Yep, a few against Carolina too!

Anyway, can't be upset with this. Feeling good, so I'm off for the live tables hoping to run goot for the second time in 2 days.

Olesz is a hell of an athlete.

Pics from #7:

We've been winning...but so have the rest of the teams in contention, so we're not getting much help. The end could be near.

Looks like Martin will stay as gm, but not as coach: http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=234003&lid...=headlines_main

I'm calling a Pat Quinn hiring.

Yeah not surprising once the oust of playoff contention was sealed, I'll disagree or hope not to see a Quinn hiring, but I'm sure we'll see in the upcoming weeks.

i'll call pat burns seeing as he is coming back at the world champs. if i recall correctly he also has a house or something in florida so that could add up.

Resigned Wade Belak and Kamil Kreps the other day to a couple of 2 year deals. Both good, especially on the Kreps front. Top two defensive forward on the team, loads of improvement last year and brought some decent secondary scoring.
No real updates on the coach search yet, although old buddy and coach that brought us to the Cup finals (McLean) is in the mix supposedly, maybe even Maurice will get a look.

I watched Belak on OTR yesterday (or the day before?)...what a character he is.

We got our new coach, a junior coach from Ontario, Peter DeBoer.
Kinda surprised, but I guess Jacques was courting him all the way.

Rumours abound about Jokinen...Is he leaving?

this post is sooo two years ago.

Guess so.

It's a sad day.
Seriously, for Boynton, Ballard, and a 2nd?? WTF. I couldn't be as confused, especially with an already decent amount of D-men coming back or coming up from the ranks.
So I'm feeling a little annoyed and very upset with the franchise, not that Jokinen was traded, but for this. Now there could be a bigger plan in the works but as of this moment I'm upset.

as a native south floridian I gave up on this team a long time ago. There is a great from a couple years ago I think by the Panthers owner about how Olli was never going anywhere on his watch.

first luongo now this. screw them.

So while I'm definitely glad Olesz was signed to a long term deal, nothing this summer has made me excited for the upcoming season dealing with this team.
Last years off season was spectacular interest-wise and this one is pretty much exact opposite.

I'm pretty sure Bouwmeester is going to get an offer sheet from someone, or at least it wouldn't come as the slightest surprise.
Won't be a surprise either when Florida matches.


Horton and Weiss either step up this year, or we're in the running for that #1 pick (which after all...would not be a bad thing )

Doesn't the fact that Bouwmeester filed for arbitration make him ineligible to receive offer sheets?

Correct.

As covered... Bouwmeester didn't get an offer sheet (or at least didn't sign one). After all, if Florida has matched he would have been stuck there for a few years rather than 1-2 he'll get now.

True story, twas a bit late.

SUNRISE, Fla. – Florida Panthers General Manager Jacques Martin announced today that club has agreed to terms on a one year deal with defenseman Jay Bouwmeester.

Bouwmeester, 24, played in all 82 games with the Panthers last season recording a career high 15 goals, while ranking first in the National Hockey League with 27:28 of ice time per game. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound blueliner has played in all 82 games for the Cats in each of his last three seasons. For his NHL career, he has played in 389 games, all with Florida, scoring 38 goals with 123 assists and 261 PIM.

this comes as a surprise.

I dont get this deal...I guess they didnt want to go to arbitration, and Bouwmeester doesnt want to stay in Florida long term...If he has a year like he did last year, he will sign a monstrous contract in the area of $7-$8 million per for 6 plus years.

yeah, my guess is that florida tried everything they could to get him long-term and settled for short. they are more and more screwed by the day, I guess...

If you go to arbitration you can't trade the player for a year. So 90% chance he'll be traded at the deadline.

I personally think he'll be moved within the week.

Hello UFA status next season. No way he signs a long term deal anywhere before UFA, he's going to get 8M somewhere IMO. 5-6M for his current status/production and an extra 2-3M for what could be since he is still very much a spring chicken for a guy who's been a #1 d-man for the period he has.

Yeah we're screwed, pretty much hoping that we get a deal that makes us very happy for trade.
OR
we trade and fall right into Tavares.

You have Frolik!! He's baby jagr

baby friggin jagr!!!!

