Panthers News

"If Florida Panthers defenceman Mike Van Ryn is destined to become a Maple Leaf, it is news to him. The 29-year-old, who has battled through four wrist surgeries in the last two years, was identified by Sportsnet as the player Toronto will get back in a potential deal sending Bryan McCabe to Florida. The Panthers are rumoured to have been shopping Van Ryn, who has two years left on his contract at $6.7 million (U.S.), but it came as a surprise when the defender saw his name prominently mentioned in reports of a trade that might be completed early next month. "I haven't heard anything so I still consider myself a Florida Panther," Van Ryn told the Miami Herald. "(Toronto) would be home, I ..."

"No one is saying defenceman Mike Van Ryn is the player the Toronto Maple Leafs will receive from the Florida Panthers for Bryan McCabe, but all signs point in that direction. Those close to Van Ryn say he believes Panthers general manager Jacques Martin wants to move him and he expects to be either the player named in a trade for fellow defenceman McCabe or shipped to another NHL team. One source close to Van Ryn said Friday the trade can only be considered "a possibility" at this point. Martin will not comment on the matter. "I haven't heard anything, so I still consider myself a Florida Panther," Van Ryn, a native of London, Ont., told The Miami Herald. "[Toronto] would be home, I guess, ..."

"Why stop at Bryan McCabe? Why not bring a few more Maple Leafs down to the Sunshine State with him, Wade Belak asked last night? "Caber would be a great addition to our team," Belak said from the Miami area last night, hoping that reports concerning McCabe's imminent trade to the Florida Panthers are accurate. "He's a great leader and a real warrior. We have a great goalie and a great defence that would be even better with him. "Now we have to work on Mats. Let's get the entire band back together, man! I'm all for that." SORRY, WADE Memo to Belak: Mats Sundin is not going to sign with the Panthers. And, given the fact that the big Swede is leaning toward retirement, he may not be lacing ..."

"Bryan McCabe's days as a Maple Leaf are likely numbered – at about 17. But even as Canada's major sports networks posted updates yesterday reporting a pending trade that would send the defenceman to the Florida Panthers after Sept.1, the Leafs' general manager and McCabe's agent both denied such a deal was tentatively in place. They both acknowledged they are working towards some sort of compromise, one that may see the much-maligned defenceman waive the no-movement clause of his contract in order to be dealt out of Toronto. But both said nothing is complete. "(McCabe) hasn't even said he would accept being traded yet. We're working on it," said Cliff Fletcher, Toronto's GM. "He has not ..."

"Florida Panthers general manager Jacques Martin would not comment on various reports coming out of Toronto that Florida was close to acquiring Maple Leafs defenseman Bryan McCabe in exchange for fellow defenseman Mike Van Ryn. McCabe, 33, has reportedly waived his no-trade clause after a tough season in Toronto in which the team's highest-paid player was routinely booed. McCabe's season took a turn south after he inadvertently knocked in a puck on Oct. 15 that allowed Buffalo to beat the Leafs in overtime. 'Bryan McKlutz' was the headline in the Toronto Sun the following day. ''You know I don't comment on rumors,'' Martin said from his office in Sunrise. ``If I did, that's all I would ..."

"If Bryan McCabe has, in fact, played his last game as a Maple Leaf, don't expect him to be moved until next month. Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos reported yesterday that McCabe has agreed to waive his no-movement clause and could be headed to the Florida Panthers in a trade. Whatever the case, a source close to McCabe said last night the veteran defenceman would not change addresses for at least another couple of weeks. "(Bryan) isn't going anywhere until Sept. 1, at the earliest," the source said. "That's the date (he) gets his $2-million US signing bonus from Toronto. "Why would a team deal for (him) before that and be on the hook for that extra money? They'll just wait until (he) gets paid, ..."

"The apparently inevitable departure of Bryan McCabe from Toronto may have taken another step toward fruition yesterday. There is a report the much-maligned Leaf defenceman has waived his no-movement clause, allowing him to be traded. Sportsnet was reporting last night that McCabe had dropped the controversial clause – one the Leafs had tried to get him to remove at last season's trade deadline – and the 33-year-old may be headed to the Florida Panthers in a trade. McCabe would reportedly allow a deal to a limited number of unspecified teams. However, if the McCabe camp had reached such a compromise, it was news to Leafs general manager Cliff Fletcher. While Fletcher last night said he had ..."

