Panthers ready to trade and add free agents this week
While the Panthers' front-office honchos flew home Sunday morning feeling content after adding 10 building blocks, there is still more work to do.
With just 10 signed players on the active roster and the free-agency period starting Friday, the Panthers, who have about $26 million to shop for nine players, are trying to make some early-week trades with cash-strapped teams looking to shed payroll.
Panthers will draft Ryan Nugent-Hopkins if available at 3 A source told me today that if center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is still available after Edmonton and Colorado use their top two picks then Panthers GM Tallon will snatch the 18-year-old, 6-foot centerman who tallied 106 points, including 75 assists for Red Deer in the WHL this year. If Nugent-Hopkins is off the board then the source said the Panthers will pick 18-year-old 6-1 centerman Jonathan Huberdeau (105 points) who led the Saint-John Sea Dogs to the QMJL Memorial Cup and was named MVP. The Oilers are loaded with young forwards and may opt for Swedish defenseman Adam Larsson.
Panthers coaching search heats up When Panthers General Manager Dale Tallon fired coach Pete DeBoer the day after the season ended, he said there was no sense of urgency to find a replacement, but only that they find the "right guy."
A month later, with Tallon expected back from Europe, where he had been scouting junior players as well as watching the IIHF World Championships, the interview process will begin in earnest this week.
As Florida Panthers’ season ends, focus has always been on future Two scenes from Saturday night acting as summation of the Panthers 17th NHL season:Leading goal scorer David Booth grabbed a fluttering puck, dropped it in front of an empty net and clanked the post. Assistant general manager Mike Santos, after spending the game in the Panthers coaches’ box with general manager Dale Tallon, strode toward the locker room with the smile of a boy heading for a playdate.
Tomas Vokoun: Do Panthers Want Me to Stay? Do I Want To?Barry Jackson covered the Panthers for me today because of a weird traveling quirk. Mr. Jackson spoke to Tomas Vokoun at length today about his potential future with the Panthers.
He said he gave the Panthers three teams he would waive his no-movement clause to. They never asked him to.
Florida Panthers’ Dale Tallon likely to be busy as trade deadline nears The Panthers go into the All-Star break with the same number of wins as regulation losses with five overtime defeats thrown in for fun.
If one subscribes to the Bill Parcells adage that a team is only as good as its record indicates, well, the Panthers are a pretty average bunch.
Not real good, not real bad.
Vokoun, Panthers discuss contract extension Goalie's future with team may hinge on playoff chances as Feb. 28 trade deadline approaches
Despite seasonlong reports and rumors to the contrary, the Panthers are involved in ongoing talks with the agent of goalie Tomas Vokoun regarding a contract extension.
Vokoun, 34, in the last year of a $6.3 million contract, is 16-15-1 with a 2.56 goals-against-average and ninth-ranked save percentage of .922 while facing the sixth-most shots (1,000).
Panthers Have HopeThe team with the longest current playoff drought may find their misery to continue this season. But, there is something to be a bit optimistic about in Florida and for the Panthers. Sure, teams in other sports have garnered all the attention, but something good is happening with the Cats and eventually the drought will be long forgotten.
There is plenty of work left for new GM Dale Tallon, but he has already put a major stamp on the team with his first few moves and its really a brand new beginning for the Panthers.
While the playoffs are a bit of a must, progress will be the most important accomplishment and all signs point to the Panthers moving forward, not backwards.
Make It SevenLebron James signing in Miami to play for the heat has affected many NBA franchises, notabley Cleveland. But does lebron have the power to affect franchises not even in his league? Most notabley the florida panthers.
Florida is currently one of the worst attended NHL teams with a below 80% rink filling average per game. I can see this dropping to almost 60% with the newest attraction of Bosh-Lebron-Wade playing for the heat. With those 3 players the Heat actually have a chance at a championship while the panthers are doubtful to even make the playoffs. (sorry panther fans, not this year)
The Dust Settles, Tallon Not Ready to Rest ... Panthers Have Nine Lives/Picks Don't look now, but Dale Tallon looks refreshed and ready to take on the second day of the NHL Draft.
The Panthers new general manager has much to play with as he goes into Saturday's second round.
And he says he's ready to do something with those assets.
“We're open to any suggestions,'' Tallon said. “We're not going to sit still. We're going to have some fun, experiment and take some risks. We're going to see what happens.''
Tallon traded Nathan Horton to Boston on Tuesday, getting back defenseman Dennis Wideman and the 15th overall pick in return.
