"General Manager Dale Tallon continues to use his Blackhawks connections to retool the Panthers' roster. Monday he traded a 2012 conditional seventh-round draft pick for the rights to sign right wing Tomas Kopecky.

Kopecky, 29, earned Stanley Cup rings with the Red Wings in 2008 and the Blackhawks in 2010. The 6-3, 205-pounder has 25 goals and 38 assists in the past two seasons, and has 37 goals with 58 points and 201 penalty minutes in 338 career games. He's got seven points in 30 playoff games.

Kopecky, drafted by the Red Wings in the second round (38th) in 2000, will be the second Blackhawk obtained by the Panthers since Friday, joining former teammate defenseman Brian Campbell. He will also be reunited with forward Jack Skille, acquired from Chicago for forward Michael Frolik last February.

Tallon signed the rugged Czech, who spent four years in Detroit, to a two-year, $2.4 million deal with the Blackhawks before the 2008 season. He needs to sign Kopecky before Friday or Kopecky will become an unrestricted free agent."