Panthers Acquire Wojtek Wolski from NY Rangers

The Florida Panthers announced on Saturday that they have acquired center Wojtek Wolski from the New York Rangers in exchange for defenseman Michael Vernace and a third round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft. Wolski will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer, while Vernace will be eligible for group six unrestricted free agency. In nine games this season with the Rangers, Wolski had three assists. He also appeared in six games with Connecticut of the AHL, scoring three goals and two assists for five points. He missed 31 games earlier this season with a groin injury. Vernace has appeared in 44 games with Norfolk and San Antonio of the AHL, scoring two goals and 14 assists for 16 points. He last played in an NHL game during the 2010-11 season with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Panthers have added some offensive depth in Wolski, but he has always been an enigmatic scorer at the NHL level. Perhaps the change of scenery can help him get his offensive game back on track. If he can improve his game, then he could be a decent top-six forward for the Panthers. As for the Rangers, Wolski was hardly being used by the team, so the move comes as no surprise. By the looks of it, the team could be moving some salary to make way for a larger trade, so keep an eye on the Rangers over the next two days as the Trade Deadline approaches. As for Vernace, he will likely spend the remainder of the season in the minors.

Panthers Acquire Jerred Smithson from Predators

The Florida Panthers announced on Monday that they have acquired center Jerred Smithson from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a sixth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. He still has one more year remaining on his current contract. In 53 games so far this season, he has one goal and four assists for five points. Not a bad pick-up for the Panthers, as Smithson will bring plenty of defensive skill and grit to the forward lines. He's also a hard working forward on the ice and is versatile enough to play on the wing, so he should be a good addition to Florida's checking lines. Predators fans will likely be disappointed to see Smithson go, as he was a mainstay on their checking lines since the 2005-06 season. One has to wonder, though, if the Predators made this move to clear a little bit of space to make another trade over the next couple of days.

Panthers Sign Tyson Strachan to One-Year Extension

The Florida Panthers have announced that they have signed defenseman Tyson Strachan to a one-year contract extension worth $600,000. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 11 games so far this season with the Panthers, he has one goal and two assists for three points. He has also appeared in 32 games with San Antonio of the AHL, scoring three goals and nine assists for 12 points. Since being recalled from the minors, Strachan has been a steady blueliner on the team, so a one-year extension is a good move for the Panthers. He will likely continue to play a depth role on defense next season in the event there injuries on Florida's blueline.

Sharks Acquire Tim Kennedy from Panthers for Sean Sullivan

The San Jose Sharks announced today that they have acquired center Tim Kennedy from the Florida Panthers in exchange for defenseman Sean Sullivan. In 27 games this season with the Panthers, Kennedy has one goal and one assist. He has also appeared in 18 games with San Antonio of the AHL, scoring three goals and six assists for nine points. Sullivan has five goals and 19 assists for 24 points in 32 games with Worcester of the AHL. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. This is a depth move at best for both teams. Kennedy could see some time on the Sharks' roster as a fourth line forward, while Sullivan will likely remain in the minors for the rest of the season.

Hurricanes Acquire Dadonov from Panthers in Four-Player Trade

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that they have acquired right wing Evgeni Dadonov and left wing A.J. Jenks from the Florida Panthers in exchange for center Jonathan Matsumoto and left wing Mattias Lindstrom. In 15 games this season with the Panthers, Dadonov has two goals and one assist for three points. He has also appeared in 22 games with San Antonio and Charlotte of the AHL, scoring five goals and four assists for nine points. Jenks has appeared in 27 games with San Antonio and Charlotte, scoring no points. He also has three goals and three assists for six points in 13 games with Cincinnati of the ECHL. In 44 games with Charlotte and San Antonio, Matsumoto has 16 goals and 23 assists for 39 points, while Lindstrom has two assists in 21 games with Tingsryds AIF of the Swedish Elite League.

For the Hurricanes, Dadonov is the key player in this transaction. He has shown flashes of brilliance at the NHL level, but was never very consistent with the Panthers. He has plenty of scoring upside and some puck-control skill, so the change of scenery might do him some good. However, if Dadonov is unable to improve his game, it's possible he could head back to his native Russia in the off-season. Jenks has a little offensive upside, but for now, he will remain in the minors to improve his overall game. For the Panthers, Lindstrom is the key player in the deal. He has some offensive upside and could see some NHL action down the road. Matsumoto gives the team some depth at center, and could see some time in the NHL if injuries continue to mount for the Panthers.

