Panthers sign Upshall, Jovanovski

[Guest]

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The Florida Panthers have been active so far on Free Agent Frenzy day in the NHL adding several veterans to their locker-room. The Panthers have signed defenceman Ed Jovanovksi, right-winger Scottie Upshall and goaltender Jose Theodore to deals.

Jovanovksi signed a four-year $16.5 million deal with the club. Upshall's deal is worth $14 million over four years while Theodore signed a two-year $3 million contract.

For Jovanovski, the deal with Florida takes him back to where his career began. The big defenceman was drafted with the first overall pick in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft by the Panters and spent the first three and a half seasons of his career with the team.

He spent the last six seasons with the Phoenix Coyotes and scored five goals and 14 points in 50 games with the team last year.

The 35-year-old has 133 goals and 481 points in 1,019 career NHL games.

Upshall scored a career-best 24 goals and 34 points splitting time between the Phoenix Coyotes and Columbus Blue Jackets last season

He has 86 goals and 86 assists in 361 career games. Upshall was originally drafted with the sixth overall selection by the Nashville Predators in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=370580

Dale Tallon at it again. Over $4 million annually for four years for Jovanovski, who is a leader but is also 35 and has a lot of miles on his body. They are moves to get to the cap floor and improve the team, but damn that is not a good contract.

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Awesome, JOVOCOP is back!!

Upshall is a nice signing.

[Guest]

Panthers also add Flash, making five new players today, three of whom are wingers.

Flash is an interesting case. He has worlds of potential, but the clotting issue in his leg is a huge red flag for me. In addition, he is also extremely inconsistent. He could be a difference maker for the Panthers if he can develop that consistency. I think Florida gave him way too many years though- I think a two year deal is the max I would have offered.

Fleischmann agreed to a four-year deal with the Panthers worth $18 Million.

Fleischmann finished last season with the Colorado Avalanche after a mid season deal saw the veteran forward leave the Washington Capitals where he had spent his entire career.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=370580

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Cats still not at the cap floor...



Overpaying, definitely. However, no one is coming to Florida for market or less than market value...gotta give them extra incentive. Plus, they have the ability to overpay considering they have a junk load of cap room.

The years are irrelevant as, again, the main pieces on this team going forward won't be up for extensions until after these junk deals come off the books.

[Guest]

Cats still not at the cap floor...



Overpaying, definitely. However, no one is coming to Florida for market or less than market value...gotta give them extra incentive. Plus, they have the ability to overpay considering they have a junk load of cap room.

The years are irrelevant as, again, the main pieces on this team going forward won't be up for extensions until after these junk deals come off the books.

At this point, if I am the Panthers, I would overpay for Richards. Get that difference-maker in there on offense and, combined with the signings so far, you immediately change the aspect of the offense and you have to think they have a good shot at the playoffs.

[wr50l]

Richards wouldn't consider going to Florida.

[Guest]

Richards wouldn't consider going to Florida.

He used to play with the Lightning and there is no state tax in Florida. If they overpaid him, Richards could consider it as a destination. At the very least, what is the harm in thinking about it or offering him a deal?

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

One thing to not forget about the Jovo signing...he is the original "Mr. Panther"...down here, no one will really care, but its a good guy to have around...the fans that show up will love cheering for Jovo. Not to the tune of 4M/yr, but whatever. I know I'll be in the lower level with my old Jovo jersey going nuts.

[Herm]

Upshall is a nice player for that price.

[wr50l]

He used to play with the Lightning and there is no state tax in Florida. If they overpaid him, Richards could consider it as a destination. At the very least, what is the harm in thinking about it or offering him a deal?

Well Tampa is not Florida in the team sense and like I said to someone else wikipedia knew the answer to this days ago and why people continued to discuss possibilities I'll never know. LA could have Drew Doughty re-signed by now if they'd just checked wikipedia.

[Hasselbeck]

How are the Panthers still in existence? Move this team to Canada already

[Ravin]

lol @ thinking state taxes have anything to do with players choices in where they want to play.

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

How are the Panthers still in existence? Move this team to Canada already

Locked into a contract with their arena.

Believe it or not, until they became the Pittsburgh Pirates / Detroit Lions, and they still played in Miami Arena, they used to be a nice attraction down here.

Then they moved to Sunrise and had a decade of sucktitude and they've kind of cooled down as an event.

If they get back to winning, people will go to the games.

[Spidey]

Best of luck to Flash. Played pretty well for the Avs for the short time he was able to. Would have loved to keep him around. However I have read the altitude doesn't help with his pulmonary embolisms so if true, can't blame either for parting ways.