PANTHERS FILL HOLES AT DRAFT: Florida Takes Barkov with Second Pick, McCoshen in Second Round

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NEWARK, N.J. -- The Panthers had a chance to continue to improve their defensive stock with the second pick in the 2013 NHL Draft but instead looked to fill a more pressing need.

Despite having top-ranked prospect Seth Jones waiting for them, the Panthers picked Finnish center Aleksander 'Sasha' Barkov on Sunday afternoon.

Barkov, born in Finland to Russian parents, becomes the second-highest draft pick in Panthers history. Florida selected Ed Jovanovski with the top pick in 1994.

Although Jones -- who landed in Nashville -- said he wanted to make the three teams who passed up on him regret it, the Panthers needed a player ready to step into the NHL right now.

Barkov, who has played two seasons of pro hockey in Finland, appears to fit that bill. Jones was available after Colorado took center Seth MacKinnon with the first overall pick.

"He's big, strong, creative and can play in all three zones,'' said general manager Dale Tallon, who added he made the decision to draft Barkov shortly after their final interview on Saturday afternoon.

"He makes other players around him better. He has great vision, great hands. He's a rare commodity, a big center with skill. He fits into what we already have coming in size and speed. He gives us real strength up the middle.''

One thing that seemed to impress Tallon and his staff the most is the skillset Barkov showed in Finland.

As scouting director Scott Luce said on Saturday, Barkov's talents have always surpassed his age as he has played up a level throughout his junior career.

Barkov turned pro as a 16-year-old and scored 28 goals with 36 assists in 85 games over two seasons with Tappara of Finland's elite league.

Barkov, who turns 18 on Sept. 2, told Tallon he is ready to leave Finland behind and join the Panthers and the NHL in the fall. Barkov, at age 16, became the youngest player to score a goal at the world juniors for Finland.

"I played already two years against men in the Finnish Elite League,'' Barkov said, "and it's a very good league with very good players. I think it helps me very much.''

Said Tallon: "He's played against men as a 16, 17-year-old. We like his strength, he's strong on the puck and on his feet. He's only going to get stronger.''

Barkov missed most of the postseason after suffering a shoulder injury that needed surgery. Tallon said Barkov will be cleared to play in August and be in camp come mid-September.

If that is the case, Barkov will say goodbye to Tappara.

When the Panthers played a preseason game against Tappara in Finland in 2009, Barkov's father Alexander was an assistant coach for the Tampere team. Florida ended up losing that exhibition 4-3 in a shootout.

Barkov, who attended the game, admits he rooted against the Panthers then -- but is now a big fan.

"I know we have very good players, one Finnish player [Sean Bergenheim], and Johnny Huberdeau who won the Calder Trophy,'' Barkov said.

For Jones, projected to be the top pick just a few weeks ago, falling to the Preds at No. 4 wasn't too big of a deal. When Florida went for Barkov, Tampa Bay selected playmaker Jonathan Drouin.

Tallon said it was a tough decision deciding between Jones and Barkov.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about going to those teams,'' Jones said. "I'm competitive. I have a competitive nature and I get that from my parents. You definitely want to prove them wrong and you definitely want to show them why they should have picked you. That's not my only goal next year, but it's definitely on my list.''

Florida did end up taking a defenseman -- but waited until the second round to take Ian McCoshen. Born in southern California but raised in Wisconsin, McCoshen is big and can play on both ends of the ice. McCoshen will join Florida prospect Mike Mathesen at Boston College in the fall.

"We really like him, his size and intensity,'' Tallon said. "He has great skills and Boston College develops defensemen. He's another big player for us. We're going to be a big, fast team. I'm excited about the future.''

The Panthers also added some depth later in the draft, selecting three college-bound players in the fourth round starting with goalie Evan Cowley (92nd overall), defenseman Mike Downing (97th) and center Matt Buckles (98th).

Florida also selected winger Chris Clapperton to kick off the fifth round and defenseman Josh Brown in the sixth.

PANTHERS ON OFFENSIVE: Florida Takes C Sasha Barkov with Second Pick in NHL Draft

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NEWARK, N.J. -- The Panthers had a chance to continue to improve their defensive stock with the second pick in the 2013 NHL Draft but instead addressed a more pressing need.

Despite having top-ranked propect Seth Jones waiting for them, the Panthers picked Finnish center Sasha Barkov on Sunday afternoon.

Barkov, born in Finland to Russian parents, becomes the second-highest draft pick in Panthers history. Florida selected Ed Jovanovski with the top pick in 1994.

The Panthers apparently told Barkov they were very interested in taking him during their interview Saturday afternoon in New York City. The Panthers are expecting Barkov to compete for a center job during training camp.

"I want to play in the NHL and this is my chance,'' Barkov said shortly after the selection. "I have improved my game. I think I will [leave Finland] and play in Florida. I will be ready.''