Stars Acquire Angelo Esposito from Panthers

The Dallas Stars announced on Friday that they have acquired center Angelo Esposito from the Florida Panthers in exchange for center Ondrej Roman. Both players will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer. In 16 games this season with San Antonio of the AHL, Esposito has two goals and three assists for five points. He also appeared in three games with Cincinnati of the ECHL, scoring one assist. In 24 games this season with Texas of the AHL, Roman has one goal and four assists for five points. He has also appeared in six games with Idaho of the ECHL, scoring two goals and four assists for six points. Both players have yet to appear in an NHL game. This is really just a depth move for the Stars, as Esposito has struggled mightily since entering the minor league ranks a couple seasons ago. Once projected to be the first overall pick in the 2007 draft, his stock began to drop during the 2006-07 season. Since then, he has not been able to crack an NHL roster and has seen himself traded several times in the process. Perhaps the change of scenery will help him improve his offensive game a little bit, but more than likely, his offensive output will continue to be low. As for the Panthers, Roman will be a depth player at best for them and will likely remain in the minors for the rest of the season.

Panthers Sign John Madden to One-Year Contract

The Florida Panthers announced today that they have signed center John Madden to a one-year contract. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In 76 games last season with the Minnesota Wild, he had 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Panthers, as Madden will bring some two-way skill to the forward lines. He also brings plenty of leadership, shutdown skill, and penalty kill experience to a Panthers' team that is currently battered with injuries on offense. He should be a welcome addition to the team.

Panthers Sign Bill Thomas to One-Year Contract

The Florida Panthers have announced that they have signed right wing Bill Thomas to a one-year, two-way contract. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He appeared in 24 games with the Panthers last season, scoring four goals and three assists for seven points. In 25 games this season with San Antonio of the AHL, he has nine goals and eight assists for 17 points. This is really just a depth signing for the Panthers, as Thomas will likely play on the fourth line if he sees any NHL action this season.

Panthers Acquire Krys Barch from Stars for Jake Hauswirth

The Florida Panthers announced on Wednesday that they have acquired right wing Krys Barch and a sixth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft from the Dallas Stars in exchange for left wing Jake Hauswirth and a fifth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. In 10 games with the Stars this season, Barch has no points and 23 penalty minutes. Hauswirth has six goals and six assists for 12 points in 17 games with Rio Grande of the CHL. Not a bad depth move for the Panthers, as the team was in need of an enforcer and Barch will help fill that role. He plays with lots of grit and toughness, but don't expect him to score very many points, as he doesn't have a lot of offensive skill. He wasn't being used very much in Dallas so he should see more ice time in Florida. As for the Stars, they get a marginal prospect in Hauswirth who has some bottom-six forward skill, but is probably still a few seasons away from seeing any NHL action.

Lightning Acquire Oberg, Kostka from Panthers for Wright, Vernace

The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced that they have acquired defensemen Evan Oberg and Michael Kostka from the Florida Panthers in exchange for center James Wright and defenseman Michael Vernace. In 12 games with San Antonio of the AHL, Oberg has two assists, while Kostka has two goals and four assists for six points in 18 games with San Antonio. In 22 games with Norfolk of the AHL, Wright has one goal and four assists for five points, while Vernace has two goals and 10 assists for 12 points in 22 games with Norfolk. This is really just a depth move for both teams, as all four players will likely spend the majority of the season in the minors.

Panthers Sign Shawn Matthias to Two-Year Contract

The Florida Panthers have announced that they have signed center Shawn Matthias to a two-year contract worth $1.703 million. The deal is two-way for the 2011-12 season and will pay him $803,000 at the NHL level and $62,500 at the AHL level. For the 2012-13 season, the contract is one-way and is worth $900,000. In 51 games last season, he had six goals and 10 assists for 16 points. He missed 27 games late in the season with an ankle injury. Not a bad depth signing for the Panthers, as Matthias has good size, plenty of two-way ability, and some offensive upside. However, given the veteran depth already on the roster, as well as players like Evgeni Dadonov, Ryan Carter, and Tim Kennedy fighting for roster spots, Matthias will likely find himself fighting for a spot on the team at training camp.

Coyotes Acquire Marc Cheverie from Panthers for Justin Bernhardt

The Phoenix Coyotes have announced that they have acquired goaltender Marc Cheverie from the Florida Panthers in exchange for center Justin Bernhardt. In 15 games last season with Rochester of the AHL, Cheverie posted a 2-7-1 record, with a 3.91 GAA and a .888 save percentage. He also appeared in 30 games with Cincinnati of the ECHL, posting a 13-9-5 record, three shutouts, a 3.11 GAA, and a .896 save percentage. Bernhardt played in 47 games last season with Las Vegas of the ECHL, scoring six goals and 19 assists for 25 points. This is really just a depth trade for both teams, as Cheverie and Bernhardt will likely spend all of next season in the minors.

