Panthers Remember They Still Have More Money To Spend, Ink Bergenheim

Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon was going to call it a night. But then he remembers, "Hey! I still have to spend some more money!" He looked at who was available, figured a deal with left wing and Tampa Bay Lightning postseason standout Sean Bergenheim wouldn't take too long to hammer out (15 minutes to be exact) and pulled the trigger on his sixth free agent signing - seventh overall transaction - of the day. That salary floor is getting nearer and nearer.

Thanks largely to a playoff performance for the Lightning that included nine goals and 11 points in 16 games en route to an Eastern Conference Finals appearance, Bergenheim received a payday from the other Florida team at a rate of $2.75 million per season over the course of four years.

Now, Bergenheim is basically a 20-30 point regular season contributor and has no real playoff success to his record prior to last year. But when teams have money to just throw around, and Joel Ward just inked a $3 million per year deal with the Washington Capitals for essentially pulling off a similar postseason uptick in performance, financial gain tends to follow.

For all this insane spending on Day 1 of free agency, I do wonder if Tallon is really just spending money to reach the cap floor or if he genuinely has any kind of clue about how all of the new pieces are actually going to come together as a team. There is still no actual superstar in their organization - just a bunch of compliment pieces.

Panthers Keep Hurling Money, Some Lands In Fleischmann's Lap

It has to be fun spending somebody else's money. That's what Florida Panthers general manager Dave Tallon has been doing today with almost reckless reguard. He needs to hit the minimum salary of $48.3 million and dishing out some wealthy contracts to get that accomplished in almost record timing. He had already added Brian Campbell's monstrous contract before Friday. Then he added Jose Theodore, Scottie Upshall, Ed Jovanovski, Marcel Goc and Kris Versteeg between four signings and a trade to add some talent and a higher payroll to make the Panthers cap compliant. But Tallon had another move up his sleeve.

Perhaps an underrated center because of injury but no schlub in performance Tomas Fleischmann was able to snag some of the money being thrown around today by the Panthers as its latest addition. He joins the party for the next four years at the sum of $18 million.

Fleischmann split time last season between Washington and Colorado, putting up a total of 12 goals and 31 points in 45 games combined before missing the final 36 games of the season due to a chest injury. He did also miss 13 games in 2009-10, but was able to post 23 goals and 51 points.

Suiting up for at least 70 games and putting up the plus-20 goal campaign like two years ago would make this a reasonable investment for Florida - and a much cheaper option at center than what the big dog Brad Richards is going to command. Plus, Tallon continues to work the Panthers toward that salary floor.

It's an overpayment, but not the worst we've seen today. That may just be one of Tallon's other investments from today.

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.

Oilers Select C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins With First Overall Pick

The first overall selection in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft went to the same team that possessed the pick a year ago - the Edmonton Oilers. In 2010, the question presented to them was a simply matter of Taylor (Hall) or Tyler (Seguin). This year, it was a bit more complicated. Did general manager Steve Tambellini want to continue building his team's offense, fill a position that is lacking on defense or perhaps even trade the pick to move down and acquire more assets?

When it came time for him to kick off the selections at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, he went with the centerman from Red Deer, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Hopkins was the consensus top offensive players available and will be paired up soon enough with a couple of Edmonton's other top scoring threats, including last year's first overall pick Taylor Hall and 2011 Goal of the Year Award winner, Jordan Eberle.

In 69 games this past season with the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL, he posted 31 goals and a league-high 75 assists for 106 points. He added four goals and seven assists in 11 postseason contests.

The Colorado Avalanche followed the Nugent-Hopkins pick with another offensive selection. The Avs grabbed 18-year old Swedish winger Gabriel Landeskog of the Kitchener Rangers. Playing a more North American style game, he netted 36 goals and 66 points in 53 games for the Rangers last season. He was also plus-27 with 61 penalty minutes.

The Florida Panthers grabbed center Jonathan Huberdeau with the third overall pick. A center with the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL, Huberdeau is coming off winning the Memorial Cup MVP. During the regular season, he had 43 goals and 105 points while adding 16 goals and 30 points during the playoffs.

The New Jersey Devils broke the offensive mentality of the draft by finally grabbing defenseman Adam Larsson out of the Swedish Elite League. The Devils are known for their defense, but it has been lacking in recent years. Larsson was the undoubted top defensive pick in the draft and TSN's Pierre McGuire considered him a steal at the fourth overall spot. The 6'3", 200-pounder is considered a great puck-moving defenseman that can play both ends of the ice well. He isn't an offensive dynamo, but can produce on the score sheet as witnessed by his four-point performance at the World Junior Championships.

