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Florida Panthers Potential Coaching Options

By Zachary Korcok |
Mar 5, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Buffalo Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma (middle) reacts on the bench against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Penguins won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Buffalo Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma (middle) reacts on the bench against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Penguins won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Tom Rowe’s tenure in Florida is (hopefully) almost done. But with a weak head coach market this upcoming offseason, who is the best option for the Panthers’ new bench boss?

When Tom Rowe was first hired, it didn’t seem like that bad a move. He had experience in the AHL and in Russia, and even had experience as an assistant coach for Carolina. And it wasn’t even a full season that he was going to be head coach. How bad could it get?

The answer to that is: so, so, so bad. Rowe has successfully drove the Panthers into the ground repeatedly and made them fall out of a playoff spot, and miss the playoffs. Unless they go on some miraculous 9-0-1 run.

He has been incompetent, outcoached, and made stupid lineup decisions on multiple occasions, and has cost this franchise what could have been an incredibly successful season. Basically, setting the whole franchise back one year.

Not to mention, he’s refused to play guys like Micheal Sgarbossa and Denis Malgin in favor for Shawn Thornton and Jakub Kindl. And just recently, he rushed the Panthers best defenseman and very possibly future top 5 defenseman Aaron Ekblad back from a concussion while 8 points out. EIGHT POINTS. Now because Ekblad was not 100%, he was out last night against Arizona, with a neck injury that “wasn’t related to the concussion.”

So obviously, the Panthers need a new head coach. But the problem is, the market is very weak this upcoming offseason, and the best coach available is guess who, Gerard Gallant. So the Panthers really can’t do anything there.

Michel Therrien is available but he still isn’t as good as somebody like Gallant. Maybe he (Therrien) would do better under the Panthers’ management and with Florida’s roster than in Montreal, but again, he’s no Gallant.

Someone who could possibly be available and is still considered a very good coach League-wide is Sabres coach Dan Bylsma. He’s led the Sabres to two straight seasons of improvement and the Penguins to a Stanley Cup Championship in 2009, and six straight playoff berths. He’s currently having disputes with the Sabres management and could be on his way out of Buffalo.

Another possible coach is Paul MacLean. MacLean coached the Senators for a few years, but led them to two straight playoff appearances and won the Jack Adams award for best coach in 2013.

Next: Florida Panthers-Next Direction Headed

A third option is a very underrated coach in Bob Hartley, who has 13 years of head coaching experience in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche, Atlanta Thrashers, and Calgary Flames. He won the Cup with Colorado in 2001, and went to Switzerland in 2012 where he won the championship with Zurich. Not to mention, he led 2 teams who should not of made the playoffs to the playoffs in the 2006-07 Atlanta Thrashers (who won the now defunct Southeast Division) and the 2014-15 Calgary Flames (who beat the Vancouver Canucks in 6 games in round 1 to advance to round 2.)

So hopefully, the Panthers and Dale Tallon will make the smart decision and hire On of the coaches listed here. I mean, any coach would be an upgrade from Rowe though. So as long as we don’t have Rowe anymore, I’ll be happy.

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