Michal Repik placed on waivers, headed back to San Antonio

by Ryan Meier on Jan 19, 2012 1:14 PM EST in Florida Panthers News & Analysis

The Panthers sent forward Michal Repik to waivers this morning, with the intention of sending him back to AHL affiliate San Antonio to help them continue their push towards a playoff spot. Repik, who has seen several call-up stints with the big club, played some of his best hockey for the Panthers during this recent stretch, posting several points and doing a lot of little things well. During a time where much of the Panther lineup has been struggling and seemingly lacking the work ethic of the first half of the season, Repik's play was a breath of fresh air and he clearly played as though he had a job to win.

So why was he sent down?

His demotion was expected as many of the veteran players return from injury, but to me this sends a bit of a confusing message to the fans and maybe even the players. We've heard time and time again that players needed to earn their ice time, and there's no question that Repik had done just that. Sure, there are few other options on the roster that could be sent down and all of them are seemingly staying, and the Panthers can only keep 23 guys on the active roster. But should the lineup shuffle punish the guys that are working hard and making a difference? To me, that's counterproductive for the team and counter-intuitive to what the mantra was to start the season.

I suppose we'll see. Maybe I'll be eating crow as Sean Bergenheim, Jack Skille, Scottie Upshall and Marco Sturm come back and start scoring every game. Regardless, the Rampage will welcome Repik back with open arms, and the Panthers will miss his work ethic, something they seem to be lacking for entire games lately.

Poll

Do you think putting Michal Repik on waivers was a good move by the Panthers?

Yes; he's the most obvious option due to his contract

58 votes

No; he earned a spot with the Panthers and should've stayed

70 votes

128 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

What a waste if someone picks him up

by eliran2 on Jan 19, 2012 1:30 PM EST reply actions

Unfortunately, Repik is not a Tallon acquired asset, and, as such, you will see him and most other non-Tallon acquisitons removed from the organization. This move will due wonders for the young man’s psyche.

by bearcat30 on Jan 19, 2012 1:31 PM EST reply actions

I hate how G.M.‘s operate, with their knack for getting rid of former G.M.’s work. Swallow your freakin pride and admit that there was already talent here. Notice how Tallon acquired some of his Chicago pics already: Pacan and Jack (I THINK i COULD SCORE IF THE NETS WERE SOCCER SIZE) Skille.

by bearcat30 on Jan 19, 2012 1:34 PM EST reply actions

The Skille acquisition was fine — other than giving up Salak, Skille for Frolik has worked out nicely for both clubs and possibly even a little better for us. Dale knows there was already talent here: notice, he hasn’t given up on Weiss, Ellerby, Kulikov, Garrison, Matthias, or even Santorelli. The trouble is, Repik has a two-way and, no, he’s not doing better than Matty or more important positionally than Madden. It sucks that Repik is going down and we might lose him, but this isn’t because Tallon is getting rid of players who pre-date him. The purge was already done. Repik just got caught in the numbers game that was part of having so many injuries and needing to do things like acquire Madden.

by angellen on Jan 19, 2012 1:56 PM EST up reply actions

skille is not here to score

he’s here to be a pest (ala marcel goc)

by nwmn420 on Jan 19, 2012 3:10 PM EST up reply actions

and a pest that obviously made a difference….interesting around the time he was out of the line up, we started slipping in play.

by CLG_74 on Jan 19, 2012 10:33 PM EST up reply actions

good observation :-)

I hereby predict Captain Mike Weaver #43 will score 6G 20A -RCR 0G10A 1/17
Be impeccable with your word, don't take anything personally, don't make assumptions, always do your best...

by RPC on Jan 20, 2012 7:35 AM EST up reply actions

Repik did an admiral job filling in, but i dont think you can say he earned a spot on the team. Is he a better player than any of the guys coming off IR? I would argue no. Upshall, while not doing much this year, has been a 20 goal guy and the team needs him to find his game. He cant do that from the pressbox. Bergie and Skille were playing well before they got injured and if anything they earned their spot back in the lineup with how they played before. Unfortunately, its a numbers game and Repik again is the odd man out.

by Sycamore on Jan 19, 2012 1:42 PM EST reply actions

i still think repik was playing better than barch for example (not that he’s been playing poorly). What’s wrong with keeping both up and alternately scratching one of them?

by eliran2 on Jan 19, 2012 1:53 PM EST up reply actions

23 man limit on the roster. IR helps, but not enough.

by angellen on Jan 19, 2012 1:56 PM EST up reply actions

let the masters work their craft

Agree. Repik is the odd man out. Unfortunately!!
But how can anyone question what Tallon and Santos have done so far? Aside from Grabner, which I believe was priority waive for PDB, what else is there to complain about? Are we missing Booth or Frolik? Ballard or Wideman? Horton or Vokoun? And although Grabner has decent numbers, 13G and 7A, he is still a hefty -13.