"The Panthers signed center Janis Sprukts to a one-year contract Friday, bringing the 26-year-old prospect back overseas after a one-year hiatus. It is a two-way deal, and because the Panthers have 12 one-way forwards under contract, Sprukts will likely start in the AHL. Sprukts, from Latvia, left the Panthers last summer to play in Finland because the Panthers wouldn't give him the one-way deal he desired. Sprukts had 12 goals and 17 assists in 53 games for Lukko of the Finnish Hockey League. The previous season, he was MVP of the Panthers' AHL team in Rochester, N.Y., with 18 goals and 41 assists."

"Panthers general manager Jacques Martin said Tuesday afternoon that he doesn't expect suspended winger Chad Kilger to play for Florida this season. The Panthers acquired Kilger, 32, for a third-round pick at the trade deadline in February. Despite that Kilger's Toronto Maple Leafs were staying in Fort Lauderdale at the time, Kilger never reported to the Panthers. Initially, Florida allowed him to return to Canada because of family issues; Kilger was later suspended from the team without pay after failing to join the team. Kilger is scheduled to make $700,000 this season, but since he is suspended, Florida will not be required to pay Kilger unless he changes his mind and reports to camp. ..."

"When defenseman Jay Bouwmeester and the Florida Panthers avoided arbitration and came to terms on a one-year contract worth $4.9 million on Monday, warning flares went up around the NHL. By turning down a long-term contract offer, Bouwmeester made it clear his days in Florida are numbered and that his promising NHL career is likely to continue somewhere north of Miami. But where? And for what price? A hard-hitting, smooth-skating 6-foot-4, 212 pounder, Bouwmeester led all NHL players in average ice time last season with 27:28. He has played in all 82 games for the Panthers in each of the last three seasons and his offensive numbers have climbed each year, from five goals to 12 to 15. "He's ..."

"Mike Van Ryn's wrists have been through a lot the past few years. The Panthers defenseman has endured four surgeries -- three on his right wrist alone -- as he has tried to regain the strength and power that fueled his slapshot and helped him become one of Florida's top players at the position. Van Ryn missed 62 games last season after having his second surgery on his right wrist in less than a year. He said the time off has helped him heal, and his wrist feels as good as ever. The Panthers hope Van Ryn is right. ''I feel awesome now,'' said Van Ryn, who spent last week helping coach a youth camp in Coral Springs. ``I look at other guys around the league. It took [Edmonton Oilers ..."

"It appears Jay Bouwmeester will take some more time to decide if he wants to be part of the Florida Panthers' future. Bouwmeester, a talented 24-year-old defenseman, signed a one-year deal Monday for just under $4.9 million. He will be an unrestricted free agent once the contract expires, and the Panthers are gambling he will like the changes the franchise has made and sign a long-term deal. ''I'm glad Jay is on board,'' said general manager Jacques Martin, who has shored up the Panthers' defense this offseason, perhaps at the expense of the offense. ``Sometime during the season, I hope to get it long-term. We're progressing. We want to have a good start to the season, then address the ..."

"The Florida Panthers and star defenseman Jay Bouwmeester came to agreement on a one-year contract Monday, a day before the two sides were to go to arbitration in Toronto. Bouwmeester, an All-Star in 2007 and a member of Canada's Olympic team in 2006, can be an unrestricted free agent after this coming season unless the Panthers can sign him to a long-term deal before then. Bouwmeester would not agree to sign anything longer than a one-year contract, telling the Panthers he wants to see what direction the organization is headed. Jacques Martin, the team's general manager, was relieved of his coaching duties after three playoff-less seasons and replaced by 40-year-old Peter DeBoer. This ..."

