Thursday Caterwaul - Panthers Open Forum and Post Mortem

by Donny Rivette on Jan 14, 2010 9:57 AM EST Comment 13 comments

Not much to say other than they blew it against a very good team. They let crumble a three-goal lead only to lose in the shootout at home.

Of course, it's not that coach Pete is engineering it to wind up this way. Nor are his players.

But when does the fabulous "upside" of all these difficult days kick in?

I know for a fact that I was not the only viewer nervous with the Cats holding a 4-1 lead. Many if not most of you were as well. And if we all were, chances are pretty solid that the team collectively was, too.

And obviously that was indeed the case, hence the meltdown. But previously it had been two-goal leads that were impossible to seal. Now they will freak out with an even cushier margin, simply because it happened.

Why has the attitude not improved/changed/evolved? How must that be addressed? No matter the number of personnel changes which may be wrought, the smell's not leaving the dressing room as things stand now.

Also: The SB Nation/NHL Power 16 rankings are in.

Open Game Forum goes live at 6pm tonight.

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Let Me Say This

There’s alot of problems that seem to be going on with this club and some of them are apparently of the mental variety. Do they need a sports psychologist? Would that even help?
There has to be a way to figure out why the blown leads continue. Is it the makeup of the team, is it the style of play they all of a sudden show? Is it preparation by the coaching staff?
Who is responsible? This can’t continue and we’ve all watched it for way too long, as it’s not just been this year, it was last year and the years before.

Personally, my opinion is that it’s leadership and accountability. Players make mistakes, yet don’t get nailed to the bench, unless your name is Koistenen, or Boynton, or MacIntyre. There aren’t enough veterans here that have the ability to speak their minds and lead this team not only on but off the ice. Stillman while a vet who has won a Cup is only a complimentary player, and also is not 100% healthy right now, as he is a step behind.

It’s not a good outlook from where I sit and watch, whether that’s at home or in the building. There is just no confidence and no one to give them any.

I would have to think that alot of people are on thin ice, DeBoer included. While firing him let’s the players off the hook, you can’t trade all of these guys, so someone is going to take the fall.

by The Rat Trick on Jan 14, 2010 10:31 AM EST reply actions

Gets tricky figuring out the “who”. This is a potential minefield, but something’s got to give.

The Litter Box - Your Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Jan 14, 2010 11:03 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed, the team needs either a sports pshycologist or an actual leader, somebody on ice who everyone knows is the guy leading the team who will help them when they need it, who will chew their butt when they screw up, who will talk to the refs, be the go between with the coach and players….basically a real Captain

by JMarushin on Jan 14, 2010 12:58 PM EST up reply actions

It surely has to be management to blame – isn’t it the coaches job to drill it into the players heads that they are good enough? It’s not like it’s the same one player every week, or one particular line that crumbles, it’s everyone.

We looked so good and in control for most of the game, but as the minutes went by the realisation that may actually win this gave way to hoping we don’t blow it. That mentality is unacceptable.

Some of the performances we put in are great. We’re capable of playing gritty and hard and scraping wins, and we’re also capable of amazingly exciting end to end shootout type hockey. We should be confident and believe we can beat anyone, so why on earth are these players just expecting to lose?

That said—- the one player who normally does it bottle it when faced with an opportunity, Campbell, actually took his chance last night and, albeit fortunately, scored!! Hopefully a sign of things to come anyway.

by LondonDave on Jan 14, 2010 1:38 PM EST reply actions

Good stuff. They don’t take on an expectation of losing until after the first period, like the life drains from them. Really odd.

The Litter Box - Your Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Jan 14, 2010 4:57 PM EST up reply actions

more and more i’m starting to….dare i say it, dislike DeBoer. this blowing leads thing is absolutely unacceptable and its on him. its on him for picking a captain that i don’t think many of us love. its on him for allowing this bull to keep happening.

the only questions left in my mind for this season are what happens with Booth and if we see him again this season.

by alterego6487 on Jan 14, 2010 4:25 PM EST reply actions

I’ve got no beef with McCabe as captain. Yes, I’ve called him out a bit in the past, but overall I think he’s the guy for the spot. Just have a good vibe about it.

You brought up the taboo subject: DeBoer. Has he lost the “room”?

The Litter Box - Your Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Jan 14, 2010 4:59 PM EST up reply actions

I’m not so sure it’s that has he lost the room. There’s three things that I come up with.
1) is he the right guy to get this group to be better than they have shown? More importantly, could anyone get them to play better
2) Knowing what we have, not sure if any coach could fix this.
3) Hockey Sense. Not very evident with some of our players. To me that is not only a talent problem, but a coaching one as well.

Bottom line, we are missing some players that would make a difference and I’m not talking Booth and Kulikov.
We lack leadership, and scoring.

by The Rat Trick on Jan 14, 2010 5:13 PM EST up reply actions

Knowing what we have, not sure if any coach could fix this

In that case, you realize you’re talking – gulp – traaaades…

Historically, FLA doesn’t like midseason traaaades. But time may have run out. What other options exist?

The Litter Box - Your Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Jan 14, 2010 6:31 PM EST up reply actions

leadership and scoring, i feel like we’ve been saying this for ten years.

its not so much that we dont have the talent, when they put together a 60 minute game like they played in the first 40 last night and other various spectacular periods this season, they can win any game. its the putting it together for 60 minutes consistently that’s the problem. and that’s on DeBoer.

by alterego6487 on Jan 14, 2010 5:44 PM EST reply actions

The classic “puzzle”…except in this case all the pieces warp and don’t fit together after 40 minutes.

The Litter Box - Your Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Jan 14, 2010 6:33 PM EST up reply actions

let’s just have a power failure after the next 3 goal lead.

by The Rat Trick on Jan 14, 2010 7:23 PM EST reply actions

Didn’t work for New Jersey, unfortunately

The Litter Box - Your Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Jan 14, 2010 7:39 PM EST up reply actions

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