McArdle, who owns a tremendous work ethic, had his name called last season when Panther forward David Booth returned from a lengthy hiatus resulting from concussion issues. Unfortunately, McArdle was hardly pain free himself. He had surgeries on both of his shoulders toward the end of the 2009-10 season. Look for McArdle to continue teetering between the NHL and the minors this season.
The former first-rounder is entering a very important year in his career. McArdle had his rookie season derailed by a broken jaw, then
couldn't produce more than 24 points in Year 2 of the AHL. Even if he can get back on track this season, it will likely be in Rochester and not Florida.
McArdle got his pro feet last season in AHL Rochester without notable offensive production (10 points in 36 games). His thunder within the organization is being stolen by prospects with higher upside.
If you look at numbers alone, McArdle didn't have that great of a season. He split the year between Moose Jaw and Vancouver in the WHL and had just 42 points in 63 games. On the bright side, McArdle did earn a spot on Team Canada at the World Junior Championship. He barely played in the tournament, but the fact he was even named to the team was a good sign. McArdle is only 5-11, but he is a very solid 195 pounds. He skates well, has pretty good hands, plays a tough game, and he works hard. He should eventually turn into a fan favorite when he reaches the NHL.
The Panthers' first-round pick from 2005 will be returned to Moose Jaw of the Western Hockey League for this season.
A point-a-game producer in the tough WHL, McArdle has speed and desire to burn. The guy is a battler who has had to work his tail off to overcome a serious speech impediment. That's just the kind of dedication and heart that's loved by scouts and NHL general managers. He'll go the extra mile on the ice to make a play for a team and who can argue that?