Panthers Re-Sign Mike Santorelli to Two-Year Contract

The Florida Panthers have announced that they have re-signed center Mike Santorelli to a two-year contract. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In all 82 games last season, he had 20 goals and 21 assists for 41 points. Not a bad signing for the Panthers, as Santorelli played well in his first full season in the NHL. He has plenty of offensive upside, is a decent playmaker, and is versatile enough to play on both wings. Look for him to have another fine season in 2011-12.

Panthers Sign Matt Bradley to Two-Year Contract

The Florida Panthers have announced that they have signed right wing Matt Bradley to a two-year contract. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In 61 games last season with the Washington Capitals, he had four goals and seven assists for 11 points and 68 penalty minutes. He missed five games early in the 2010-11 campaign with a lower body injury and another 14 games later in the season with a broken finger. Not a bad signing for the Panthers, as Bradley will bring plenty of grit and toughness to the forward lines. He also plays with lots of energy, skates well, and will drop the gloves to protect his teammates, making him an effective checking line forward for the team.

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.

Panthers Acquire Kris Versteeg from Flyers

The Florida Panthers continued to re-vamp their roster on the first day of free agency by acquiring right wing Kris Versteeg from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a second round draft pick in 2012 or 2013 and a third round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. He has one more year left on his current contract. In 80 games last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers, he had 21 goals and 25 assists for 46 points. This is a good trade for the Panthers, as Versteeg brings plenty of offensive skill to the forward lines. He will also add some skill to the power play and penalty kill, as well as a little bit of grit. Versteeg will likely play on the top line for the Panthers next season. The move also helps Florida get closer to the salary cap floor, while the Flyers cut some salary as they continue to retool their team.

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.

Panthers Sign Jose Theodore, Scottie Upshall, Ed Jovanovski

The Florida Panthers were very busy in the opening hours of free agency on July 1 by signing goaltender Jose Theodore to a two-year contract worth $3 million and right wing Scottie Upshall and defenseman Ed Jovanovski to four-year contracts worth $14 million and $16.5 million, respectively. Theodore's contract will pay him $1.5 million per season, Upshall's will pay him $3.5 million per season, and Jovanovski will get $4.125 million each year. In 32 games last season with the Minnesota Wild, Theodore posted a 15-11-3 record, one shutout, a 2.71 GAA, and a .916 save percentage. Upshall appeared in 82 games last season with the Phoenix Coyotes and Columbus Blue Jackets, scoring 22 goals and 12 assists for 34 points. In 50 games last season with the Phoenix Coyotes, Jovanovski had five goals and nine assists for 14 points and 39 penalty minutes. These are good signings for the Panthers, as all three players will greatly improve the team at their respective positions. Theodore will bring lots of depth and experience in goal for the team. He has excellent positioning and is very agile and will likely begin the 2011-12 season as Florida's starting goaltender. Upshall will bring lots of experience and offensive skill to the wing, as well as plenty of grit and energy despite being a bit prone to injury. Jovanovski will bring plenty of size, aggression, grit, and veteran depth to the blueline. He will also brings loads of leadership to the rebuilding club. Plus, this will be Jovanovski's second stint with the Panthers, where he previously played from 1995 to 1999, and will likely be welcomed back warmly by the fans.

Panthers Sign Tomas Kopecky to Four-Year Contract

Just days after acquiring right wing Tomas Kopecky from the Chicago Blackhawks, the Florida Panthers have signed him to a four-year contract worth $12 million. The deal will pay him $3 million per season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 81 games last season with the Blackhawks, he had 15 goals and 27 assists for 42 points. He has won two Stanley Cups thus far in his career, one with Detroit in 2008 and one with Chicago in 2010. Not a bad signing for the Panthers, as Kopecky will bring plenty of offensive depth, two-way skill, and grit to the forward lines. $3 million seems a bit much for him given his skill level, but the Panthers are still approximately $23 million below the salary cap floor, so they've got to continue to add some salary to their team.

Panthers Acquire Tomas Kopecky from Blackhawks

The Florida Panthers announced on Monday that they have acquired the negotiating rights to right wing Tomas Kopecky from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a seventh round pick in the 2012 or 2013 Entry Draft. The Panthers' seventh round pick in the 2012 draft is currently held by the Nashville Predators as a conditional pick. If the Predators don't meet the conditions for the pick, the Blackhawks will receive it. Otherwise, Chicago will get Florida's seventh round pick in 2013. Kopecky is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 81 games last season with the Blackhawks, he had 15 goals and 27 assists for 42 points. Not a bad trade for the Panthers, assuming they can sign Kopecky to a contract. If Florida can get him signed, he will bring plenty of two-way skill and grit to the forward lines, as well as a little offensive depth.