PETER HORACHEK FIRED: Who Is Next for Florida Panthers?

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

Dale Tallon is once again searching for a new coach for the Florida Panthers.

Plenty of NHL coaching experience is a requisite.

Tallon fired interim coach Peter Horachek on Tuesday, citing Horachek's lack of said experience. Prior to replacing Kevin Dineen on Nov. 8, Horachek spent nine seasons as an assistant in Nashville.

Barry Trotz, recently fired as coach of the Predators, is thought to be near the top of Tallon's wish list. Trotz, the only head coach in Nashville's history and one of Horachek's closest friends, is expected to be courted by a number of teams.

"Barry Trotz is a hell of a coach,'' Tallon said when prompted.

Said Horachek: "He's been a very successful coach for 15 years in Nashville and I think he'll be quickly scooped up. If he was given the opportunity and thought [Florida] was best for him, I would wish him all the best in that. Absolutely. I wish him nothing but the best. Let the chips fall where they may. I wish Dale and the Panthers nothing but the best. I hope things go well.''

Former Philadelphia and Carolina coach Peter Laviolette is also on Tallon's radar. Laviollette won the Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006 and took the Flyers to the Cup Finals in 2010 where they lost to the Blackhawks.

Tallon reiterated that he didn't speak with Laviolette when Dineen was fired. Former Panthers assistant GM Mike Santos previously said Horachek -- who had been coaching Florida's minor league team at the time -- was the only one considered.

Other former NHL head coaches on the market include:

Guy Boucher (led Tampa Bay to Eastern Conference finals in 2011); Ron Wilson (fired by Toronto in 2012 but has coached in 1,401 games with four teams); John Stevens (led Flyers to Eastern Conference finals in 2008 and is an assistant in Los Angeles); and Terry Murray (coached the Panthers from 1998-2000 and is currently in the AHL).

More could become available in the coming weeks.

"We felt as a group that this wasn't quite the right fit in the direction we're headed in,'' Tallon said.

"We probably need someone with more NHL coaching experience heading down the road. The past few coaches we've had have had no NHL coaching experience and as a group we needed to find someone with more coaching experience. We're going to identify the guys who are available and find the guy who has the most experience probably.''

Horachek, who is no longer with the organization, was told of his fate by Tallon on Tuesday morning. Tallon said he made the decision a few days ago.

"I thought my chances were 50-50 on coming back,'' Horachek said from his home in Fort Lauderdale.

"I thought if they knew for sure, they would have made a decision right away. I'm disappointed but the decision has to be made. I'll get another opportunity somewhere. I'm grateful for the chance to do it here. I'll get a chance to be a head coach in this league again. I take nothing but positives from my time here.''

The 12th coach in franchise history but the first with the interim tag since John Torchetti in 2004, Horachek -- hired last summer to coach Florida's minor league team in San Antonio -- lost his first two road games behind the Florida bench before upsetting Anaheim on Nov. 12 in Sunrise.

The Panthers played well for a time and won five straight and seven of eight in early December.

Florida was 21-24-7 after winning in Detroit on Jan. 26, but then lost five of six going into the Olympic break.

“He did a good job, came in and worked hard and tried to turn things around,” Tallon said of Horachek's brief tenure.

“It's tough to come in during the season and try and turn things around. But he did a good job.”

The Panthers -- who had the league's worst power play and penalty kill units -- finished the season with mostly younger players as they ran out the string, winning just two of the final nine games.

"I wanted to be part of the development of the young players and see the growth of them,'' Horachek said. "That's a disappointment. You can see some of the talent here, you can see the possibilities that can come forth if you do the right thing. You would like to continue the process over the long haul. That would have been a very exciting thing.''

Florida ended 29th of 30 teams but won the draft lottery and hold the top overall pick. The draft will be held June 27-28 in Philadelphia.

Tallon said he would like to have an experienced coach hired by then as it's expected the hiring process won't take much longer than a month.

Dineen was officially introduced by the Panthers on June 1, 2011.

Florida’s past three coaches – Peter DeBoer, Dineen and Horachek – came to the Panthers without ever being the head coach in an NHL game.

DeBoer came from the Canadian junior leagues and was hired by former GM Jacques Martin; Dineen coached in the American Hockey League and was hired by Tallon.

“We’re going to interview every possible candidate, take our time and make the best decision,” Tallon said. “However long it takes – if we decide to do it tomorrow, it’s tomorrow. I don't foresee that happening. We're going to interview a lot of candidates.”

 

Posted with Blogsy

PETER HORACHEK: Disappointed He's Not Returning, Wishes Florida Panthers Well in Future

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

 

I spoke with former Panthers coach Peter Horachek this afternoon just a few hours after he was let go by the team.

Horachek didn't have one bad thing to say about the organization although it's obvious he wishes he had the opportunity to continue coaching them.

Horachek, who lives in downtown Fort Lauderdale, said he spoke with Barry Trotz before Dale Tallon called with the news and again afterward. Horachek says his good pal will "get scooped up pretty quickly" and that Florida would be lucky to have him -- if that's how things go down.

Here's what Peter had to say:

 

"I knew there would be a decision made. I thought my chances were 50-50 on coming back. I thought if they knew for sure, they would have made a decision right away.

"I'm disappointed but the decision has to be made.

"I'll get another opportunity somewhere. I'm grateful for the chance to do it here. I'll get a chance to be a head coach in this league again. I take nothing but positives from my time here.

 

On last season:

"I don't think as a coach you're ever completely happy with the way things went. It takes a while to get to know the personnel, takes a while to have the staff to get to know each other. It took some time.