"The Florida Panthers agreed to a one-year deal with defenseman Jay Bouwmeester Monday, avoiding arbitration one day before a scheduled hearing. Bouwmeester, 24, recorded 37 points while playing in all 82 games last season and led Panther defensemen in goals (15) and assists (22). The Panthers hoped to sign Bouwmeester, the No. 3 overall pick in 2002, to a long-term deal similar to the one signed by another young star, forward Nathan Horton, who signed for six years last summer. But General Manager Jacques Martin says he feels confident the team will have time to agree to a long-term deal before free agency next summer."

"The Panthers will play the same amount of road games they did the past three seasons, only this year the team is going to visit more places. Florida's 2008-09 schedule was unveiled Thursday, with the Panthers traveling to the West Coast twice. And both of those trips will come within the first three months of the season. The NHL's scheduling change means every team in the league will play each other this season -- either at home or on the road."

"Phoenix center Olli Jokinen won't have to wait long to face his former team. The Panthers, who traded their captain and leading scorer west in June, will play the Coyotes in Phoenix on Nov. 8. It's the fourth game of a five-game trip that includes games at Los Angeles (Nov. 6) and Anaheim (Nov. 9) -- Western Conference teams the Panthers didn't face last season under the league's previous scheduling format and haven't played on the road since 2005-06."

"The Panthers won a franchise-record 20 games on the road last season, and they'll need to prove their mettle away from BankAtlantic Center again in November and December to stay in the playoff hunt this upcoming season. The NHL released its 2008-09 schedule on Thursday, and while the Panthers received a schedule that pleased both team President Michael Yormark and General Manager Jacques Martin, it does set up two grueling months. The Panthers will play eight of their first 10 games in November on the road and nine of 14 overall."

"The Panthers will start the regular season Oct. 10 at Carolina and play their home opener the next night against Atlanta, the NHL announced Wednesday. Florida will play all of the league's other 29 teams under the new scheduling format. It'll play every Western Conference team once, and three of those teams — Nashville, St. Louis and Dallas — home and away."

"Sources say the Panthers haven't given up hope of signing Bouwmeester and GM Jacques Martin is hopeful the addition of former Kitchener Rangers coach Peter DeBoer will convince the young star the club is going in the right direction. "As far as I know Bouwmeester is not the guy that Jacques Martin is offering up," said a league executive yesterday. "Bouwmeester is the guy they've got to build that team around. I haven't heard his name being offered around in a trade, not even once." Instead, the group of blueliners Martin is trying to deal is a lot less attractive to NHL GMs. The indications are anybody can have Florida defenceman Mike Van Ryn, who is scheduled to make $3.35 million ..."

"The Panthers signed Stillman, a 34-year-old forward, as a free agent July 1, hoping his veteran presence and scoring ability will help the team in its quest to make the playoffs. Florida hasn't seen the light of the postseason since 2000. Stillman, though, has had more than his share of playoff success."

"The Stanley Cup seems to have followed Cory Stillman around recently. Stillman, who signed with the Panthers on July 1, is one of only six players to win hockey's biggest prize in consecutive seasons with different teams. His first cup came in his first season with Tampa Bay in 2004 and, after the lockout season, his second came with Carolina in 2006. Both of those came in his first season with those clubs. Like the Panthers, the Lightning and Hurricanes had histories of meager postseason success."

"The Florida Panthers announced three personnel moves Wednesday, including signing forward Anthony Stewart to a one-year contract and hiring Jim Hulton as an assistant coach. Stewart, 23, is a 2003 first-round draft choice who has bounced between the NHL and AHL. Last season he played in 54 games for AHL Rochester and 26 games with the Panthers."

"Panthers general manager Jacques Martin said Wednesday that negotiations between the team and the agent for defenseman Jay Bouwmeester have continued despite Bouwmeester deciding to take the team to arbitration. No date has been set for Florida's meeting in front of an arbiter, with hearings scheduled between July 20 and Aug. 4 in Toronto. Bouwmeester took the Panthers to arbitration once before, getting a two-year contract out of it in 2006. Since Bouwmeester elected to go to arbitration, he cannot sign with another team; Martin said the Panthers aren't going to trade him."

