SB Nation User Blog: Whale4ever

Bird Watchers Anonymous: Former Panther Anthony Stewart courted by Atlanta?

Whale4ever — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 03:39:59 -0000

Bird Watchers Anonymous: Former Panther Anthony Stewart courted by Atlanta?

At which point does an entire league finally throw in the towel on a first-round bust?

Alex Tanguay "sweepstakes": Montreal out...Panthers in the mix?

Whale4ever — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:42:14 -0000

Plenty of interest in this guy remains among the Sunrise Faithful...

(Alex) Tanguay is two years removed from his 81 points-in-81 games campaign in Calgary. He has 580 points in 659 career regular-season games in the NHL and still has oodles of offensive talent.

- ESPN's Pierre LeBrun

Last season's salary of $5.375M seems an incredible leap for the Cats, especially given Tanguay's shoulder issues of the past year. However, he's still out there...

Florida Panthers quickie-poll: What's the priority for Cats going forward

Whale4ever — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:37:41 -0000

So...now what?

Current Florida Lineup (and organizational "possibles"), as of 07/10/09:

CENTER

Greg Campbell
Michael Frolik (C/W)
Kamil Kreps
Shawn Matthias
Steve Reinprecht
Jeff Taffe
Stephen Weiss

RIGHT WING

LEFT WING

DEFENSE

GOAL

Some prominent names still on the market (as of 07/08/09).

Poll

Now that the initial free agency rush has subsided, which position should the Cats address? (Suggestions in the comments section)

Panthers / Amerks Michael Duco gets the profile treatment at OSC

Whale4ever — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:31:53 -0000

Mike Duco

#68 / Left Wing / Florida Panthers

Height: 5-10

Weight: 194

Born: Jul 08, 1987

Former Pete DeBoer farmhand Mike Duco is next on the OurSportsCentral docket of Rochester Americans profiles.

Q: What was the high point of the 2008-09 season?

Duco: Being named (Rochester's) Rookie of the Year.

Panthers Friday Links-of-Wonder

Whale4ever — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:24:07 -0000

(A couple of these are a bit late, so forgive me as I've been a tad busy with a few things lately.)

The Sun-Sentinel's Steve Gorten's been on top of GM-in-waiting Randy Sexton and gotten a few tidbits of info on his thoughts about the Panthers' preseason schedule as well as Ville Peltonen's exudus and the pursuit of several high-profile names such as Saku Koivu (since signed by Anaheim) and Alex Tanguay.

Remember Rocky Thompson and his unforgettable 10-game stint with the Cats? Yeah...silly question. He's found a coaching gig in Edmonton...but not with the team you might imagine. The guy was an absolute stone-cold killer back in the day.

Bruins' 2009 seventh-round pick Ben Sexton - yes, of the Sunrise Sextons - knew of at least one club he had no chance of being drafted by.

Cats' season-seatholder "savior" Drew Rosenhaus likes to run with his clients. Is there space for 9,000 joggers on the beaches of Ft. Lauderdale?

Jordan Leopold and Keith Ballard a natural pairing on Florida's blueline? Given their history together, it makes perfect sense, so says the Pioneer Press.

Speaking of Leopold, Matchsticks and Gasoline's Kent was kind enough to give us his thoughts on the recently-signed defenseman, who played in Calgary since the trading deadline:

...I'm a little conflicted on the issue. Leopold was one of my favorites during his first rotation as a Flame: he and Regehr formed a formidable shut-down pairing, even though both guys were relatively young and inexperienced. Unfortunately, that seems to be where he peaked. After he left Calgary he suffered a series of debilatating injuries in Colorado which seemed to hobble his development. By the end of his tenure as an Avalanche he was 3rd pairing, 2nd PP guy who was capable enough but also expendable.

His second tour of duty here is hard to grade. He went from playing 17 minutes a night in Colorado to playing some 24 minutes a game here because of the rash of injuries to the Flames blueline at the end of the year. As a result, he spent a lot of time trying to keep his head above water. Some games he managed, others...not so much.

