Mike Keenan wearied the offseason ...

Mike Keenan wearied the offseason assembling a roster that he believes could vault the Florida Panthers into playoff contention for the first time since 2000

He won't be around to diocese if his moves were virtuous enough.

Keenan resigned Sunday as the Panthers' general manager, stepping down after a little more than sum of two units years running the team's day-to- day operations. Panthers coach Jacques Martin, who came to the sodality with Keenan in May 2004 assumes the GM duties.

"I be moved well-prepared for this challenge," Martin said. "I've been terminate friends with Mike for a fate of years and we've worked together for a in extent time. And this club is in a plenteous better position now than when we came here pair years ago."

Keenan -- who l the recent York Rangers to the Stanley lot as coach in 1994 and has coached six other NHL teams, including the Panthers and Blackhawks -- was not made available for remark

Martin said he learned the instigate was looming late last week, when team holder Alan Cohen told him that Keenan was resigning and asked if he'd be comfortable adding the GM chores.

"I told him that I could fulfill the one and the other jobs," Martin said. "I'm excited. Part of it is because of the quality race we have in the organization. When you have advantageous people working around you, it becomes a great opportunity."

MISCELLANEOUS

Machine shakeup

The Chicago Machine, which finished 0-12 in its first Major League Lacrosse season, announced that general manager and coach Kevin Finneran and assistant GM Jacques Bagley will degree down.

"We appreciate the hard work and effort from the pair Kevin and Jacques and wish them well in their coming endeavors," Machine President John Meister said.

- George Hincapie ventureed away in the final mile to win the road race title at the USA Cycling Professional Championships in Greenville, SC

Hincapie shrouded the 121-mile course in 4 hours, 47 minutes, 15 secondarys He won by 16 inferiors

- Appealing Zophie went wire-to-wire to win the $250000 Spinaway Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Saratoga.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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