Tampa Bay didn't pick Jones, either, and went with Jonathan Drouin with the third selection. Jones landed with Nashville and the fourth pick.

Florida GM Dale Tallon will meet with the media following the Panthers' first pick in the second round.

Barkov injured his shoulder in March but should be ready to go for training camp.

The top-rated European skater, Barkov turned pro at the age of 16 and has played the past two seasons in the Finnish elite league for Tappara.

When the Panthers played a preseason game against Tappara in Finland in 2009, Barkov's father Alexander was an assistant coach for the Tampere team. Florida ended up losing that exhibition 4-3 in a shootout.

Barkov, who attended the game, admits he rooted against the Panthers then -- but is now a big fan.

"I've always liked the Florida Panthers,'' Barkov said.

DRAFT DAY DECISIONS FOR PANTHERS: Florida Holds Second Pick on Sunday

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NEW YORK -- When the Panthers had the third overall pick in 2011, Florida landed forward Jonathan Huberdeau -- now the reigning rookie of the year.

"There were two players we thought were close to Huberdeau,'' assistant general manager Mike Santos said. "We just waited for the picks to be made and he fell into our lap. Looking back, the right guy fell into our lap.''

On Sunday, Florida has the second selection after Colorado. The Panthers hope history repeats itself and another top-end talent heads to South Florida.

Colorado, which won the draft lottery in April to pull the top pick away from the last-place Panthers, says it will select a forward and not top-rated defenseman Seth Jones.

Of course, this could be a bluff in trying to get the Panthers -- or someone else -- to trade up for the top pick.

Jones, after all, not only has ties to the Denver area and the Avs organization but as a defenseman plays a position the Avs could use help in. General manager Dale Tallon says he believes what the Colorado management team of former players Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy are selling.

"Based on their history as players and as people, they are new to the game but I believe they are very truthful,'' Tallon said. "I'm just concerned about what we can do. The top four guys are slam-dunks. We're very prepared and satisfied they all will help us out.''

If the Avs were to take center Nathan MacKinnon, whom it is believed the Panthers higher ups prefer, Florida is projected to select Jones.

Florida, by virtue of finishing the season in last place, will get what projects to be a very good player with either MacKinnon, Jones or forwards Jonathan Drouin and Aleksander Barkov.

"We're going to get a better-than-normal prospect in this draft,'' said Scott Luce, the team's director of amateur scouting. "We as an organization would much rather be in the playoffs like we were the year before, picking at 23 and getting a guy like Mike Matheson every year rather than going through the top guys in every draft. Our fans deserve that and our staff deserves that.''

Tallon said Saturday that the Panthers haven't decided whom they will take with the second pick and reiterated that Florida could move up in a deal with Colorado or slide down.

This draft is deep in talent and teams covet Florida's position.

"We're going to get one hell of a player,'' Tallon said. "I wish I had more picks. I really do. You try to be greedy, but you only get one kick at the can. You better make sure it's the right one. We're fortunate to be picking where we're picking.''

Said Santos: "If you are picking one, two, three or four, you are getting a player who is a game-changer. Being at No. 2 doesn't change a heck of a lot from being No. 1.''

The Panthers will have plenty of suitors come Sunday although Tallon said Saturday was "eerily quiet" on the trade front.

"Whatever the best option is for us, that's what we're going to do,'' Tallon said. "I had conversation with [Colorado] on a couple of occasions. You have to exhaust every opportunity to get better.

"It would be unfair for me not to ask them if they were thinking about moving that pick. If they move it for something that we had or more we could have given them, it would be very frustrating for our franchise and for all of us. We explore every avenue to make sure we have the best available picks. That's how I've always operated.''

Luce has been watching both Jones and MacKinnon for a long time. Although Jones comes into the draft as the top-rated prospect by NHL central scouting, MacKinnon is a player who has been pegged to be a top pick for the past few years.

Although surpassed by the emerging Jones in the eyes of some scouts -- Jones is approaching 6-foot-5 and can skate as well as anyone in this draft -- many feel MacKinnon is the goods and is a franchise-changing offensive forward.

"With our spot, we feel there are four guys out there who are elite guys,'' Luce said. "We spent the past few months looking at those four guys to determine who is the best fit for our organization. It's still a work in progress. We've had a lot of conversations.''

Because of the lockout that shortened the 2013 second to 48 games, the NHL is cramming all seven rounds of this draft into Sunday.

The first round is projected to take just over two hours to complete with the Panthers kicking off the second round with the 31st selection.

Tallon and his crew are hoping to continue adding to the Panthers depth as Florida holds five of the first 100 picks. Although Florida doesn't have a third round pick -- yet -- it does have three early selections in the fourth.

