Team owner reveals the real reason behind curious trade.

The Florida Panthers made what many considered to be a strange, or flat out bad, trade earlier in the season, and now one of the team's owners has shed some light on why the deal was really made.

According to a report from Harry Fialkov of the Sun Sentinel former Panthers centre Brandon Pirri was dealt not because the Panthers felt that a sixth rounder was a fair return, but rather because the team viewed avoiding arbitration with the young forward as a top priority.

Fialkov's source is pretty solid, according to him the information came directly from owner Doug Cifu, who revealed that the team simply did not feel Pirri was part of their top six forward group going forward. An arbitrator awarding Pirri any kind of contract could have left the Panthers with their hands tied, and although they took a loss in the trade they feel they will be better off in the long term.

The Anaheim Ducks certainly won't complain, Pirri has put up 5 points in 8 games since joining their club, and again all they gave up was a 6th rounder.

[pub]