Panthers Ink Jokinen and Van Ryn

Cats Agree to Terms with D Jay Bouwmeester

SUNRISE, FL – Florida Panthers General Manager Mike Keenan announced today that the club has signed C Olli Jokinen and D Mike Van Ryn to one-year contracts. In addition, Keenan announced today that D Jay Bouwmeester has agreed to terms on a one-year contract, completing the Panthers 2005 training camp roster.

Jokinen, 26, was one of two Panthers to play in all 82 games with Florida during the 2003-04 campaign, pacing the club in goals (26), assists (32), points (58), power-play goals (8), game-winning goals (8) and shorthanded goals (2). He completed the 2003-04 season as the NHL's leading Finnish scorer, three points ahead of Montreal's Saku Koivu.

The Kupio, Finland native has represented his country at the 2002 Winter Olympics, each of the last four World Championship competitions and was a valuable member of Team Finland's squad that reached the finals at the 2004 World Cup. Jokinen ranks among the top ten in the club's franchise history with 168 points (7th), 77 goals scored (6th) and 91 assists (10th). For his NHL career he has played in 477 contests with Florida (2000-04), the New York Islanders (1999-00) and Los Angeles (1997-99) recording 210 points (97-113-210) and 494 PIM. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings with their first choice (third overall) in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.

Van Ryn, 26, completed the 2003-04 season second on the Panthers and first among the club's defensemen with 37 points. He posted career highs for games played (79), goals (13), assists (24), points (37) and PPG (6), while pacing the club averaging more than 24 minutes of ice time per game.

The London, Ontario native became just the third defensemen in the team's history to score as many of 13 goals in one season joining Gord Murphy and Robert Svehla. For his NHL career he has played in 148 games with Florida (2003-04) and St. Louis (2000-03) recording 50 points (15-35-50). He was drafted by the New Jersey Devils with their first choice (26th overall) in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, but never signed with the club.

Bouwmeester, 21, completed the 2003-04 campaign playing in 61 games with Florida recording 20 points (2-18-20), while finishing second on the team in average ice time (23:02). For his career, he has appeared in 143 National Hockey League contests, all with Florida scoring six goals with 30 assists. La

st season, he played in 64 games with San Antonio (AHL) registering 17 points (3-14-17), before being loaned to the Chicago Wolves. While with the Wolves he played in 18 regular season contests recording nine points (3-6-9), as well as 18 post season contests, helping the Wolves to the Calder Cup Finals. The Edmonton, Alberta native was also a member of Team Canada's 2004 World Cup Championship squad. He was drafted by Florida with their first choice (third overall) in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.