According to GM Dale Tallon, the Florida Panthers have re-signed trade deadline pick-up Tim Kennedy to a one year two-way deal, salary figures have yet to be released. Kennedy was acquired along with a 3rd round draft pick in this years draft for Bryan McCabe at the trade deadline and played in 6 games with the Panthers collecting one assist.
Said Tallon of Kennedy:
Tim is a young, skilled forward who we are pleased to have re-signed. He has played for Head Coach Kevin Dineen in Portland and we look forward to Tim’s continued development and growth within our organization.
The left wing is still a relatively young player who hasn’t seen much NHL time since being bought out by the Buffalo Sabres in August 2010. Kennedy had filed for arbitration and was awarded a one year one million dollar contract that Buffalo simply refused to pay, so he was bought out just days later. Kennedy was signed by the New York Rangers but never saw ice time with the big club in fear that Kennedy would be claimed off of waivers if the team attempted a call up.
Splitting the 2010-11 season with the Connecticut Whale and Rochester Americans of the AHL, Kennedy scored 12 goals and recorded 37 assists in 67 games.
Tim Kennedy had shown some scoring prowess in his rookie year with the Buffalo Sabres scoring 26 points (10 goals) in 78 games, but Kennedy hasn’t been given the chance to improve upon those numbers since. If Kennedy competes well in camp, expect him to be a 3rd in the left wing depth chart behind David Booth and Evgeni Dadonov.