CFS93

by chesterbardo on Jan 19, 2012 1:55 PM EST up reply actions

Grabner didn’t show any signs of what he was going to do. He’s admitted he didn’t perform up to his abilities for us or for Vancouver.

They’ve done a great job with this team and no, it’s not perfect, but I’m pretty happy, even though I still wish Booth was here.

by angellen on Jan 19, 2012 1:59 PM EST up reply actions

They gave away goaltending depth for next to nothing. Having Markstrom and Theo out at the same time showed that with the need to call up Foster, who isn’t even ready for spot duty. Salak should have been kept, with Foster being sent to either Cincy in the ECHL or to the CHL, wherever he’d have seen more playing time.

by MrOmnipotent on Jan 19, 2012 2:03 PM EST up reply actions

No way. Salak wasn’t going to be resigned and so I had no problem with him going. Got to look at the big picture – we got Campbell for Rusty (!), Skille and some needed AHL depth last year for Frolik and Salak. Both trades in my mind were wins for Florida. Skille is a ferocious forechecker and Campbell’s a freakin’ all-star. Salak is still a never-was, Frolik has 13 points and a -6 for the Hawks and Rusty is sitting in Tahiti enjoying his gifts from Jacques the Great.

by badger737 on Jan 19, 2012 3:38 PM EST up reply actions

I agree, we should have kept Salak. The problem was, him being the back up goalie in the AHL.

by Colt1235 on Jan 19, 2012 6:51 PM EST up reply actions

It was known he wasn’t gonna be the starter of the future. You let him sit the bench and allow him to play spot duty, or send him down to Hidalgo with the Bees, for a couple games on his days off to keep him on his game. Leave Foster in Cincy. There were options.

by MrOmnipotent on Jan 19, 2012 11:10 PM EST up reply actions

Well, I miss Vokoun but Tallon didnt have much control over where he wanted to go.

I’m putting here for reflection later on in the season…. #14 Tomas [Fleischmann] is getting a 40G season. FLASH COUNT: 15G/19A
by RPC on Sep 17, 2011 5:20 PM MDT
Find me on Twidduh And look at my Marmots

by Chris S Roberts on Jan 19, 2012 5:33 PM EST up reply actions

Exactly. He was made an offer & he/his agent wanted to see if he could get more……

by CLG_74 on Jan 19, 2012 10:35 PM EST up reply actions

Barch = Body Guard

CFS93

by chesterbardo on Jan 19, 2012 1:56 PM EST reply actions

Agreed, considering what barch was brought in to do, i think hes done a decent job. When he plays he keeps guys honest

by Sycamore on Jan 19, 2012 2:13 PM EST up reply actions

Barch can actually puck handle better than 75% of last years squad, he is more than just a bruiser.

by Robert Wright on Jan 19, 2012 2:30 PM EST up reply actions

He’s been playing well and forcing turnovers too. Much more than a fighter

by Chris S Roberts on Jan 19, 2012 5:34 PM EST up reply actions

He’s the tough guy that can actually skate…..the enforcer we’ve been looking for ….for years.

by LAUSMAN on Jan 20, 2012 10:02 AM EST up reply actions

the real question is: why did we sign Madden? for a couple games while we had a lot of injured players?

by Pilchino on Jan 19, 2012 2:15 PM EST reply actions

I don’t question the signing as much as I do the timing of it. If they were going to sign him they should have done at the onset of the injury bug not right before guys started to come back into the lineup.

by Todd Little on Jan 19, 2012 2:20 PM EST up reply actions

The reasons I’ve seen given: depth at center, faceoffs, and taking pressure off of Weiss on the penalty kill.

by angellen on Jan 19, 2012 2:21 PM EST up reply actions

Because Santorelli wasn’t getting the job done.

