June 27, 200620 yr Jovanovski: Panthers a good option By Brian Biggane Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Tuesday, June 27, 2006 Ed Jovanovski was sitting pretty Monday, celebrating his 30th birthday while hanging out with his wife, two children and in-laws at the Boca Raton Beach Club. Jovanovski figures to improve his position Saturday, when he becomes an unrestricted free agent and several teams, including the Panthers, are expected to bid for his services. How many teams? "Let's just say it's going to take more fingers than you've got on two hands to count them," he laughed. Traded to Vancouver by Florida in the Pavel Bure deal in January 1999, Jovanovski has been widely expected to return to the Panthers, as long as their offer is close to the $5 million to $6 million he expects other teams to offer. He made $3.99 million last season. The Panthers' acquisition of his close friend, Todd Bertuzzi, his former defense partner, Bryan Allen, and goaltender Alex Auld from the Canucks on Friday figures to help the cause. "I've talked to Bertuzzi every day since the trade," Jovanovski said. "He's a good friend of mine, and we've had some good years together. At the end of the day, if there's an opportunity to come back and play (for Florida), great. "It's what suits my family the best. I just want to be treated fairly." Kirsten Jovanovski is a Boca Raton native, and the family has spent every off-season there since the trade. At a time when Chris Pronger has requested a trade from Edmonton because his wife does not want to live there, the same elements seem to favor the Panthers. A rugged 6-foot-2, 210-pounder, Jovanovski missed 25 games with a shoulder injury in 2003-04 and another 38 last season, having surgery for a lower-abdominal problem on Feb. 1. But he returned to play the final five games of the season, scoring seven points during the span. "I felt better than ever when I came back, so my health is a nonissue," he said. "I wouldn't have come back if I didn't feel 100 percent." He offered praise for all three of the former teammates the Panthers got in the Luongo trade. "Alex Auld gave us a chance in goal to win every night, and he'll do that for Florida," he said. "Going into the year, we figured on him playing once every seven to 10 games, and he wound up playing 50-plus (actually 67). He's young, he needs more playing time and he's got a lot to learn, but he's so calm and collected out there. "He had an opportunity and he excelled at it." Jovanovski said he and Allen played together much of last season. "He's a solid top-four guy," he said. "He's tough, blocks a lot of shots... and he'll punish a few guys. He's a guy who fans are going to love because of the way he hits." As for Bertuzzi, he said it was time he left Vancouver, where the baggage from the Steve Moore incident, combined with the pressure to perform, had become too big a burden. "He's looking forward to the next step, to playing down here," he said. "He'll get the fans out of their seats." Jovanovski struggled during his 3 1/2 seasons in Florida after the team took him first overall in the 1994 draft. But he's become a bona fide star since, playing in three All-Star Games, being named to two Canadian Olympic teams and also playing in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. In Florida, he would likely play on the team's top defensive pairing, alongside Jay Bouwmeester, and also play in both power-play and penalty-killing situations. Of his eight goals last season, six came on the power play. Other teams interested in his services include Philadelphia, Toronto, Boston, Phoenix, and Ottawa, but only if the Senators lose Wade Redden and Zdeno Chara. God we are going to have such a sick defensive unit if Jovo signs here. Too bad I won't be in town for the first week of July and will not have access to NHL news, save for my cell phone.
June 27, 200620 yr I am really excited at the upcoming season. At first I was really upset at the Luongo move but figured it was good for the team. I would much rather have an explosive offense and defense and a good goalie rather then an excellent goalie with subpar supporting cast. Jovo would be a huge addition! I like how FA's are looking at Florida as a good place to come too.
June 27, 200620 yr He said his decision will be determined by what suits his family the best and if that's the case, we are the CLEAR front runners.
June 27, 200620 yr Author any other Fa's we a front runner for? Not that I am aware of but don't be suprised to see us pick up a Mike Sillinger type player who is a special teams specialist with a knack for scoring goals.
June 27, 200620 yr I was just reading we didnt give a qualifying offer to Sim. I really liked what he brought to the team last season. Any reason we should be making a push for him or am I overreacting over a half a season of playing time from him?
June 27, 200620 yr any other Fa's we a front runner for? Not that I am aware of but don't be suprised to see us pick up a Mike Sillinger type player who is a special teams specialist with a knack for scoring goals. sillinger is a good face-off guy, no? if he is...then i say keep him, if we cant keep him, get more face off guys please!!! :thumbup
June 27, 200620 yr Author I was just reading we didnt give a qualifying offer to Sim. I really liked what he brought to the team last season. Any reason we should be making a push for him or am I overreacting over a half a season of playing time from him? Probably overreacting. We have a high probability of resigning him after July 1st. Keenan and Martin want to size up the market first, though. any other Fa's we a front runner for? Not that I am aware of but don't be suprised to see us pick up a Mike Sillinger type player who is a special teams specialist with a knack for scoring goals. sillinger is a good face-off guy, no? if he is...then i say keep him, if we cant keep him, get more face off guys please!!! :thumbup He is but we don't have him. :lol We only had him for a half season.