"Forward Anthony Stewart accepted the Panthers' one-year qualifying offer on Wednesday. Stewart, whose salary last season was $670,000, had one assist and a minus-1 rating in 26 games for the Panthers last season. The Panthers can still negotiate with Stewart, 23, on a longer contract."

"In recent years, the Maple Leafs not only lost their Stanley Cup edge to clubs such as the Detroit Red Wings, Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes, but watched some of the best players on those teams become front-office prodigies. But in naming Joe Nieuwendyk as general manager Cliff Fletcher's special assistant yesterday, the Leafs have their own rising star in management to match Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, Ron Francis and Al MacInnis. Fletcher, who drafted the Whitby native from Cornell University for the Calgary Flames in 1985, laid out the 41-year-old's job description as "assisting me with everything from the big team, to the farm club to scouting.""

"Twenty-three years ago, Cliff Fletcher was at Cornell University in upstate New York with his son when he decided to take in a practice for the school's hockey team. At the practice, Fletcher noticed a tall, thin and skilled kid from Whitby. Joe Nieuwendyk stood out, and Fletcher had his scouts with the Calgary Flames follow the gifted forward through much of Cornell's regular season that year. "It was on a Monday," Fletcher recalled about watching the practice. "I was up there interviewing with my son, who was looking at universities where he could pursue his education. My son was interviewing, so I decided to watch this optional practice.""

"Panthers' defenseman Jay Bouwmeester has elected to take the team to salary arbitration, the NHL Players Association announced on Saturday. The league's deadline for filing was 5 p.m. Hearings will be held July 20 to Aug. 4. Bouwmeester's agent, Bryon Baltimore, said his hearing date hasn't yet been determined. Bouwmeester, a restricted free agent, was awarded a two-year, $4.35 million contract when the Panthers took him to arbitration in July 2006."

"Rory Fitzpatrick - the subject of a write-in campaign for the 2007 NHL All-Star Game - was among four free agents the Panthers signed Thursday. Fitzpatrick will be given a chance to make the team in training camp, but he and the other three are expected to spend most of next season at the team's AHL affiliate in Rochester, N.Y. Other signees included forward Steve McIntyre, goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu and defenseman James DeLory. McIntyre and Beckford-Tseu signed for two years, while DeLory signed a three-year entry level contract."

"As reporters started to hang up from Tuesday's conference call, Panthers general manager Jacques Martin was upbeat: ''I think this is an exciting day for us! We got a 20-goal scorer, a veteran guy!'' he said. Maybe Martin knew the name Cory Stillman held only a Survivor camp's level of electricity for most Panthers fans as a free agent signing for three years, $10 million. You probably couldn't fill an airplane closet with the number of Cory Stillman jerseys sold during his 14-year career, but you probably could fill a small bus with general managers who want a Stillman type on their rosters."

"The Panthers signed left wing Cory Stillman to a three-year contract Tuesday, striking on the first day of free agency to bolster their scoring and veteran leadership. The deal is worth $10.6 million. Stillman made $1.7 million last season. "I think he'll be able to really help our top two lines, bring some production we had lost," Panthers General Manager Jacques Martin said. "But also he'll fit in. I think he's a good character. ... He was very much a player we targeted. We felt he brought dimensions we were looking for.""

"The Florida Panthers signed forward Cory Stillman to a three-year, US$10.6-million deal Tuesday, shortly after the start of NHL free agency Tuesday. "I think we've got a great fit, a player that has the ability to score some goals and a smart player," general manager Jacques Martin said. Stillman, 34, scored 24 goals and had 41 assists last season with the Ottawa Senators and Carolina Hurricanes."

"Guy Charron said Monday night he would not return as part of the Panthers' coaching staff next season. Charron, who was an assistant coach to Jacques Martin the past three seasons, said new coach Peter DeBoer told him he would not be retained. Charron interviewed with DeBoer at the draft in Ottawa less than two weeks ago, as did fellow assistants Mike Kitchen and Pierre Groulx, who DeBoer has decided to keep. "You always feel, 'why are you not wanted?', but it's fair to allow him to decide who he'd like to work with," Charron said."

