Looks like it's official.
Photo compliments of Jason Szpyra and the good folks at Facebook.
Florida Panthers Opening Video A 'Gotcha!' To Local Beat Writers ... Panthers Apparently Freak to their (Two) Geeks
On Saturday night, the Panthers played a highlight video that showcased some of the not-so-nice things said about the team.
The video features the song Bad Reputation by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts; it's also the theme to the one-year cult classic 'Freaks and Geeks.
You can watch the video here:
There are a number of unattributed quotes; until I read this story, I didn't realize ALL of them came from either myself or Sun-Sentinel beat writer Harvey Fialkov.
Other quotes -- which were attributed -- were from hockey analysts Brian Jones, Mike Milbury and Jack 'Capt. Quebec' Edwards.
I'm not upset -- by any means -- just figured everyone should know where the quotes came from and the context they were written in.
These 'harsh words' were -- at the time they were written -- completely deserved.
The Panthers tweeted today that the video was "dedicated to the 'experts' who said the Panthers would finish last in the SE.''
Only neither I nor Harvey picked the Panthers to finish last in the Southeast. I did come close though. There were plenty of people who did, just not us.
The Hockey News, for one, had the Panthers finishing 14th in the East. ESPN's Barry Melrose had them one slot lower.
I had them fourth in the division (behind Washington, Tampa and Carolina) and 11th overall. Mr. Fialkov had the Panthers making the postseason.
Here's what I wrote (PanthersVision can take it for the next video): The Panthers, as a franchise, have gone an NHL record 10 seasons without making the playoffs. But most of these guys are new and had nothing to do with it. Still, the Panthers have questions in net and just aren't there yet. Close? Yes. Better? You bet. Worse? Impossible.
Anyway, here are the quotes from Saturday's video and the context in which they were written.
-- "The Panthers need more offensive help if they want to stop their 11-year postseason drought.'' -- GR, The Miami Herald, Feb. 19.
This came after a 2-0 loss to Anaheim. A few days later, Dale Tallon trades for forwards Jerred Smithson and Wotjek Wolski. You know, 'more offensive help.'
-- "The Panthers have been badly outhit.'' -- HF, Sun-Sentinel, Nov. 26.
This line was in Harvey's follow up to back-to-back losses to the rival Lightning: The Lightning outhit the Panthers 39-15 in Friday's 2-1 overtime victory and 32-19 in Saturday's 5-1 rout.
-- "Panthers continue to shoot blanks.'' -- HF, Sun-Sentinel, March 25.
This came after the Panthers lost to the lowly Islanders in a shootout -- after losing to the Oilers in a shootout a few days prior. Florida would later lose to the Wild in overtime (before losing 4-1 to the Blue Jackets.)
-- The Bradley, Upshall quote -- HF, Sun-Sentinel, Nov. 27.
This is the case of a writer giving his opinion. Both missed a lot of time this season.
-- "Panthers remain atop a toothless Southeast Division.'' -- GR, Miami Herald, Feb. 20.
This is the second quote of mine from the loss to the Ducks. Not apologizing for this one.
-- "Panthers don't much look like a first place, playoff-bound team.'' -- GR, Miami Herald, Feb. 20.
They loved that Ducks gamer, eh?
You might as well read the lede to it.
Brian Campbell sat in his locker stall for more than 10 minutes following Sunday's game in full uniform alternately staring into space and muttering under his breath while shaking his head.
Campbell sure didn't look like a player on a team that remains in first place in its division, one that holds the third overall seeding in its conference.
It can be said the Panthers don't much look like a first place, playoff-bound team either.
For the first time this season, Florida has lost three straight games in regulation after Anaheim got a first period Teemu Selanne goal and held on for a 2-0 win at BankAtlantic Center.
The Panthers, which won back-to-back games in the New York area last weekend, are 0-3 in their four-game homestand and have scored a grand total of three goals in those losses.
The Panthers, which still remain atop a toothless Southeast Division, have been outscored 10-3 in those losses.
-- So there you go. Again, the Panthers in-house group do a great job and the video is cool.
Lots of action, good tunes and yeah, some scathing quotes from those un-named doubters.
Yet read in context, they do look a little different now, wouldn't you say?
Anyway, enjoy the playoffs.
Going to have plenty of coverage -- some of it may be negative depending on the situation -- here, at MiamiHerald.com and in your old-school editions of the Herald.
Hope you all are along for the ride.
Florida Panthers Playoff Notebook Day 1: Kevin Dineen Watches What He Says ... Dineen Surprised About Late Start
BY GEORGE RICHARDS grichards@MiamiHerald.com
TWITTER: @OnFrozenPond
FACEBOOK: On Frozen Pond
Panthers coach Kevin Dineen said it was “unfortunate” the buzz regarding the Marlins right now is mostly about manager Ozzie Guillen's recent comments about Fidel Castro.
