Ville Peltonen's agent told Randy Sexton a few weeks ago that his client was going to play next season in Europe.
Thought was Peltonen was likely going to return to Switzerland, where he played before coming to the Panthers. Perhaps he would play in his native Finland.
Natch. Peltonen has signed to play with Dynamo Minsk, a KHL team based in Belarus.
That's a long way from Sunrise kids.
In three seasons with the Cats, Peltonen scored 34 goals.
Tip of the hat to Litter Box Cats for the Peltonen news via Facebook.
-- On a personal aside, a tip of the old Cowboy hat to long-time Major League umpire Joe West who worked his 4,000th game on Thursday in Milwaukee.
West, who used to run a little joint by Inverrary Country Club when he was temporarily out of the game, is the 19th umpire to hit the 4,000 game plateau.
West may be best known for his appearance in the climatic baseball scene at Dodger Stadium in the classic movie The Naked Gun with Leslie Nielsen. That and for his love of country music. And love of tossing managers.
Congrats Joe.
-- Also, condolences to the family of Harley-Davidson magnate Bruce Rossmeyer who died in a wreck Thursday morning in Wyoming.
Mr. Rossmeyer owned a ton of Harley dealerships across the country, including the ones in Fort Lauderdale and Sunrise. His local dealerships sponsored the power play at Panthers games the past few seasons and there is a mural of him above one of his bikes by the team store in the main concourse at the Sunrise arena.
I never met Mr. Rossmeyer but by all accounts he sounded like a cool guy who had a big heart and gave a lot back to the community.
Wow, didn't hear about Rossmeyer until you posted it. Sad.
I was surprised by Ville's move to the KHL instead of Europe. Interesting. I wonder how much money he got to there instead of Switzerland or Finland...I'm sure there are plenty of firetrucks for him to battle in Belarus!
Posted by: Big Slap Shot Bob | July 31, 2009 at 04:19 PM
Firetrucks. Nice.
Posted by: Whale4ever | August 01, 2009 at 08:46 AM
SIGN NIKOLAI ZHERDEV NOW!! - available as of this morning! . . .
Posted by: mekker23 | August 04, 2009 at 06:21 PM
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/allan_muir/08/04/potential.panthers.sale/
SI article on the Panthers, nothing new but an interesting read.
Posted by: AC | August 04, 2009 at 11:30 PM
SIGN NIKOLAI ZHERDEV NOW! I agree!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: awaiting Zherdev arrivale | August 05, 2009 at 01:14 PM
Zherdev is another guy full of potential. He would fit in here well with Horton, Olesz and all the other losers on this team.
Posted by: zeke | August 05, 2009 at 01:19 PM
ABSOLUTELY - the guys got big league skill, no doubt about it...wud automatically become our best player + rejuvenate an offense in dire need of it. in my opinion pay whatever it takes to get him here, and stop him deffecting to russia. when talent this big available: money and the cap is NOT an issue!!
GEORGE, what are yur thoughts on the possibility of luring a big name like this to south florida??
Posted by: mekker23 | August 05, 2009 at 02:51 PM
Ugh, the Zherdev question. Skilled beyond belief but lazy, uncoachable, not passionate, wants between 4-5 million a year...sigh. I don't know if I'd rather us going for Tanguay instead. Clearly Z is more talented, younger and has so much upside, but is he a worse version of Horton, who I defend is not as lazy as some people make him out to be.
We need scoring, even DB has admitted we are not deep at scoring forwards so everyone needs to contribute and improve. Z brings scoring and maybe if he is the "star" here it might bring out the best of him rather than being 1 among many on the Rangers. I read he didn't like being in NY much either - that he's a quiet, reserved type of guy.
Or Tanguay, who's won a cup, is a playmaker who makes those better around him (i.e. what Horton needs!) and is experienced.
I don't know...we may get neither so it could all be for naught anyways.
Posted by: Big Slap Shot Bob | August 05, 2009 at 06:00 PM