Kris Versteeg (hip surgery) has been taken off the injured list, officially making him a lockout-out player. Players who were injured are paid and allowed to use team facilities and its medical staff, but now Versteeg isn't among those. "I met with the team doctor on Monday and he cleared me to play,'' Versteeg said. "I want to be with my family. I've been away from them rehabbing in Florida for so long. Maybe if I hadn't been rehabbing I'd be going to Europe to play, like a lot of the other players. The team has been struggling, so it's a good opportunity to see the game from the other side. I'm leaving my options open, too. If [NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman] keeps mucking it up like he's done in past seasons, I'll either go to school or Europe.'' For now, Versteeg has decided to help coach at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta.

Kris Versteeg continues to use the Florida Panther facilities as he is recovering from hip surgery. He is getting treatments and skating but has not been cleared for hockey contact, and as a result, could not play in a charity game this past week. Once he is cleared, he will be locked out like the rest of the NHL players.

Kris Versteeg was one of the few Florida Panthers to skate Friday at the teams' training camp arena in Coral Springs. Versteeg, who is not considered locked out as he is rehabilitating from hip surgery, stated that his recovery is progressing. "I'm starting to feel OK, getting my movement back," the gritty winger said. Versteeg believes he will be ready to play in November.

Kris Versteeg signed a four-year pact with the Panthers, avoiding arbitration. The 26-year-old posted career highs in the 2011-12 campaign with 23 goals and 54 points in 71 games. He was set to have his arbitration hearing Monday. "Kris played an important role in our club's success last season and we are pleased to have reached a long-term contract agreement with him," general manager Dale Tallon said. The financial details have not yet been announced.

Kris Versteeg and the Florida Panthers don't have much time left in they want to avoid an arbitration hearing. The two sides are scheduled to have the hearing on Monday. Versteeg has reached the 20-goal mark in each of the last four seasons despite playing for four different teams over that span. It's certainly possible that the two sides will come to an 11th hour agreement, especially seeing as the Panthers have plenty of cap space.

Kris Versteeg is scheduled to meet with an arbitrator on July 23. Versteeg and the Florida Panthers can avoid that arbitration date by agreeing to terms beforehand. He established new career-highs with 23 goals and 54 points in 71 games.

Kris Versteeg has filed for salary arbitration. The Panthers tendered him a a qualifying offer at the end of June and negotiations are still ongoing. The 26-year-old is coming off a career year in which he tallied 23 goals and 54 points. Versteeg earned $3,083,333 last season.

The Panthers made a qualifying offer to Kris Versteeg. Versteeg blossomed in his first year with Florida, recording a career-high 23 goals and 54 points in 71 games. General manager Dale Tallon had given Versteeg an offer a few weeks ago and says negotiations on a deal are still ongoing.

Kris Versteeg has already received a contract offer from the Florida Panthers. GM Dale Tallon and assistant GM Mike Santos are serious about getting the winger locked up to a new deal. They didn't have to tender Versteeg, who is scheduled to become a restricted free agent, an offer until June 25.

The Florida Panthers want to re-sign restricted free agent Kris Versteeg. Given that Versteeg's a restricted free agent, it's almost certain that the two sides will reach an agreement. Versteeg had 23 goals and 54 points in 71 games last season. He came with a $3,083,333 cap hit in 2011-12 and while it's entirely possible that he'll get a raise, we don't think it will be a major one.