"Shut up, Pierre!" -Everyone

Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.

by John Beatty on Jan 19, 2012 2:30 PM EST up reply actions

And still isnt…

by Robert Wright on Jan 19, 2012 2:31 PM EST up reply actions

His game isnt really suited for the fourth line. With all the troubles scoring lately, im surprised he hasnt got an opportunity to play a little more with some of the more skilled guys

by Sycamore on Jan 19, 2012 2:33 PM EST up reply actions

If (WHEN!!!!) we make the playoffs, Madden is an excellent playoff veteran. We could use as much leadership as we can come April.

by Jimmy Palmer on Jan 19, 2012 7:38 PM EST up reply actions

Food for Thought

If this bumbling and stumbling becomes a free fall over the next 36 days, expect DT to be a seller again at trade deadline??? Samuelson, Sturm with expiring contracts for draft picks, Weaver with a relatively cheap 2 year deal, even Versteeg (God forbid) for higher picks. What thou say ye all?

by bearcat30 on Jan 19, 2012 2:34 PM EST reply actions

Versteeg, think not. He sits in Dale’s “special” pile. Weaver is just too good. I’m not sure Dale could find the value in return for what he brings. But the others you mention, absolutely! Coming UFA’s: Sammy, Sturm, Barch, Madden, Clemmer and Garrison(he will be signed). UFA’s 2013 include Santorelli, Bradley, Theodore and Weiss(gotta believe he will stay put as well). Reading the Flyers need a D-Man and willing to offer up Brayden Schenn in return? Gotta give if you’re gonna get!

CFS93

by chesterbardo on Jan 19, 2012 3:06 PM EST up reply actions

How awesome a Gudbranson-Schenn swap would be!

by Colt1235 on Jan 19, 2012 6:52 PM EST up reply actions

not awesome at all. gudbranson has way more upside than schenn, and schenn has already been injured twice in his short NHL career

by stopdropandbreathe on Jan 19, 2012 7:29 PM EST up reply actions

I disagree. Schenn has more upside than Gudbranson… and hockeys future agrees with me

by Colt1235 on Jan 19, 2012 10:12 PM EST up reply actions

Different styles for different teams.

by Chris S Roberts on Jan 19, 2012 10:15 PM EST up reply actions

Guddy goin nowhere. He also sits in DTs group of untouchables.

CFS93

by chesterbardo on Jan 19, 2012 11:03 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

That’s like saying Eklund is a great source for real trade rumors.

by MrOmnipotent on Jan 19, 2012 11:14 PM EST up reply actions

Youre suggesting he isnt?

by Chris S Roberts on Jan 19, 2012 11:19 PM EST up reply actions

About as good as Weekly World News is for knowing what’s goin on in the world.

by MrOmnipotent on Jan 19, 2012 11:21 PM EST up reply actions

True dat

by Chris S Roberts on Jan 19, 2012 11:40 PM EST up reply actions

They did expose the Bat Boy.

Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Jan 20, 2012 8:40 AM EST up reply actions

But…Weiss to Boston remember? Tallon was just itching to pull the trigger on that one

by Chris S Roberts on Jan 19, 2012 11:41 PM EST up reply actions

Hey!

Panthers staff writer for Hockey's Future. Follow me on Twitter! @Brian_Fogarty

by Brian_Fogarty on Jan 20, 2012 1:34 PM EST up reply actions

Oh my god no, Gudbranson has more upside than Luke Schenn by far. HF is dumb.

Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus

by Ryan Meier on Jan 20, 2012 8:11 AM EST up reply actions

ryan i think he was talking about brayden schenn, not luke, regardless youre right. gudbranson will be a stuff all-star defensemen, brayden is an oft-injured rookie forward with a spark, luke is an irresponsible in the d zone d-man.

by stopdropandbreathe on Jan 20, 2012 10:50 AM EST up reply actions

Ah yea, stupid me for not reading through the previous post mentioning Philly.

I’d consider Guds for Brayden, but the Panthers have enough forward depth. Finding a solid top bluechip D man is much harder in this league.

Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus

by Ryan Meier on Jan 20, 2012 3:02 PM EST up reply actions

Hey!

by Brian_Fogarty on Jan 20, 2012 1:26 PM EST up reply actions

Gudbranson vs. Braydon Schenn

Schenn’s injuries are a concern, but he’s still an extremely talented prospect. Gudbranson is full of promise, but as a defenseman, he won’t get the glory.

