Assistant general manager Mike Santos confirmed that the Panthers wouldn’t make contractual offers to restricted free agents Byron Bitz(notes) and Steve Bernier(notes), allowing them to become free agents. The Panthers got Bitz at the 2010 trade deadline from Boston for Dennis Seidenberg(notes). Bitz played in just seven games before getting hurt; he missed the entire 2010-11 season after having sports hernia surgery.

So anyone else think we should bring Byron back into the fold?  I certainly wouldn't be against it, even if only for more 'We want Bitz' chants...