Jay Bouwmeester News

“It's going to be a matter of evaluating the candidates and deciding which would fill our needs of the organization to try to find the perfect match.”

Jacques Martin has a busy six weeks ahead of him, but at least the Panthers' general manager will have one less thing to worry about.

The Panthers announced Friday that they've secured Martin as general manager through the 2011-12 season. Financial terms were not disclosed. Martin, who had dual duties as general manager and coach the past two seasons, said the contract was finalized a few days ago.

'It's great to be able to continue to work,' Martin said in a phone interview Friday. 'There's no shortage of work ahead.' Read more

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The Panthers have signed their top draft pick from last year, defenseman Keaton Ellerby, to a three-year, entry level contract.

Ellerby, 19, played 53 games last season for Moose Jaw of the Western Hockey League after being traded from Kamloops for prospect Brady Calla 16 games into the season.

Ellerby had two goals, 21 assists and a plus-6 rating with Moose Jaw. The 6-foot-4, 188-pound blue-liner, who has drawn some comparisons to Panthers' defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, was the 10th overall selection in the 2007 draft. Read more

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“If you were going out and hiring someone, he'd be on everybody's short list. And he's invested a lot already.”

Martin on Tuesday ended four days of suspense and speculation surrounding the general manager's position when he announced he had accepted majority owner Alan Cohen's offer to remain in charge of the Panthers' ... via Palm Beach Post

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“That's the key every year, to evaluate your personnel and make the necessary changes that are going to bring you forward. "You hope to have some people grow. Your young people have to keep growing and keep getting better.”

With yet another disappointing season behind them, the Panthers will have plenty of decisions to make as they begin shaping a roster for the 2008-09 season. via Palm Beach Post

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Montreal 3, Ottawa 0: Carey Price made 32 saves for his third shutout and Alex Kovalev scored his 35th goal as the Canadiens claimed their first division title in 16 years. via Buffalo News

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Nathan Horton had a goal and an assist and the Florida Panthers beat Carolina 4-3 on Friday night to prevent the Hurricanes from clinching the Southeast Division. via Wizbang Sports

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The Carolina Hurricanes desperately need two points tonight as they wrap up their regular season with a home test against the Florida Panthers at the RBC Center. via Star-Telegram.com

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“I was pretty positive it went in”

These are the final games of another disappointing Panthers season, but they're certainly not meaningless to backup goalie Craig Anderson. For some players, finding motivation for Tuesday night's game against the second-worst team in the Eastern Conference - the Panthers ' first since being eliminated from the playoffs Saturday - was a tough task. For Anderson, it was 'really easy.'

'I've got a lot to prove,' Anderson said after the morning skate. 'I have to show I'm improving.'

Relishing his chance to play, Anderson produced another solid performance Tuesday night, making 31 saves as the Panthers beat the Thrashers 3-2 at Philips Arena. The win was the Panthers' 19th on the road this season - a franchise record - and ended a three-game losing streak. The players will have today off and stay in Atlanta until Thursday before ending the season with games at Carolina on Friday and Washington on Saturday. Read more

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Jay Bouwmeester and David Booth scored 17 seconds apart early in the third period Tuesday night and the Florida Panthers held on for a 3-2 win over the Atlanta Thrashers, ending a three-game losing streak. via Slam Sports

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“It just goes to show the character of the teams that are hunting down a playoff spot”

SUNRISE, Fla., March 29 -- The Washington Capitals' 3-0 victory over the Florida Panthers wasn't particularly exciting or pleasing to the eye. But, as several players noted afterward, style points don't count for much this time of year.

The only points that matter are the ones awarded to the winner, and the Capitals earned two huge ones at BankAtlantic Center on Saturday to keep pace in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Cristobal Huet made 32 saves and Viktor Kozlov (goal, two assists), Alex Ovechkin and Mike Green supplied the offense as Washington won for the eighth time in nine games and capped a six-game trip with a 5-1-0 record. Read more

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