Ranger Quits, Leaves Huge Hole in Roster.

Sunrise, Florida -- Just days before the start of the season, the Florida Panthers have lost a key component to their defense. Paul Ranger has quit hockey and left the Panthers organization.

Ranger, 27 from Whitby Ontario, has left the league for personal reasons. No other information is known at this time. Rumors floating around Florida were he was upset with the latest contract talks between he and the Panthers. "We don't believe that to be the case," said GM IronMike. "We really can't say for certain why he quit but contract talks were just at the early stages."

Rangers' career had taken off in the past few seasons and was counted on as a 1 or 1a defenseman for the Panthers this season. "I'm not sure how many people realize how good Ranger was ... " said a clearly shaken GM. "He scored 55 points last season, top eight with all defenseman. And he was a plus 14. A Terrific talent at both ends of the rink.'

Ranger came to the Panthers from Anaheim as the main part of a 5 player trade back in 2006:
October 30, 2006 – Florida//Anaheim Trade:

TO FLA: Paul Ranger, Michel Ouellet & Jamie McGinn (Prospect)

TO ANA: Daniel Briere, Year 2007: FLA 5 (Justin Falk)

Paul Ranger career stats:

Year Team GP G A PTS. PIMs +/-

4 FLA 82 2 15 17 22 -8

5 FLA 82 5 23 28 21 -3

6 FLA 82 7 31 38 30 +31

7 FLA 82 10 34 44 26 +21

8 FLA 82 14 41 55 26 +14

He completes his career with 182 points in 410 games played.

Of course this is not the first time something like this has happened during IronMike's reign as GM in Florida. In 2008, during the season, super sniper Ivan Novoseltsev left the team to return home to Europe. He never played another NsHL game.

The loss of Ranger certainly means an expanded role for defenders Braydon Coburn, Mike Mottau and Brett Festerling. Coburn and Mottau should see more action in the crucial minutes of games this season. While Festerling might make the club after spending last season with the Panthers minor league team in Jacksonville.

Schremp Sent Down.

FLORIDA -- What's the biggest taboo around the NsHL these days. It's the word DEMOTION. No player agent wants to hear the word, especially if it's about their player. But, the reality is the NsHL is the toughest league in the world and hard decisions are made every day.

This week when the Kessel's of this world are worried about their precious ego, a hard-working young man was demoted to the minor leagues without any fanfare. More shocking is he went without a dust-up and without whining and moaning like the normal pampered athlete.

Rob Schremp was dropped from the Florida Panthers roster. The once highly touted centre was relagated to the Panthers' American Hockey League farm club in Jacksonville, Florida.

Schremp, selected in the first round by the Panthers, 14th overall in the 2004 entry draft. He signed and played his first pro-season in 2009.

Last season he got his first taste for life in the NsHL. He played five games and was held pointless. This season he averaged almost nine minutes per game over 36 games and had just one assist.

"We still see positive signs in Robbie," said Panthers head coach Pete DeBoer.

"There's plenty of areas he can help us now, but he need a little more dimension to his game. We played him on the wing and on the fourth line and decided he needed more ice-time. For his long-term growth the best thing is for him to go down, work hard, mature his game, and when he comes back to us, he's ready to play."

Panthers Acquire Blake

FLORIDA -- It comes as no surprise to see another trade between Florida and Nashville. The only shock is the minor nature of the deal. In the past these two teams have made some blockbuster deals moving the biggest names in hockey.

This week the Panthers acquired 37-year-old winger Jason Blake from the Preds for a fifth-round draft pick in 2012.

Florida general manager IronMike said he made the deal to acquire a veteran forward to help the Southern Cats [18-20-4 through 42 games] in their battle for a playoff spot down the stretch run.

"Jason's a player I've liked for a long time and we wanted to pursue him this past off-season," IronMike said. "But, the speed in which he moved took us by surprise and we never got in the bidding. Currently we have a very short window to get our season turned around. We need to start making up ground and we hope the addition of Blake is the first step."

Mike says the deal was done quickly because of the great relationship between the two general managers.

"It took about 24 hours, we talked briefly and then hammered out the deal the next day. Richard is a class GM. Very easy talks. From our view we get quality veteran leadership before the deadline, we felt Jason was a perfect fit. We wanted a guy to place into our top six and we wanted leadership from a proven NsHL producer."

In 38 games for the Predators this season, Blake scored five goals and 11 assists. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.