SUNRISE, Fla. – The
Florida Panthers announced today that Jacques Martin has reached an agreement to remain with the team as the club’s general manager through the 2011-2012 season.
Martin, 55, joined the
Florida Panthers organization in May of 2004 as the club’s head coach, before assuming the duties of the club’s general manager on Sept. 3, 2006. Since taking over the reigns as general manager, Martin has been responsible for re-tooling the Panthers roster by re-signing numerous key players, along with acquiring key free agent acquisitions. Most notably, he acquired goaltender
Tomas Vokoun in a trade at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, as well as signing center
Stephen Weiss, right wing
Nathan Horton and defenseman
Bryan Allen to long term contract extensions last year.
Martin was also influential in acquiring the Panthers prospect
Shawn Matthias in a trade for
Todd Bertuzzi at the 2007 trade deadline, while also signing free agent center
Brett McLean, right wing
Richard Zednik and right wing
Radek Dvorak. Additionally this past season, Martin acquired defensemen
Jassen Cullimore and Magnus Johansson in order to fill the roster void, left due to injury in the team’s defense, while also acquiring right wing
Wade Belak at the 2008 trade deadline.