 5-on-5 this past season.
"I'm really looking to just improve my all-around game, making sure our defensive zone is obviously our key process and making everything better," Weegar said.
In addition to continuing his development on the ice, Weegar also feels he's ready to step up a bit more in the locker room as well. And while he praised the leadership group of Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, Keith Yandle and Ekblad, he wants to lend a hand where he can.
Known for keeping the mood light and excelling at "getting everybody going" during games and practices, he now also wants to be a player that can kick off some of the tougher conversations.
"I also think that outside of the rink and just being with the guys now for a few years, I think stepping up in a leadership role would be pretty key for me as well just because I know a lot of guys now," Weegar said. "I think that will be one of the things I focus on as well, just being one of those guys that speaks up a bit more in the dressing room and whatnot."
With a new deal in hand, Weegar is eager to get back to work in South Florida.
But with the start date of the 2020-21 season still up in the air (the NHL and NHLPA have tentatively targeted Jan. 1), he's currently training at home in Ottawa alongside fellow NHL players such as Erik Karlsson, Claude Giroux and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, just to name a few.
"There's a great caliber of guys here," Weegar said. "The skates have been good; the workouts have been great… I spoke to a few of the guys after I signed, [Brett] Connolly and Frankie Vatrano, and we were kind of discussing when we want to come back out… If it gets pretty cold here, I think I might find my way down to South Florida at lot sooner than I planned."