NHL

Weiss said there's mutual interest between him and the team to agree to a new contract in the off-season. "The consensus is they'd like to have me back; I'd like to be back, it's just a matter of the numbers game." Weiss will become an unrestricted free agent in July if a deal isn't reached to stay in Florida.

He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer if a deal cannot be reached with the Panthers. "I feel I got a big role with this team and like what we started here when I signed," Theodore said. "I never accept a backup role, but that doesn't mean it's not going to happen." If Florida intends to use Jacob Markstrom as their starter next year, as it is expected they will, then it might be best for them to part ways with Theodore and use Scott Clemmmensen, who has one year remaining on his deal with the club, as his backup. Theodore finished the season on the sidelines with a groin injury that kept him on the shelf since the beginning of March.

He missed the last three games of the regular season with what was originally classified as an "upper-body injury." Kulikov didn't take the next step in his development this year, while posting three goals and 10 points in 34 appearances. However, he still has the potential to be a solid offensive contributor from Florida's back end.

He missed three games with a wrist problem this year and will have it looked after in Cleveland. The rookie center recorded three goals, 10 assists and a minus-10 rating in 43 games with the Panthers this season.

The veteran blueliner has two years left on his contract and he was limited to six games this season because of a hip issue which required surgery. "My mind-set is work hard in the summer, get my hip strong, but it's too early to say how it's going to respond," Jovanovski said. "I'm a driven individual and for me playing again is what I want to do and what I'm going to do."

The Panthers conducted interviews with their rookie contingent at the end of the regular season and Huberdeau seems to understand where he has to be better. The outstanding rookie finished tied with Edmonton's Nail Yakupov for the scoring lead among first-year players with 31 in 41 contests.

The word is that he's off crutches related to his knee injury and that he's shooting for an August 5 date to start skating again. Apparently about two months won't be enough for him to be ready to play, though, at least according to Sunday's estimates.