SUNRISE, Fla. – Mike Weaver embraces his less traveled path to the National Hockey League as a rewarding one. After 11 years, the journey has paid dividends.

The Panthers inked their top defensive defenseman to a two-year contract extension on Dec. 30, ensuring Weaver won’t spend the next couple summers as he had been – looking for a job.

SUNRISE, Fla. – Even on a hot summer day, the Florida Panthers once again proved ice hockey could thrive in a tropical climate.

While most of the NHL continued to enjoy its relatively short offseason this past weekend, the Panthers hosted the “Weekend of the Rat,” which reunited 18 members of the squad that took South Florida on an unforgettable run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1996.

SUNRISE, Fla. – Olli Jokinen never thought about making an All-Star team or taking advantages of the benefits that come with it. For a long time, he never had a reason to.

Selected as an All-Star reserve on Jan. 27, Jokinen and his wife had to cancel their planned trip to the Bahamas. Playing as a hometown hero was something the 24-year-old didn’t want to miss, but he’s been hesitant to fully experience the weekend.