So the trade deadline has come and gone and it appears that Panthers General Manager Randy Sexton will never be compared to Monty Hall. Maybe we don’t want him to be, but apparently he was unable to unload what was behind door number 3.
While all of us Panther fans were waiting with baited breathe for some blockbuster deal, or for the deadwood to be jettisoned off, we were sadly disappointed. Now I know that it takes time to rebuild a team which is seemingly what this revamping looks like as we move forward. However the rebuild is for the umpteenth time and many of us were waiting for something more to happen then what actually did.
So here’s what we did to allegedly improve ourselves both pre-Olympics and post Olympics. We traded Dominic Moore to Montreal for a second round draft pick in 2011. Reaction- whatever. We traded defenceman Jordan Leopold to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a second round draft pick in 2010. Reaction- wish we could have received something else, mostly because now all we have to show for Jay Bouwmeester are two draft picks. Reaction- overall, nice going and I don’t mean that kindly!
We then traded our best playing defenceman of this season, one of the leading shot blockers in the NHL and just an all around good guy on and off the ice, Dennis Seidenberg to Boston for, large forward Byron Bitz, career minor leaguer and 30 year old forward Craig Weller, and a second round draft pick in 2010. Bitz who other than having a really cool name will provide size, energy, and rock hard hands. Great, just what we need to vault us into the playoffs, another 3rd liner. Don’t get me wrong, he could very well be an upgrade over Kreps and Campbell, but not what I was looking for in return for Seidenberg. Weller, just another Jeff Taffe type that will help Rochester. The two draft picks? Well it doesn’t matter if we don’t know how to draft and develop our players.
Oh yea, one more deal. Prospect Matt Rust a center (something we need) was traded to Columbus for 26 year old defenceman Mathieu Roy. Nice, we give up a prospect for a guy with two first names who has trouble sticking in the NHL, and is a defenceman on top of it. The one good thing about Roy is that he’s a right handed shot! As you know the Panthers lead the NHL with defencemen who shoot left-handed, so kudo’s to Randy on this one! :)
In listening to Randy speak after the day was over and also to Stu Siegel and Cliff Viner, everyone appeared to be on the same page in that they were not going to do anything drastic and that no moves were going to be made unless they made sense. Hmmmm. Okay, but is Randy really the guy to make that judgment? That my fellow readers is the million dollar question.
Here we sit as of today six points out of the last playoff spot and sinking while we’re at it. Lacking many things that could help us get into a playoff position, and improve our team for the future as well as unload some of the junk that’s laying around. In addition to the underachievers, or overachievers. There were supposedly some interesting deals on the table, but nothing of consequence ended up happening. Goaltender Tomas Vokoun, who had been rumored to be going to Chicago, Washington or Philadelphia, never happened. Supposedly we asked Philly for Jeff Carter. Now if I’m Paul Holmgren, I have a hard time agreeing to trade a 26 year old forward who can play for me another 10 years, for a 33 year old goalie who has about 3 more really good years left. Even thought I desperately need a goaltender.
It would have been a perfect time to get rid of Kamil Kreps, Gregory Campbell, and Nick Tarnasky just to name a few. My hopes are that we don’t resign them next year. As for others like Cory Stillman, Steven Reinprecht and even my favorite punching bag Stevie Wonder, we either just didn’t like what was offered, or we were just too afraid to pull the trigger. I place my bet on the latter.
Stillman and his salary could have gone somewhere for anything. We can’t possibly use him next year through our rebuild. He’s a nice player, but let’s face it he has gotten really slow. Rhino is exactly what I predicted him to be. A third line center, playing second line minutes, getting third line points. As for Weiss, he’ll never have a higher value than right now. He could have been packaged with someone and a draft pick for some assets that we really need. My god, he’s been here since 2001. He’s now finally hitting his numbers and apparently the organEYEzation feels that they need to build around him. He is NOT the type of player you build around. So be it. Another frustrating spring here in Florida as we will again be playing golf while the better teams march on to the playoffs.
So my final analysis is this. Shortly before the Olympic break Randy Sexton blows a gasket and says this is like trying to fix the Titanic and that there will be changes. Also, Panthers management sends out a scathing letter telling us that what you see today will be different tomorrow. This is not acceptable, and we are going to make changes soon. You’ll see. Now we come to find that this will be a four phase project. This trade period was one. The draft is two. Free agency is three, and just as camp begins in September will be four where the final touches will be made.
I think that in reality here’s what may have happened. They are too scared to make a deal in fear of it blowing up in their face. Valid or not, there are players on this roster that should not be here and you have to find a way to make a deal. Toronto gets Dion Phanuef, Phoenix improves as does Washington and Pittsburgh. Toronto fnds a way to purge it’s roster and clean up the crap that doesn’t fit their mold anymore. You just find a way. Secondly, I really believe in my heart of hearts that we don’t have the right GM in place. Easy for me to say, but I am allowed to speak my mind. I’m not saying I can do better, although I fell I could, I could have made the deals that were made!
Lastly, is there a plan and what the f*%k is it?
I can no longer be patient and wait and wait. It will be nine consecutive years of not making the playoffs and it’s getting really old. I am afraid that I am going to be transformed into just a hockey fan and not a fan of the Panthers if you know what I mean. And that would be disappointing.
Stu and Cliff, you both have a tremendous job ahead of you. You have a chance to really make some significantly needed changes between now and September. It must however start with the front office and continue all the way down to the lowest level of play. Get players that are smart, have some grit, skill and leadership and know how to win. Grab a few players in the offseason that have won the Stanley Cup as integral parts of those teams. Not, and I repeat not guys that were 4th liners. Either trade Vokoun, or sign him to an extension. If you go into the season with him next year, he becomes a rental if you try and trade him and all value has been lost. My guess is that he has about three really good years left. If he likes it so much here and doesn’t want to leave, then by all means keep him, but don’t let him go unsigned to an extension after this season.
Clean up, get professionals who have the ability to coach, scout, develop, and manage at all levels. Bring your team in, people that you want, and don’t saddle yourself with the old guard that’s here. I have been a fan for a very long time and have seen teams do this the right way and the wrong way. We continue to do things the wrong way and it’s your chance to change that.
If you’re looking for any help in filling any of these positions, you know how to find me!
Thanks for reading.
Cheers