Florida Panthers General Manager Dale Tallon announced the signing of Quinton Howden. Howden, Florida's third of three picks in the first round of the 2010 draft, played junior hockey for the Western Hockey League's Moose Jaw Warriors, where he served as Assistant Captain. He led his team in goal scoring this season with 40 and his 79 points were the second highest and led his team in playoff scoring with 5 goals and 2 assists. He was selected to Canada's national team for 2011's World Junior Championship tournament in Buffalo and won a silver medal.

At the draft, Hockey's Future said of Howden:

Long-range, he projects to becoming a sound two-way forward who is competent in all aspects of the game. Since he is still young enough to develop a consistent offensive component to his game, he has an almost unlimited upside. A connservative scenario would have Howden becoming a sound two-way forward that contributes in all game situations.

Howden is the first of the three first-round picks from 2010 to sign with the Panthers and will likely start the year with whichever AHL club the Panthers are affiliated with next year is expected to compete for a roster spot in training camp. If he doesn't make it, he will play a final year of juniors, says the Miami Herald's George Richards. 

Quinton Howden Career Stats