"Mike Santorelli, a long shot to make the Panthers last summer with two goals in 32 career NHL games, seemed destined for their former AHL affiliate in Rochester.

Never happened.

Santorelli, who deservedly beat out high-profile acquisition Michael Grabner — who went on to notch 34 goals for the Islanders — scored 20 goals in his first full NHL season, good enough to earn a two-year contract Wednesday afternoon.

"My mindset going into last year's camp was to impress and focus on what I do best, but the goal is to make the team,'' Santorelli said from his home in Vancouver.

There won't be as many job openings when the Panthers open training camp Sept. 17; 11 new players were added in the past two weeks.

"I was watching here in Canada on TSN's July 1 frenzy,'' said Santorelli, who was second-best scorer on the Panthers with 41 points in 82 games while leading in shootout goals with four.

"The team looks great. All those players are high-class players in the league and I look forward to being part of it.''"