Sources close to the Swedish Elite League informed LitterBoxCats.com on Friday evening that Panthers goaltending prospect Jacob Markstrom - whom many observers consider the best netminder currently outside the NHL - has signed a 3-year entry-level contract with Florida. Details of the deal have not been disclosed.

Markstrom - fresh off a bronze medal in the recently concluded IIHF World Championship in Germany - is a second round selection (31st overall) by Florida in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, and is widely viewed as the Panthers' "future" in net.

This was an expected development, as GM Dale Tallon recently stated he and Markstrom's agent were speaking regularly. More to follow soon.

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