Rangers Add Veteran Defenseman Bryan McCabe

With two days remaining before the trade deadline hits in the NHL, the New York Rangers acquired a veteran, offensively-talented defenseman that they have longed for during most of the season. The Rangers were able to add Bryan McCabe from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Tim Kennedy and a third round pick in June's NHL Entry Draft.

"Bryan McCabe adds an established veteran presence to our young defensive corps," general manager Glen Sather said in a statement released by the Rangers. "He can help provide offense with his strong shot on the power play, and his versatility allows him to play either the left or right side effectively. Bryan also brings outstanding leadership qualities, having served as team captain for Florida for the past two seasons."

The 35-year old, 14-year veteran now joins his sixth NHL team after being drafted in the second round (40th overall) of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders. Since then, he has made stops in Vancouver, Chicago, Toronto and most recently Florida. The Panthers brought McCabe aboard back in 2008 in a February deal with the Maple Leafs for defenseman Mike Van Ryn and last year's fourth round draft choice.

With a plethora of injuries and having remained under the salary cap all season, the Rangers stashed enough financial flexibility to be active around this time of year. Much of the discussion surrounding New York has been centered on acquiring Brad Richards from the Dallas Stars. But with Richards health in question, a no-movement clause in effect, Dallas not officially announcing that he is available and general manager Joe Nieuwendyk reportedly asking for a package consisting of Brandon Dubinsky, Derek Stepan and Marc Staal, it's unlikely Sather will pull the trigger on him before 3 p.m. Monday afternoon.

McCabe, however, fills an even greater need for the Rangers and comes at a much cheaper price. The Rangers haven't had great success finding a power play quarterback for essentially the past few years. Many have tried to man the helm and all have failed to solidify themselves along the blue line. From free agents (Wade Redden) to draftees (Michael Del Zotto, Bobby Sanguinetti), New York has been unable to come up with that one defenseman who can run a power play consistently and effectively while adding to his scoresheet.

There is no guarantee McCabe will be any different. He has only netted five goals and 22 total points in 48 games with Florida this season - just seven of those points coming on the power player. But Florida as a whole has been second to last in the league on the man advantage at 13.7 percent.

McCabe still offers a terrific shot from the point and plenty of evidence from prior to this season that proves he can help the Rangers fix their own 21st-ranked power play. He has scored eight or more power play goals in a season five times, including a career-high 13 for the Toronto Maple Leafs back in 2005-06. Overall, he has scored 15 or more goals of any variety in a season five times as well, also putting up his career-high of 19 with the Leafs in 2005-06.

Perhaps his production has dipped. Or maybe its just the Panthers, in general. But McCabe is as good a bet right now for New York and they made a wise gamble.

To get McCabe, the Rangers really gave up very little. Kennedy was signed during the offseason by the Rangers when the Buffalo Sabres refused to cough up his $1 million arbitration award. But the 24-year old failed to win a roster spot and has spent the entire campaign with the Connecticut Whale of the AHL. In 53 games there, he has 42 points. He is a pending restricted free agent once again this summer.

Michael Del Zotto was assigned to the AHL in order to open up a roster spot for McCabe. McCabe is scheduled to go unrestricted this summer, unless New York elects to retain him and is able to work out an extension prior to July 1.

NHL Trade Breakdown: 2.9.2011

The NHL trade deadline is fast approaching, set to go in effect at 3 p.m. eastern time on Monday, February 28. With just about two and half weeks remaining, it's time for teams to decide whether they are buyers or sellers and for general manager to start negotiations in hopes of building for the playoffs or giving themselves a better shot for next season.

A good numbers of deals went down today, signaling that perhaps the ball is rolling from here on out for these trades to take place. Lets take a look of some of these deals and break down how they affect the teams involved.

Toronto Maple Leafs trade defenseman Francois Beauchemin to the Anaheim Ducks for forward Joffrey Lupul, defensive prospect Jake Gardiner and a conditional 2013 fourth round pick:

Over the last few years, the Toronto Maple Leafs have constantly been a rumor mill for trades, especially involving defensemen. It seems impossible for Tomas Kaberle to avoid this at every twist and turn of his season from a yearly basis. This year, however, he was not alone on the trade block. Francois Beauchemin had long been considered available to any team willing to offer general manager Brian Burke something of substance.

