=== Panthers re-sign defenseman Mezei === Sunrise, FL (My Sportsbook) - The Florida Panthers re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Branislav Mezei to a three-year contract Wednesday. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The 22-year-old Mezei scored two goals in 11 games for Florida this past season. Over parts of three NHL seasons, Mezei has totaled three goals and six assists in 77 games. "Mezei is one of the guys that we consider a foundation piece," stated Panthers' general manager Rick Dudley. "Getting him signed to a three-year deal and having him tied up that long is very important to the organization. I think he'll be a top-four defenseman in the NHL for a long time. He's a significant piece of the defensive puzzle." The 6-5, 235-pound Slovakia native was selected 10th overall by the New York Islanders in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. New York shipped Mezei to the Panthers on July 3, 2002 in exchange for Jason Wiemer. Mezei, who played in the 2000 World Junior Championships, spent a portion of the 2002-03 season on injured reserve with various injuries. |
