Rally towels to support my two favorite teams!

Well Panther fans, we’re still locked out. That stinks, I know. However, I’m happy to introduce myself as the newest Staff Writer here for “The Rat Trick”. In this article, I plan to let you all get to know me a bit better. After that, I’ll dive into the good stuff. Hope you all enjoy!

To begin, my name is Lauren Burg and I’m a hockey fan born and raised in the sunny state of Florida. I didn’t become a hockey fan though until 2004, 20 years into my life. Yes, that might seem weird to some but I blame the fact I was raised in a family full of football and baseball fans (Hey, it IS Florida! We’re not often known for our hockey!). To tell the honest truth, my boyfriend back in college got me into hockey AND took me to my first game. It was amazing and afterwards I was hooked. I’m a Tampa Bay Lightning fan first and foremost but love and fully support the Florida Panthers as well.

My favorite Panthers player is Sean Bergenheim (yes, a former Bolt, I know) but they’re all really cool guys! I also met and have pictures with some Panthers, including head coach Kevin Dineen, from last February when they were in Tampa. If you’d like to see those please feel free to friend me on Facebook!

Here on TRT I’m excited to share my Panthers knowledge with all of you rabid Panther fans. I’ll also try and keep you up-to-date on any Panthers news from overseas, at least until this lockout ends, along with San Antonio Rampage and Florida Everblades news. I also cover hockey news for both “Daily Shootout” and “110 Sportz Talk” so feel free to check out those articles as well.

Feel free to contact and follow me on Twitter, friend me on Facebook and e-mail me here. Also, stay tuned for my next article! Until then, say it with me Panther fans, WE. SEE. RED!!!!

March 11, 2012: Sunrise, FL, USA; Florida Panthers head coach Kevin Dineen yells out from the bench during a game against the Carolina Hurricanes at the BankAtlantic Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

Let’s be honest, right now there are some serious concerns and questions going on throughout the National Hockey League about yet another potential lockout. Unfortunately that is where all the news in the NHL is right now. While the news is certainly not looking good as of now, there is still some time for the two sides to negotiate. Nobody who has anything to do with hockey wants a lockout. Whether it is the financial side of it, the joy of playing, or even from just a fans side, if the league does lockout again, it will affect many people. No fan wants to go on say NHL.com every day and continuously read articles about the lockout and seeing all the writers talk about how it will get better. The fans want excitement, they want to see players play and watch their team win.

You are all probably thinking that this is just going to be another article about the lockout, well it’s not. The purpose of me writing this article is to try and help everyone with getting their attention off of the lockout. What I’m going to do is take the five head coaches in the Southeast Division, and list them 1-5. Much like the previous articles I posted about the top five offensive players and the top five defensive players in the Southeast Division, the list will be in order from the 5^th best to the 1^st.

Enjoy :)

Number 5: Adam Oates, Washington Capitals

Oct. 27, 2011; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Jersey Devils assistant coach Adam Oates looks on during the first period against the New Jersey Devils at Jobing.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE

For the past few years Adam Oates has been working his way up the coaching ladder, but before he was a coach, he had another role in the league. From the years 1985-2004, Oates was doing what he did best, playing hockey. Over the span of 22 seasons in the NHL, Oates made his mark as one of the greatest hockey players of his era. His best season as a pro was during the 92-93 season with the Boston Bruins. In that season Oates scored a remarkable 142 points during the regular season and nine points in the four playoff games the Bruins played in that year.

It is no secret that Oates is one of the greatest hockey players during the past 30 years, but can he coach in this league. The answer to that is yes. Oates was first hired by the Tampa Bay Lightning as an assistant coach for the 09-10 season. During his tenure with Tampa Bay, his biggest focus was offense. That year he helped the Lightning’s power play rank soar up to ninth in the league. With a much improved offense, the Lightning fans and players both had something to look forward to going into the next season. However, after spending just one season with Tampa, Oates made the move up to New Jersey where he would spend two seasons as the Devils assistant coach. In those two years he spent in New Jersey, the Devils team saw much success, including a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals last season. Oates definitely has the potential to be a good coach in this league and with superstar Alex Ovechkin in Washington; the Capitals have the possibility to have a really good offense next year. It will be interesting to see how this season plays out for Washington. If the Caps have a good season Oates will definitely move up on this list, but until then, the first year coach still has something to prove.

Number 4: Claude Noel, Winnipeg Jets

Unlike the other two coaches, Claude Noel did not play in the NHL for long (played with Capitals for seven games). Instead of using 20 years to play the game, Noel has spent the past 20 seasons as a coach for the NHL, ECHL, AHL, and the IHL. Over the past 20 years Noel has accumulated a ton of knowledge of the game and is definitely one of the more knowledgeable coaches in the league. His previous stints as a head coach in the league might not have been all so successful, but with a young, hungry team in Winnipeg that wants to win.

Number 3: Kirk Mueller, Carolina Hurricanes

January 17, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Carolina Hurricanes head coach Kirk Mueller (right rear) reacts as he listens to referee Mike Hasenfrantz (left) against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the overtime period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Pens won 2-1 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE

Kirk Mueller has also been attached to hockey. Whether it was playing it in the NHL for two decades, or coaching a small university, Mueller has always been a fan of the game. Like Oates, Mueller began his NHL career in the mid 80’s and brought it into the new millennium, playing until 2003. For 22 seasons, including three with our very own Panthers, Mueller carved his name into the great history of the NHL. His career high for points in one season is 94, which he hit a total of three times and in the over 1,300 games that he played in, he accumulated a total of 959 total points. While he is not in the Hall of Fame just yet, there is always a possibility for him to be nominated in the near future.

