"Second line center" becoming familiar refrain for Panthers' Reinprecht

by Donny Rivette on Jun 22, 2009 12:19 PM EDT Comment 17 comments

We've all jumped on the assumption that newly-acquired Steve Reinprecht will without question be Florida's number two center on the depth chart for 2009-10. Everyone who's anyone in the organization has trumpeted this assertion since the moment news of the deal went down late last week. The assumed first-liner, Stephen Weiss, is reasonably safe in his present position as the Top Cat, right?

Panthers president Michael Yormark has now inserted his take on the newest forward:

I hope all of our fans liked our move for center Steve Reinprecht on Friday. He is a Peter DeBoer type of guy and has all of the characteristics of a Panther player - character, grit and speed.

Wait for it, wait...

He should fit in nicely on our second line and will be a great asset in the locker room.

Wind up ye ole W4E Conspiracy Box: is it me or are there vast numbers of Florida reps coming out of the woodwork to proclaim - again and again - that Reinprecht will be the second-line center?

How does anyone yet know whether the chemistry will be electric between Steve and, well, whomever comprises that now-storied yet fictional second-line? Who's to say he couldn't mix it up better on the first? Pointless to debate it now, this early in the offseason, but still...

The larger question appears to be why so many team officials have stated this over and over? Gonna throw out a hypothetical here: The long-promised terminator-type capital-letter Number One Center will be acquired this week. Not a soul has mentioned Weiss' name since the Reinprecht deal was consummated. Where is he in all of this? Weiss is many things - including Florida's leading scorer last year - but he is not a number-one who puts fear into his opponents. Second and third lines? Absolutely. Is he a Henrik Sedin or Mike Cammalleri? Not now. And the Panthers know it.

Of course we're just having fun here, but one can't help but think something may be afloat.

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I’m inclined to agree with ya Whale. You know what they say about those who doth protest too much……

by sydarm on Jun 22, 2009 12:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

As nice as that would be, I think the Horton\Weiss\Booth line is back together and the “#1 line,” despite our best prayers. I don’t see Weiss dropping down to center Dvorak and Stillman… but then again, it is only June.

by Stanley C. on Jun 22, 2009 1:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Things are afoot.

Hopefully the right things.

by coasterg on Jun 22, 2009 3:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We’ll hope. In a couple more weeks, we’ll have a better idea what’s up. But really, even then we don’t know until they come out of camp.

by Johnny B on Jun 22, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We need something to keep the fires going, right?

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by Donny Rivette on Jun 22, 2009 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, don’t think for a moment I’m advocating not discussing. Then I’d have to go back to packing for our move. And I’d much rather talk about hockey.

by Johnny B on Jun 22, 2009 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Been there, bro!

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by Donny Rivette on Jun 22, 2009 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree, I appreciate all of the information and posts your doing Whale4ever!

Unlike the Canadian and other US teams the Panthers are pretty close lipped this year and with the various issues going on any new information is great.

by coasterg on Jun 23, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does Yormark have anything to do with the on-ice side of things in the organization? I know the management is in flux right now but in my mind all hockey decisions and statements should be made by the “hockey guys” (gm, coaches, scouts etc) and people in other management positions shouldnt interfere. I’m making more out of this than I need to, but if Yormark does slowly begin to exact his influence on whoever our gm will be (I predict that he will), respect within the organization will decline and the on-ice product with it. We all remember how much the Len Barrie rumours in Tampa hurt their team last year, and those were just rumours.

by pukeoncops on Jun 22, 2009 8:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

At least Barrie was a player. But in Yormark’s defense, he is responsible for everything that takes place within “his” organization. So of course he will have some say in the GM job. In a normal world.

Puke: you are spot-on as to the on-ice issues being addressed by on-ice types of personnel (that was a terrible line), but we are talking a vacant general manager’s position. It’s going to be more than Bill Torrey – who in all honesty the Panthers are extraordinarily lucky to have after all these stormy years – making the decision. The new dood will report to Yormark, so it’s not entirely conspiratorial.

This isn’t going to make me very popular in certain circles, but maybe just maybe Yormark will surprise a few folks and do a more than credible job.

He’s the team president, not the GM, and thereby after a GM is named he is out of the on-ice equation once again (and we have no proof he’s actually engineered player transactions to this point anyway). He’ll go back to maximizing the profit potential of the club (and building, and brand, etc.) because that is his job. He could ostensibly name himself GM if he so chose, but he’s a lot brighter than that.

Just to clarify…I wasn’t taking him to task (or anyone else); only found it fascinating that we’ve been besieged with “second-line center” comments from every level.

And you weren’t make more out of it…remember I brought it up!

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by Donny Rivette on Jun 22, 2009 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have it on pretty good authority that Yormark has zero say on hockey operations. He does, of course, know what’s going on, but he doesn’t make hockey decisions. (Hit the BBS linked on the front page of this blog to see the post from the person who actually had the discussion with Mr. Yormark).

People dislike him because of some of the decisions he’s made in marketing the team or in arena operations and assume that every time a bad decision is made in hockey ops, that he’s involved. It’s a personal dislike getting in the way of sense, I think.

by Johnny B on Jun 22, 2009 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

For better or worse, it’s part of his job to be blamed when the market doesn’t approve of his moves. He’s rolled with it and increased exposure of the club. How’s that going in Phoenix?

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by Donny Rivette on Jun 22, 2009 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hmmm interesting point of view. i too believe that something big may be in the works and i certainly hope so. the sedin’s would look great in sunrise! and who says weiss drops below reinprecht? maybe steve will be the third line

by alterego6487 on Jun 22, 2009 8:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I hope it hasn’t been etched in bronze anywhere yet.

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by Donny Rivette on Jun 22, 2009 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

reinprecht, that is.

by alterego6487 on Jun 22, 2009 8:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I love your optimism

but I can only wish that there is some deal in the works that would bring us a top forward. Its much more believable that they consider Weiss our #1 center based on ‘how he should be playing next season’ and nothing more.

I’m with you….bring on some moves, lets see some effort from our front office instead of just putting their ‘words’ behind the guys that are already here. Last summer was a good start w/ Stillman and McCabe, but we need to build on that and make a few more key acquisitions.

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by DolPhanDave on Jun 23, 2009 1:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

At least we’ll see some activity on Friday due to the draft. And other things will play out on the following Wednesday so the news cycle will speed up dramatically.

Personally, I’d love to see the Sedins here but its not something I’d expect to happen.

by coasterg on Jun 23, 2009 11:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

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