Florida Panthers Free Agency Day 1 Recap

Mar 26, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Florida Panthers center

(18) drive to the net with the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Panthers 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

The first day of free agency always brings with it a special kind of madness that hockey fans hold dear. This year has been no different. While the Panthers have been relatively quiet so far today, there have been a number of moves worth noting. Here is what you may have missed:

Stephen Weiss signs with Detroit:

The longtime Panther center signed a five year deal with the Detroit Red Wings worth $4.9 million a season. The Panthers will see their fair share of Weiss next season as the Red Wings are set to join a division with the Panthers.

Shawn Matthias re-signs with the Panthers:

The Panthers re-signed restricted free agent Shawn Matthias. The 25 year old re-upped with the Panthers on a two year contract worth and estimated $1.75 million a year.

Florida Panthers sign RW Joey Crabb 

Florida signed the 30 year old Crabb to a two year deal worth an estimated $600,000 a year. Crabb had his best season in 2011-12 for the Maple Leafs when he scored 26 points (11 goals 15 assists) in 67 games. Last year with the Capitals, Crabb played in 26 games and scored twice.

Florida Panthers sign D Mike Mottau

The Panthers signed the 35 year old defenseman to a one year contract. Mottau has been in the league since 2000 and last played for the Boston Bruins in 2011-12. He did not play last season.

Florida Panthers trade George Parros to Montreal for LW Philippe Lefebvre and 2014 7th round pick

The Panthers sent big-man George Parros to the Canadiens after he spent only one year with the team. In return for Parros Florida received 22 year old minor league winger Philippe Lefebvre and a 7th round pick in the 2014 NHL draft.

In other news:

• Ex-Panther T.J. Brennan signed a one year deal with Toronto.
• Ex-Panther Nathan Horton signed a seven year deal with Columbus.
• Rumor floating that the Panthers may be interested in goalkeeper Tim Thomas.

Overall, not a crazy day for the Panthers but GM Dale Tallon said this was coming. The Panthers will probably sit back and watch the big names fall off the board for big money then pick up some solid pieces in the month of August. The Rat Trick will be on top of all the Panther free-agency news as it breaks. Make sure to follow us on twitter for the up to the minute Panther updates.