[Signing] Panthers sign Shawn Thornton (2yrs, $1.2mil AAV)

[sureLoss]

Joe Haggerty @HackswithHaggs
Shawn Thornton to Panthers. Makes all sense in the world given Dale Tallon was w/him when he broke into NHL w/Blackhawks. Close ties there

[Jacks]

Geez, Panthers are building a whole new team.

[19Yzerman19]

Can't wait to see the AAV on this one. Guy has averaged fewer than 5 goals per 82 games over an 11 year career and yet somehow is thought to be a key component to the Bruins by playing (badly) for 8 minutes a night.

Bruins are better off without him.

EDIT: I thought he'd get more given all the hype but he's only being overpaid by about $400,000 (aka 1/3 the value of his contract) so it isn't a disaster. Still they'd be better off if he wasn't even on the ice.

[flamesfan1297]

Panthers are rebuilding in one day

[killer_carlson]

Good signing. I bet many teams would like him at that price

[Cali Panthers Fan]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this signing. The Panthers desperately needed some toughness and character.

Jokinen, Bolland, Thornton…all winners who can still contribute. Good day for Tallon, even if there was slight overpayment.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Watch out for the Panthers. Not even joking, a few of those are solid signings. Not to mention, Luongo/Montoya tandem looks a hell of a lot better than the Miller/Lack.

[transplant99]

Yup...really good signing by Tallon.

he is in the same role for FLA now that Bollig is for CGY.

protect the youngins while they learn the pro game.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I was already jazzed to watch the Panthers this year because of the young kids they have, but this lineup is starting to look really good:

Huberdeau-Bjugstad-Boyes
Jokinen-Barkov-Upshall
Bergenheim-Bolland-Hayes
Fleischmann-Pirri-Thornton
Kopecky

Gudbranson-Campbell
Ekblad-Kulikov
Olsen-Robak

Luongo-Ellis/Montoya

That is a pretty solid looking competitive roster. Top end goal scoring is still on the young side, but everything else is filling out pretty well. Still have some nice prospects at forward and defense coming down the pipe too.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Those lines look like you can roll all of them, rather than having a top line.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Those lines look like you can roll all of them, rather than having a top line.

Top scorer last year was Bjugstad with all of 38 points. Need a lot more offense if they're going to roll lines Really just need the kids to start breaking out like they can. If that happens they'll be a dark horse team.

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Top scorer last year was Bjugstad with all of 38 points. Need a lot more offense if they're going to roll lines Really just need the kids to start breaking out like they can. If that happens they'll be a dark horse team.

They need some scoring support for the youngsters or they won't reach their potential. Can't have talented kids passing the puck to veteran grinders. Jokinen is a decent help unless he falls off again - at least he can do something with the puck.

But ideally they still need to sign a scorer.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Henry Fool

They need some scoring support for the youngsters or they won't reach their potential. Can't have talented kids passing the puck to veteran grinders. Jokinen is a decent help unless he falls off again - at least he can do something with the puck.

But ideally they still need to sign a scorer.

Boyes had been good as well as Upshall, and both Fleischmann and Kopecky massively disappointed, as did Versteeg who they dumped. They've been trying the veteran route, but something tells me that they were missing some glue guys and leaders, which was evident when Jovanovski was out vs. when he was in the lineup. Totally different team. Bolland and company should help.

It's really time for Huberdeau to break out. He's far too talented not to score 20 a year.

[cam_wmh]

LOL 19yzerman's constant sky is falling, post-signing remarks.

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this signing. The Panthers desperately needed some toughness and character.

Jokinen, Bolland, Thornton…all winners who can still contribute. Good day for Tallon, even if there was slight overpayment.

Yep, solid signing.

Hard to say a couple hundred grand is overpayment, in the grand scheme of their cap situation & a player who's never cashed in like other FA's.