Florida Panthers reward D Weaver with 2-year extension

by Donny Rivette on Dec 30, 2011 10:51 AM EST in Florida Panthers News & Analysis

Defenseman Mike Weaver has been re-upped by Florida; the undrafted, right-shooting blueliner was in the final season of his existing two-year, one-way deal valued at $1.8M over the term (per CapGeek). From the club:

"Mike is a high-character, hard-working defenseman who we are glad to have re-signed," said Tallon. "He is a responsible player, who has proven to play an integral role on our penalty kill. We look forward to his continued contributions to our organization."

Weaver, 33, has played in 119 games with Florida since being signed as a free agent on Aug. 3, 2010, scoring two goals with 20 assists and 40 PIM. He currently ranks second on the club in blocked shots (62) and sixth on the team in ice time (19:44). Weaver was one of only four Panthers players to appear in all 82 games with the Panthers last season, while finishing first on the team in blocked shots (132).

Poll

A wise move to keep the veteran blueliner through 2013-14?

Yes...stability is paramount

74 votes

No...already lacking spots for both Gudbranson & Ellerby, plus Robak is knocking on the door

16 votes

90 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

So the only defensemen not signed for next season are Ellerby, Garrison, and Kulikov. Hmm…

by Alexander Calloway on Dec 30, 2011 11:15 AM EST reply actions

Does anyone else..

Smell a trade coming?

by Devin N on Dec 30, 2011 11:18 AM EST reply actions

Fun fact: Weaver is ninth in Panthers scoring with nine assists.

by Alexander Calloway on Dec 30, 2011 11:34 AM EST reply actions

There is NO way they are letting Garrison or Kuli get away. They will be resigned along with Versteeg in the not to distant future. I have a feeling Ellerby and Santorelli will be making their way out the door soon!

Dara

by gravenger5 on Dec 30, 2011 11:43 AM EST reply actions

I’d rather see all three of them stay though, Ellerby is getting better and could be a good part of the future. Either way, they have to find a spot in the lineup for Guds to play every night.

- Go Panthers -

by flpanther360 on Dec 30, 2011 1:28 PM EST up reply actions

I’m excited that Weaver will be sticking around, but I’m worried about what this means for the guys we’ve got coming up. Yes, it means we can feel safer trading Ellerby — and he may be our most valuable trade piece, so he may also be most likely to go — but we’re just going to run into the same 7 D issue we have now with Robak … which, of course, we’d run into either way, because we need to lose two to not run into that with him.

(I’m assuming here that we keep Kulikov and Garrison, which I think is pretty much a lock unless Garrison asks for some absurd amount or length of time on his next contract and I don’t think he’ll do that. It’s also assuming Jovo doesn’t retire before the end of his contract, but we’ll see on that one.)

by angellen on Dec 30, 2011 12:05 PM EST reply actions

Sometimes, I wonder if Panthers fans have forgotten what it is like to have real depth. ;-)

The Ghost of David Nemirovsky

by panthersfan27 on Dec 30, 2011 12:10 PM EST up reply actions

Oh, it’s obviously not a bad problem — and there is a difference with Robak from both Ellerby and Gudbranson in that he can be sent down and called back up without waivers — but I’d rather be getting use out of the guys somewhere than having them sit in the press box.

by angellen on Dec 30, 2011 12:32 PM EST up reply actions

Robak only has that ability next season.

by MrOmnipotent on Dec 30, 2011 5:30 PM EST up reply actions

Gives us another year to figure things out, at least.

by angellen on Dec 30, 2011 5:58 PM EST up reply actions

Hey check out Florida Panthers Nation on Facebook.

This isn’t an automated message, I’m a true blue Panthers fan. Check out the link, I update it like 12 times a day.

When you get there, click on like please. Thank you. Go Panthers!

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

Dr. Seuss

by Kevin Kraczkowski on Dec 30, 2011 12:35 PM EST reply actions

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Florida-Panthers-Nation/347621568585757?ref=tn_tnmn

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

Dr. Seuss

by Kevin Kraczkowski on Dec 30, 2011 12:35 PM EST up reply actions

Keep up the good work Kevin.

by Alexander Calloway on Dec 30, 2011 3:19 PM EST up reply actions

Indeed. Done.

Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Dec 30, 2011 6:14 PM EST up reply actions

I really like Ellerby and his game. Would be sad to see him go.

Steve Diaz
Twitter - @sdiaz6215

by Sdiaz6215 on Dec 30, 2011 12:51 PM EST reply actions

Kind of in Between on the poll question

I feel like both are true. I like Weaver, don’t get me wrong, but with all the D prospects we have coming up, I would have preferred a one year deal rather than two.

by cats never die on Dec 30, 2011 1:01 PM EST reply actions

Robak is the only D in SA who could be considered a “lock” for semi-regular duty with the Panthers next year. Petrovic will likely spend that season with the Rampage. My two cents.

Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Dec 30, 2011 1:33 PM EST up reply actions

Petrovic is 2-3 years away fro being ready, however I have heard the Panthers were impressed with him at camp, so it could be shorter.

by Alexander Calloway on Dec 30, 2011 3:20 PM EST up reply actions

Robak will spend another season in San Antonio next year, and probably be the main call-up, depending on his play, as the 8th defenseman. Panthers don’t have the depth in San Antonio, and we’re seeing that this season with the forwards.

by MrOmnipotent on Dec 30, 2011 5:38 PM EST up reply actions

So heres my thoughts on all of this:
1- Weaver has never played more than two full seasons with the same club before joining the Panthers, if anything this contract extension can take that monkey off his back, especially since he was soon to be UFA that never really made a blip on the FA radar before. Thats an extra boost of confidence.
2- This move ensures there will be a balance of veterans and young guys on the defense, which is always a good thing. Campbell Jovo and Weaver as veterans, Ellerby, Gudbranson and Kulikov Garrison as sorta young guys.
3- A trade is always a possibility, but I dont think Ellerby is being actively shopped. Thats not to say he couldnt be included in a deal, but he’s a good young defender and the obvious choice for filling in for injury. There has to be a reason he’s on a one-way deal right now.
4- We have 7 defensemen, but remember Jovo hasnt played a full season for a while now, and I’m surprised he hasn’t had injuries other than missing the odd game. Still a real possibility he could go out for a while (as could anyone else for that matter)
5- We may have 7 D for this season, but who says Tallon wont sign Ellerby to a two way for next year?

So while the extension does in theory create a D shuffle, I dont think it will require any extra measures. I dont see a problem or any reason to prescribe something to fix it.

I would have been sad to see Weaver walk at the end of the year not only because I like him, but because he’s the best defensive defenseman we have and one of the better penalty killers in the league. Tallon found a gem in this guy when he signed him in the first place, and made the right decision in resigning him.

I’m putting here for reflection later on in the season…. #14 Tomas [Fleischmann] is getting a 40G season. FLASH COUNT: 13G/19A
by RPC on Sep 17, 2011 5:20 PM MDT
Find me on Twidduh And look at my Marmots

by Chris S Roberts on Dec 30, 2011 4:32 PM EST reply actions

The defense you see this season, will probably be the same defense you see next season, if everyone is resigned. Only way it’ll change, is if Petrovic or Robak come in next autumn and play their asses off, clearly beating out someone established.

by MrOmnipotent on Dec 30, 2011 5:40 PM EST up reply actions