Panthers Sign Marcel Goc and Tomas Fleischmann

The Florida Panthers continued to add more talent to their team on the first day of free agency by signing center Marcel Goc to a three-year contract worth $5.1 million and left wing Tomas Fleischmann to a four-year contract worth $18 million. Goc's deal will pay him $1.7 million per season, while Fleischmann will get $4.5 million per year. In 51 games last season with the Nashville Predators, Goc had nine goals and 15 assists for 24 points. He missed the last 24 games of the 2010-11 regular season and all 12 of Nashville's playoff games with an upper body injury. Fleischmann had 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points in 45 games with the Washington Capitals and Colorado Avalanche. He missed the last 36 games of the regular season with blood clots in his lungs. These are decent signings for the Panthers, as both players will bring plenty of offensive depth to the forward lines. Goc gives the team plenty of two-way ability up the middle, as well as some speed and skill on the faceoff. He should make a good checking line center for the Panthers. Fleischmann brings the team lots of skill on the wing and is now fully recovered from the blood clots found in his lungs this past January. He is a decent passer and stickhandler who is also versatile enough to play at center. Look for him to play on Florida's top line next season alongside Stephen Weiss.