"The Panthers were busy shoppers on the first day of free agency last July 1, scooping up two forwards in the first two hours and a third forward late in the afternoon. Then they cruised through the checkout lane. This year, their cart may stay empty. General Manager Jacques Martin said late last week he didn't know whether the Panthers would be active, adding he'd have to spend the weekend looking at the unrestricted free agents available and evaluating their cost — "whether it's a wise investment or not." It would seem the Panthers would want to acquire at least one scoring forward since they traded away leading scorer Olli Jokinen at the draft less than two weeks ago. If that's ..."

"On the eve of Tuesday's start of the NHL free agency signing period, the Panthers locked down left wing Rostislav Olesz with a six-year deal. Olesz would have been a restricted free agent, meaning he would have been able to receive offers from other teams, but the Panthers would have had the right to match the offer or get compensation for Olesz in the form of draft picks."

"Depending on which of his friends you believe, Sundin is not really enamoured with the supposed frontrunners, Montreal and Detroit, would consider the New York Rangers or Florida Panthers, but is also having trouble coming to grips with a final divorce from the Leafs. Fletcher does not want to talk about Sundin's successor as captain until it's clear he's not returning to Toronto, but it's going to be a favourite guessing game of Maple Leafs' fans between July and opening night in October. The Leafs will consider starting 2008-09 without anyone wearing the C, especially with two alternates, Bryan McCabe and Darcy Tucker, no longer in the team's plans."

"Versatile forward Gregory Campbell became one of the Panthers' first restricted free agents to sign an extension with the team Thursday. Campbell, 24, signed a two-year deal believed to be worth about $1.2 million after playing for $525,000 last season. "He's one of the kids that's got a lot of character," General Manager Jacques Martin said. "He's improving, works hard, brings a physical dimension and there's an upside there.""

"Last June, the Panthers gave veteran forward Jozef Stumpel a two-year, $4.5 million contract. Now they're going to pay him to leave. Stumpel, 35, was placed on waivers Wednesday, and if he clears by noon today as expected, the team will buy out the final year of his contract. In doing so, the Panthers would have to pay Stumpel $1.485 million — two-thirds of his salary for 2008-09. That amount can be spread out over two years. General Manager Jacques Martin said he would have made the move even if Stumpel's salary were considerably less."

"Panthers veteran forward Jozef Stumpel was placed on unconditional waivers Wednesday. If Stumpel, 35, isn't claimed by another team by noon Thursday and clears waivers, the Panthers' next move would likely be to buy out the remaining year on Stumpel's contract. Buying out Stumpel's contract would mean the Panthers would be responsible for paying him two-thirds of his $2.25 million salary for the 2008-09 season."

"An e-mail sent to some Panthers season-ticket holders by a Panthers account executive excoriated recently traded Panthers captain Olli Jokinen as playing ''with little heart or passion'' and showing ``no leadership or improvement.'' This two-hand slash to the character of Jokinen, Panthers captain from October 2003 until his trade to Phoenix on Saturday for two defensemen and a second-round draft pick, came in a three-paragraph e-mail Tuesday morning from Ryan Powers, an account executive for Sunrise Sports"

"Many hockey fans in South Florida didn't know much about Ballard when general manager Jacques Martin made the deal Friday night at the NHL Draft, with Phoenix playing the Panthers only twice in the past three seasons. By most accounts, Florida is getting an outstanding defenseman in Ballard, a player versatile enough to play both a physical game as well as be an asset on offense."

"The Canadiens maintain exclusive rights to sign the Maple Leafs captain prior to free agency on July 1, but there is a growing feeling Sundin will let next Tuesday's deadline pass and examine offers from the NHL at large. In that case, count the Rangers in the hunt, as well as the Red Wings, who have about $12-million US in cap space to play with, but likely won't pay Sundin more than their long-serving star Nicklas Lidstrom ($7.45 million). A dark horse could be the Florida Panthers, who have an opening for a No. 1 centre and captain after Olli Jokinen was traded and an enthusiastic welcoming committee in ex-Leaf Wade Belak. "Yeah, I've been working on him, bugging him at the end ..."

