Mike Santos: Florida Panthers have spoken to Mike Santorelli

Panthers assistant general manager Mike Santos just told me that he had a real conversation with the agent for Mike Santorelli today for the first time in months.

Santorelli was one of seven restricted free agents to be given a qualifying offer by the Panthers today.

Again, Santos doesn't seem concerned about getting a deal done with Santorelli.

"It could be tomorrow, it could be three weeks,'' Santos said. "It just hasn't been a big priority. He's a restricted free agent. Other things have been going on. We'll get something done.''

Santos, you might recall, was the former assistant GM in Nashville and swung the deal for Santorelli last summer. Turned out pretty well for both as Santorelli had a career year with the Panthers, scoring 22 goals as he played in all 82 games for the Panthers.

In two seasons with the Preds, Santorelli played in a total of 32 games with two goals and an assist.

Comments

[in Tallon we trust]

not worried.
Friday should be fascinating.

[hurricanewarning954]

We better not lose Santorelli or Plante

[EJ]

I say sign him and then use him as trade bait to acquire a better and more expensive player on a team who is having difficulty getting under the cap. Don't get me wrong, I like Santorelli, but I think he's small and utlimately, isn't THE player Tallon wants.

[Michael]

Ej you don't sign a player to trade him right after you sign him. You would lose all credibility in attracting free agents. I know Mike is a Panther, but outside free agents would question the credibility of a team that does that. And by the way we over trying to get over the cap not under.

[Tallon Rulz]

San Jose just did that with Sediguchi, so I don't think it's that outlandish.

Anyways, I say offer Richards a 3 year, $12 mil a year deal. Short term, high dollar, still gives us $12 mil to sign other UFA's, and gets Richards money in the short term and an out in the not too distant future so he can go somewhere and get a Cup. Let's face it, it's not like the Leafs are much better than the Panters are right now, and the Rangers are still 2-3 years away.

[Ratz93]

Tallon Rulz,

in 2-3 years this team better be competing for a cup. So there really is no logic to what you just said. Unless this team fails again and has to rebuild.