Markstrom was 4-4 with a 2.85 goals-against-average in the playoffs, and was on the losing end of last week's 4-3 loss to Oklahoma City that eliminated San Antonio in the Western Conference semifinals.
"He was OK,'' said Santos, who serves as general manager of the Rampage. "I don't know what else to say. If you look at his numbers they were good; they could be better and I think they will get better.
"Again he's a young guy, and unfortunately for two years as a pro he hasn't had a full season in the minors as far as being the number one guy that we had hoped. Most of it's been because of injury, not only to him, but injuries to the goalies we have in Florida which required us to recall him.
"His season was disjointed so I still think he needs that one full year to be the guy and understand what it's like to be the guy that everyone is counting on a nightly basis.''
If that is the master plan, the Panthers would then make the re-signing of veteran free-agent goalie Scott Clemmensen, 34, more of a priority than originally believed. Panthers GM Dale Tallon and Santos both have made it clear that they were pleased with Clemmensen's body of work in their two years together, particularly this season in which he was 14-6-6 with a 2.57 GAA.
Garrison, 27, who had a breakout season with 16 goals to go with his customary solid defense, told The Vancouver Province that if he can't get a deal done with the Panthers then his hometown Canucks would be his next choice.
Tallon and coach Kevin Dineen have both made it clear that of those 10 players with expiring contracts, their priority signings are forward Kris Versteeg, defenseman Jason Garrison and possibly veteran forward Mikael Samuelsson.
És a többi hét játékos:
Marco Sturm, LW, 34, $2.225 millon
A concussion limited his production (5 points in 42 games) and although a heady player with penalty-kill skills, the Panthers will need his roster spot for younger talent.
Krys Barch, RW, 32, $850,000
An excellent midseason addition who added much-needed toughness to the fourth line to serve as protection to frail skilled forwards. Also displayed surprising puck-possessions skills. Tough call.
Scott Clemmensen, G, 35, $1.5 million
Perfect backup coming off second-best season of career while proving he can carry a team on a short-term basis. However, the net may be too crowded with Jose Theodore signed for one more year and Markstrom ready for the show.
John Madden, C, 39, $600,000
Once he got in game-shape proved his value on the penalty kill and in the faceoff circle, however, the Panthers added a bigger, younger version in Jerred Smithson, so it's unlikely he will return.
Dmitry Kulikov; D, 21, $900,000
Despite missing 24 games due to a knee injury notched career-high 28 points. Needs to clean up careless turnovers but his upside is too stratospheric not to tie up to long-term deal.
Keaton Ellerby, D, 23, $787,500
Proved he's an NHL-caliber blue-liner when filling in for Ed Jovanovski; however, with Robak and Petrovic on the horizon, he may have to blossom elsewhere.
Wotjek Wolski, RW, 26, $4 million
Acquired for extraordinary shootout skills and it paid off; while he has offensive skills the Panthers sorely lack his defensive indifference had him in Dineen's doghouse.
Florida Panthers deep in net with Theodore, Clemmensen and Markstrom
A decision has to be made whether to re-sign Clemmensen or leave goaltending chores to Theodore and rookie Markstrom
CORAL SPRINGS— When the Panthers broke training camp in October most NHL analysts picked them to repeat as bottomfeeders of the Eastern Conference partly because they would be depending on veteran goalie Jose Theodore coming off a shaky season and backup Scott Clemmensen instead of a consistent Tomas Vokoun.
Well, six months later Theodore, Clemmensen and projected goalie of the future Jacob Markstrom silenced those detractors as the Panthers rode their goaltending to their first division championship while snapping their NHL-record 10-season playoff drought.
New Jersey Devils And while Vokoun, 35, who chose to sign a one-year deal with the Capitals, had his customary solid (2.51 goals-against-average) season, he's missed Washington's entire playoff run to the conference semifinals since tearing a groin muscle in March.
"We had doubters this season, we couldn't make the playoffs or that goaltending would be an issue,'' Theodore said after the first-round, seven-game playoff loss to the New Jersey Devils.
