Cats Make First Roster Moves of 2006 Preseason

Florida Panthers general manager and head coach Jacques Martin announced today that the club has made its first roster moves of the 2006 preseason. The Cats have returned LW Kenndal McArdle to his junior league team, Moose Jaw (WHL) and assigned C Dustin Johner to the Rochester Americans (AHL).

McArdle, 19, played in over 11 minutes of the Panthers first preseason game at Calgary. He set a career-high in assists last season at Moose Jaw with 43. In 22 playoff games in 2006, McArdle had six goals and 10 assists.

Johner, 23, who split last season between Florida (ECHL) and Rochester (AHL), will join fellow Panther prospects D Bret Nasby, RW Adam Taylor and C David Brine with Rochester. Johner played in the Panthers second preseason game last night in Edmonton. Johner scored 15 goals and 21 assists in 36 games for Florida (ECHL) and had a goal and an assist in 16 games with Rochester (AHL). Rochester training back will begin September 23.