Panthers staff writer for Hockey's Future. Follow me on Twitter! @Brian_Fogarty

by Brian_Fogarty on Jan 20, 2012 1:33 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t see that happening, but should it I agree with Sammi and Sturm because of the contracts. It’s also possible to see Santorelli, or Clemmensen go too. Versteeg isn’t going unless he’s really dogging it.

by badger737 on Jan 19, 2012 3:10 PM EST up reply actions

No matter where the Panthers are in the standings, unless they’re scoring goals, the Panthers should be lookin to trade them. Versteeg is the only guy they should look to keep, unless he’s asking for some outrageous contract terms.

by MrOmnipotent on Jan 19, 2012 11:19 PM EST up reply actions

If Dale Tallon says Gudbranson is “a major piece to the puzzle”, what would make you think he is trade material? Your Eklund analogy is quite comical.

CFS93

by chesterbardo on Jan 20, 2012 8:29 AM EST up reply actions

I was referring to the to the UFA’s. Sturm, Samuelsson, and so on. Everyone else needs to be resigned, even if just for San Antonio depth. This organization has nothing on the farm of much use. Just a few in the incubator.

by MrOmnipotent on Jan 21, 2012 3:34 AM EST up reply actions

Last 10 Games:

Fleischmann – 3 goals, no assists, -13
Versteeg – 1 goal, 1 assist, -10
Weiss – 1 goal, 2 assists, -8

Repik – 1 goal, 3 assists, -2

Agreed, pretty bad example for Tallon to set. I bet Dineen is dissapointed too, he obviously liked Repik.

by pukeoncops on Jan 19, 2012 2:56 PM EST reply actions

Who else is he supposed to sit?

by angellen on Jan 19, 2012 3:01 PM EST up reply actions

yeah, it’s just a numbers game. Repik needs to go down and play like this is San Antonio and force them to open up a spot for him by dealing some vets or position himself for next season when some of these vets will not be resigned.

by Todd Little on Jan 19, 2012 3:09 PM EST up reply actions

Thing is, next year the numbers game isn’t going to get better for Repik. You’ve got Hubs and Howden coming along with potentially Drew Shore and Big Nick from Minny.

by badger737 on Jan 19, 2012 3:15 PM EST up reply actions

Unless they skate circles around the rest of the team and score goals like its the 1980’s again, they need to go back where they came from or the minors. Panthers need to stop pushing guys into the NHL , and give them a season or two while they’re waiver exempt in the A.

by MrOmnipotent on Jan 19, 2012 11:17 PM EST up reply actions

Hubs already made the team once, like Guds last year. He (like Trocheck and Racine, but I don’t see either of them making it) won’t be old enough to go to the A next year, but he’s a guy who should be with the team and not in juniors. Howden and the NCAA kids, though, would make sense in the A, maybe with a few games of a tryout for Howden.

by angellen on Jan 20, 2012 3:37 AM EST up reply actions

There are a lot of things that can be learned by playing a fourth year in juniors. Namely adversity due to being sent down again. You’ll see how the kid handles it, if he rises above and completely dominates, or sits back and cries. The fourth year is more about real character development than anything.

by MrOmnipotent on Jan 21, 2012 3:36 AM EST up reply actions

2 immediate problem’s for Repik: Huberdeau & Howden. He is also 5’10" which in today’s NHL is a big disadvantage; that is unless you are very special.

CFS93

by chesterbardo on Jan 19, 2012 3:19 PM EST up reply actions

badger beat me to the punch! and somehow believe Nick will stay in school at least another season. the one who could jump out of the NCAA is Drew Shore!

CFS93

by chesterbardo on Jan 19, 2012 3:21 PM EST up reply actions

Got to be quick on the trigger!

I remember reading something over the last couple weeks saying that Shore might be leaning towards staying and going the UFA route.

by badger737 on Jan 19, 2012 3:29 PM EST up reply actions

Time to get some shades

the future’s so bright

CFS93

by chesterbardo on Jan 19, 2012 3:40 PM EST up reply actions

Shore is almost a certainty to go back to UD next season. After seeing Bjugstad in the WJC I don’t think he’s ready and Howden will probably need some AHL time plus all those guys are projected to play center. There could still be a future here for Repik even though that seems doubtful right now.

by Todd Little on Jan 20, 2012 11:02 AM EST up reply actions

I’d say at least 65% of kids drafted and projected to be centers their draft year, end up playing the wing. Just being drafted at center doesn’t mean jack.

by MrOmnipotent on Jan 21, 2012 3:38 AM EST up reply actions

In all honesty, those are good numbers. BUT it could be a glimpse at a little over achieving on Repik’s part. He knows he needs to show the goods. It reminds me of Anthony Stewart in the preseason one year that was impressing people (except me) but failed to continue that drive. Just my honest opinion :)

by CLG_74 on Jan 19, 2012 10:38 PM EST up reply actions