Poll: Who would you add to Panthers' Mount Puckmore?

Honestly, I can’t disagree with Beezer, Bure, or Jokinen. For the short history of the Cats, each represents a distinct era that this team has gone through thus far. Beezer was the the man behind the best expansion team ever and the 96 Cup team. He’ll die a hero in Pantherland, irregardless of what happened after it up north. Bure was the show in South Beach long before Shaq arrived. And Jokinen was the face of persistence and futility at the same time during the Keenan/Martin era. More so than Luongo or Bouwmeester, as Jokinen was out there in the press more than the others.

But Puckmore should be something for celebrating the history of the Panthers, not the 10 years of ineptness. Cohen had no place being given any sort of recognition, solely because it gives him more publicity than he could have ever hoped for during his time as managing partner. Much like happened numerous times in Egyptian and Roman history, we should be trying to remove all hints of Cohen having ever been involved with this franchise. Eradicating his existence from public knowledge. Isn’t that part of the idea behind rebuilding the Panthers? He’s not Bill Wirtz. Wirtz and his family have over a 60 year relationship with the Hawks and a more lasting influence over the team and league. Cohen has no influence over what has happened in the league, nor will he, as the other owners around the league disliked him.

Paul Laus or Scott Mellanby should have been on Puckmore more than Cohen. Personally, I’d have gone with Laus. He represented more of what this team was and should be now. A hard playing castoff who would have been a marginal NHLer, who grew his game from being solely an enforcer to being a steady defenseman. Players like Laus would never get that chance in the post CBA NHL. Paul was one of those guys who was out in the public eye, not for showboating, but because he enjoyed South Florida. I had the opportunity to meet him a few times (Sold him a cake the day they signed the CBA in 95, served him and his wife lunch, and sold them seafood at Publix on numerous occasions), and he was always a pleasant (Mind you, I didn’t act like a big fanboy except the day they signed the CBA and I only wanted confirmation of the signing). If there’s one man who represents the heart and soul of this organization and its fans, he would be Laus. He is much more deserving of being etched in history than Cohen ever will be.

I think you got it right Whale, Cohens had more of a stamp on this team than anyone. Can’t ignore him because he’s brought nothing positive to the table, he’s epitomized the franchise over an entire decade, no one else in the organization can say that.

Laus, Beezer, Mellanby, Lindsay etc only lasted a few years, they were the best years and they’re my favourite panthers but they only represent 1/4 of the teams history so I think one representative from that group is appropriate.

Honorable Mention: Yormark. I hate him but lets face it: he brings in the corporate money, which (sorry to say) completely engulfs ticket revenues for this team. I wouldn’t like to see his sleazy face on that mountain but he’s done 100 times more for this team than what he’s given credit for.

how about:

chris wells
david nemirovsky
petr taticek
dennis shvidki

Putting Cohen on their is like placing Millard Fillmore on Mt. Rushmore!! Should have been Mellanby or Laus. Maybe to a lesser extent maybe Lindsay, Skrudland or maybe even Roger Neilson—whose defensive style made us competitive during those early years.

For awhile, Pete Worrell was the only reason worth going to Panther games. No love?

…but seriously, Paul Laus played his entire career in Florida and was as much a part of the successful years as anyone else. I woulda gone with him.

Or another name I haven’t really seen yet is Robert Svehla. Anchor of the defense during the good times, led the NHL in hits a couple years AND has the 5th highest point totals in franchise history (which says something about franchise history, but still…)

After giving this some thought, I think a rat should have been one of the ’faces" of the franchise. Even fans from other teams remember those games when the ice was littered with those plastic rats. Who could forget the Guys with rubbish barrels and yellow helmets shoveling rats after a goal. Same as people relate to octupus with the Red Wings. As far as Worrell goes he was not a great fighter, a decent fighter—he had such a huge reach no one could hit him when he grabbed their jersey. Laus had a much more devastating punch.