Former Vipers Forward Mike Santorelli Clears Waivers:

Former Vernon Vipers forward Mike Santorelli cleared waivers Friday after the Florida Panthers placed Santorelli on waivers Thursday. Santorelli was drafted by the Nashville Predators in round 6 178th overall at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft before being traded to the Panthers back on August, 5th 2010. Santorelli played in 60 regular season games this past season collecting (9-2-11). Santorelli played one season in Vernon (2003-2004) In 60 regular season games with the Vipers Santorelli collected (43-53-96).

Mike Santorelli's Player Profile:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=76527

This was posted on the SunSentinel.com website:

Santorelli and Bradley clear waivers; Garrison probably will test free agency

by: Harvey Fialkov June 29th, 2012

As expected both forwards Mike Santorelli and Matt Bradley cleared waivers today. Bradley was on unconditional waivers so unless he is traded the Panthers will have to buy him out by 5 p.m. Saturday. Santorelli is back on the roster and will not doubt be peddled. Panthers asst. GM Mike Santos, who brought Santorelli with him from Nashville, believes he just might need a change of scenery and more ice time to regain his confidence. Santos doesn’t expect the Panthers to make near the splash into free agency that they did last summer but instead will be trolling the free-agent waters for role players to complement their young core of blossoming forwards such as Kris Versteeg, Tomas Fleischmann, Sean Bergenheim and Stephen Weiss. There is nothing imminent on Canucks disenchanted goalie Roberto Luongo. Santos, who last month made it clear he would prefer young goalie Jacob Markstrom to return to the Rampage for a complete AHL season, said he’d be confident with Jose Theodore and Markstrom as his goalies this season.

He’s not allowed to talk about other team’s players or free agents but he did admit that the Panthers UFAs, including defenseman Jason Garrison, will most definitely test free agency at this point of the game. That of course doesn’t close the door on any of them returning, such as Garry, goalie Scott Clemmensen or forward Mikael Samuelsson if they don’t get what they want on the free market. Garrison will get plenty of lucrative offers thrown his way so he may be tought to re-sign, especially after the deal Wideman got yesterday. Santos said that prospect Rocco Grimaldi won’t be at Monday’s development camp more because of issues at college and not with his surgically repaired knee.

 Expect last year’s No. 3 pick Jonathan Huberdeau to be on the Panthers this season because he is just 19 and has nothing else to prove in juniors. The new cap may be $70 million but the Panthers spend to their allotted budget which means they probably have about $20 million available but will only spend about half that. Remember they only have about 3-4 roster spots available this year with Tyson Strachan slated to be up with the big guys. Huberdeau takes up another spot.
More coming for Sunday’s advance on free agency.