Coming off their most successful regular season ever, the Florida Panthers are definitely not standing pat, especially in the off-ice department. The team has let go of assistant coach John Madden and parted ways with director of hockey operations, Mike Dixon, who had been with the team in various capacities for the last eleven years.
Madden, who finished his playing career with Florida in 2011-12, joined the Panthers coaching staff when Peter Horachek replaced Kevin Dineen in November of 2013 and stayed on when Gerard Gallant took the head coaching reins.
The three-time cup-winning former forward was in charge of the Cats’ defense and penalty kill, an area that has been somewhat of an Achilles’ heel during his tenure.
It is expected that Gallant will be able to add two new assistants to his staff that currently consists of Mike Kelly and Robb Tallas.
Before being promoted to director of hockey ops, Dixon was as the club’s manager of team travel and services.
In addition to Madden and Dixon, the Cats have also given pink slips to V.P. and IceDen director Jeff Campol and long-time equipment managers Chris Moody and Chris Scoppetto since the season ended.
The LBC crew wishes the best for those now former members of the Panthers family and hope all speedily land on their feet.
It was reported last week that Dale Tallon has been promoted to president of hockey operations, with former Rampage/Pirates coach Tom Rowe replacing him as general manager, and that Eric Joyce and Steve Werier have been promoted to assistant general managers. Those moves are expected to be officially announced on Monday.