SUNRISE, Fla., Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Florida Panthers Coach Mike Keenan, who has two years remaining on his current contract, on Friday signed a two-year extension.
The deal also includes a pair of one-year club options, meaning that Keenan, who has a history of wearing out his welcome, is under contract to the Panthers through the 2007-08 season.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Keenan was named Florida coach on Dec. 3, 2001 and led the injury-ravaged Panthers to a 16-29-8-3 record in 56 games.
"I'm extremely excited about the future of our team and building a winning tradition here in South Florida," said Keenan, who ranks fourth on the all-time wins list. "I'm grateful to the partnership and management team of the Florida Panthers for their confidence in me and I'm looking forward to fulfilling their expectation of success, which ultimately is to bring a Stanley Cup championship to Florida."
The Panthers are the seventh NHL team coached by Keenan, who also spent time behind the bench with the Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins.
He has a career mark of 555-427-132-11 and has taken four teams to the Stanley Cup finals. In 1994, he led the Rangers to their first Stanley Cup in 54 years.
"As I said on the first day that he was hired, I want Mike Keenan to be the coach of this team for a long time," Panthers CEO Alan Cohen said. "His leadership and experience will be instrumental in the future success of our team."
Keenan also ranks fourth on the all-time list in games coached (1,125) and playoff wins (91).
In another move Friday, the Panthers came to terms with the last of their restricted free agents, signing right wing Ivan Novoseltsev to a one-year contract.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
The 23-year-old Novoseltsev had 13 goals and 16 assists in 29 games last season and led the Panthers with five game-winning goals.
A native of Golitsino, spent parts of the previous two seasons in the NHL and has 18 goals and 23 assists in 41 career games.
