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By ANGELA BUSCH contact
Sunday, June 10, 2007

During the Florida Everblades' all-encompassing season, it's easy to forget that several of the Blades are first and foremost NHL prospects, signed to either the Florida Panthers or Carolina Hurricanes.

The Blades can sometimes feel forgotten by their parent NHL teams during the season, too, as each organization focuses on its own drive toward a championship.

This summer, though, a few of the Everblades' NHL prospect players got up close and personal with their NHL team, through the Florida Panthers 2007 Development Camp, held last Monday thru Sunday in Orangeville, Ontario.

Blades players in attendance were forwards David Brine and Adam Taylor; defensemen Franklin MacDonald, Bret Nasby and Martin Tuma and goalie David Shantz. Former Blade Martin Lojek, who spent this season in the AHL and NHL, was also at the camp.

Tuma participated despite a nasty, season-ending injury sustained April 27 in a playoff game with the AHL's Rochester Americans. After checking Corey Locke of the Hamilton Bulldogs into the boards, Tuma was cut by Locke's skate and suffered a tendon tear in his right forearm.

He's unable to participate in any on-ice drills or upper-body weightlifting -- not to mention still being unable to tie his shoes by himself -- but Tuma said his doctor has indicated that Tuma will be back, 100 percent, in time for next season.

"I was pretty excited about that," Tuma said by phone during a break in action at the development camp last week. "When (an injury) like that happens, you're just waiting for them to tell you that your career is over."

Like his Blades teammates at the camp, Tuma has at least a year left in his contract with the Panthers. Forward Dustin Johner, who was the Blades' second-leading scorer during the '06-07 regular season, was also a Panthers prospect, but his contract ended after this season, so he was not in attendance at the camp.

Development camps specifically for NHL prospects, most of whom spent the season in the minor leagues, are fairly rare across the NHL. When the Panthers started their camp several years ago, they along with the San Jose Sharks and Calgary Flames were among a small handful of teams to host such camps.

As a Panthers prospect, Tuma appreciates the chance the camp affords to work out with team personnel.

"I think it's a good thing," he said. "They get to check on you, see what kind of shape you're in, check if you're following the program ... You can ask them any questions you have, too."

The development camp is similar in structure to youth hockey camps. Breakfast is usually around 7:15 a.m., followed by morning ice time, lunch and then an afternoon off-ice workouts. During the first five days, the 24 prospects in attendance are split into defensive and offensive groups. The final two days, everyone comes together for competitive games.

At night, fun activities or lectures are scheduled. Tuma said nutrition and mental preparation are both highly emphasized during those lectures. Some scheduled nighttime activities include horseback riding (the camp is held at the Teen Ranch outside Orangeville) and a Toronto Blue Jays game.

The camp offers a chance for all the prospects to come together and interact with Panthers coaches, including Duane Sutter -- director of player development and a four-time Stanley Cup winner -- plus Panthers strength and conditioning, goaltending, and video coaches. Team sports psychologist David Scott also works one-on-one with prospects.

The Panthers' first-round draft picks in 2005 (Kendall McArdle) and 2006 (Michael Frolik) were among prospects at this year's camp.

One of the best things about the camp for the prospects may be the video shot during it. Each player gets an individualized video, which is analyzed by Panthers coaches at the end of the week.

"You get a sit-down with coaches, where they tell you what they want you to do differently and what your goals should be," said Tuma, who has attended four Panthers Development Camps.

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