Good moves. Kreps is definitely worthy of sticking around and good move in keeping Belak around. Now the next moves I want to see is 1. Bouw is signed long term and 2. Stumpel and Mezei are gone.
Beaverson is a 'meh' as I've said before (can't believe I've actually adopted that term ), but Kreps and Belak signings are awesome.
I'm still holding out hope for Monty to be retained, though...and of course the key signings still aren't done, Bouw and Frolik, and Martin's got less than a month on Frolik and two other prospects who can reenter the draft.
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"...and ultimately it doesn't matter."
This is great news. I was really hoping we'd re-sign Belak to stay as our enforcer even though i knew there was a great chance it would happen anyway since he said he loves it here and Kreps I feel showed some potential this past season and I felt was really worth keeping and seeing how he develops. +1 for JM today
Incredibly excited that we re-signed Belak and Kreps, too. Like Martin said, Wade's a high character guy and helps keep the locker room loose and in high spirits. Kreps was a great faceoff guy and has really earned a spot on the roster. Beaverson sounds like a solid signing for the AHL. Good work Jacques. I'm sure he'll continue to talk with Bouwmeester and Frolik.
BEEEEEEEE-LAK!
__________________ Gudbranson fanboy and defender for liiiiiife!
Re-signing Belak means no Montador next season. He takes the combination wing/blueline position Monty filled so well last season. If Monty did sign, Belak would have been lucky to dress for 40 games next season.
Great signings. I loved Kreps last year. He came up and EARNED his spot with the team. IMO, he's an ideal 3rd line center for us right now who can kill penalties and win faceoffs.
Keeping Belak was also a great move. First because my girlfriend thinks it's hilarious watching him skate, and second because we needed an enforcer bad.
If we don't resign Frolik, I am going to be really, really pissed.
I love Kreps and Belak so I'm extremely happy with this signing. Beaverson wasn't a bad addition either, he won't be more than a top 6 d-man in the NHL but he will provide some depth which is always helpful.
From Richards blog, the only one to report any of this so far...big surprise!
Quote:
One thing I liked about Wade last year was how he noticed how much pressure Olli Jokinen was carrying around at the end of the season and tried to alleviate some of that by joking around with Olli on the ice, kind of messing with him to loosen him up, break up some of the tension. I don't know too many other players who would have not only recognized the pressure Olli was under, but try to do something to lessen it. Don't know if it worked, but at least the dude gave it a shot.
Beaverson is a 'meh' as I've said before (can't believe I've actually adopted that term ), but Kreps and Belak signings are awesome.
I'm still holding out hope for Monty to be retained, though...and of course the key signings still aren't done, Bouw and Frolik, and Martin's got less than a month on Frolik and two other prospects who can reenter the draft.
If JM doesn't sign Frolik he can go back to the draft????
I quit as a panthers fan if we lose Frolik to reentry. To be fair though we have a lot of time to get it done. A month is an eternity. Heck, 5 hours before the deadline is an eternity. I have faith that Martin will make the right move. Losing Frolik would be a HUGE blow.
I quit as a panthers fan if we lose Frolik to reentry. To be fair though we have a lot of time to get it done. A month is an eternity. Heck, 5 hours before the deadline is an eternity. I have faith that Martin will make the right move. Losing Frolik would be a HUGE blow.
The only thing that worries me is that Frolik is most likely a max rookie contract type of guy, so I'm not sure I understand the holdup. JM should just offer him the max considering it's only something like 825K anyway and be done with it.
The only thing that worries me is that Frolik is most likely a max rookie contract type of guy, so I'm not sure I understand the holdup. JM should just offer him the max considering it's only something like 825K anyway and be done with it.
That's probably not what the holdup is. They are probably just taking a long time because they are negotiating over bonuses. Frolik's camp probably wants bonuses close to or equivalent to a #1 overall pick. I'm sure it'll get done, it just might take a while.
), but Kreps and Belak signings are awesome.
if we lose Frolik.