"I was aware of those comments. It was just extra motivation to prove everybody wrong. … Since the first game I was consistent and proved maybe some of the critics wrong, but it's really what we accomplished as a team that's really positive for the future.''
What exactly is the future for Theodore, who will be 36 in the final year of his $1.5 million deal, or Clemmensen, an impending free agent who turns 35 in July? An oft-injured Markstrom has played in eight NHL games?
Panthers General Manager Dale Tallon, who's hoping to add goal-scoring pieces to his 27th-ranked offense this offseason, doesn't seem overly concerned with his goaltending or defense, two of the team's strong suits. The Panthers allowed just 2.63 goals per game, 12th in the NHL.
"I've got nothing but admiration for [Clemmensen],'' Tallon said. "You never have enough depth in goal, so we'll continue conversations with him.
"[Markstrom's] knee has been fixed and he's really carried San Antonio into the playoffs and got them in the second round. He's been outstanding and I have no doubt he will be a tremendous goaltender in this league.
"He's our goaltender of the future, no doubt.''
Theodore, who was 15-11-3 in Minnesota where he couldn't unseat Niklas Backstrom as the starter, bounced back with a 22-16-11 season. His 2.46 goals-against-average and .917 save percentage were ranked 14th and 10th among goalies who played 50 or more games.
"As long as I play the way I can, get the job done, I want to stay as long as I can,'' Theodore said. "When you're in net you learn that everybody's breathing down your neck.
"Whether it's Clemmer or Marky … whoever it is, I'm there to be a good teammate.''
Clemmensen was 14-6-6 with a 2.57 GAA and .913 save percentage. Both goalies fared well in the playoffs with Clemmensen notching his first postseason win and start (1-2-1, 2.35 GAA), while Theodore pitched the second shutout of his postseason career (2-2-1, 2.46 GAA).
The 6-foot-5 Markstrom, 22, who has had two knee surgeries in his first two pro seasons, was 2-4-1 with a 2.66 GAA and .923 save percentage while filling in for Theodore and Clemmensen. He's 4-1 with a 3.08 GAA in the AHL playoffs, after going 17-12-1 with a 2.32 GAA in the regular season.
Clemmensen missed the first month of the season while recuperating from minor knee surgery. Theodore was 8-8-7 in the second half while dealing with knee and groin issues that he says will need rehabilitation, but no surgery this summer.
The Panthers could re-sign Clemmensen for one more season so Markstrom could take over as the starter in 2013-14, rather than sit behind Theodore next season.
"I love being here and I love playing for this team,'' Clemmensen said. "It would be great if we could extend it further. If not, then we'll go where the path leads.''
Tallon said getting Garrison and Versteeg back under contract is a priority.
“We want to keep the team together,'' Tallon said. “We're going to start talking to agents now and sign the guys we need to get signed. They want to be here and we want them here.''
With Tallon's leadership – he was the architect of the 2010 Stanley Cup champs in Chicago – the Panthers hope this becomes a destination point for free agents. Although the Panthers have money under the cap, Florida isn't expected to be in the running for big free agents such as New Jersey's Zach Parise or Nashville's Ryan Suter come July 1.
Nálatok alázott ez tény, ezért utálja mindenki azt a gyökér alakulatot. Mást se tudtatok, csak "alázni" és trappelni. Lindros hitnél pl. bármilyen kameraállásaba csúszik a kamera, ELBOW!!!! Big E. még ha pöcsmagasságba lehajol, akkor sem tudná a vállával elérni az a kis gyökér buzi. Nem, nem vigasztal, hogy azóta Ő (Stevens) sem tud normálisan beszélni és tejberizsen kívül bármit is enni. Egyébként a nagy sunyi Debilsz "C" azt kapta, amit megérdemelt.
Elismerésem a csapatnak, ha nem mi ellenünk játszottatok volna, akkor még én is Nektek szurkoltam volna. Fleischmann előtt meg riszpekt, nem semmi, hogy sérülten tolta végig a szériát
A fórumban a kiadvány regiszrált látogatói kapnak lehetőséget magánvéleményük kifejezésére.
Ezen vélemények nem tükrözik a kiadó szerkesztőségének álláspontját.
