Panthers Sign Michael Houser and Josh McFadden to Entry-Level Contracts

[chilly666]

Florida Panthers Executive Vice President & General Manager Dale Tallon announced today that the club has agreed to entry-level contracts with G Michael Houser and D Josh McFadden.

“Michael and Josh competed very hard at our development camp last week and both players demonstrated that they deserved contracts with our club,” said Tallon. “We look forward to watching both players grow and develop within our organization.”

Houser, 19, won the Red Tilson Trophy as the most outstanding player in the Ontario Hockey League recording a 46-15-1 mark, while playing for London last season. He also was the first American-born player and first player from London to be named the Canadian Hockey League's top goaltender. The Wexford, Pa. native posted a 2.47 goals-against average, had six shutouts, with a .925 save percentage.

Houser played in a Canadian Hockey League-high 3,698 minutes last season, while tying the OHL record for wins in a season with 46. He helped London win the OHL title and advance to the Memorial Cup championship game. He was No. 16 in NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American goalies for the 2012 NHL Draft, but went unselected.

McFadden, 21, has spent the last three years playing for the Sudbury Wolves (OHL). Last season, he led team blueliners with 41 points, including 15 goals in 47 games played. During the 2010-2011 campaign, the Guelph, Ont. native recorded a career best 19 goals with 53 assists, while pacing the Wolves with 72 points.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound defenseman also served as team captain for Sudbury during the 2011-2012 season.

[Dick Cheney]

Another Pittsburgh native. MVP and best goalie of the OHL last year and he went undrafted. Kind of surprising, but he has a club foot that is said to hinder his draft-ability.

[thepolishkid88]

Awesome for Pittsburgh. From Wexford and didn't get to play against him but seeing he played for London in the OHL is good enough to know his talent level.

Also saw the Caps invited RMU's Hobey Baker finalist goalie Ostegard back too. Wonderful news for us from the area.

[fansince65]

Originally Posted by Dick Cheney

Another Pittsburgh native. MVP and best goalie of the OHL last year and he went undrafted. Kind of surprising, but he has a club foot that is said to hinder his draft-ability.

Michael doesn't have one club foot he was born with both of his feet club . He had 12 surgeries by the time he was 3 years on his feet .
His one weakness in goal is his lateral movement , I dont think he will make it at the NHL level because of that , but with the right coaching he could overcome that weakness , Bill Dark (goaltender coach for the London Knights) is just not the kind of coach that can teach a goaltender of Michael's caliber to correct his weakness , he has screwed up some real good prospects in the past , it's that weakness that has held him back from being drafted in the last three NHL drafts in my opinion not the fact he has club feet ..