The Panthers are not known for being particularly active at the NHL trade deadline. Most of the team’s General Managers have preferred to make their moves around the draft (see the Luongo deals). However, the Panthers have made some significant Deadline Day deals and some insignificant ones. While Dale Tallon threatens to make this the busiest Panthers trade deadline ever, we’re going to take a look at Panthers Deadline Week deals of the past.
General Manager: Jacques Martin
Deadline:: March 4, 2009
- Noah Welch and a third round draft pick in 2009 to Tampa for Steve Eminger (Andrej Nestrasil after pick traded to Detroit).
Eminger was a salary dump for the Lightning and an audition for the Panthers, who sent a player that was going to be released anyway.
Deadline:: February 26, 2008
- 2008 third-round pick to Toronto for Forward Chad Kilger (James Livingston after pick traded to St. Louis).
- Defenseman Ruslan Salei to Colorado for Defenseman Karlis Skrastins and a 2008 third-round pick (Adam Comrie).
- 2008 fifth-round pick to Toronto for Forward Wade Belak (Jerome Flaake).
The only good move this deadline was the Salei trade. Skrastins was a solid defenseman on a pair with Jay Bouwmeester for the next season when his deal expired and Randy Sexton let him walk. The third and fifth round picks were wasted. Chad Kilger never suited up for the Panthers or played in another NHL game while Belak quickly became a fan favorite he spent most of his time in the press box until he was traded to Nashville for Nick Tarnasky.
Deadline:: February 27, 2007
- Forward Todd Bertuzzi to Detroit for forward Shawn Matthias and a conditional draft pick.
- Defenseman Noah Welch to Pittsburgh for Forward Gary Roberts.
- Defenseman Joel Kwiatkowski to the Penguins for a fourth round pick in 2007.
The best move of this deadline was to send injured forward Bertuzzi, acquired in the Luongo trade, to the Red Wings for prospect Matthias, who looks to be the Panthers second-line center of the future, depending on health and the long-term prospects of Michael Santorelli.
Much like his off-season strategy, Martin threw a lot of draft picks away at his three trade deadlines. Most of these moves didn’t really pay off and are part of the reason many Panthers fans are unhappy with his tenure as GM.