The Florida Panthers made a call for Macklin Celebrini and Bill Zito's receiving praise

Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito is building a formidable reputation. He is not just aggressive on the trade market or locking up his own locker room.

He takes care of people. Even when they lace up their skates for the opposition.

Following the recent international tournament, a large wave of players routed their flights through Miami. They needed quick connections to return to their respective NHL clubs.

Celebrini ran into severe travel issues at the airport. He failed to find a connecting flight out of South Florida to get back to the West Coast.

The 19-year-old rookie was stuck sitting in the terminal with his gear. That is exactly when the Panthers' hockey operations department intervened.

Zito picked up the phone and made a few heavy calls. He went the extra mile to secure a flight and get the kid back to his own blue line.

San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier was deeply appreciative of the gesture. He sent a text directly to Zito to thank him for the huge favor.

Grier knows how vital his young star is to the transition game and offensive output of his rebuilding roster. Every day of rest matters in an 82-game grind.

The Panthers' front office could have easily ignored the entire situation. They are busy defending their championship core and have their own playoff race to worry about.

But Zito operates on a different frequency. He builds immense goodwill around the league. That type of respect matters heavily when it comes time to make blockbuster deals.

Zito even joked in his direct response to Grier. He texted back that his staff was originally supposed to keep the talented forward in Florida permanently.

It is a brilliant mix of hospitality and front-office gamesmanship. San Jose gets their top center back safe and sound before their next homestand.

Florida gets another notch in its belt as a premier, player-friendly destination. Agents talk, and players remember exactly who treats them right.

Everyone walks away a winner in this scenario. Especially a tired rookie who just wanted to sleep in his own bed before the next puck drop.