Panthers Roster Moves

FLORIDA - The Florida Panthers are not making much noise with any free agent signings but they have turned some heads with their latest acquisitions.

With the team wondering how they were going to deal with the loss of star defenceman Mike Rathje, who became an unrestricted free agent this summer and signed a 4 year 21 million dollar contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets, they looked to the Stars.

The Panthers acquired centerman Alexander Daigle, defenceman Lubomir Visnovsky and a 2nd round from Dallas in exchange for young centerman Artem Kruikov.

"We are happy to introduce to the city and the fans of Florida Alexander Daigle and Lubomir Visnovsky." GM Perrault said at the National Car Rental Center news conference. "Both these players have good passing and puck control skills and can score. Our team becomes more of an offensive threat with these two players."

"I am excited to be a part of this team." Daigle ( pictured) said "It is a lot easier to take when your told you are being traded that your going to one of the elite teams in the league. To get an opportunity to play with the likes of Bondra, Tucker, Novo and Weiss just to name a few and have a legitimate chance at the Cup is going to make this year very exciting for me. I know that my roll on this team will be quite different then it was in Dallas but I am looking forward to helping this team get to the next level."

In Dallas Daigle was the go to guy and played on the top lines. In Florida he will be playing mostly on the third line and pp.

Lubomir on the other hand will have a similar roll in Florida as he did in Dallas. "I am ready to get going." Lubomir said. "It is always a shock when you are told that you are traded. I enjoyed my time in Dallas. I am not getting any younger though and it will be exciting to be part of a team that has a legitimate chance at winning the cup. The expectations on this team are to win and win now. It is not good enough to just make the playoffs. I am very happy to get this chance to play in Florida and can't wait to get things going."