Can The Draft Re-Energize The Panthers?

With the third overall pick at this year’s NHL Entry Draft, the Florida Panthers face just as many decisions as they face questions.  Hold on to the pick.  Trade down.  Trade up.  Use the pick combined with a player or two and make a deal.  Decisions, decisions.

Thankfully, and I mean this with all my passion, Dale Tallon is the man controlling the situation.  Nothing against Randy Sexton, I just feel more confident with Dale driving the car than Randy.  Let’s face it, there are alot of holes to fill, and alot of answers to questions that we want, but with four picks in the first two rounds, I would have to feel that Tallon has something up his sleeve.  I would also feel that he intends to put a competitive team on the ice. This year.

Time will be needed to turn things around, but just as he has done with the Chicago Blackhawks, the potential to do the same here in Florida is there.  Now I’m not saying that a three or four year rebuild gets us into the Stanley Cup Final, but my guess is that Tallon’s expectations are playoff bound for sure as a starting point.

The Panthers have some needs and the question is where to start and who to get rid of.  First of all when looking at the draft he needs to decide what to do with this first pick.  Cam Fowler a talented defenceman is slated  and rated as number three overall.  Rumors were floating yesterday that Tallon had talks with the Bruins about moving up and that those talks resulted in a big zero.  I’m sure that we don’t have the right package to make a deal with Edmonton for the number one overall pick so that’s out of the question.  Plus Steve Tambellini the Oilers GM would be hung from his genetalia if he gave  up the number one pick.

So I’m lead to believe that since Tallon is talking as we hear that he is, he’s looking for offence, not defence.  Just a guess on my part, but it’s probably a good one.  This team needs scoring.  We haven’t had scoring since the days of Pavel Bure and that was ten years ago.  Sure Olli Jokinen provided some, but overall we lack a sniper.  We lack an exciting player that will move you to the edge of your seat.  A player that shows that he wants the puck and that there’s a pretty good chance of it going in the net when he shoots it. 

Is that player available for Florida in the draft?  Or do they have to make a trade?

Energy, youth, excitement.  That’s what the team needs.  We aren’t going to get it by drafting a defenceman.  So with the knowledge of having four picks in the first two rounds, Dale Tallon and the Florida Panthers have some options.  What they do with these options remains anybody’s guess.  Tomas Vokoun traded?  Maybe, but he’s got a hefty price tag and is only willing to go to a contender.  While we all think and or feel that everyone else on the roster is moveable, with a couple exceptions (Kulikov and Booth), there may not be any takers.

Guys like Nathan Horton, Little Stevie, Rhino  and Cory Stillman  are all trade bait as far as I’m concerned.  Toss in Rusty Olesz for good measure and you’ve got yourself a headstart on cleaning up the mess and wiping out the losing taste that’s in the dressing room.  Horton and Weiss are NOT guys to build around.  We’ve waited too long for them to develop, and it’s time they move on.  Maybe if there were surrounded by better talent, or a better system, we’d appreciate them more.  Fact of the matter is, those are the players we start with.

It may not be this year, but it could be by the trade deadline of 2011, or at the latest after the 2011 season is over.  These guys need new addresses.  As far as everyone else goes, I would listen and consider any and all offers.  Don’t be surprised if we take on a bad contract to get rid of one of ours.  It just may have to happen as players sometimes need to move around.  I think that you can be certain of one thing.  Dale will clean up.  He will make a hard push for a couple Blackhawk players.  They all love him and with the Hawks potential salary cap problem for next year, someone will be available.

Just don’t trade any Panther players there!

Thanks for reading.

Your comments are always welcomed and appreciated.

Cheers

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P.S.  Happy Sweet 16 to the best daughter a father can have!