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ZHL GENERAL MANAGER: |
Chris Jacobs |
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The Panthers wasted no time dipping into the free agent market on Saturday, signing 39-year-old C Igor Larionov to a one-year contract with a club option for the 2001-02 season. Terms were not disclosed but the deal is believed to be worth $3.8 million. Larionov spent the last five seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, helping them to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 1997 and 1998. He had nine goals and 38 assists in 79 games last season. "Igor is a skilled, veteran player that at least for the short term fills a real need in the organization, and that is for a playmaking center," GM Bryan Murray said. The Panthers envision Larionov on a line with former Vancouver Canucks teammate RW Pavel Bure. ... For the second time in three years, Florida did not have a first-round pick in the NHL draft. But they remained busy by acquiring a potential franchise goaltender in Roberto Luongo and C Olli Jokinen from the New York Islanders for LW Oleg Kvasha and RW Mark Parrish. ... The Panthers lost G Mike Vernon and LW Cam Stewart to the Minnesota Wild in the expansion draft. |
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Florida Panthers