Panthers Buy Out Boyes, Add Three To Roster
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SUNRISE (CBSMiami/AP) — With big moves being made across the NHL on the first day of free agency, things have been relatively quiet around the Florida Panthers.
General Manager Dale Tallon has said on multiple occasions that he wants the team to get younger and faster and believes in the core group of young players that he has drafted since joining the franchise.
With many of those youngsters expected to take a more prominent role on the team, such as Jonathan Huberdeau, Nick Bjugstad and Aleksander Barkov, Tallon believes that the Panthers are ready to take the next step and become a perennial playoff team.
While there have been no big moves yet in free agency, some room was made on the roster for either a new player to come in or a prospect to step up.
The Panthers have bought out the contract of right wing Brad Boyes and added three players shortly after the NHL free agency period opened.
Boyes was put on waivers earlier in the week and bought out Wednesday once he cleared. He had 21 goals for the Panthers two seasons ago, but dropped to just 14 goals in 78 games this past season.
The Panthers signed 32-year-old goalie Mike McKenna to a two-year, two-way contract. McKenna spent last season with Portland of the AHL, and is 5-11-2 with a 3.48 goals-against average in limited NHL action with Tampa Bay, New Jersey, Columbus and Arizona.
Forward Shane Harper and defenseman Sena Acolatse were signed to one-year, two-way deals. Neither has appeared in an NHL regular-season contest.
Harper, 26, played the last two seasons with the AHL's Chicago Wolves. In 75 games last year he scored 32 goals and 50 points.
Acolatse, 24, has played in the AHL in each of the past five seasons. Last year with the Adirondack Flames he played in 38 games, scoring 6 goals and 19 points while accumulating 68 penalty minutes.
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