Panthers Monday Caterwaul
by Donny Rivette on Jul 19, 2010 11:19 AM EDT
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PrintJust thinking aloud after prying my weary eyes away from EA Tiger '11 (which truly rocks, btw)...
As the weeks since free agency began drag on, it's looking less likely that a big-ticket UFA will be acquired by the Panthers in solidifying the roster for the 2010-11 season. That's okay, though...as we're all painfully aware, aside from the Kovalchuk Chronicles, there are few purebreds left to be had, not that there were many to begin with. In fact, a pidlding number of the supposed Big Names would have qualified for that title in just about any other summer. Florida's signing of forward Christopher Higgins was understandably no headliner, but the deal is cheap ($1.6M), it's short (one year), and the kid needed a fresh start in a bad way. Beyond re-upping Jason Garrison and qualifying several other prospects in the system (while letting others who had stayed well past their expiration dates walk), the Cats have been quiet on the free agent market. Precisely as GM Dale Tallon had led us to believe.
Trades are something he hasn't shied from, and in moving out two longtimers in Nathan Horton and Gregory Campbell plus the insane contract saddled around Keith Ballard's neck he has begun to clear the stale air from the BAC dressing room. More work remains, obviously, but these were moves that simply had to be made, almost regardless of the return. But we'll talk more Olesz as the summer moves along.
There is the possiblity of a "throwaway" season ahead, which the club would vehemently deny, basically an opportunity to give the likes of Shawn Matthias, Michael Grabner, Evgeny Dadonov, Michal Repik, et al bona fide big league minutes and special teams play. At least among the younger forwards; should 36-year old Cory Stillman (average TOI: 17:34) remain above 23-year old Kenndal McArdle (8:54) simply by default? Granted both have one year remaining on their current deals, and contract years are always an interesting proposition, but all things being equal, Stiller's probably worth more to the Panthers as a trading chip.
Kind of a moot point considering the use of left wings as an example, since it's not necessarily an area of strength for the club, beyond that Booth guy we keep hearing about.
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soooo in conclusion, who are tanking for in the 2011 draft?
by HockeyAndLoathing on Jul 19, 2010 12:37 PM EDT reply actions
Ha. Not endorsing a tank job, just prepping for what is realistically going to be a long season, as the roster currently stands.
by Donny Rivette on Jul 19, 2010 12:41 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I don't think...
You’ll see a tank-job per se, but guys like Stillman, Allen and even McCabe(even though he’s still relatively productive at 35) have to kinda see the writing on the wall, don’t they? If not this year, then definitely next.
There isn’t much Tallon can do here at the moment except for the complimentary signings you’ve already seen. Better to get your house in order, see what you’ve got as far as developmental players(you basicaly already know what you’ll get from the vets), and engineer yourself some flexibility and room to manuever under the cap for the next two years.
Hey, the good news is that the #1 prospect for the 2011 draft (according to wikipedia) is a center! The Sean Couturier watch is on!
Oh Boy........
I hope we are NOT preparing for the #1 pick in next years draft…….We can’t take this cr*p any longer……The Panthers need to make the Playoffs NOW……We need help up the middle NOW…..NOW NOW NOW NOW and NOW! TALLON…..Do Something NOW ! We are sick of waiting ….10 long years….THe worst team in HOCKEY over the last 10 years….ENOUGH !
i got bad news for ya, we’re gonna rebuild through the draft…get ready for next year, b/c we’re breaking that no-playoff recor
by HockeyAndLoathing on Jul 20, 2010 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions
And we’ll still be bitching 10 years from now if we follow this logic. NOW NOW NOW!!! If you follow that, you pay premiums for it when it backfires – ask the Redskins.
We have an organization that’s absolutely f***ed because of years of mismanagement trying to fix things quickly in a vain push to make the playoffs with under-talented teams and it’s not going to get fixed overnight.
You two might be looking forward to another.....
loosing …under 500 non playoff season…..but there’s many among us LONG time fans that have seen the good times….that are sick of having the laughing stock of the league being the team they love.They’re even covering seats up so the small crowds look bigger…Tell the real FANS that we’re NOT going to make the playoffs AGAIN…..Every year it’s a “building Process” ….Since draft day we’ve virtually done nothing…to bring the Gagnes of the world here. The FUN stopped the day after the Draft ended.
Too many “bad” contracts in play to affect an overnight change. Olesz, Allen, Stillman, dare I say McCabe…
by Donny Rivette on Jul 20, 2010 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions
And only two and a half of those are even remotely tradeble, though probably not until December or beyond due to cost.
by Donny Rivette on Jul 20, 2010 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions
So now that TB has grabbed Gagne...