Dineen is a pretty colorful quote and says while he doesn't want to turn into a cliché machine the character Crash Davis talks about in the baseball cult classic 'Bull Durham,' he knows he has to be careful in what he talks about.
BELOW VIDEO INCLUDES LANGUAGE THAT IS A TOUCH SALTY
“You try to be witty and you try to stay interesting,'' Dineen said. “But people ask me what my political affiliation is and I tell them 'Canadian.' I haven't lived in Canada for 20 years.
"As a public figure, you have to respect that you represent an organization. I hope it works out because this is an exciting time for the Marlins.''
() Dineen said he will wait until Friday to announce who his starting goalie will be. Scott Clemmensen has had good success against the Devils – and is 3-0-1 in his past four starts with five goals allowed. Jose
Theodore, meanwhile, is considered by a good number to be Florida's MVP this season and has played in 51 postseason games.
() The odds are out. According to Bovada.lv, the Panthers are 35-to-1 to win the Stanley Cup and 20-1 to win the Eastern Conference. The favorite to win it all? Pittsburgh at 4-1 and Vancouver at 11-2.
() Dineen says he was just as surprised as everyone else when it was announced the Panthers wouldn't open their series with the Devils until Friday night.
Dineen says he was given a “99 percent” assurance Florida would start Wednesday – on the opening night of the postseason. “I was up early [Sunday] doing preparation,'' he said. “But the rest is an advantage.''
With the extra few days, Dineen is giving his team Tuesday off from practice. The Panthers will practice at the Coral Springs Iceplex on Wednesday and Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Workouts are free and open to the public.
Florida Panthers Brian Campbell Doesn't Like Sitting Around ... Could This D-Man Make Run at Lady Byng?
BY GEORGE RICHARDS grichards@MiamiHerald.com
TWITTER: @OnFrozenPond
FACEBOOK: On Frozen Pond
Brian Campbell isn't one for all this sitting around stuff.
Two days off in the past three days? Six days between games? Yeah, it's no surprise the guy who led the National Hockey League in ice time this season would rather be playing than waiting.
“I just want to get going,'' said Campbell, whose Panthers don't open their first postseason in over a decade until Friday night. “We've played a lot of games lately so the time off can be good. But Friday's a long way away especially when you finish on Saturday. It's a long time. We need to be ready.''
Campbell, who averaged 26:53 per game this season, was one of just three (Mike Weaver, Tomas Fleischmann) to appear in all 82 games for the Panthers this season. “I get bored,'' he said, “if I would have played any less. You get to keep your focus when you are on the ice all the time.''
In over 36 hours of playing time, Campbell spent a grand total of six minutes in the penalty box. To consider how impressive that is, Campbell played on 2,354 shifts this season and was called for some sort of infraction on just three of them. Of the top 30 defensemen per time on ice, no one other than Campbell had fewer than 20 penalty minutes.
Campbell hasn't committed a penalty in the past 25 games as his slashing call on Feb. 17 against Washington was his final infraction of the regular season.
“I think I play the game the right way and don't want to be sitting in that penalty box,'' he said with a grin. “I've adapted to the rules and feel like skating is one of my strengths. I can put myself in pretty good position most of the time.''
For that, Campbell is thought to be a legitimate contender for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy which commemorates a player judged to “have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability"
The odds are against Campbell as defensemen usually don't get much consideration for the award – and no defenseman has won it since Detroit's Red Kelly took it in 1954. Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis has won the past two Lady Byng awards after Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk won it four straight years.
Bill Quackenbush and Kelly are the only defensemen to ever win the award.
Coach Kevin Dineen thinks his guy should have a shot at it.
“Boy, what a great choice,'' Dineen said earlier in this season. “Look at his ice time, the defense he plays. He plays quality defense and has been one of our best players all year. I think that has to be taken into consideration.''
Campbell says he's not one for self promotion and, truth be told, the Lady Byng isn't exactly a trophy players aim for. But, to be considered for an official league award would shine a bright light on the great season Campbell has had.
In his first year with the Panthers, Campbell set a franchise record for defensemen with 49 assists. Campbell's assists are ranked second in the league by defensemen and 11th overall. Campbell's 53 points rank him tied for second in the league among blueliners.
Campbell could garner Norris Trophy consideration – an award all defensemen aspire to – although that one's going to be a much tougher road.
Boston's Zdeno Chara, Ottawa's Erik Karlsson, Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom and Nashville's Shea Weber are the likely top candidates for the league's top d-man honors.
“Playing lot makes it a lot of fun,'' Campbell said. “I've enjoyed this season, it's been fun to be here. The pieces we've have here have come together and there are more coming. We're looking to have a great team here for years to come.''