"Those picks are going to turn into something very positive for us,'' Tallon said. "Either we're going to use them to move up or it's such a deep draft, we'll fill some needs.''

2013 NHL DRAFT
Sunday, 3 p.m.; Prudential Center, Newark, N.J. (NBC Sports Net)
Florida Panthers selections
Round 1 (second overall)
Round 2 (31st)
Round 4 (92nd, 97th, 98th)
Round 5 (122nd)
Round 6 (152nd)

PANTHERS DRAFT NOTEBOOK: Huberdeau All-Rookie; Weiss Talks Continue; Jovo Feeling Good

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Jonathan Huberdeau received another honor Saturday as he was named to the NHL's All-Rookie team for 2013. Huberdeau recently was named the league's top rookie in winning the Calder Memorial Trophy.

Huberdeau had offseason surgery on his hip and is expected to resume skating in the coming weeks.

"He played hurt. That tells you a lot about this kid,'' GM Dale Tallon said. "He played hurt and extremely well. We didn't have many players due to injuries, so teams focused on him. He's a special kid.''

-- Tallon said he spoke with Stephen Weiss' agent on Saturday in the continued hopes to sign the pending free agent center.

"We're trying to get something done,'' Tallon said. "You only get one shot at being a free agent and we're trying to do the best we can for both parties. If I can come up with the right number, well, that's fine. We'll go through [Sunday] and then make a decision next week.''

-- Ed Jovanovski met with his surgeon on Friday and told Tallon he is pain free for the first time in a long time. Jovanovski was limited to six games last year after having radical hip surgery in April.

Tallon said Jovanovski is expected to begin skating this week although it's not known whether the defenseman will be ready for training camp in September.

PHOTOS COURTESY KELSEY HINDS

LECAVALIER A PANTHER? Florida Wants to Look Into Adding Former Lightning Captain

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NEW YORK -- Vinny Lecavalier in a Panthers sweater?

If the team has its way, that scenario -- a nightmare for Tampa Bay fans -- could happen next season.

Lecavalier, the Lightning's all-time leader in just about everything, was bought out by the team and is now a free agent. With the Panthers looking for veteran talent, team management said Lecavalier is a player they are interested in.

Both general manager Dale Tallon and assistant GM Mike Santos said Saturday that the Panthers full attention, right now, is on Sunday's NHL draft.

After that, however, the team will look into Lecavalier's interest in staying in Florida -- only a few hours southeast of his beloved Tampa Bay.

Lecavalier, like all unrestricted free agents, can't sign with another team until July 5.

"We're very interested in his leadership, his skill level,'' Tallon said after meeting with draft prospects at the team's hotel near Times Square. "We have young, big centermen who could learn a lot from him.

"We have some interest; hopefully he has some as well. That's the way it starts. It takes two to tango. If he doesn't want to come, so be it. But I think there will be some open dialog there. That would be a benefit to our franchise.''

Lecavalier, who just finished his 14th season, has been the Lightning's captain since 2000 and has 26 goals and 42 assists in 78 games against the Panthers. Lecavalier had 10 goals and 22 assists in 39 games last year -- with two goals and six points in four games against Florida.

"Even the thought of wearing a different kind of jersey is weird in my head," Lecavalier told the Tampa Bay Times on Thursday.

Because of a lowered salary cap -- and Lecavalier's declining numbers -- Tampa Bay decided to exercise its option to buy out the final seven years of the 11-year, $85-million deal Lecavalier signed with the team's previous owners.

So, the Lightning will pay Lecavalier roughly $33 million over the next 14 years and not have that money count against the salary cap.

A tireless philanthropist in the Tampa Bay area, the Panthers are hoping the lack of a state income tax and South Florida's proximity to his Tampa charities may help sway Lecavalier in staying local. Lecavalier was reportedly meeting with Dallas on Saturday.

"You have to have interest in Vinny Lecavalier,'' Santos said. "It's a little premature to see what his price will be in years and money. He's a high character guy with great leadership skills. .-.-. Is he better than what we have at center right now? Probably.

"There are a lot of reasons for him wanting to stay in the state of Florida. Lets face it, there are lots of tax advantages in Florida and the money Tampa is buying himself out with is considerable.''

PHOTO: Al Diaz, AP

NO SIGN, NO KNIGHT: Panthers Trade Prospect Corban Knight to Calgary

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Unable to sign him and unwilling to let him walk away as a free agent, the Panthers traded prospect Corban Knight to Calgary on Tuesday for a fourth round pick in the June 30 draft.

Knight, a fifth round pick in 2009, was quoted in Sunday's Edmonton Journal that he and his agent had spoken to the Panthers but "it turned out it wasn’t going to work out for both parties.''

Knight said he told the Panthers he wasn't going to sign by the August deadline, so Florida dealt him to his hometown Flames.