Mueller has been a coach in the NHL since 2006, serving as an assistant for the Montreal Canadiens. It wasn’t until June of 2011 where he was named the head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals, the Nashville Predators AHL affiliate. Just a few months later, Mueller took the job as the head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes. His first season didn’t go as well as he had hoped. The Hurricanes finished 25-20-12 and ended up in last place in the Southeast Division. The only thing that is putting Mueller in front of Oates is the experience as a head coach. Although he failed to have a successful first season as a head coach in the NHL, this up and coming season is looking really promising for the Hurricanes.

Number 2: Kevin Dineen, Florida Panthers

Number 1: Guy Boucher, Tampa Bay Lightning

Dec 21, 2011; San Jose, CA, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Guy Boucher walks across the ice to the locker room after the game against the San Jose Sharks at HP Pavilion. San Jose defeated Tampa Bay 7-2. Mandatory Credit: Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIRE

In my opinion Guy Boucher is the best coach in the Southeast Division. Although the Lightning failed to make the postseason last year, the team finished second in the division the year before and were able to make it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, this was also his first season as a head coach in the NHL. This year, the Lightning players are coming into the season with the mindset that they have the best offense in the division. With players such as Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis running their offense, they might just have the best offense in the division. Entering his third season with the team, Boucher wants to have the same success as he did in his first season and with the talents level on this team being high and his ability to coach, they might just be on track for their third division title in the franchises existence.

So there ya have it folks, my take on the top five coaches in the Southeast Division. I would love to see your feedback and who you believe the top five coaches in the division are.

Thanks For Reading!

Want More Hockey News? Follow The Rat Pack on Twitter! Me: @justenrosenberg, Frank Rekas: @TheRatTrick Josh Luecht: @joshluecht, Patrick McLaughlin: @PatrickRattrick, Scott Mullin: @GreatScottsman, David Rodriguez: @davidbub_2, Paige Lewis: @peejlewiz, Adam Reid: @AdamReid_, Gabby Kiger: @gabbykiger, Chrissy Parente: @Chrissaay44, and Amanda Land: @HockeyGirl2530. Also, please visit our Facebook Fan Page and like us! Share comments, photos, anything Panthers related!

March 11, 2012: Sunrise, FL, USA; Florida Panthers head coach Kevin Dineen yells out from the bench during a game against the Carolina Hurricanes at the BankAtlantic Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

The Florida Panthers entered last season with a completely revamped roster of players, most of which had been signed as free agents by general manager Dale Tallon.  After years of dealing with the expressionless face of Jacques Martin, which somehow morphed itself into three years of Peter DeBoer, the Panthers hired Kevin Dineen to stir the drink of the newly put together roster.

One of the things that I always prefer to have in my coach is someone who is energetic, expressive, and can offer some ferocious moments when needed.  Dineen did more than that for the Panthers last season, as he coached the way that he played.  All in!  So while those of you in South Florida who are done gathering your bottled water, your snacks and putting up your shutters (you aren’t really are you) as Tropical Storm Isaac approaches, sit back, take your mind off the weather and have a look at just a few of Dineen’s finer moments, along with a little remark with each one.

He doesn’t look too happy in this one does he?

February 25, 2012; Raleigh, NC, USA; Florida Panthers coach Kevin Dineen against the Carolina Hurricanes at the RBC center. The Panthers defeated the Hurricanes 3-2 in a shoot out. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-US PRESSWIRE

Gord Murphy can’t really be yawning while Kevin is given directions can he?

Nov. 23, 2011: Sunrise, FL, USA; Florida Panthers head coach Kevin Dineen (center) and assistant head coach Gord Murphy (right) both yell from the bench during the third period against the New York Rangers at the BankAtlantic Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

Hate to say it, but this one reminds me alot of Jacques Martin:

Nov. 6, 2011: Sunrise, FL, USA; Florida Panthers head coach Kevin Dineen during the third period against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the BankAtlantic Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

This is how to hold the stick!

Jan. 16, 2012: Sunrise, FL, USA; Florida Panthers head coach Kevin Dineen reacts during the second period against the Boston Bruins at the BankAtlantic Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

A very studios look with those glasses:

Dec 9, 2011; Buffalo, NY, USA; Florida Panthers head coach Kevin Dineen watches his team against the Buffalo Sabres during the second period at the First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-US PRESSWIRE

Erik, it’s New Year’s eve.  I want you to spoil the Canadiens party!

Dec 31, 2011: Sunrise, FL, USA; Florida Panthers head coach Kevin Dineen (left) talks with defenseman Erik Gudbranson (right) during the second period against the Montreal Canadiens at the BankAtlantic Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

If I have to tell you one more time to stop playing “cute”, you’re going right to the dressing room!

November 8, 2011; Toronto, ON, CANADA; Florida Panthers head coach Kevin Dineen on the bench during a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre. Florida defeated Toronto 5-1. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-US PRESSWIRE

For me, any of those images of our fine coach above is far better than this below.  Old habits die hard.  Oh, did you see what I did there!:

Jan 25, 2011; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Montreal Canadiens head coach Jacques Martin looks up at the scoreboard during third period action against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey G. Pittenger-US PRESSWIRE

Thanks for reading.  We welcome your comments and opinions.

Follow the Rat Pack on Twitter: me @TheRatTrick , David Lasseter @davidlasseter , Josh Luecht@joshluecht, Patrick McLaughlin @PatrickRattrick, Scott Mullin @GreatScottsman, David Rodriguez @davidbub_2, Paige Lewis @RatTrickLewiz Gabby Kiger @gabbykiger, Adam Reid@AdamReid Chrissy Parente @chrissaay44, Justen Rosenberg @justenrosenberg, and Kris Eberwein @RatTrickKris. Also, please join our Facebook Fan Page and hit the like button, send us photos, and tell us what’s on your mind.