It seems that Anaheim was able to cough up something to his liking. By sending Joffrey Lupul, former first rounder (17th overall in 2008) Jake Gardiner and a conditional fourth round pick in 2013 to Toronto, the Ducks were able to bring a familiar face back to The Honda Center. Beauchemin, 30, spent four seasons with the Ducks and has a Stanley Cup to his credit from playing on their 2007 championship team. And that familiarity to the Ducks, as well as a renewed sense of motivation for playing on a championship contender, could make this a worthwhile acquisiton for the Ducks. It also doesn't hurt that the Ducks managed to shed about half a million bucks in cap space in the process.

But it doesn't come without risk. Beauchemin has largely been a disappointment for the Maple Leafs this year and carries a hefty $3.8 million cap hit this year and next for what has thus far been subpar play. Lupul may not be a gamebreaker, but he is a decent contributor with 25-goal, 50-point potential when healthy that should fill Toronto's need of scoring more goals. And the Leafs gave up an intriguing 20-year old defensive prospect that could have grown into a key asset on Anaheim's blue line along with the likes of Cam Fowler. For a player that has been struggling like Beauchemin, that's not necessarily the greatest gamble.

If Beauchemin truly takes this deal as a reason to step up his game and play with a renewed energy to his game, he can be a nice veteran pickup for a team currently holding onto a seventh-seed playoff position out West by just one point. But if he plays just as he did in Toronto, the Ducks would have been better off holding onto Gardiner and monitoring his progress.

Cheechoo, Kotalik Among Five Players Placed On Waivers

 

The waiver wire saw some activity this afternoon as a reported five players were placed on it, according to TSN. Among those players are Johnathan Cheechoo of the Ottawa Senators, who was part of the Dany Heatley trade with San Jose, and Ales Kotalik of the Calgary Flames, who was acquired by the team in an early February trade with the New York Rangers. Petteri Nokelainen and Jim Vadermeer of the Phoenix Coyotes and Florida Panthers defenseman Ville Koistinen were also placed on waivers.

TSN mentions that if these players were to go unclaimed through the waiver process, it is likely that their respective organizations will buy them out and will therefore enter them into unrestricted free agency.

Cheechoo is entering the final year of a five-year contract that will pay him $3.5 million next season (and count as a cap hit of $3 million.) After posting a career-high and Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy-earning 56 goals back in 2005-06 thanks to be paired with Joe Thornton, Cheechoo has steadily declined over the past four years. A year with just 12 goals and 17 assists in 2008-09 made it an easy decision for San Jose to include him and his salary as part of the trade that brought in Heatley. In 61 games with Ottawa last season, Cheechoo only posted five goals and nine assists for 14 points. He also spent 25 games in the AHL with Binghamton, scoring eight goals with six assists for 14 points.

Cheechoo's time as a hot commodity in the NHL faded almost as quickly as it began, and he is no longer considered a top-six forward. At $3.5 million, it would be hard to justify picking the 29-year old up off waivers. But as an unrestricted free agent, it could be worth taking a flier on him at a price tag of $1 to 1.25 million is he is willing to take a sharp pay cut like that. A buyout would cost the Senators about $1.167 million over each of the next two years.

Horton, Campbell Dealt To Bruins For Wideman, 15th Overall Pick

“Players [that] want to be here will be here,” Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon expressed when he was hired in May. “And players that want to play elsewhere will play elsewhere. That’s what is going to happen here.”

One of the players who fit into that latter group was 25-year old right wing Nathan Horton, who informed Tallon upon his hiring that he wanted to be moved.

“Obviously he was frustrated with what has gone on in the past and (wanted to know) if we could help him out to see what is out there for him,” Tallon said in a conference call following the trade. “That’s how this all began. He showed frustration and felt it would maybe be better if he was able to go somewhere else.”

On Tuesday, Tallon granted the wish of the former third overall pick, and continued making good on ownership's vows to re-shape the organization, by shipping Horton to the Boston Bruins along with center Gregory Campbell in exchange for defenseman Dennis Wideman, the Bruins’ 15th overall pick in Friday’s NHL Entry Draft and a third round selection in 2011.

With this move, Horton will try to deliver a much needed goal-scoring boost to the lowest scoring team from last season with 196 goals. Horton has produced at least 20 goals in each of his last five seasons and has the ability to put in over 30, as witnessed by his 2006-07 campaign of 31 scores. He will go a long way in replacing the offense lost when Phil Kessel was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs last summer. Horton has three years and $14 million remaining on the six-year deal his signed prior to the 2007 NHL Draft, with an annual cap hit of $4 million per season.