Panthers extend GM Martin through 2012

[ThomasTomasz]

Quote:

SUNRISE, FLORIDA (TICKER) —The Florida Panthers on Friday signed general manager Jacques Martin to a contract extension through the 2011-12 season. The move comes a month after the team announced that Martin would not return as coach next season. At the time it was announced that he had been offered to retain his role as Florida’s general manager. A change appeared imminent after the Panthers missed the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season and were the only team in the NHL with a dual coach/general manager. The 55-year-old Martin posted a 110-100-36 record in three seasons with the Panthers after he was hired as Florida’s coach before the 2004-05 campaign, which was cancelled due to the owner’s lockout. He assumed the general manager position when Mike Keenan was fired before the 2006-07 season and led the Panthers to two fourth-place finishes in the Southeast Division before they finished third this season. As the general manager, Martin was responsible for re-shaping the Panthers’ roster by re-signing numerous key players, along with acquiring key free agent acquisitions. Most notably, he acquired goaltender Tomas Vokoun in a trade at the 2007 draft, as well as signing center Stephen Weiss, right wing Nathan Horton and defenseman Bryan Allen to long term contract extensions last year. Martin also was influential in acquiring prospect Shawn Matthias in a trade for Todd Bertuzzi at the 2007 trade deadline, while also signing free agent center Brett McLean, right wing Richard Zednik and right wing Radek Dvorak. Additionally this past season, Martin acquired defensemen Jassen Cullimore and Magnus Johansson in order to fill the roster void, left due to injury in the team’s defense, while also acquiring right wing Wade Belak at the 2008 trade deadline. http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slu...v=st&type=lgns