Panthers forwards: is this it?

by Donny Rivette on Dec 13, 2009 11:16 AM EST Comment 5 comments

A quick peek at the NHL Stats Page is all a Cats fan requires to sink into a further funk, even on the heels of a well-executed game in Pittsburgh Saturday night. Of course, the result was all too familiar...

Individually, some Panthers are finally producing what's been expected of them for some time: as has been widely reported, forwards Stephen Weiss and Nathan Horton - whipping boys of the highest order in Sunrise - have 20 and 19 points in the same number of games played, respectively. Who among the faithful are anything less than giddy over what these two have done to reverse their sagging fortunes? There are a lot of beaming Fantasy Hockey owners who gambled in their drafts...and won big.

Beyond those two, the year has been an offensive washout: Michael Frolik's two goals on Friday (his first since November 30th) give him nine on the season. Much-heralded "second-line center" (the organization's words) Steven Reinprecht has scored once in twelve games. Radek Dvorak (who has indeed wratcheted up the intensity this season) hasn't seen the back of a net in nine.

Who else among the forwards have any true offensive expectations on the shoulders? Rostislav Olesz and his 14 points? Teased year after year, we know better. Gregory Campbell or Kamil Kreps, who are a combined -13? "Suitcase" Shawn Matthias? Or perhaps faceoff whizz Dominic Moore, who - by no fault of his own - has an unfortunate habit of getting hurt. A lot.

"But Whale! But Whale! What of David Booth and Cory Stillman? Where would the Cats be with them in the lineup?"

Undoubtedly leading the Eastern Conference in every major category.

What's it matter? They're not here now and probably won't be for some time. Based upon the little we've heard through the Panthers grapevine, it's entirely conceivable Booth won't return at all this season. Concussions tend to be nasty and unpredictable, and this one - his first - is no different. At least we know whom to hate when the postseason fires up.

Stillman is shooting for a late-December rollout, but realistically let's guess mid-January. I love and miss Stiller's hustle, leadership, and contributions as much as the next fan, but if you're hanging Florida's playoff fortunes on the return of a winger who celebrates his 36th birthday in a week, I've got some ProSet hockey cards from 1992 up for sale that are due to explode in value soon. Soon.

What to do, what to do?

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Trades likely in the future?

Well, I hate to say it Whale, but let’s remember the Club is a business and it’s got to stay in the black to keep running. This is most certainly the big pickle of the season, “How do you get a team to gel and be consistent night after night when the bottomline, and let’s not forget LOADS of injuries, suggests we shuffle the roster with big trades to make a playoff push?” Will Pete DeBoer have an opportunity this season to have the whole of his team adopt and adhere to his style and concepts and execute night after night as a cohesive unit or will we again watch as the Panthers fail to transcend individual play and develop a team mastermind like that of 95-96? Right now, it’s Horton, Weiss, and Vokoun VS. the NHL. I hate to say it, but I’m already thinking about NEXT season.

by EricD94 on Dec 13, 2009 1:15 PM EST reply actions

Accurate, Eric…and the reality may be that the club is already looking toward that end as well, for better or “worse” (as we may see it).

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by Donny Rivette on Dec 13, 2009 1:46 PM EST up reply actions

The biggest problem with the Cats has been their great last 20 games season in and season out. What it does it invoke expectation from fans for the next season and doest let the organisation gather high draft picks who can help sooner than later. Also some terrible draft choices has also hurt.

by SumOil on Dec 13, 2009 3:33 PM EST reply actions

Suggestions

Believe it or not, the Cats are not too far from 8th. Maybe they can unload TVo’s contract and 1) pick up some cheaper goaltending until our star-Euro goaltender is ready next year; 2) acquire offensive help for this year using TVo’s $$$; and 3) beg Pavel Bure to come out retirement to play in OT and the shootout only.

by Panthers Underground on Dec 13, 2009 8:33 PM EST reply actions

The Panthers aren't trading Vokoun

Not yet, anyway. There’s no way they trade the guy who keeps the team in the game almost every night. Not when they’re in spitting distance of eighth (due more to Philadelphia’s lousy play of late and that the Lightning and Canadiens are struggling almost as much as the Panthers at times than anything the Cats have done). This team needs to make the playoffs and Vokoun gives them a chance.

And make fun of Reinprecht if you want, but he was scoring when no one else was. At least Weiss and Horton have woken up. The Rochester kids are playing well but not scoring because they’re not getting a lot of ice time.

What the team needs right now is consistency (as always) and Pete needs to look at his coaching methods and maybe make some changes. Some of those recent losses are due to coaching mistakes. Point is, this team only needs to win a few games out of ten more than they are to secure a playoff spot. And as much as I like to bag on the team for sucktitude, there’s no shame in that OT loss to Pittsburgh. A few seasons ago we would have never expected the team to take 3 points on back-to-back road games, much less all four (or even two) against two teams currently tied in points for the Atlantic Division lead.

Florida Panthers: Giving the league a punching bag since 2000.

by Johnny B on Dec 14, 2009 8:10 AM EST reply actions

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(updated 4.12.2010 at 9:21 AM EDT)

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@ Edmonton The Copper & Blue	Sun 10/10	8:00 PM EDT
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Tampa Bay Raw Charge	Sat 10/16	7:00 PM EDT
Dallas Defending Big D	Thu 10/21	7:30 PM EDT

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