Big and Border Cats News: 08/01/00

The Border Cats have announced the addition of Tricia Fabian as Director of Marketing and Mick Steffans as Director of Finance effective immediately. Fabian and Steffans will serve in those capacities for the Border Cats as well as the Kimball Entertainment and Sports Center and the Horizon Outlet Center, all managed by SMG.

"We're building a strong organization from the ground up and I want to express how fortunate we are to have these people in place," said SMG Scott Warren, GM of the new facility as well as the Border Cats and the Outlet Center.

The Florida Panthers have signed right wing David Emma and defenseman Michel Periard it was announced today.

Emma, 31, won the Hobey Baker Award, given to the nation's best college hockey player, in 1991 with Boston College. Emma spent the past three seasons playing for Klagenfurt AC in the Austrian League. Emma was drafted by the Devils in 1989, and played parts of four seasons with the Devils and Bruins until 1996-97.

Periard, 20, helped lead his Quebec junior hockey club, Rimouski Oceanic, to the 2000 Memorial Cup. The 6-foot, 180-pound Periard led all defensemen in his league in scoring with 25 goals and 75 assists. He was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in 1998.

Former Panther Steve Washburn has left AHL Philadelphia to sign in Europe.

Finally, former coach Roger Neilson, diagnosed with cancer last year while coaching the Flyers, joined the Senators as an assistant coach Today.

The Panthers are still negotiating with left wing Ray Whitney in hopes of avoiding arbitration.

Assistant General Manager Chuck Fletcher said that while the sides are still significantly apart, they are "vastly closer financially" than what has been reported.

The Panthers have submitted one-, two- and three-year proposals and have received counter-proposals on each. While the Panthers are offering $2 million a season, Whitney is believed to be seeking $2.5 million to $3 million.

With Whitney's arbitration hearing unofficially scheduled for Aug. 12, Fletcher said there is time to try to reach a deal.

Fletcher said the Panthers "have a great relationship with Ray's representatives. So there is optimism that we'll get it done before because we've had great dialogue.

"But at the end of the day, we both may have a genuine difference of opinion about where we slot Ray in the marketplace. But there is no difference of opinion about how we see him as a player or his value and abilities."

Arbitration can be a risk, however. Whitney met with representatives from the NHL's players association in early July to discuss his apprehension. The Panthers don't necessarily have to go along with the arbitrator's ruling. They could trade Whitney or exercise walkaway rights if the award is too steep, similar to the way Boston dumped Dmitri Khristich last year when an arbitrator awarded him $2.8 million. That's Whitney's fear, although Fletcher says the Panthers are intent on signing him.

Arbitration is also dangerous because it gets nasty. Every criticism a team has toward a player is voiced, creating animosity. When Panthers goalie John Vanbiesbrouck had his arbitration hearing in 1995, he felt blindsided by criticism.

"I feel we're actually closer this time than where we were with Ray a couple years ago, and we avoided arbitration then," Fletcher said. "We'll continue to talk. We have every desire to sign him before arbitration, but we have to do it at a number that's fair to the Florida Panthers. Hopefully we'll find that right, magical number."

'Feeling-out process'

Fletcher said he has had a brief "feeling out process" with Peter Worrell's agent and that he's waiting to hear back from him. The Panthers are looking to sign Worrell to a one- or three-year deal.

Fletcher said he expected Dan Boyle, Dave Duerden, Eric Boguniecki and Rocky Thompson would agree to terms by today. ... It appears again that Jiri Dopita will stay in the Czech Republic playing for Slovnaft Vsetin.

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