Panthers Ink Ville Peltonen to Two-Year Deal

[Thrillhouse]

SUNRISE, Fla. - Florida Panthers General Manager & Head Coach Jacques Martin announced today that the club has agreed to terms on a two-year contract with LW Ville Peltonen.

Peltonen, 33, appeared in 72 games with the Panthers this season recording a career high 17 goals and 37 points. Prior to joining the Cats, Peltonen spent the previous five seasons competing in the European Elite League. The Vantaa, Finland native has played in a combined 247 NHL contests for San Jose (1995-97), Nashville (1998-2001) and Florida (2006-07) recording 97 points (35-62-97).

"We are pleased to have guaranteed Ville's return to the Panthers," Martin said. "He is an extremely skilled and talented player who possesses a great hockey sense. He posted career high numbers last season and we look forward to his continued contributions to our club."

Peltonen is currently preparing to play for Team Finland at the 2007 World Hockey Championship in Moscow, Russia. He has represented Finland 11 previous times at the World Hockey Championship, while he has also competed in three Winter Olympics (1994, 1998 & 2006), as well as the World Cup of Hockey in 2004. Most recently he, along with teammate Olli Jokinen, helped Finland earn a Silver Medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics.