Stephen Weiss is in the last year of his $3.1 million per year contract and is coming off his first career appearance in the playoffs. All 11 years as a hockey professional have been spent in the Panthers organization. The thought of him playing somewhere else sounds bizarre to Panthers Nation, but there are grumblings that a cancelled season might hurt Florida's chances to sign him to a new deal.

Weiss has mentioned he will not negotiate a new contract during this season, if there is one, and he admitted that talks last summer about an extension "stalled."

While GM Dale Tallon and Panthers brass are not all that worried about Weiss leaving, there is always inherent risk to playing the last season of a contract without a deal. The Panthers certainly learned that lesson with the Jay Bouwmeester debacle, when he was not traded at the deadline and then left for peanuts that summer. Should the Panthers be out of the playoff race in this shortened season, Tallon might have a tough decision on his hands.

Every year it seems Weiss has been mentioned in trade rumors, simply because he was one of a very few bonafide assets on a team of AHLers. But thanks to Tallon times have changed and this Panther roster showed remarkable improvement and success last season. There is no reason why the Panthers won't continue to see success in the near and long term. The talent in the organization from top to bottom is at an all-time high.

Weiss has a lot of NHL miles on him, and is only 29 years old. The captain-to-be loves South Florida and has been consistent in stating he wants to remain a Florida Panther for the entirety of his career. However, there is some uncertainty surrounding his future beyond this year, especially if he sticks to his guns about not negotiating a new contract during this season. Perhaps a cancelled season ensures him staying a Panther.

None of us want that, of course. Playing hockey, any hockey, this year is paramount for a league that is once again shooting itself in the foot because of astonishing greed and stupidity.

Obviously Florida is one of those teams that has been bleeding for several years financially, especially because of the sub-par product on the ice. It would only make sense that an organization that is finally getting itself on its feet is being killed again with a lockout.

But could the lockout cost the Panthers more than just money? Could it cost them their most popular player and face of the franchise? Anything is possible, but it should take an extraordinary set of circumstances to see him playing elsewhere in 2013.

What do you think? Will Weiss seek a raise that proves too rich for Tallon's blood? Any chance Weiss is traded before the deadline if no deal is signed beforehand?

Your comments are appreciated.

Twitter @DanSpiegel

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