June 27, 200620 yr I was just reading we didnt give a qualifying offer to Sim. I really liked what he brought to the team last season. Any reason we should be making a push for him or am I overreacting over a half a season of playing time from him? Probably overreacting. We have a high probability of resigning him after July 1st. Keenan and Martin want to size up the market first, though. any other Fa's we a front runner for? Not that I am aware of but don't be suprised to see us pick up a Mike Sillinger type player who is a special teams specialist with a knack for scoring goals. sillinger is a good face-off guy, no? if he is...then i say keep him, if we cant keep him, get more face off guys please!!! :thumbup He is but we don't have him. :lol We only had him for a half season. Cool man. He brought some great energy to the team when we really needed it. Thanks for the info bro you know your Panther stuff and I can always rely on you. :thumbup
June 28, 200620 yr Jovanovski whispered to be moving on and Naslund comments on Bertuzzi Jun, 27 2006 - 4:00 PM VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) - Ed Jovanovski?s agent says if Jovanovski hits the free agent market, which officially starts on Saturday, he won?t be on it very long. It is expected that Jovanovski will sign with a new team on the same day free agency opens and expect that team to be the Florida Panthers. Some whispers that the Panthers and Jovanovski already have a deal in place. Jovanovski told a newspaper in Florida today that he has talked to Todd Bertuzzi everyday since Bertuzzi was traded to the Panthers and that the two are meeting Thursday in Miami. Jovanovski who just turned 30 yesterday, talked to CKNW this today about the trade rumours. ?There?s a lot of speculation my wife?s from that area but this is going to be a family decision and a decision where it suits me best, and right now I hope that can be Vancouver but like I said earlier we?ll just have to wait and see over the weekend,? Jovanovski said. Meanwhile Canucks captain Markus Naslund says the trade of his good friend Todd Bertuzzi still hasn?t sunk in. Naslund commented on the trade with CKNW from his home in Sweden today. ?I hope for his [bertuzzi] sake that he?s going to have a strong year and show everyone he?s still a star player in this league,? Naslund told CKNW. ?I know that it was a tough year for him, not only on the ice but off the ice as well.? http://www.cknw.com/news/sports_local.cfm?...ports_local.cfm
June 28, 200620 yr Jovanovski whispered to be moving on and Naslund comments on Bertuzzi Jun, 27 2006 - 4:00 PM VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) - Ed Jovanovski?s agent says if Jovanovski hits the free agent market, which officially starts on Saturday, he won?t be on it very long. It is expected that Jovanovski will sign with a new team on the same day free agency opens and expect that team to be the Florida Panthers. Some whispers that the Panthers and Jovanovski already have a deal in place. Jovanovski told a newspaper in Florida today that he has talked to Todd Bertuzzi everyday since Bertuzzi was traded to the Panthers and that the two are meeting Thursday in Miami. Jovanovski who just turned 30 yesterday, talked to CKNW this today about the trade rumours. ?There?s a lot of speculation my wife?s from that area but this is going to be a family decision and a decision where it suits me best, and right now I hope that can be Vancouver but like I said earlier we?ll just have to wait and see over the weekend,? Jovanovski said. Meanwhile Canucks captain Markus Naslund says the trade of his good friend Todd Bertuzzi still hasn?t sunk in. Naslund commented on the trade with CKNW from his home in Sweden today. ?I hope for his [bertuzzi] sake that he?s going to have a strong year and show everyone he?s still a star player in this league,? Naslund told CKNW. ?I know that it was a tough year for him, not only on the ice but off the ice as well.? http://www.cknw.com/news/sports_local.cfm?...ports_local.cfm Naslund is a free agent next year..... Naslund-Jokinen-Bertuzzi :blink: :o
June 28, 200620 yr Ed Jovanovski - D - Canucks Ed Jovanovski would like to remain a Vancouver Canuck Whether he is just saying that or not, we'll never know, but Jovanovski said "I've had great years in Vancouver and that's hopefully where I'll finish up. "You know where my first obligation is." Jovanovski has yet to receive an offer from GM Dave Nonis. We expect Jovanovski to end up in Florida with the Panthers as that is where his off-season home is and also it's where his wife is from(See Chris Pronger). Jovanovski is one of the top ten defensemen in the NHL and will improve whichever defense he is on. Jun. 28 - 9:50 am et Source: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/sp...f6f6bd4&k=43685
June 28, 200620 yr I would looooove to see Bow & Jovo as our top pairing. Wow! any other Fa's we a front runner for? Not that I am aware of but don't be suprised to see us pick up a Mike Sillinger type player who is a special teams specialist with a knack for scoring goals. we never should've let him go in the first place. It was a dumb move at the time.
