Saku Koivu : missed opportunity by Florida Panthers?
Sun-Sentinel's Steve Gorten:
When I blogged about Koivu becoming available a while back -- that he wouldn't re-sign with the Habs -- I said the Panthers should go after the center. Some of you made some solid points about why Koivu, 34, isn't the commodity he once was.
But for one year at $3.25 million?
The Cats don't have a Selanne, either (kidding, Steve).
In my mind, it's rock-solid that nothing the Panthers could have offered would tempt the free agent center to come to Sunrise. But a way-valid point on opening the season in Finland wth a local superstar.
Still don't think the Cats had a prayer on this one. Who steps up: Weiss? Matthias? Rhino?
over 2 years ago
Donny Rivette
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the best part of that article is again the comments section. Apparently a large portion of the fanbase is quite offended by the Panthers not trying to do something. I don’t think Koivu was the answer (the guy has some durability issues), but I think there is still some talent out there that almost fits the #1 line center bill….Comrie? He’s still relatively young and has shown some flashes of talent. Robert Lang for a year? What about Mats Sundin for a year? There’s also a handful of decent #2 C guys out there (I know, I know we already traded for our #2 C)…
How’s this for a line? Tanguay – Sundin – Sykora . Maybe you can’t afford Sundin with those 2 guys, but flip Comrie in there. Is that line more suited to a #1 line than what we look like we’re going to roll with? All those guys are still available.
Apparently a large portion of the fanbase is quite offended by the Panthers not trying to do something.
A large portion of the fanbase – that comments at the local media sites – is always offended by something: management action, management inaction, too many ads in the building, Bill Torrey’s bowtie, etc.
As for the line combo, aren’t those three collectively like a hundred and twenty years old? My take: Sundin’s not worth the money or effort, Sykora’s on the downslope (witness a 17-point drop), and Tanguay…well I’m way kewl with Tanguay.
Surprising, but Tanguay is 29, Sundin is old (38), but for one year?, Sykora is 33. Comrie is 27 or 29 (anyway, late 20’s).
I’m not proposing locking these guys up for infinity. Tanguay, yeah, i’d give him a couple year deal, but Sundin, 1 with incentives, Sykora, I’d do the same thing. Comrie, I’m on the fence about. He’s young enough that a 4 year deal might not be out of the question.
I’m grasping at straws here, but I don’t think you could argue that the above line would at least bring a decent amount of offense.
by HockeyOutsiders on Jul 9, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Re: the above-mentioned line: Indeed it would…and an eye-popping brand. But…
Comrie and Tanguay are going to be looking for not only long-term but incentive-laden deals. Eventually they’ll get them from a desperate club willing to overpay. And again, I’m all about Tanguay. Comrie? He’s not the talent he appears to be. He was the leading scorer on Long Island. Who was gonna top him…Bill Guerin? Sundin can pound sand…or better yet, retire and save the league also-rans the trouble of courting him for six months.
by Donny Rivette on Jul 9, 2009 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions
agreed we had no chance signing Koivu, and anyways, he’s way too old. I’m all for the young guns getting the right growth and development opportunity, its the only way for long term success and that’s what we need here. I’m still not sold on Comrie, his stats are just not that impressive and I haven’t really watched him play so I don’t know what he looks like on the ice…i do know we’d be seeing Hilary Duff alot more though, and that can’t be bad. I’m with Whale on this one…..WHY ARENT WE APPROACHING TANGUAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! or are we and we’re just not catching wind of it???
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
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55 | 27 | 17 | 11 | 65 |
|
Washington
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56 | 28 | 23 | 5 | 61 |
|
Winnipeg
|
57 | 26 | 25 | 6 | 58 |
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Tampa Bay
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55 | 24 | 25 | 6 | 54 |
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Carolina
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New York Rangers
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54 | 36-13-5 | 77 |
|
Boston Bruins
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53 | 34-17-2 | 70 |
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Florida Panthers
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55 | 27-17-11 | 65 |
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Philadelphia Flyers
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56 | 31-18-7 | 69 |
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Pittsburgh Penguins
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