David Brine has already had a taste of the NHL. Now the Florida Panthers want to see if he’s ready for more.
The former Halifax Mooseheads star made his big-league debut two seasons ago and is hoping to earn one of the final forward spots with the Panthers this season.
Brine was re-signed to a one-year, two-way $522,500 contract in the summer and has put in three solid seasons of development in the American Hockey League.
“David’s gotten better every year,” said Panthers assistant general manager Randy Sexton. “He works very hard in the off-season. He’s a very focused and dedicated pro.”
Brine, who played nine games with the Panthers in 2007-08, had 31 points in 79 games with the Rochester Americans last season and is known for his defensive game.
The 24-year-old Bible Hill native is expected to suit up for the Panthers in an NHL pre-season game against the Ottawa Senators tonight at 7 p.m. at the Metro Centre.
“It’s really up to him to make a statement in the games he gets into,” Sexton said. “We wouldn’t have re-signed him if we didn’t think he was valuable and had a chance.”
