Associated Press

Joe Nieuwendyk and Gary Roberts wanted the chance to
finish their careers together. The Florida Panthers
sought savvy veterans to mold their young talent into
winners.

"It's a very attractive situation," Nieuwendyk said.

The Panthers made the first move in hockey's free
agent signing period Monday, signing four-time
All-Star center Nieuwendyk and veteran left wing
Roberts away from the Maple Leafs less than 90 minutes
after the window for moves opened.

Nieuwendyk, who has won the Stanley Cup with three
franchises, and Roberts will both receive $4.5 million
over the next two years from Florida - which hasn't
won a playoff game since 1997.

"These two players are consummate professionals and
will basically teach our younger players," Panthers
general manager Mike Keenan said. "First of all, how
to be a professional in many respects - and how to
win."

Roberts is 39, Nieuwendyk 38. They join a locker room
in Florida stacked with potential, such as goaltender
Roberto Luongo, defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, and
centers Stephen Weiss, Nathan Horton and Olli Jokinen
- none of whom is older than 26.

"I just know we're ecstatic about the opportunity to
come down with probably a younger group of guys than
we had in Toronto and a great goaltender in Luongo,"
Roberts said.

Nieuwendyk had 22 goals and 28 assists in 64 games
with Toronto in 2003-04, but he missed parts of the
year with back problems. Nieuwendyk - who won the 1999
Conn Smythe Award with the Dallas Stars and has 533
goals and 529 assists in 18 seasons - signed a
one-year, $3 million contract with Toronto last
spring.

Roberts had 20 goals and 28 assists with the Maple
Leafs in 2003-04 and was named to the Eastern
Conference All-Star team. The 17-year veteran played
14 games the previous season after missing 57 games
recovering from off-season shoulder operations.

Nieuwendyk and Roberts grew up playing together. They
spent nearly a decade with the Calgary Flames.

"We started our careers together and we wanted to
finish our careers together," Roberts said.

August 2, 2005



____________________________________________________
Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs