"A day after introducing nine new players who are expected to bolster the Panthers chances of ending their playoff drought this season, they made three trades Saturday with an eye toward the future.

The most recognizable player traded was fourth-line checker Kenndal McArdle, a Panthers' first-round pick in 2005, to Winnipeg for another underachieving first-rounder, center Angelo Esposito.

McArdle, more known for his physical style than finesse, has one goal and two assists in 33 games over the last three seasons with Florida.

The Panthers also dealt undersized, hard-nosed left wing Mike Duco to the Canucks for right wing Sergei Shirokov, who scored 22 goals for the Manitoba Moose of the AHL last season. Shirokov, 25, has one goal in eight career NHL games.

Shirokov recently signed a multi-year deal to return to his former KHL team in Moscow. Duco, a free-agent signing in 2007, has played 12 games for Florida, including two this season, with no points."