Panthers Continue To Open Wallet For Theodore, Jovanovski, Upshall & Goc

Florida Panthers general manager Dave Tallon apparently isn't kidding around with his desire to change the organization around from consistent cellar-dweller to contender and he's throwing money around as if it's going out of style. Through just about two hours of free agency on Friday, Tallon brought in four new faces to the Panthers franchise at a total of $38.6 million.

In a move that basically calls an end to Tomas Vokoun's run between the pipes in Florida, the Panthers inked Jose Theodore to a two-year deal worth $3 million. Scottie Upshall was signed for four years at $14 million to bring his 20-goal ability to Florida. Ed Jovanovski joins Brian Campbell (acquired during the draft from Chicago) as another high-priced blueliner by returning to Florida for $16.5 million over four years. And Marcel Goc will get $5.1 million over three years.

I'm sure most, if not all, of these moves were made in part by Tallon as a way to meet the $48.3 million minimum allowable payroll per terms of the CBA - something several teams throughout the NHL need to work toward. These moves also provide a mixed bag of highly questionable additions and ones that can certainly pay off for the Panthers.

When the Panthers traded for Campbell and the remaining five years of his contract at a cap hit of $7,142,875, it was certainly in part because they needed to add the salary. But Tallon was the guy who handed him the contract while GM of the Blackhawks and believed their history together would benefit the Panthers organization. Giving Jovanovski a huge deal at a $4.125 million cap hit per year is a little less explainable. He's still decent, but hasn't lit the world on fire recently with the Phoenix Coyotes and is nearing the tailend of his career at 35 years old. A four-year contract at high-end money is a debatable gamble for somebody with just 14 points and 32 missed games last year. Having Campbell at his salary and remaining years was risk enough.

Contrarily, Upshall is a nice compliment forward who finally broke the 20-goal plateau last year in time split between the Coyotes and Columbus Blue Jackets. The 27-year old is nice for depth, but could potentially see top-six minutes on a Florida team with more open spots on the top two lines. At $3.5 million per year, he's perhaps a bit overpaid at a $1.25 million raise over last year. But he has a style of play that fits Florida and should have a greater impression on their team as they attempt to move in a winning direction.

Theodore at $1.5 million is a cheaper route than what Vokoun likely would have cost and provides Florida with a goaltender that can play excellent when not forced to carry a heavy load of the NHL schedule. But by adding a guy who can at least split time with Scott Clemmenson, Tallon has provided Florida a nice 1-2 punch in goal that is extraordinarily cost efficient.

Goc, 27, is a decent third-fourth line pickup that is coming off an upper body injury that cost him the final 24 games of the regular season and all playoff contests with the Nashville Predators last year. He's not a superstar, but did put up 12 points and 30 points two years ago with the Preds, making a $1.7 million annual salary a low committment to a player that clearly has potential based on his first round (20th overall) selection from 2001 with the Sharks.

Shockingly, the Panthers still are not at the lower boundary of cap compliance. They sit at just under $37 million, according to capgeek.com, and will need to add almost $11 million before the start of the regular season. But Tallon is clearly making moves - some good, others questionable - to add that salary and change the culture of losing hockey in Florida.