It's a shame really, they were always sort of my pet team to break through in the East every year. I really liked the pieces they had and were building around and then shit happened

keenan happened, you mean.

also, "shit" works just fine without any profanity filter evasion. shitbucket too.

frolik is baby jagr though.

he will save your franchise!

Can anyone guess who just traded for Frolik in the FCHL?

Anyone?

Bueller?

Yah I noticed that when I first typed it but I still sort of felt bad about it, so I added an italic for my own peace of mind.

sigh

/puke.

?

Well Chad Kilger is not expected to play at all this year, this coming from Martin's mouth. I guess Martin said that he's still dealing with "family issues" and that if he WERE to play anywhere he'd want to play in Florida. Well I hope he damn better want to because Florida still holds his rights as of this moment.

Now that the trade is official can we get a scouting report on Mike Van Ryn please Speedlimit??

FWIW you are getting the better player and a potential all star dman in McCabe..He was "shafted" here and his play was affected by the negative comments from the media and the fans. I am sure he will resurrect his career there and will be back to scoring 60pts.

Van Ryn for McCabe and the Leafs are the ones tossing in the 4th... I do not get that.

Serge its really going to depend on Mike's health. Before his last 2 years of wrist injuries he was really turning the corner into being a pretty solid point producing top pairing defenceman. He lead Michigan to a national title and captained jr team Canada. The wrist injuries the last couple seasons have really stalled him though, he certainly has the potential to be a really good player if he can stay healthy.

Well thats fair enough...McCabe also has the potential to regain his status as well...It might be a fair trade or a big one sided one.

Adding to what sinc said Mike is an agile puck moving defenseman who has a real nice vision and speed for the game. Ever since we received him from St. Louis it was touted to be the Bouw/Van Ryn clinic in the back end. Everything I've read from Mike leading up to this year signals to me that he's feeling good and he was pretty sure this trade was going to happen. He mentioned a few times how he wouldn't be surprised to start the season with another team. He's not going to be the "pilon" that I've heard McCabe referred to in Toronto and sure if he stays healthy and stays with you guys he's going to be an underrated asset who will only help groom Schenn.

it was really, really frustrating to see him shipped off for a rental in goddamn valeri bure. you have no idea, man.

I hope he works out in Toronto..By the way the pilon references are totally not true...McCabe is a workhorse..He will give you a solid 30 minutes a night, he is great on the PP and has an amazing shot..He isnt the best defensive guy, but last year at times he showed he is more than capable...

I think he has a lot to prove and he will be an All Star with Florida and will work great with Bouwmeester.

Man that brings back all sorts of rushing memories.
I loved that deal and was so stoked for Van Ryn, and to get rid of Pavel's little brother who we brought along to appease him, then he ended up overstaying his welcome. But he got married to D.J. from Full House, so it's all gravy to him.

Florida gave defenseman Keith Ballard a 6 year extension today. Far too much as I'm concerned, but he is 25 and shows promise.

Pretty much seals the deal on the Bouwmeester era, I'd say they're completely convinced that they can't sign him long term.

Ballard is solid though, if Buffalo could get him back I'd have no problem with them giving him that kind of deal.

Yeah when Jacques Martin was asked if this would affect Bouw's situation at all he gave the ole, of course not and when we have the chance to lock up some guys that we want, we're going to do it. Obviously I think it does take another step towards Jay leaving. I've got this thing in my mind where I think the reason why Florida is stocking on d-men is because they're shipping Jay for a good amount of offense.

Here are the guys we're looking at long term so far. These are the season's these players are signed through:
2014-15: Keith Ballard
2013-14: Rostislav Olesz
2012-13: Nathan Horton, Stephen Weiss
2011-12: Bryan Allen
2010-11: Bryan McCabe, Tomas Vokoun.

Two articles via Yahoo! about Florida coming today, good reads and Greg Whyshynski brings up the good point of "They've missed the playoffs for seven seasons; in that time, they haven't had a first or second overall pick. God, that's gotta be annoying."

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_dadd...?urn=nhl,107486

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=ArC0...o&type=lgns

sorry Florida fans its going to be 8 years..But they are getting better