<p>The <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/florida-panthers/news">Florida Panthers</a> continue to build toward defending their 2024 Stanley Cup championship.&nbsp;</p>



<p>On Wednesday, Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press reported the club had acquired goaltender Vitek Vanacek from the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/san-jose-sharks/news">San Jose Sharks</a>, sending right winger Patrik Giles the other way.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🔁🔁<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SJSharks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SJSharks</a> have acquired forward Patrick Giles from the Panthers in exchange for Vitek Vanecek. <a href="https://twitter.com/Shift4?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Shift4</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheFutureIsTeal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheFutureIsTeal</a></p>— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) <a href="https://twitter.com/SanJoseSharks/status/1897337985072554231?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2025</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Vanacek, 29, was held out of the Sharks’ game against the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/buffalo-sabres/news">Buffalo Sabres</a> on Tuesday night amid rumors of a potential trade.&nbsp;He served as backup as the Sharks won 6-2.</p>



<p>Vanacek is in the final year of his contract with a cap hit of $3.4 million. Through 18 games in 2024-25, he has a career-worst .882&nbsp; save percentage and just three wins, often facing significant goal-scoring opportunities on a San Jose team that has conceded 234 goals – second worst in the NHL only to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 237.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="149"></div>



<p>In March 2024, the Sharks acquired Vanecek and a seventh-round selection in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft from the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/new-jersey-devils/news">New Jersey Devils</a> in exchange for fellow goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen. Before his time with the Sharks and Devils, Vanacek spent parts of two seasons with the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/washington-capitals/news">Washington Capitals</a>. </p>



<p>The Sharks cannot retain any salary, having already used their three salary retention slots.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By adding the Czech Netminder, the Panthers solve their backup goalie situation. They had previously traded 23-year-old American Spencer Knight to the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/chicago-blackhawks/news">Chicago Blackhawks</a> for top defenseman Seth Jones.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Since trading Knight, the Panthers had recalled Chris Driedger from the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers, but were in the market for a regular NHL backup, given Driedeger’s .878 save percentage in 20 AHL games.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Sergei Bobrovsky will continue as the starter for head coach Paul Maurice, boasting a .904 save percentage through 41 games this season.&nbsp;</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="146"></div>



<p>For San Jose, the 25-year-old Giles comes in with nine games of NHL experience from early 2024-25. The Chevy-Chase, Maryland native has five goals and seven points in 37 games with AHL Charlotte this season.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The Panthers sit second in the Atlantic Division on 79 points, tied with the first-place <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/toronto-maple-leafs/news">Toronto Maple Leafs</a>, having played one more game, heading into a Thursday evening matchup against the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/columbus-blue-jackets/news">Columbus Blue Jackets</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>San Jose is well out of Stanley Cup Playoff contention. After 63 games, the club sits eighth in the Pacific Division and last in the NHL, with 43 points.&nbsp;</p>