June 30, 200620 yr Steve Goldstein was mentioning Pavel Kubina's name as a thought, if they can't bring Eddie J back to Sunrise. I'd love that too. With the money saved from moving Luongo they could really make a splash in FA. There are a TON of free agents that will be available. and as already stated, our forwards will be stacked. Looks like Gary Roberts will be leaving, but you've now got Jokinen, Bertuzzi, Horton, Neuwendyk, Weiss, Gelinas, Stumpel, Gratton, Kolnik, Olesz, Anthony Stewart.... Then on defense you'll have JayBo, VanRyn, Allen, Montador, Hill, Mezei, Semenov, Allison, and then you throw in a Jovonovski or Kubina to play alongside JayBo? Or if they don't get a TOP blueliner and just a decent one, they could go out & get another winger too. :o
June 30, 200620 yr Author Jamie Allison is gone but yeah. We will be a scary good team next year if we can get someone the likes of Jovocop or Kubina. But... Jovocop or bust!
June 30, 200620 yr I would still love to swipe pronger, reason for leaving?? http://microbano.blogspot.com/ supposedly they had up yesterday the reason for him leaving was Pronger got some reporter there pregnant.. not sure if truthful. I doubt it.
July 1, 200620 yr The Phoenix Coyotes have signed Ed Jovanovski to a five-year/$32.5 million contract. Jovanovski was thought to be headed back to the Florida Panthers until the Coyotes intercepted. This is a great deal for Phoenix who now have a number one defenseman. Jovanovski's numbers should go up in Phoenix as he will play plenty of minutes and should make everyone on the Coyotes more valuable both on the ice and in fantasy pools. Jul. 1 - 4:19 pm et Source: TSN.ca - rotoworld f***
July 2, 200620 yr f***ING sh*t. I bet there is no way our FO would have offered him that same amount of money though, which is why he went to the Coyotes. The Coyotes probably just offered him this crazy deal and it was too good to be true and something he wouldn't be offered anywhere else, so he took it, and plus he is probably happy to be coached by #99.
July 2, 200620 yr f***ING sh*t. I bet there is no way our FO would have offered him that same amount of money though, which is why he went to the Coyotes. The Coyotes probably just offered him this crazy deal and it was too good to be true and something he wouldn't be offered anywhere else, so he took it, and plus he is probably happy to be coached by #99. reminds me of the johnny damon thing...because no way in hell would anyone else offer him that kind of money
July 2, 200620 yr :lol That Vancouver trade sure paid dividends. I'm filing that post away for when we make the playoffs this year.
July 2, 200620 yr GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Ed Jovanovski has signed a five-year deal worth $32.5 million with the Phoenix Coyotes, who pried the big defenseman away from the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday. Jovanovski was targeted by the Coyotes, who have already taken big strides to upgrade their defense just one day into the NHL's free-agent signing period. Phoenix acquired veteran Nick Boynton from Boston earlier this week and signed him to a three-year contract. "He was the player we wanted," Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky said of Jovanovski. "This is huge for our franchise." Hours later, the Canucks announced that they had signed free agent defenseman Willie Mitchell to a four-year, $14 million contract. Jovanovski ranked 11th among NHL defensemen in points per game last season. He was selected by Florida with the No. 1 pick in the 1994 draft and played with the Panthers until he was traded to the Canucks in the middle of the 1998-1999 season. Once he knew that Gretzky wanted him, Jovanovski said signing with the Coyotes was a "no-brainer." "I looked at the situation and I liked the opportunity to be coached by the best player to ever play the game," Jovanovski said. Jovanovski said there was lots of speculation that he would return to Florida because his career started there and that is where his wife is from, but the five-year offer from the Coyotes was too much to pass up. The Panthers did have a deal on the table when Jovanovski picked Phoenix. "At this time in your career, I just turned 30 the other day, I have four kids, two little ones ... at this time you don't want to be moving your kids around," Jovanovski said. The Canucks didn't make an offer to keep him. "Obviously we're dealing with a ceiling in this game and Vancouver had a lot of players ... that were obviously a priority to get done and I don't think there was any room to get me in there," Jovanovski said. "I had a great time playing in Vancouver and I appreciate the support the fans gave me there." Playing for the Coyotes seemed to provide Jovanovski with the best situation -- personally and professionally, he said. He can provide leadership and have a chance to win championships. "At the end of the day, my commitment is to Phoenix and to make that team better," Jovanovski said.
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