Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs exchange defensemen
Both teams missed last year’s playoffs. Will this deal reverse either Florida or Toronto’s recent fortunes?
General Manager Jacques Martin set out this summer to improve the Panthers’ defense. Instead, he has remade it.
Martin completed the third significant off-season addition to his defense Tuesday, acquiring former All-Star and Olympian Bryan McCabe from Toronto for oft-injured defenseman Mike Van Ryn. The Panthers also received a fourth-round pick in the 2010 draft.
The deal was rumored for weeks, but McCabe – who has a no-trade clause – would not approve the trade until he received a $2 million bonus he was due from the Maple Leafs on Monday.
The other new defensemen for the Panthers are Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton, both acquired from Phoenix in the draft-day deal that sent Olli Jokinen to the Coyotes. All three newcomers are expected to play in a top-six rotation that also figures to include Jay Bouwmeester, Bryan Allen and Noah Welch or Karlis Skrastins.
Florida has certainly bolstered its defense, but lost its leading scorer Olli Jokinen in the process. No signifigant scorer was brought in to fill that gap. Therefore I don’t see this deal propelling Florida to the playoffs in the 2008-09 season. As for Toronto, I don’t have any opinion on their playoff chances this season.
- Florida Panther Defenseman Bryan Allen ‘out indefinitely’
- Phoenix C Olli Jokinen to miss at least two weeks with shoulder injury
- Are we ready for some Florida Panthers hockey?
- Calgary Flames trade Olli Jokinen to the NY Rangers
- Florida Panthers deal Olli Jokinen to Phoenix
- Shape up or be dealt, FL Panther veterans told
- Florida Panthers lose their sixth in a row
- Holding on for dear life- Florida Panthers defeat Tampa 4-3
- Stick a fork in them- The Florida Panthers are through for 2007-08
- Florida Panthers re-sign Jassen Cullimore
- Eight is Enough- Edmonton beats Chicago 8-4
- Lydia Ko wins New South Wales Open
- The Comeback I- Pittsburgh Penguins beat NY Islanders 5-0
- Seattle Mariners Outfielder Greg Halman stabbed to death at age 24
- Hee Young Park wins CME Titleholders Championship
- Oklahoma State Women’s Basketball Coach Kurt Budke dead at 50
- Costly mistake- Blackhawks waive Rostislav Olesz
- Manager Tony La Russa announces retirement
- Puck Drop- Florida Panthers start the 2011-12 NHL season
- 13-time PGA Tour winner Dave Hill dead at 74
“Will this deal reverse either Florida or Toronto�s recent fortunes?”
I don’t think so with Florida but Toronto is more than a trade or three away from being significant in the playoffs.
Comments are Closed