Litter Box Cats: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Off Tackle Empire interviews Rich Rodriguez

A man stands alone...

435c293f-28db-48fb-8226-8bfe23adb047_medium

Vokoun is a good guy, and after being around him all season (and being a goalie myself) I have to feel for him.

He's a great goalie, but his unorthodox style and tendency to give up some weak goals have led to his demise.  At a time where everything a player does is under the microscope, the goalie faces even more scrutiny.  Poor, poor Voky picked the worst time (Buffalo) to have a questionable performance.

Now, the question is if/when Vokoun will find his way back into the starting lineup, and under what circumstances.  Should Andy reel off a couple more wins, and assuming that Florida is still right there with Montreal and the Rangers, poor Vokoun may not see another start.  The home finale against Washington seems the most likely place for Vokoun to play...that is unless Anderson is still winning and has the team on his back, which is very possible.

Either way...I still feel for Vokoun.  He has killed himself for the Cats for 2 seasons, but has fallen the victim of desperation by a team needing wins.  Now he sits on the bench, hoping for goals and saves by his teammates, but wishing he could be out there helping.  After the Panthers last game against Ottawa, I was in the locker room with the rest of the press talking to Cory Stillman.  I looked up and saw Vokoun walking by, and give him the half-smile/nod.  He looked back and his eyebrows wrinkled, giving me the 'meh' face.  What else can he do?  He wants his team to win...

 

Poll
Being completely honest...how do you feel if you are in Vokoun's skates?
Upset. This is my team, I've been the guy all year and I should be the guy now.
3 votes
Fine. All I want is for my team to make the playoffs. Nothing else matters.
6 votes
Sad. I understand why things are the way they are, but why can't I be the guy out there?
9 votes

18 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 6 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Easy for me to vote “Fine…make the playoffs” since I’m not there, and it’s the answer all fans would hope for in a perfect world.

Sadly, it’s almost certainly not the case. He’s a gamer, a pro, a competitor, and he’s undoubtedly wrestling with some tough emotions.

by Donny Rivette on Apr 2, 2009 5:32 PM EDT reply actions  

thanks! Hope you enjoied your day off

Peninsula Is Mightier:Your SB Nation Miami Heat Blog Community Juggernaut
The Litter Box: Your SBNation Florida Panthers Blogging Colossus

by David Dwork on Apr 2, 2009 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions  

Just been me and HAL 9000 playing a game of cat-and-mouse. HAL’s winning.

by Donny Rivette on Apr 2, 2009 7:09 PM EDT reply actions  

It's tough...

but that’s part of the gig. Vokoun’s a solid goalie, but these things happen sometimes. I will say this, though. If DeBoer’s plan works and they play Andy all the way through and into the playoffs, they had better be prepared for a goalie controversy. A proper one this time. Not that I think Vokoun is anything less than professional (as opposed to say, Brian Boucher back in the early naughts), but it may do bad things for his confidence.

by Johnny B on Apr 2, 2009 9:13 PM EDT reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

SB Nation's home for the Florida Panthers since 2008: where cats, rats, and Jamie Rivers play on...
Start posting about the Panthers »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

Connect_with_facebook

Southeast Standings

GP W L OTL PT
Washington 82 54 15 13 121
Atlanta 82 35 34 13 83
Carolina 82 35 37 10 80
Tampa Bay 82 34 36 12 80
Florida 82 32 37 13 77

(updated 4.12.2010 at 9:21 AM EDT)

SBNation.com Recent Stories

PHILADELPHIA - MAY 16:  A fan of the Philadelphia Flyers holds up a sign reading "Next Goalie" behind goalie Carey Price #32 of the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Wachovia Center on May 16, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Habs Finally Lock Up Carey Price, Sign Goalie To Two-Year Deal

National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman answers questions during a pre-game media availability before the Pittsburgh Penguins season opener against the New York Rangers in a NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) +25 updates

Ultimatum? NHL Reportedly Threatens To Toss Out Kovalchuk, Luongo Deals Without NHLPA Concessions

Photo +1 updates

Report: Donald Fehr Hands NHLPA List Of Conditions On Becoming Union Leader

More from SBNation.com >

Nashville Flood Relief

Please help with Nashville flood relief!

 

Cfmt_medium
Honashville_140_medium
 

 



Managing Editor/Founder

Litter-xl_small Donny Rivette

Contributors

Dwork-1_small David Dwork

Newavatar_small Johnny B

Lga_logo_small keithwozniak