Florida Panthers sign Shawn Thornton to two-year deal

Cats continue seemingly annual trend of adding limited, but punchy player to the roster.

The Florida Panthers continued to add to their roster, and eat up cap space, by signing enforcer-type Shawn Thornton to a two-year, $2.4 million contract.

The 36-year-old Thornton has spent the last seven season with the Boston Bruins and brings grit, experience and two Stanley Cup rings to South Florida. His best season was in 2009-10 when scored 10 goals and 10 assists in 79 games. The Oshawa, ON native has racked up 906 career PIM.

I'm a bit flummoxed by this signing. Yes, I know the Panthers are always short on toughness, but bringing in a 36-year-old to take up a spot on the fourth-line doesn't seem like the best of ideas. Let's hope Thornton has enough gas left in the tank to warrant bringing him in. Tallon loves his old Blackhawks, eh?