Monday Caterwaul - Panthers Open Forum
by Donny Rivette on Jan 25, 2010 9:46 AM EST
12 comments
Since a scoring outburst (3 goals) on January 3rd against Pittsburgh, Panthers forward Radek Dvorak has collected two assists in the 10 games following. A plus-two rating says he hasn't been terrible, just not finding the net (or a teammates' stick). In fact, three of those games he registered zero shots.
In a number of those matches, though, he was the best Florida forward on the ice.
What's the issue? As the Cats have gotten healthier (a relative term, I realize) he's felt the squeeze, not to mention his role as the club's single best penalty killer and defensive forward. No one was banking on 25 goals from the guy. Realistically, there is no "issue": he's doing precisely what's been expected.
Otherwise...
Still nothing on Steven Reinprecht, who left Saturday's game after receiving a puck to the leg via Dennis Seidenberg
The Panthers host Montreal tomorrow; had enough of the "home/road" games?
Anyone on Earth doubting Tomas Vokoun will start against the Habs? Or that Jaroslav Halak will be opposing him?
Just guessing, but there is evidence to suggest Kenndal McArdle will get a second straight appearance.
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MAJOR NEWS UPDATE.
according to our friend at OnFrozenPond, the possibility remains of Booth returning even BEFORE the Olympic break. today was his first full practice!
what a boost that would be, but should we just wait until after the Break anyways?
Wait. I would hope that the Panthers brass aren’t rushing him, especially with the recetn injury to Horton. Thus feeling that a move or trade would not be necessary. I am sure he’s eager to return as well, but probably not a good idea. Also the status of Rhino. Anyone know anything.
I say keep Booth out until the Olympics are over, and continue to look for a forward.
its a tricky question. if Horts hadn’t gone down, i would say DEFINITELY give him the two weeks extra. but we need the offense and need it badly. and hopefully him playing in 3 or 4 games before the break would get him in shape so he comes out FIRING on March 2.
I’m with you. 9 more games before the break, and almost all 9 are against solid teams. Without our offense, we could easily put up a 2-6-1 mark and be realistically out of it by the break. It’s hard to imagine Booth coming back and providing an instant impact, but the sooner he can start getting back to top form, the better. Especially with concussions, he could come back tomorrow and never feel a side affect the rest of the year, or he could come back in April and take a funny hit and he’s on the bench until 2012. You just never know.
honestly...
i don’t want to sound like a moron or anything, but i think we all think this team is way worse off than they are. by no means are we a cup contender, but we’re middle of the pack, just like every other team in the Eastern Conference (minus pit was njd buf) and have been without our top scorer pretty much the whole year.
Booth coming back can only help this team, especially now that Horton is down. When the two of them are in the lineup, we should be able to roll out two lines that could score and if Booth can play at somewhat the level he played last season when we return from the Olympics, this team absolutely has the ability to win a game or two in the playoffs.
obviously there are many flaws, but the defense has stepped up and the players we were counting on at the beginning of the season have actually been on pace for career years: weiss, horton, olesz… injuries have put us in a bad spot this season and i hope that over the last 21 games when we FINALLY! have everyone healthy (knock on wood!!!!) and prepared for a stretch run to propel us in to the playoffs and end our misery.
The only thing I’d say as a counterargument to that is it just feels like we’re overachieving with what we have, while the teams that are 2-4 points around us in the standings are horribly underachieving. Do we really think the Bruins, Rangers, Canadiens, or Flyers are in the same boat we are? We’ve managed so far without Booth, and that’s thanks in large parts to big years from Weiss and Horton, but mostly Vokoun. Our defense isn’t exactly solid, 35+ shots a game is routine, and there’s a reason why this is the 2nd year in a row we’ve had the league leader in blocked shots. If Vokoun doesn’t play the way he has over the last 3 weeks, we’re in Toronto\Carolina territory.
That all being said, we are where we are, and if this team somehow hangs around up to the trade deadline, and Sexton does something that somehow improves this team, then who knows. We’re already in a much better situation then I thought we’d be at this time of the year. So who knows. I think the next 9 games (pre-break) will go a long long way into what the last month and a half will be.
by Karl Selvig on Jan 25, 2010 10:55 PM EST up reply actions
Well, we’re not really middle of the pack. Bottom of the pack, but still in it is more accurate. We’re one point ahead of Tampa and Atlanta, one behind the Islanders and Bruins, two behind the Flyers, Canadiens and Rangers. Every one of these teams is one bad two-week stretch away from being the next Maple Leafs. The Senators aren’t in a much better spot, although they have a five-point cushion on the rest of the pack.
This stretch is crucial, with the Panthers playing almost every one of these teams before the break. With Horton out, it’s going to be a lot harder to win these games. Even if Booth makes it back, it will be after missing half the season and he didn’t have a good start. It will be a morale booster for sure and if Vokoun keeps up his stellar play and Weiss and Frolik can keep it together and the other lines start getting some goals again, yes, they can get through it, but the Panthers really should be looking at getting some help because they need it. This season was based on everyone having career years, and again we’ve lost a ton of games to injury. This should be a signal to management to do something.
Florida Panthers: Giving the league a punching bag since 2000.
agreed. this 9 game stretch is vital, which is precisely why i want to see Booth in as many as he can be in. i know he is not going to come back and immediately have a hat trick or even score but just knowing he’s back will be a boost to everyone else and can only help him for whats to come after the break.
i have a strong feeling we won’t be doing much on trades unless we drop off fast in these next 9 games. i think they’re going to claim “booth coming back was like a trade for us” and move on unless they’re selling. i do worry about Vokoun playing so well in the Olympics as it might wear him down but that’s another story. and again, unless we’re selling because these 9 games are horrible failures, if they trade Vokoun i think it’s the wrong message because no matter what, we are where we are, which is right in the mix and i don’t think Clemmensen could carry the load.
Getting Booth and Horton back will...
Yes seem like a deadline trade has been made and waiting for that will force the Panters to sit tight. I still believe that they should make a move for someone regardless of the Horton and Booth situation.
We need to stop shooting for the final playoff spot and aim a little higher.
We are hanging in there, but right now relying completely on Vokoun.
We all thought that we needed scoring with Booth and Horton, what makes us think that we don’t need that with them hurt?
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| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
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Washington
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Atlanta
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