You had it all, you still use shampoo
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 11:42 pm
You had it all, you still use shampoo - Cats add players in the off-season, as teams tend to do.
In a press conference Sunday morning, the Florida Panthers introduced three recent acquisitions to the media - Paul Kariya, Sheldon Souray and, uh... Blake Geoffrion.
Paul Kariya was acquired via trade with the New York Rangers, who recieved San Jose's 2nd round pick in 2013 in exchange for the shifty winger. In 1151 NHL games, Kariya has 452 goals and 675 assists.
Turning 38 this year, the five-time all-star played with four different teams last year, and assuming Kariya debuts with the Panthers in the fall, he'll be in his sixth uniform in two years. Through all of that turmoil, Kariya remained a consummate professional, putting up 48 points in 73 games - 21 in 39 as a Canadien, 2 in 2 games as an Islander, 7 in 11 with Tampa, and a strong finish to the season with 18 in 21 as a Ranger during the stretch.
Once considered one of the sport's most exciting scoring forwards, Kariya put together long stretches of brilliance in the late 90s as Captain of the (then) Anaheim Mighty Ducks, finishing top-five in league scoring four times. His post-Ducks career has been more checkered, and as he turned the corner into his thirties, injuries began to take their toll on his electrified offensive game, though he's still able to be a reliable point producer as he marches into the sunset.
Kariya could be seen as a replacement for Pavol Demitra, who remains a free agent after posting an astonishing 78 points last season, unexpectedly pressed into first line duty by injuries, though management is obviously hoping not to repeat last year's misfortunes. The signing should give the Cats two solid scoring lines with depth to spare, and provide a leadership aspect somewhat lacking at times on last year's squad.
Defenseman Sheldon Souray was signed as a free agent as soon as the NHL's silly season was underway. Again, although his prime years have passed, he should be a valuable asset on this young club looking to take the next step. The 37 year old Souray played all 82 games for the Canadiens last year, scoring 11 goals and adding 25 assists. Though a little longer in the tooth, he still possesses a booming slapshot, and is surprisingly reliable on the back end.
The Panthers also signed, for reasons now unclear, free agent grinder Blake Geoffrion. Unlike his famous grandfather, and his even more famous great-grandfather, the 24 year old Geoffrion has limited scoring talents, and is at best a 4th liner. We'd be remiss if we failed to mention that Geoffrion is a native Floridian, the second Sunshine Stater to sign with the Panthers, following after the venerable Dallas Eakins.
In a press conference Sunday morning, the Florida Panthers introduced three recent acquisitions to the media - Paul Kariya, Sheldon Souray and, uh... Blake Geoffrion.
Paul Kariya was acquired via trade with the New York Rangers, who recieved San Jose's 2nd round pick in 2013 in exchange for the shifty winger. In 1151 NHL games, Kariya has 452 goals and 675 assists.
Turning 38 this year, the five-time all-star played with four different teams last year, and assuming Kariya debuts with the Panthers in the fall, he'll be in his sixth uniform in two years. Through all of that turmoil, Kariya remained a consummate professional, putting up 48 points in 73 games - 21 in 39 as a Canadien, 2 in 2 games as an Islander, 7 in 11 with Tampa, and a strong finish to the season with 18 in 21 as a Ranger during the stretch.
Once considered one of the sport's most exciting scoring forwards, Kariya put together long stretches of brilliance in the late 90s as Captain of the (then) Anaheim Mighty Ducks, finishing top-five in league scoring four times. His post-Ducks career has been more checkered, and as he turned the corner into his thirties, injuries began to take their toll on his electrified offensive game, though he's still able to be a reliable point producer as he marches into the sunset.
Kariya could be seen as a replacement for Pavol Demitra, who remains a free agent after posting an astonishing 78 points last season, unexpectedly pressed into first line duty by injuries, though management is obviously hoping not to repeat last year's misfortunes. The signing should give the Cats two solid scoring lines with depth to spare, and provide a leadership aspect somewhat lacking at times on last year's squad.
Defenseman Sheldon Souray was signed as a free agent as soon as the NHL's silly season was underway. Again, although his prime years have passed, he should be a valuable asset on this young club looking to take the next step. The 37 year old Souray played all 82 games for the Canadiens last year, scoring 11 goals and adding 25 assists. Though a little longer in the tooth, he still possesses a booming slapshot, and is surprisingly reliable on the back end.
The Panthers also signed, for reasons now unclear, free agent grinder Blake Geoffrion. Unlike his famous grandfather, and his even more famous great-grandfather, the 24 year old Geoffrion has limited scoring talents, and is at best a 4th liner. We'd be remiss if we failed to mention that Geoffrion is a native Floridian, the second Sunshine Stater to sign with the Panthers, following after the venerable Dallas Eakins.