Panthers Sign Sean Bergenheim and Nolan Yonkman

The Florida Panthers continued to re-vamp their roster on the first day of free agency by signing left wing Sean Bergenheim to a four-year contract worth $11 million and defenseman Nolan Yonkman to a two-year contract. The financial terms of his deal were not disclosed, while Bergenheim's deal will average out to $2.75 million per season. In 80 games last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Bergenheim had 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points. He added nine goals and two assists for 11 points in 16 playoff games. In 16 games last season with the Phoenix Coyotes, Yonkman had one assist and 39 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 56 games with San Antonio of the AHL, scoring one goal and four assists for five points and 104 penalty minutes. Bergenheim isn't a bad signing for the Panthers, as he will bring plenty of two-way skill and good skating to the wing despite being a bit inconsistent in his scoring. Yonkman is just a depth signing and will likely spend much of next season in the minors. If he sees any time with the Panthers, he will bring lots of grit and physical play to the blueline as a sixth or seventh defenseman.