Be warned. You may not like what you’re about to read. You may not have the mental capacity to admit most of this is right. If you want analytics and statistics to back up this assessment, you can stop reading now. There will be no fancy charts or snapshots with a bunch of black and red dots on them.
This article was written by a friend, by the name of Joseph Matsakpetros Jr. Joseph kindly asked me to publish this, on behalf of him. (Credits to Joseph Metsakpetros Jr. for the article content).
Since the arrival of Dale Tallon in 2010 the Florida Panthers have been preaching about much-needed stability, staying the course, working the “blueprint”, and building a successful foundation. Not sure what the definition of stability is, but the Panthers have had 4 coaching changes, which likely will include a 5th after this season. There have also been two ownership changes and a summer that included a revolving door of not only personnel on the ice, but also in the front office. When Gerrard Gallant was named head coach for the 2014-2015 season he wasn’t at the top of this writers list, although he was at least on it. The other available coaches included Guy Boucher, Marc Crawford, and Barry Trotz. I wanted someone with a winning history behind the bench. That said, I grew to like the hiring of Gallant thinking that if we (Panthers) played like he played, then maybe things would finally be different. During Gallant’s first season, the Panthers displayed their mediocrity on a nightly basis playing some very frustrating hockey. They were a team mixed up of veterans who may have been on the wrong side of 30, draft picks who were trying to find their way, and young players who were picked off the scrap heap from other teams. Many of these younger players showed some flash (Dylan Olsen for example), but eventually their true colors came out, and you realized why they were so easily obtained. However, new ownership came in for the 2014-2015 season and committed to putting a winning product on the ice, and was determined to spend the money needed to not only keep the core, but sign players who could help the team win consistently. It started to look like things were headed in that direction.With a few off-season trades, hanging on to the never aging Jaromir Jagr, and the youth beginning to show development, the Panthers not only made the playoffs in 2015-2016, but won their division and finished with the most points in team history! Even though a first round exit to the New York Islanders ended their season, it was the most success the Panthers had enjoyed since 1996 when they lost to Colorado in the Stanley Cup Final. Things were looking up, but the team wasn’t satisfied, nor should they have been. With players like Aaron Ekblad, Aleksander Barkov, and the “youthful” Roberto Luongo, better days were not only predicted, but being counted on. The Panthers were finding their way out of the abyss of the NHL. No longer were they the laughing stock of the league and all of the jokes about lack of attendance and empty seats were pretty much dead. The bar for next season was being raised as expectations were soaring.Then the summer of 2016 happened
A chain of events that many qualified NHL people questioned began to happen. First, Dale Tallon was “promoted” upstairs in what was seen as more of a sideways move out of respect for what he’s done during his time here. Tallon, who had helped build a Stanley Cup champion in Chicago, was in the process of doing the same in Florida, took the change in stride and seemed to support the move publicly. Tom Rowe who had been hired as assistant GM, had no NHL GM experience and was given the keys to the car. (Little flashback) The last time the Florida Panthers did that, the team was set back for years. You remember when Jacques Martin was serving a dual role of coach and GM? Then fired himself as coach, but was allowed to stay as GM? Yea, let’s not relive that this coming summer. Many people lost their jobs to some who weren’t very qualified, or didn’t have much experience in the NHL at any level. On the ice, trades were made that were and are still viewed as “gutting” the team. They lost grit, character, the growth and maturation of their draft picks, and most importantly team chemistry. None of which is measured by the new found analytics we’ve come to know as Corsi and Fenwick. For example, there are 4 new defensemen out of 6. Willie Mitchell retired. Brian Campbell decided to go back to Chicago. Dmitry Kulikov was traded to Buffalo for Mark Pysyk who was a #6 or #7 with Buffalo, but had great analytics (that’s