Panthers Sign Michael Caruso

[VodkaFish]

SUNRISE, Fla. – Florida Panthers General Manager Jacques Martin announced today that the club has agreed to terms on an entry level contract with D Michael Caruso.

Caruso, 19, played in 62 games with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League, scoring 34 points (10-24-34) with 103 penalty minutes and led the team with a plus-21 rating. In 10 playoff games this spring for the Storm, Caruso had two goals and six assists with 22 penalty minutes.

“Michael is a young man that has worked hard to improve his game and has shown steady improvement since we drafted him,” Martin said. “He has good size, has adjusted well to the new rules and plays with character.”

The 6-foot-2, 191-pound Defenseman, played for the West team in the 2008 OHL All Star Game, and scored a goal. He was named the Guelph Storm Defenseman of the Month in November and December of 2007.

Caruso was drafted by the Panthers in the fourth round (103rd overall) of the 2006 entry draft.

[jreverblade9]

Might turn out to be a good player for the future