Panthers Trade With Tampa

Well after the 3PM deadline, with last-minute trades still trickling through, Florida got in on the action by trading with Tampa Bay.

The deal has sent defenseman Noah Welch and a third round pick to the Lightning for RFA defenseman Steve Eminger.

Florida only has 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th round picks remaining.

Still, the more I think about this deal, the more I like it. I'm not a fan of fewer draft picks, but as long as you make the most of the ones you have, you're alright. And if the indications remain unchanged and Bouwmeester is out after this season, you still have a chance to find out where he's willing to go and maybe get a conditional pick for dealing his rights after the season. So they may still recoup some picks, or maybe they'll add another player.

But as for Eminger, he's replacing Welch as the seventh defenseman, unless that role has fallen to Nick Boynton. Regardless of this, however, Eminger is an addition that probably won't disrupt team chemistry at all. In fact, he should fit in pretty nicely.

Eminger played for the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL before Peter DeBoer became head coach. DeBoer was with Plymouth when Eminger joined the Rangers, but DeBoer eventually became head coach in Kitchener. So DeBoer knows how Eminger plays, and Eminger respects DeBoer a great deal:

I give a huge amount of credit to (DeBoer) and (associate coach) Steve Spott, they're a big part of my change from last season. My discipline and focus on and off the ice is so much better. That is what they both really stress. And they want to make sure every player has a commitment.

Eminger brings a great attitude and that's going to help him adjust quickly. He knows how to play DeBoer's style, and next year, he'll be able to start with plenty of experience with Florida under his belt.

More than that, Eminger was teammates with Gregory Campbell during DeBoer's tenure, and while there, the three won a Memorial Cup in 2003.

Not to mention, he's actually younger than Noah Welch.

A 25-year old restricted free agent, Eminger is making $1.2M this season. That gives the Panthers a bit to work with next year, assuming he doesn't make an outrageous demand.