PANTHERS ACQUIRE D ALEXEI SEMENOV

SUNRISE, Fla. - Florida Panthers General Manger Mike Keenan announced today that the club has acquired D Alexei Semenov (she-MEH-nahv) from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a conditional draft pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

"With the injury to Branislav Mezei we felt it was important to have a full complement of defensemen available to our coaching staff. Alexei is a talented young defenseman who fits our team's needs," said Keenan. "He is a competitive and tough player who skates well and will bring an added dimension to our defense."

Semenov, 24, has appeared in 11 games with the Edmonton Oilers this season recording one goal and one assist with 17 PIM. For his National Hockey League career, the 6-foot-6, 235-pound defenseman has played in 103 games registering 14 points (4-10-14) and 107 penalty minutes. The Murmansk, Russia native was drafted by Edmonton with their second choice (36th overall) in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.

Alexei Semenov's Career Statistics:

--- Regular Season --- ---- Playoffs ----

Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM

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1998-99 Sudbury Wolves OHL 28 0 3 3 28 2 0 0 0 4

1998-99 St. Petersburg SKA Rus-1 6 0 0 0 2

1999-00 Sudbury Wolves OHL 65 9 35 44 135 12 1 3 4 23

1999-00 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL -- -- -- -- -- 3 0 0 0 0

2000-01 Sudbury Wolves OHL 65 21 42 63 106 12 4 13 17 17

2001-02 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 78 5 11 16 67 -- -- -- -- --

2002-03 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 37 4 3 7 45 -- -- -- -- --

2002-03 Edmonton Oilers NHL 46 1 6 7 58 6 0 0 0 0

2003-04 Edmonton Oilers NHL 46 2 3 5 32 -- -- -- -- --

2004-05 St. Petersburg SKA Russi 51 0 9 9 24 -- -- -- -- --

2005-06 Edmonton Oilers NHL 11 1 1 2 17

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NHL Totals 103 4 10 14 107 6 0 0 0 0