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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 2552897" data-attributes="member: 2012">No progress between Jokinen, PanthersCanadian Press9/8/2005 2:15:12 PMThe Florida Panthers have yet to re-sign centre Olli Jokinen, their top scorer from the last two seasons, as training camp approaches."Absolutely nothing is happening," Todd Diamond, who represents Jokinen along with Mark Gandler, said Thursday. "We're waiting to hear from them. I don't know what they're doing. We've heard nothing from them for probably close to a week now."Panthers GM Mike Keenan said he's had talks with Gandler over the last few weeks - including last Friday - and plans to get back to him in the near future."I needed time to review our financial situation and some of the things we discussed in terms of what approach we might take with Olli and what would work best for both sides," Keenan said Thursday. "That's really how it's been left. I said I would get back to him by the end of this week."Jokinen, 26, earned $2 million US in 2003-04 when he had 26 goals and 32 assists for 58 points, tops on the struggling Panthers, but down from the career-high 65 points and 36 goals he put up in 2002-03.At issue is not only the raise that Jokinen is looking for, but also the fact he can become an unrestricted free agent next summer should he play under a one-year deal this season.For Jokinen to forego that privilege, the Panthers will need to ante up. The Panthers could get him cheaper under a one-year deal but then risk losing him."There's advantages or disadvantages for both parties in both scenarios," Keenan said of signing a one-year or multi-year deal.Perhaps hurting Jokinen's leverage is the signing of unrestricted free-agent centres Jozef Stumpel and Joe Nieuwendyk, both of whom could fill in as the No. 1 centre. Stumpel will earn $1.5 million this season while Nieuwendyk checks in at $2.25 million.Keenan also added veteran free agents Martin Gelinas and Gary Roberts, both wingers, and centre Chris Gratton."The position Olli is in had nothing to do with it," said Keenan. "Our hockey club, from my perspective, needed to have a more balanced experienced level of player. My feeling is that the Florida Panthers had far too many young players to deal with the demand of an 82-game schedule. That was the No.1 criteria for our organization was to secure experienced players."That we've signed a couple of experienced players at centre - even if Olli was signed we would have tried to acquire those players. We just felt we needed that kind of depth."Jokinen's possible absence from the start of training camp is exactly what Keenan wanted to avoid with goaltender Roberto Luongo. That's why Keenan forced his No. 1 goalie to arbitration last month.Luongo was publicly bitter about it but Keenan wanted to make sure Luongo would be under contract.In the meantime, Keenan offered the 26-year-old goalie a multi-year deal - believed to be $25 million over five years - an offer that was still on the table on the eve of Luongo's arbitration hearing. Luongo turned it down and was awarded $3.2 million for this season.The Panthers will likely approach Luongo about an extension later this season. The new CBA stipulates both sides can't talk again until January."We definitely view that as an option," Keenan said. "We tried to find a solution on a long-term basis and we'll continue to do that again beginning in January."</blockquote>

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