More Florida Everblades

• Everblades deal defenseman Peto, find help in Nimmo
• Craig Brush guest column: It's been a great 10 years at Germain Arena
• Germain Arena 10-year anniversary: SW Florida sports fans share their thoughts and memories

Tell us about it

• What would you add to this story? Tell us what we missed.
• Do you have photos from this event? Documents we need to see? Share with us.
• Upload photos & videos
• More ways to get your stuff online and in the paper.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

Share and Enjoy [?]

ESTERO — The 2008-09 Florida Everblades team started to look a little bit more like the 2007-08 Texas Wildcatters team this week, with two signings from first-year Blades coach Malcolm Cameron's squad in Texas last year.

Forwards Ross Carlson and Danick Bouchard each joined the Blades, the team announced, after spending their rookie seasons in Texas. They join former Wildcatter forward Kevin Baker, in addition to returnee Blades forwards Ernie Hartlieb and Brad Herauf and newcomers Ryan Lang, Andrew Fournier, David Nimmo, Brad Zanon, Aaron Brocklehurst and Kyle Peto.

Carlson, 26, won an NCAA championship with Wisconsin in 2006. With Texas last year, he had 38 points in 49 games, before being called up to the AHL before the playoffs.

"Ross was a huge loss for us in the playoffs last year," Cameron said. "He's an extremely versatile player who can play a lot of different roles and positions."

Cameron added that he can't worry about Carlson getting called up again for the playoffs.

"If you want to win a championship at our level, you have to go out there and get the best talent," Cameron said. "It's all about building and continuing a program here. To do that, you've gotta convince players that there's advancement."

At 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, Carlson won't be Florida's biggest player, but Cameron said he's talent-wise one of the best the Blades have signed this offseason. Carlson also starred at Germain Arena last season, where he had two game-winning goals in December with Texas.

"I really like fans (at Germain Arena) and the crowd, you kinda get into it a little bit," Carlson said. "I had fun last year in Texas, and I plan on having fun down in Fort Myers, too."

"I was looking to get something overseas, but I didn't get what I wanted, so I decided to give it another shot here," he added. "(Cameron) gets the most out of guys. I really like his style of hockey, and I'll play whatever role he asks me to play. If they need me at D I'll do that ... I'm pretty much up to anything."

As for Bouchard, the 22-year-old is hoping to make an impact with the Blades after his rookie pro season in Texas was cut short by a broken femur just 19 games in.

Prior to that injury, Bouchard had scored 13 goals and added six assists.

Doctors told him he wouldn't be fully recovered for a year, but Bouchard was already skating again in just three months. He said Thursday that he was at about 90 percent and was expecting to be 100 percent by the beginning of the season.

"The kid is a machine," Cameron said. "I've never been around anybody like him before. His recovery has been so quick, and last season he scored a point a game while playing with a separated shoulder."

At 5-foot-9, 184 pounds, Bouchard is the smallest player the Blades have signed this offseason, but as former Blade Brad Zancanaro showed, smaller players can sometimes give opposing teams headaches.

"He's fast and he's quick ... very elusive and deadly around the net," Cameron said.

"I just want to play, I don't care where," Bouchard said. "Every year (Cameron) wants to have a better team than the year before. I like his attitude."

With 11 players announced as signings for next season, and forwards Justin Bowers and Yannick Tifu expected to be announced soon, the Blades aren't done yet. Cameron said he's not expecting any players from the NHL affiliates Carolina and the Florida Panthers, other than a goalie apiece.