Back to reality for the Florida Panthers - Torrey, Bouwmeester, Lemaire, and more

Why the sudden, dramatic decrease in price? Perhaps only Randy Sexton knows for sure...

More after the super-terrific fun-jump...

Sunrise Torrey and the Latest Crusade

The Palm Beach Post's Brian Biggane gets into the GM-search arena with a little more insight on Bill Torrey's quest to locate the perfect general manager, made all the more unique in the one demand the team will insist upon: don't even so much as dream about replacing the current coach. We're familiar with all of the names, and a few sure are complimentary of Florida's progress over the past year.

Of course, that's not the end of it. Charley Walters of TwinCities.com is hearing things as well:

Insiders say Bill Torrey, the former Islanders and Panthers GM, is heading the GM search for the Panthers and talking quietly with ex-Wild GM Doug Risebrough. A Risebrough hire could be enough to lure ex-Wild coach Jacques Lemaire to the Florida team.

Question: Is there any remotely possible way in Hades a Risebrough/Lemaire one-two punch could ever conceivably work within the Peter DeBoer offense-first system?

I'll provide the answer: Not. A. Chance.

BOUWMANIA!

It's looking solid as stone that defenseman Jay Bouwmeester will not be returning to Sunrise in a Cats uniform. Denying it was simply silly. The chances of Florida getting whatever may be possible for his rights at the draft? All but a certainty. Bruce (Malkin to the Kings) Garrioch goes even deeper:

League sources say the looming unrestricted free agent has already told the Panthers he won't return. Now Florida is pressing hard to trade the blueliner.

"The Panthers just want to get something done," a league executive said yesterday. "They don't want to let him walk away for nothing."

But they also won't take just anything in return. The price for Bouwmeester's rights could be as high as a first-round pick.

That's a lot of information up there: Made it clear he's leaving no matter what, the Cats will trade his rights, and there could be a first-rounder involved. Booyah. Draft Night just may be interesting.

Rochester Rumblings

Former Americans GM Jody Gage was re-hired for an undetermined position a few weeks ago by the club after unceremoniously dumping him only days earlier. We're still not sure what he'll be doing, but the Rochester organization is glad to have him back in the fold.

The Amerks' (and Panthers prospect) Michael Caruso is profiled in another one of those nifty Our Sports Central question-and-answer deals:

Q: What do you enjoy the most about playing in Rochester?

A: I've never played with such a great group of people for teammates. It makes it very enjoyable to come to the rink every day.

He'll never be mistaken for Jeremy Roenick, but a nice kid nonetheless.

DEAL!

Finally, from the wonderful world of "Eklund" parodies comes this latest gem from "The Rumor Generator", just in time for the draft:

Thornton to Panthers? (e2)

According to my sources within the San Jose Sharks organization, the Florida Panthers are willing to part with RW Radek Dvorak, D Jay Bouwmeester and G Tomas Vokoun to obtain the services of C Joe Thornton. Remember, you heard it here first!

Ever thought you were alone in believing Eklund ("the Anonymous Hockey Blogger") might be stretching the truth a bit in his predictions? You're not.