"When Florida did not sign Corban this spring we contacted them and asked for permission to speak with him,'' Calgary general manager Jay Feaster said in a statement.

"Florida granted teams, including ours, that opportunity on the condition that we were prepared to trade for his rights. During the past ten days we spoke with Corban and his agent, and were pleased to learn Corban wanted to start his pro career in Calgary.''

Knight, 22, scored 16 goals in each of his junior and senior seasons at North Dakota. As he completed four college years, Knight would be a free agent following his senior year -- something the Panthers avoided with blue-chip prospect Nick Bjugstad.

Florida signed Bjugstad and allowed him to play at the NHL level for the final weeks of the 2013 season instead of possibly losing him in 2014.

Knight signed a two-year deal with the Flames not long after the trade was announced.

Photo courtesy University of North Dakota

HUBERDEAU WINS TOP ROOKIE AWARD: Jonathan Huberdeau's Calder Trophy first for Florida Panthers

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Jonathan Huberdeau's season started as good as it could get as the Panthers rookie scored his first NHL goal on his first NHL shot.

On Saturday, his season ended in fine fashion as well.

Huberdeau, the third pick of the 2011 draft, was given the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie for the 2013 season. Huberdeau became the Panthers' first winner of the award as he beat out Montreal's Brendan Gallagher and Chicago's Brandon Saad.

"It was a surprise. There were two other guys who had great rookie years,'' Huberdeau said from Chicago not long after accepting the award on the Hockey Night in Canada set at the Stanley Cup Finals.

"I wasn't expecting anything. I'm pretty happy.''

The vote was close as expected, with Huberdeau and Gallagher both receiving 54 first-place votes from the 179 members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association who voted.

Huberdeau, who tied all rookie scorers with 31 points and was second on the Panthers, ended up winning the award by 100 points.

Huberdeau set two franchise records, becoming the first Panther to
score on two penalty shots in one season (Feb. 21 at Philadelphia and March 5 vs. Carolina). Huberdeau's 31 points were most for a rookie in franchise history, edging out Radek Dvorak (1995-96).

"I think he's a great player,'' Pittsburgh center Sidney Crosby said. "He's a great young player with a lot of skill. He seemed to adjust pretty quickly.''

The 2013 season was a long one for Huberdeau, one of four Florida players to play in all 48 games during the lockout-shortened campaign.

Huberdeau ended up playing a total of 84 games during 2012-13 -- 30 with his junior team in Saint John, New Brunswick, as well as six for Team Canada at World Juniors.

One of the first things Huberdeau bought once he got his first NHL paycheck was a new Ford Mustang convertible. Huberdeau knows exactly where his Calder Trophy can sit.

"For sure,'' he said. "I can put it in the back seat.''

Huberdeau opened his offseason by having hip surgery, a procedure he said will keep him off the ice for a few more weeks. Although Huberdeau said the injury wasn't anything major, it was serious enough to warrant surgery.

The Panthers expect Huberdeau to be fully healed for the start of training camp in September.

"The rehab is going well. I'm ahead of the process and am taking my time and doing it properly,'' Huberdeau said. "We knew it was something that was bothering me during the season, but I had it checked out more throughly at the end. I made the decision to have surgery because I'm young. The rehab would be easier now than later.''

HUBERDEAU UP FOR MAJOR AWARD: Calder Trophy Winner Announced Saturday Night

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Florida's Jonathan Huberdeau could become the franchise's first winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy for the league's top rookie on Saturday night.

The NHL will announce winners for a number of awards -- including the Calder, Hart (MVP), Norris (top defenseman) and Vezina (top goalie) -- prior to Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Winners for other awards, including top coach, were scheduled to be announced on Friday.

Saturday's awards will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network at 7 p.m.

Huberdeau, the third overall pick in the 2011 draft, tied for the rookie lead with 31 points off 14 goals. The other finalists are Montreal's Brandon Gallagher and Chicago's Brandon Saad.

PANTHERS MAKE A DEAL: Florida Acquires Bobby Butler for T.J. Brennan

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The Panthers made a minor deal on Friday, sending defenseman T.J. Brennan to Nashville in exchange for right winger Bobby Butler.

Brennan, acquired this past season from Buffalo, played well in his short stint in Sunrise. Butler has bounced around the past few seasons. After playing for the Senators in 2011-12, he played for New Jersey and the Predators last season.

Both Brennan and Butler are restricted free agents come July.

Assistant general manager Mike Santos said Thursday that Florida doesn't have to tender its RFA players -- such as Jacob Markstrom, Peter Mueller, Shawn Matthias and, now, Butler -- until July 2. Santos added that the Panthers will tender those they want to tender prior to that deadline, however.

Butler, 26, is a Massachusetts guy who has 48 NHL points off 20 goals in 120 games. Butler scored four goals in 34 games between the Devils and Predators last season.