In terms of skill, Leopold is mobile and good with the puck on his stick. He seems to work well with a solid, physical defensive defenseman as his partner. He probably isn't a top 2 defender at this point and he's somewhat injury prone. He also never developed into the kind of PP weapon his skills hinted at, although he isn't terrible on the point with the man advantage.

Overall, I'd say he's probably a good bet at the price you guys signed him at. Assuming he stays healthy, that is.

"He seems to work well with a solid, physical defensive defenseman as his partner." Bryan Allen, anyone?

The Six Degrees theory rolls on, as the above line from Kent may have applied to Anaheim's newest D-man. If Boynton is the Ducks' replacement for Pronger, I'm solidly in the camp that says Leopold-for-Bouwmeester is a superior deal (comments folks, comments).

More kudos for the BankAtlantic Center, as Pollstar ranks the building number three in the U.S. and number thirteen on the planet. That "free parking" scheme really paid off when it mattered, eh?

In the Mink: The Panthers announced - about 24 minutes ago - they have signed two-time Calder Cup winner Graham Mink to a two-year contract. Stockin' the Roch.

Miami Herald: Preseason schedule, Peltonen off to Old Country

Whale4ever — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 01:18:12 -0000

More photos » by Gregory Smith - AP

3 months ago: Florida Panthers left wing Ville Peltonen, left, of Finland, vies for the puck against Atlanta Thrashers center Todd White (12) as Thrashers goaltender Johan Hedberg (1), of Sweden, defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game at Philips Arena in Atlanta, on Thursday, April 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Gregory Smith)

Browse more photos »

The Cats ~~get a major break from all of that West Coast exhibition crap this fall~~ will endure another gruesome preseason, with a scheduled nine games in - hey! - nine cities on two continents in a span of fifteen days. Is JM the GM still running the show? Sure was easy for him to schedule these marathons when he wasn't coaching.

Speaking of the new Canadiens bench boss, the Panthers take on the Habs September 17th in Montreal. Shall we begin the petition for televising this one now, or give it a few more weeks?

In other news, forward Ville Peltonen will evidently not return to either the Cats or the National Hockey League next year. Because when you think "sunset of your career in hockey", Switzerland is of course the default.

Poll

Ville Peltonen: For the right price, take him or leave him?

Nick Boynton : What the Duck?

Whale4ever — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:16:02 -0000

Well well well...look who's listed as a member of Anaheim's defensive corps...

Thanks, Mirtle via Facebook.

Saku Koivu : missed opportunity by Florida Panthers?

Whale4ever — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:33:38 -0000

Saku Koivu : missed opportunity by Florida Panthers?

Sun-Sentinel's Steve Gorten:

When I blogged about Koivu becoming available a while back -- that he wouldn't re-sign with the Habs -- I said the Panthers should go after the center. Some of you made some solid points about why Koivu, 34, isn't the commodity he once was.

But for one year at $3.25 million?

The Cats don't have a Selanne, either (kidding, Steve).

In my mind, it's rock-solid that nothing the Panthers could have offered would tempt the free agent center to come to Sunrise. But a way-valid point on opening the season in Finland wth a local superstar.

Still don't think the Cats had a prayer on this one. Who steps up: Weiss? Matthias? Rhino?

Panthers appoint Craig Slaunwhite as "Andy O'Brien, version 2.0"

Whale4ever — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:41:41 -0000

Panthers appoint Craig Slaunwhite as "Andy O'Brien, version 2.0"

From Randy Sexton:

"Craig is a young, energetic and progressive individual who already has a working relationship with some of our current players. We look forward to him joining our team."

O'Brien is considered a master among the discipline; he's since taken a position outside professional hockey. Slaunwhite has big shoes to fill. The Box welcomes him to Cats Country.

Dateline: Dallas. Former Panther Alex Auld reappears

Whale4ever — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:58:04 -0000

Dateline: Dallas. Former Panther Alex Auld reappears

Does anyone really have a bad thing to say about the former Florida Panther? Fantastic to see him land a great gig - behind Marty Turco - with Team Nieuwendyk.