"Wade Redden is getting ready to say goodbye. The Senators defenceman has resigned himself to the fact that after a decade wearing No. 6 for Ottawa, the time has come for both sides to move on. This morning he'll head back to Lloydminster, Alta., as he readies himself for the free-agent period which begins on July 1...The Florida Panthers, New York Rangers and Edmonton Oilers are among the teams expected to make a pitch."

"The business end of hockey caught up with Keith Ballard. Ballard, one of the most popular players in Phoenix whose hip checks brought the crowd to its feet many times, says it is time to look ahead after his trade, along with fellow defenseman Nick Boynton, to the Florida Panthers for Olli Jokinen. "I was a little shocked, but at the same time I understand it's part of the game, the business part," Ballard said Saturday. "I understand Phoenix needed a good big forward, and you've got to give up guys to get guys."

"The Panthers continued a defensive trend at the NHL Entry Draft on Saturday, selecting a Swedish goalie with their first pick in the second round before taking a pair of defensemen with their next two selections. With the opening pick of the second round, Florida took goalie Jacob Markstrom, a lanky netminder who will spend the next two seasons in Sweden. Last season, Markstrom split time with the junior and major programs in Brynas, Sweden. During his stint with the elite team, he out-dueled former Florida goalie Ed Belfour in two games."

"With the Panthers not making any other player moves at Saturday's draft, it is apparent Florida will be going after offense when the free agency period begins July 1. Jokinen was Florida's leading scorer the past five seasons, averaging 37 goals per season since the end of the lockout three years ago. The Panthers probably will target one or two forwards, likely with a similar mind set they had last summer when the team signed Brett McLean, Richard Zednik and Radek Dvorak for a combined 2007-08 salary of less than $5 million."

"General Manager Jacques Martin's mission this offseason was to improve the depth and quality of the Panthers' blue line. He used Friday and Saturday at the NHL Draft to complete that task and stock up for the future. The morning after the Panthers traded their leading scorer, 29-year-old center Olli Jokinen, to Phoenix for puck-moving defensemen Keith Ballard, 25, and Nick Boynton, 29, they used three of their five draft picks on defensemen. "The draft happened to be deep in defense," Martin said. "That's why we seem to have gone that way this year.""

"The Panthers continued to address their needs in the 2008 NHL entry draft Saturday, selecting the top-rated European goaltender and a Canadian defenseman with their two second-round picks. With questions surrounding their two goaltending prospects, David Shantz and Tyler Plante, the Panthers added depth with Swedish netminder Jacob Markstrom. And even after bolstering their defense a day earlier, when they acquired blue-liners Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton from Phoenix, they got another highly-rated prospect in Colby Robak of Brandon and Adam Comrie of Saginaw. Florida selected its first forward of the draft, left wing A.J. Jenks of Plymouth, in the fourth round."

"How many franchises can claim they screwed up so many other things that the best trade in their team's history led to zero playoff games for them by any of the players they acquired? The Panthers can. Friday's trade of captain Olli Jokinen, although possibly the best deal they could get (we will get to that later), might have been the start of something all the same. Two defensemen, 29-year-old Nick Boynton and 25-year-old Keith Ballard, plus a second-round pick the Panthers will use Saturday comprised Phoenix's dowry for Jokinen."

"The Coyotes gave their lineup a major boost of offense on Friday, acquiring 30-goal scorer Olli Jokinen from the Florida Panthers for defensemen Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton and the 49th pick in this year's draft. Jokinen, a 29-year-old center, has tallied at least 30 goals four times in his career and last season led the Panthers with 34 goals and 37 assists in 82 games. His best season came in 2006-07, when he finished with 39 goals and 91 points."

"The Coyotes got the prize they were seeking before they made their first pick in the NHL draft. And even then, they weren't through wheeling and dealing. Phoenix was mentioned only in passing as a possible destination for high-scoring Olli Jokinen. But when the surprise deal was finalized, the Coyotes acquired the Florida Panthers captain in a trade, filling one of their biggest needs. The Coyotes gave up defensemen Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton, and a second-round pick (49th overall)."