Does this “force the hand” of Tallon to make a move in retaliation (for lack of a more accurate word)?
The Bolts just got a lot better up front.
No – who are they going to get? Frolov? Don’t make me laugh because his 50 pts won’t help this team.
This team needs a mentality change, which I think rests on Pete DeBoer. He needs to effectively use the talent he has because this team does not have the talent to win on talent. Hard work, defense and garbage goals is the only cure to what ails this team.
Patience Will Get You a Hockey Team
Patience will get you a hockey team. NOW! NOW! NOW! will get you a team like the Maple Leafs that doesn’t make the playoffs and has no draft picks and no hope. Trust that Tallon knows what he is doing, and he has built a foundation that will pave the way for what is to come. I believe the rebuild took five yeaars in Chicago.
It will be interesting to see what the Panthers do with their draft picks this year because so far, it looks like a pretty weak draft.
NOW! NOW! NOW! will get you a team like the Maple Leafs that doesn’t make the playoffs and has no draft picks and no hope.
That’s about as clear an argument as exists.
+1
Patience ...HUH.....DUH....
Donny….at you I’m surprised…..Just because Burke couldn’t make it happen this past season…you’re saying It can’t be done…I never say CAN’T……It can be done and we need to do it…..We’re the Worst Team { if you want to call it that} in Hockey over the last ten years and you people don’t think that something RADICAL has to be done……ahhhhhhhhhh…poll 100 fans and My thinking will make it over the 50% mark easily……To let the Lightning get Gagne is a disgrace.
To the contrary, Laus…had it been my decision I’d have grabbed him so TB, CAR, and ATL couldn’t (ala Stillman two years ago).
In that light the deal would have served two purposes for the Panthers.
by Donny Rivette on Jul 20, 2010 5:04 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
My reply should have singularly referenced the Gagne situation.
by Donny Rivette on Jul 20, 2010 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions
point well taken...
i still stand by my statement……The Gagne deal {or NON deal} really got to me….I felt Tallon was sleeping at the wheel.
Gagne got to pick where he was going with the no trade clause. And honestly, do you want to eggshells on the left side with Gagne and Booth?
The ownership doesn’t have the finances for a win now attitude. As a year one fan, I’d rather watch them build a team correctly through drafting and trades, and lose another two or three seasons, than watch this team buy players for a win now attitude and implode like Ranger teams past.
Sometimes the smartest action is inaction.
by MrOmnipotent on Jul 21, 2010 4:03 AM EDT up reply actions
You are lucky ...you are only a 1 year fan
Like I said before…by getting the right few pieces of the puzzle NOW…doesn’t mean it’s a foregone conclusion that it Won’t work….It just might work…I like ACTION over a Wait and see attitude……We’ve waited tooooooo long…..They’ve got enough $$$ to go after the couple missing pieces we need to make the playoffs……and if they don’t……they’ll be COVERING ALOT MORE SEATS…maybe ALL OF THEM!
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| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
|
51 | 24 | 16 | 11 | 59 |
|
Washington
|
51 | 27 | 20 | 4 | 58 |
|
Winnipeg
|
53 | 24 | 23 | 6 | 54 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
51 | 23 | 23 | 5 | 51 |
|
Carolina
|
54 | 20 | 25 | 9 | 49 |
(updated 2.5.2012 at 9:10 AM EST)
Eastern Standings
| GP | W-L-OT | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
New York Rangers
|
49 | 32-12-5 | 69 |
|
Boston Bruins
|
50 | 32-16-2 | 66 |
|
Florida Panthers
|
51 | 24-16-11 | 59 |
|
Philadelphia Flyers
|
51 | 30-15-6 | 66 |
|
Pittsburgh Penguins
|
52 | 30-18-4 | 64 |
|
New Jersey Devils
|
51 | 29-19-3 | 61 |
|
Ottawa Senators
|
55 | 27-21-7 | 61 |
|
Toronto Maple Leafs
|
52 | 27-19-6 | 60 |
|
Washington Capitals
|
51 | 27-20-4 | 58 |
|
Winnipeg Jets
|
53 | 24-23-6 | 54 |
|
Tampa Bay Lightning
|
51 | 23-23-5 | 51 |
|
New York Islanders
|
51 | 21-22-8 | 50 |
|
Buffalo Sabres
|
52 | 22-24-6 | 50 |
|
Carolina Hurricanes
|
54 | 20-25-9 | 49 |
|
Montreal Canadiens
|
52 | 19-24-9 | 47 |
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