Winger Kris Versteeg in discussions with GM Dale Tallon on a new deal from Florida Panthers – NHL News
Florida Panthers’ winger, Kris Versteeg, is very much on the chance to avoid becoming a hockey nomad by changing hands too frequently as he discloses to have discussed the options of winning a new deal from Panthers with the team’s general manager, Dale
Tallon.
Versteeg is probably one of few players on the National Hockey League (NHL) to have been traded so frequently that makes their next move unpredictable.
The Winger has already been traded four times in his career. This includes the change of his employers three times in span of about a year.
Finally, he through his form and performance at Panthers have proved that he deserves to play for the side in the longer run, and has already had discussions on this option with his boss, Tallon.
Kris Versteeg is scheduled to become a restricted free agent in the near future and his team has the February 27 (2012) trade deadline to offer him a new contract before he becomes vulnerable to signing by any other side from NHL off the free agency.
As of the latest, the player said he and the team’s GM had a discussion around the possibility of negotiating a deal for him, and apparently he has the backing from Tallon.
Versteeg said:
"We've kind of implied it toward one another that we both want to do something and get something done. Now it's about just getting it done. It's something I want obviously really bad. I don't want to move anywhere else. It's tough to travel from team to
team and try to get comfortable over a year into their system. To get production every year is tough when you're going from team to team. I'd like to stay in one spot, get used to a group of guys and start a core group of guys here and try to win here."
The player was on the priority list of his GM since he had been handed over the task of rebuilding Panthers.
He has traded as many as two players to get Versteeg into his side and the player has proved through his performance that his choice merited credibility and worthiness.
Versteeg has is on a 22-goal streak and in line to become next higher scorer of the team since the 30-goal score feat achieved by David Booth in 2008-09 season.
Courtesy of his performance along with other high-end prospects, Panthers are on way to make it to playoff round this season, which will be their first since the last playoff berth in 2000 NHL season.
He is among top few players who have achieved the feat of 20-goal steak for three consecutive seasons at the age of 25.
In spite of his achievements it is rather surprising for the player to have changed the sides for so many times in a period of about four years, and now he wants and has bright prospects to settle down with a team once for all.
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