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.

Moulson, Fleischmann And Brule Avoid Arbitration

Salary arbitration can be an ugly process in where agents turn their clients into rockstars and general managers make them look like mere roadies. It’s where the truth really comes about between two parties that would much rather closet how they really feel. And sometimes, feelings get hurt.

So when a team can avoid going this route with any players, it’s a good thing. Such was the case earlier today when the New York Islanders, Washington Capitals and Edmonton Oilers managed to retain a young star each on new deals that didn’t require the assistance of an independent arbitrator to mediate through their squabbling.

Literally moments ahead of a 9 a.m. hearing in Toronto, the Islanders reached an agreement with left wing Matt Moulson on a one year deal at $2.45 million, according to Newsday. The 26-year old had a breakout campaign on Long Island last season in which he posted 30 goals – eight coming on the power play and five counting as game winners – and 48 points over the course of a full 82-game schedule. This was his first regular action in the NHL after spending three years in the Los Angeles Kings’ system and posting totals of six goals and 10 points in 29 games with the big club.

“I was excited. We figured that if something was going to get done it would be this morning,” Moulson told Katie Strang of Newsday. “I wanted to be back on the Island.”