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Defenceman Dan Focht Added to Cats Blue Line

Copied from www.floridapanthers.com

August 26, 2005

SUNRISE, FL – Florida Panthers General Manager Mike Keenan announced today that the club has signed D Dan Focht.

Focht, 27, has appeared in 82 National League Hockey contests for Phoenix (2001-03) and Pittsburgh (2002-04) scoring two goals with six assists and 145 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-6, 240-pound blue liner played in 52 games with the Penguins during the 2003-04 season notching five points (2-3-5) and 105 penalty minutes. Last season, Focht appeared in 26 games with the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) recording five points (2-3-5) and 84 penalty minutes. The Regina, Saskatchewan native was drafted by Phoenix with their first choice (11th overall) in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.

“Dan is a big defenseman who skates well,” said Keenan. “He adds depth to our club’s already competitive blue line and we look forward to him competing for a roster spot during training camp.”
 

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As a Flyers Fan, the only ones I wanted resigned are as follows: John Slaney and Radovan Somik. The rest are pretty much waiver kibble to me, even Lapointe.
 

Nightfall said:
As a Flyers Fan, the only ones I wanted resigned are as follows: John Slaney and Radovan Somik. The rest are pretty much waiver kibble to me, even Lapointe.
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Clarkie has said Somik won't be resigned. He thinks that they could plugin a minor leaguer and get the same results. I always thought that Radovan could do more if they gave him the chance.

I'm surprised noone has signed Slaney. He could be a valuable asset as a powerplay guy and 6th defenseman. If the game opens up, he becomes even more useful.
 

Yeah well I think for Slaney, he's not been seen a lot and thus, the lack of interest.

But Clarkie isn't signing Somik?! That just boggles my mind. Hell he's the reason the Flyers made it past the 1st round.
 

Nightfall said:
Yeah well I think for Slaney, he's not been seen a lot and thus, the lack of interest.
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Possibly, but he has been around awhile in the minors.

Nightfall said:
But Clarkie isn't signing Somik?! That just boggles my mind. Hell he's the reason the Flyers made it past the 1st round.
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Nope. I would rather have Somik than a couple of the guys they do have on the roster.
 

Here's the Flyers current roster (apologies to those not interested)

No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Age Hometown
2 Derian Hatcher D 6-5 225 33 Sterling Hts., Mich.
3 Mike Rathje D 6-5 230 31 Mannville, Alberta
5 Kim Johnsson D 6-1 205 29 Malmo, Sweden
6 Chris Therien D 6-5 234 33 Ottawa
9 Patrick Sharp C 6-0 188 23 Thunder Bay, Ontario
11 Jon Sim LW 5-10 190 28 New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
12 Simon Gagne LW 6-0 185 25 Ste. Fly, Quebec
17 Jeff Carter C 6-3 193 20 London, Ontario
18 Mike Richards C 6-0 192 20 Kenora, Ontario
19 Branko Radivojevic RW 6-2 207 24 Piestany, Slovakia
21 Peter Forsberg C 6-1 205 32 Ornskoldsvik, Sweden
22 Mike Knuble RW 6-3 228 33 Toronto
24 Sami Kapanen RW 5-10 180 32 Vantaa, Finland
25 Keith Primeau C 6-5 220 33 Toronto
26 Michal Handzus C 6-5 217 28 Banska Bystrica, Slovakia
27 Turner Stevenson RW 6-3 220 33 Prince George, British Columbia
30 Antero Niittymaki G 6-1 180 25 Turku, Finland
36 Dennis Seidenberg D 6-1 190 24 Schwenningen, Germ.
37 Eric Desjardins D 6-1 200 36 Rouyn, Quebec
42 Robert Esche G 6-1 212 27 Whitesboro, N.Y.
44 Joni Pitkanen D 6-3 200 21 Oulu, Finland
87 Donald Brashear LW 6-2 225 33 Bedford, Ind.
 

Lefferts,

I still don't know WHY we keep Therien. He's really starting to show he's not the man everyone thought he would be. Same with Knuble. Two very big wastes on the roster. Stevenson...eh. But I still think Somik should be kept on. He's got heart and it showed in the playoffs, IMHO. But then I guess unlike Clarke, I actually WATCH the games. :p So this is certainly one of the decisions I truly question Clarke on. Getting a slightly over used Forsberg, eh, better than no Forsberg, ESPECIALLY if we can get him to only take 2 or 3rd line to keep some of the pressure off him. This way, he stays healthy AND ready for the playoffs. But its still mind boggling for Somik NOT to be a Flyer. He's a player, period. I'm sure whatever team he signs with, Somik WILL make an impact on their 3rd, 4th lines.
 

Therien is around because a bunch of Flyers lobbied for him to be brought back (ironically, this includes Roenick). He is making the minimum salary and will be the 7th defenseman unless someone gets hurt. I think he proved that he is too slow to play in Hitchcock's system before he was traded in 2003-04.

I want to see what Knuble does before I judge him. I don't really see the point in having Stevenson. I would also rather have Somik than Sim or Radivojevic.
 


Agamon said:
I heard Sami Kapanen is commited to playing in Europe this year. Was that incorrect?
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I haven't heard that, but I did just read that Somik's agent told the Flyers that he is going to continue his career in Europe. (courtesy CBSSportline player page) It doesn't have any info about Kapanen doing the same.
 

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