Former Florida GM Sexton calls Tallon a 'very, very worthy choice' for franchise

Bill Torrey, right, welcomes Dale Tallon to the Florida Panthers Tuesday, May 18, 2010 in Sunrise, Fla. where Tallon was named as the new General Manager. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

MIAMI - Former Florida Panthers general manager Randy Sexton says he would welcome the opportunity to stay with the franchise.

Dale Tallon, the former general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks, has replaced Sexton as Florida's GM. On a conference call with reporters Wednesday, Sexton called Tallon a "very, very worthy choice" for the franchise.

Sexton says he has told Tallon he would "help him in any way that he needed it," and planned to speak with Florida's new GM again in the coming weeks. He says he would stay with the Panthers if Tallon thought it was appropriate and he could help.