a tongue in cheek remark). The nail that drove thru many including was on draft day when the Panthers traded potential captain Erik Gudbranson for Jared McCann. McCann is a young forward with a lot of promise but hasn’t shown that he’s ready for full-time duty in the NHL yet. Matter of fact, after a brief look here at the NHL level, he’s been sent back to the AHL to hone his skills. With Gudbranson the Panthers lost something that Corsi, Fenwick and whatever other analytic sources you want to use can’t measure. Heart and toughness, as well as a strong personality in the dressing room. Yes, it has taken Gudbranson a little longer to find his game, but anyone who knows anything about hockey knows that defensemen take longer to develop, and when you have 3 coach’s, and multiple defense partners you’d have to admit that the maturation process is going to be slower. His offensive statistics were not impressive, and at times he seemed challenged, but with all the changes, you must admit it wasn’t easy. Was he fast no, but Jakub Kindl? Really?More from The Rat Trick
- Florida Panthers: The Door is Open for Grigori Denisenko This Season
- 2023-24 Florida Panthers Divisional Opponent Preview: Ottawa Senators
- 2023-24 Florida Panthers Divisional Opponent Preview: Detroit Red Wings
- 2023-24 Florida Panthers Divisional Opponent Preview: Montreal Canadiens
- Florida Panthers Rewarded With 12-Game National Broadcast Schedule For 2023-24 Season
The beginning of Tom Rowe
Skipping to the surprise firing of Gerrard Gallant on November 27th and being replaced with Tom Rowe, the wheels on the bus have not been going round and round. I don’t know how you take a team that was on the verge of becoming a consistent contender, that was seeing the development of its youth, stability behind the bench and front office, and break it up with a tire iron because of computer analysis. Does anyone think the reason the Chicago Blackhawks have 3 Stanley Cups in the past 7 seasons is because of charts and a calculator?The slow starts to games which has plagued the organization for years hasn’t changed. Interim coach Tom Rowe continues to prove night after night that he’s being outsmarted (which seems easy) and has no grasp on what he’s doing. The 5 game road trip a few weeks ago, which caused most of the faithful to get excited about, has proven to be a mirage. Or maybe just a very bad dream that’s now turning the season into a nightmare. Rowe wants the Panthers to play like the Penguins and the Blackhawks. Great, then he must not be watching the current version of those teams because the Panthers are playing similar to the 2006 version of the Hawks and the 2003 Penguins.Rowe’s press conferences are becoming more comical after every game. I like a tough coach who isn’t afraid to speak his mind as long as he has a history to back it up. Rowe lost the team when he called out Reilly Smith after a loss. Ken Hitchcock, Darryl Sutter, John Tortorella for instance, can all do that. Rowe? He hasn’t won anything or proved anything to make that statement. He’s back pedaled since, and listening to his pressers has become unbearable.After Sunday’s loss to Pittsburgh, which Rowe called a “good lesson for our younger players” ( I paraphrase), it’s obvious that there will be no postseason in Florida. Admit it. Another season down the drain, in what should have been a step forward. Pierre McGuire said the other day on NHL Sirius XM radio that this season was Florida’s chance to move forward. Build on last season’s effort, and begin to stabilize their franchise and fan base.Next: Who Should The Florida Panthers Target As Their Next Coach?
Some point to the season being over on November 27th when Gallant was fired, known to some as Gallant Gate. Others point to July 1 when Gudbranson was traded. Somehow, it all probably started before that, but it wasn’t obvious until those two events took place. Getting this team back on track requires a few tweaks. Nothing that a 30 goal scorer, a rugged defenseman, and a real captain can’t cure. However, let’s be honest. A new head coach with NHL experience is step one. And that should be done before the draft. Put Dale back in charge if he wants it, and then leave him alone. I applaud the new owners for spending the money and wanting to keep the team in South Florida.Thank you very much for your commitment, money and your desire to build a winner. But the interference stops there. Please let the hockey minds do the hockey things, and the boys with the money do the money things. Enjoy what’s left of the regular season. Baseball starts soon.