REDlines: Be Patient Panther Fans. August 22nd.
By Frank Rekas
Today’s music video is Take the World by She Wants Revenge.
By now I’m sure that as a Florida Panther hockey fan you’ve about had it with the continuous lack of respect that’s been coming their way all summer. It started first with the free agent bonanza that had to be done in order to reach the cap floor. Players needed to be signed, and yes some at slightly higher than deserving contracts. However in order to compete with the other NHL teams, it had to be done. Then it’s continued on with the marketing slogan of “We See Red”, Red Zone Seating, and the latest ticket situation where fans are being asked to buy their seat. (Coverage on that in your links). Finally, it’s all come to a head with the lack of national television coverage. Honestly, that’s not much of a slap in the face when you look at our record the past few seasons. I get what the NHL is doing, and so should the rest of us. Remember one thing. Winning cures all. It puts fans in the seats, it brings better players, it gets more nationwide visibility, and if there’s enough winning it produces playoff games. We have an 82 game schedule to sort all that out. Our wants can’t be resolved before we have even played a game. Give it time. The laughing will be over soon.
Your links after the jump.
News in Sunrise:
A new marketing and ticket plan for the Bank Atlantic Center has some fans up in arms. Craig Davis reports at the Sun-Sentinel with comments by Michael Yormark club COO.
Ryan Lambert from Puck Daddy with more on the TV schedule and how it relates to the Florida Panthers. We certainly have generated a lot of controversy this off season. Just think of when we actually make the playoffs!
Mike Santorelli is pumped for season two with the Florida Panthers. Team website.
Scottie Upshall welcomes the change and the big opportunity ahead of him here in South Florida. NHL Hot Stove.
Around the NHL:
Ryan Kennedy from The Hockey News wants to know if this coming season will be a nasty one. Will the physicality of the playoffs carry over into this year?
Close to 1,000 people attended the services for the fallen Rick Rypien on Saturday to pay their respects. TSN.ca.
Will all the changes made in Philly get them back to the Finals? 30 in 30 on NHL.com.
The Burgundy Letter bids adieu to a respected leader….Chris Drury.
Go West young man grizzled veteran. Ethan Moreau signs with the L.A. Kings. Globe and Mail.
I’ve kind of had it with relocation talk as well as cities that might want a hockey team. The Sporting News has more to grind your gears.
Justin Bourne and his thoughts on overtime.
Joe Yerdon at Pro Hockey Talk has figured out which is the most dangerous lead in hockey.
The FanSided Five:
Who needs to step up in New Jersey with Zach Parise down? Pucks and Pitchforks.
Capitals Outsider asks “Is Alex Semin the most disliked player in D.C.”?
A two part look into young defenceman Nick Leddy. Blackhawk Up.
Cardiac Cane with the lowdown on Alexei Ponikarovsky.
Too Many Men On The Site asks if fighting should come to an end.
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