"What we're really trying to do is not just build a team, but to build an organization. I think it would be foolish of me to say we've gotten there in four and a half months (under GM Dale Tallon). We have not. We've got to build it … I will say this, we'll have a lot more freedom next year, we'll have a lot more salary room next year. A lot of our contracts terminate next year."
Panthers managing general partner Cliff Viner, in a fabulous interview with the Sun-Sentinel's Sarah Talalay
over 1 year ago
Donny Rivette
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Excellent article
Good link. I’m willing to give the guy a chance and he’s absolutely right. You turn the franchise around, you turn the money problem around. Don’t let him fool you though – that arena is a cash-cow and is a huge selling point. That being said, he’s making the right points and we’re just going to have to wait for the results.
I agree with you about the Arena, but I look at it this way, if we’re being honest with ourselves “the Bank” or “the Billboard” is really the one thing that keeps us from being in a similar position financially to where the Coyotes have been. I think that what keeps the Panthers a good idea and a good investment is the deal with the arena and once we get some on-ice success we’ll see things really turn around. I like Viner and I think he is going to do a lot of good for the team. Just that one quote about next years contracts shows me that he is thinking like a lot of the fans that this year is an opportunity to get a high first round pick and next year the rebuild begins in earnest.
I like that he seems to get it in a way that I don’t think Alan Cohen ever did. I’m also glad he’s being honest about the short-term prospects and that they’re taking the long view. In two years, the team will have shed all their expensive contracts save Booth, Weiss and Olesz. There will be a lot of young, exciting players on entry-level contracts and probably a few vets who took a discount to play with them. The team will be exciting to watch, will likely start making the playoffs and the team will be in a position to buy out that Olesz contract if they have to.
Florida Panthers: Giving the league a punching bag since 2000.
by John Beatty on Oct 10, 2010 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions
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