"I'm taking my talents to South Beach." -LeBron James
In what has now become the most famous reference to Miami since this, last summer LeBron James announced he was heading to the Miami Heat to join Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.
This summer, it is a different sport and different Miami team that has players saying 'I'm taking my talents to South Beach,' the NHL's Florida Panthers.
At the end of last spring, the Panthers hired Dale Tallon as their new general manager. Tallon was better known then as the man who reshaped the Chicago Blackhawks, than he was as the defenseman for the Vancouver Canucks in the 70's.
Tallon pledged that this summer he would take a Florida Panthers team that neither had talent nor fans, and make them relevant again.
It all started last week, when Tallon made trades for Thomas Kopecky and Brian Campbell, both talented players that have each won a Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks.
Then Friday, July 1st rolled around, and the official beginning of free agency started. Tallon wasted no time, making six big signings and trading for another. (For my breakdown of the signings click here)
Tallon looked all over for players to join his roster, he got a veteran goaltender, a defensive leader and a young forward with superstar potential.
What is most amazing is that he completely reshaped the roster, adding nine players. On most NHL teams somewhere around 19-20 guys play each game, he just added half of that.
Some people are second guessing the amount of money Tallon threw at these players, and in terms of what they have done in the past or where they are in their career it does seem a bit excessive. However, Tallon knows that Florida is not a team that players are just dying to go play for, and if he wants to lure players in he has to put big offers out there.
So those few Florida Panthers fans out there should be very happy with the addition of Tallon and all the talent he has brought with him. Maybe they will get lucky and Brad Richards will have a "decision" of his own.
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