Clearance Sale...Everything Must Go

The Nashville Hamilton Predators have traded goaltender Tomas Vokoun to the Florida Panthers for a first-round pick and two second-round picks.

Predators GM David Poile was quoted as saying...

"We saw Chris Mason emerge as a No. 1 goaltender in 2006-07 and with full confidence in Chris and Pekka Rinne, we felt as if we could make this move. Mason won 24 games for us this past season, starting 21 in a row at one point, and finished with the second-highest save percentage in the NHL. In addition, this trade will help restock our organizational assets and affords our team more payroll flexibility."

Vokoun earned $2.28 million last year, Mason $1.25 million. Vokoun was signed to a four-year contract extension last September; Mason is a UFA after next season. If our math is right, Rinne's entry level deal expires after this coming season.

The fire sale continues. Last one out, lock up the rink.