This might be the most optimistic last place team you'll ever see. Florida GM Dale Tallon, known for his propensity to pull off many deals and trades throughout the year, stood pat today outside of trading Jarred Smithson to Edmonton for a 4th round pick.
No one in or around the Panther organization should be surprised by this, as they have won 3 games in a row for the first time this season, and the youth movement keeps churning. Tallon likes the players he's assembled. If the snakebit Panthers were ever healthy this year, they likely would be talking playoffs right now.
As it turns out, trades were not needed to improve the team for the present and future.
The Panthers admitted they were worried about 2010 first round pick Nick Bjugstad returning to Minnesota for his senior season, which would have resulted in him becoming a free agent next summer. But Bjugstad signed a 3-year entry level deal Wednesday and will make his Panthers debut Saturday night.
"I'm very excited,'' Bjugstad said. "It's been pretty hectic today, but I'm very excited."
"It was just kind of waiting it out to see what would happen, what the deal was,'' Bjugstad said. "Then I got the call. I'm pretty excited and thankful for what I've got going as well. It should be fun. It's a whirlwind. I'm packing up all my stuff, getting ready to get to Florida.
"It's pretty surreal. I just got done playing my final college game which was a tough one. But it makes it easier knowing I'm jumping into the NHL. It's very exciting. I'm sure the nerves will be going a little bit.''
Nerves or not, it will be the first time the heralded 2010 draft class of Erik Gudbranson, Quinton Howden, and Bjugstad will be on the ice together. The potential additions of Vincent Trocheck, Rocco Grimaldi, Wade Megan, Alex Petrovic, Mike Matheson, Colby Robak and others to the mix in the near future make the pain of this season much more palatable.
On the surface it looks like the Panthers took a step back this year.
Last season was one of amazing achievements as they won their first division championship in franchise history and made the playoffs for the first time in twelve years.
This shortened season they were beat up from the get go and just as they are starting to play well it is probably too late. What would be gearing up for a playoff push is more like the end of the season rushing upon them.
That is the reason for optimism. While this "season" is a wash for the most part, Tallon deserves credit for sticking to his guns. "When you're at the bottom,'' Tallon said, "teams just expect you to panic and give up players. That's not going to happen here.''
Dan Spiegel...
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