"You just want to see some energy, some structure. That was the first thing to happen. I think a lot of that happened. That was a positive. The special teams were a disappointment. With that, different factors happened.

"Once you got to the trade deadline and Goc and Weaver were traded, we were looking at using the experience of young players and giving guys an opportunity. We were close to .500. You just have to say 'what do we need.'

"It would be exciting for me to move forward with this team, to be part of the development and growth and part of the process.

"I don't know how many years it will be before you're legitimately fighting for a Stanley Cup but it can be done pretty quickly if you make the right choices and make the right decisions. We're taking a few years for sure.

 

On wanting to be part of the Panthers' future:

"That's obviously the biggest disappointment. I didn't come into the season thinking we would win the Stanley Cup this year. I didn't think the team was there.

"But I wanted to be part of the development of the young players and see the growth of them. That's a disappointment.

"You can see some of the talent here, you can see the possibilities that can come forth if you do the right thing. You would like to continue the process over the long haul. That would have been a very exciting thing.

These things don't happen sometimes. You can't look back, make excuses. You just have to move forward to build and grow. You have to have a growth analysis and move forwrd. I always look forward and see where I'm going as a coach.

"I don't dwell on negatives. I got a chance to coach. You want the opportunity to continue with them, but decisions are made for the betterment of the team and they have to make them.

"I'll move on to the next situation and I believe in myself and what I'm capable of doing. I'll move onto the next stage and appreciate the chance Dale and the ownership gave me.

"I'll move on and wish them all the best.

 

On Barry Trotz:

"I talk to him all the time, in fact we spoke twice today; once at 7 this morning before I got the news. I talked to him a few days ago, spoke once a week during the season to see how things were going for him.

"When something like this happens, there are a lot of calls and you have to get back to a lot of people.

Barry will obviously have a great opportunity. He's been a very successful coach for 15 years in Nashville and I think he'll be quickly scooped up.

"If he was given the opportunity and thought [Florida] was best for him, I would wish him all the best in that. "Absolutely. I wish him nothing but the best. Let the chips fall where they may. I wish Dale and the Panthers nothing but the best. I hope things go well. They have great young players like Barkov, Bjugstad, Shore .-.-. I hope they develop into star players. They are good players now, but I think they will be stars.

 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

HORACHEK FIRED: Panthers Begin Search for 'Experienced' NHL Coach; Trotz, Laviolette Possibilities for Job

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

The Panthers fired interim coach Peter Horachek on Tuesday after less than one season behind the bench in Florida.

Horachek was brought into the organization last summer to coach Florida's AHL team in San Antonio but was promoted when Kevin Dineen and his coaching staff was fired in November.

 

Although the Panthers showed some signs of life under Horachek and his new coaching staff, the team still finished 29th in the 30 team league and will begin its search for a new coach immediately.

 

General manager Dale Tallon said he made the decision to replace Horachek a few days ago and told him the news on Tuesday. Horachek, Tallon said, took the news with class and "understood" that Tallon is looking for a coach with more NHL coaching experience.

 

The two coaches on the market who immediately fit that bill include former Philadelphia and Carolina coach Peter Laviolette as well as former longtime Nashville coach Barry Trotz. Horachek worked for Trotz for nine seasons with the Predators.

 

"Barry Trotz is a hell of a coach,'' Tallon said when asked about him.

 

More NHL coaches could be looking for work in the coming weeks with Tallon saying his list of potential candidates is long. Florida's next coach will be the 13th in franchise history.

 

"We felt as a group that this wasn't quite the right fit in the direction we're headed in,'' Tallon told reporters on an afternoon conference call.

 

"We felt we probably need someone with more NHL coaching experience heading down the road. The past few coaches we've had have had no NHL coaching experience and as a group we needed to find someone with more coaching experience. We're going to identify the guys who are available and find the guy who has the most experience probably.''

 

Horachek was 26-36-4 this season after taking over for Dineen in November when the team was 3-9-4 and riding a seven game losing streak.

 

Tallon said Horachek is no longer with the Florida organization.

 

"He did a good job, came in and worked hard and tried to turn things around,'' Tallon said. "Things went well early and kind of faded at the end. We made some trades at the deadline to become younger and get some assets moving forward so it's never easy. It's tough to come in during the season and try and turn things around. But he did a good job.''

 

Florida's past three coaches -- Peter DeBoer, Dineen and Horachek -- came to the Panthers without being the head coach in an NHL game.

 

DeBoer came from the Canadian junior leagues and was hired by former GM Jacques Martin; Dineen had coached in the American Hockey League and was hired by Tallon.

 

Tallon said he would like to have a new coach in place by the time the draft rolls around at the end of June. Dineen was hired by Tallon in May of 2011.

 

"We're going to interview every possible candidate, take our time and make the best decision,'' Tallon said. "However long it takes -- if we decide to do it tomorrow, it's tomorrow. I don't foresee that happening. We're going to interview a lot of candidates.''

 

-- Tallon said the new coach would "have a lot of influence on who his assistants will be," but added that he would like to retain John Madden and Brian Skrudland after they joined Horachek's staff in November.

 

Madden had been in his first year as a scout with the Panthers and Skrudland -- Florida's first captain in 1993 -- has one year left on his contract and could return to working in the organization's player development program.

 

"I will make recommendations that we keep them if possible,'' Tallon said.

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

FLORIDA LOTTERY: Panthers Win Draft Lottery, Hold Top Pick in 2014

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

The Florida Panthers didn't seem to have much luck this past season but things went their way on Tuesday night.

The Panthers won the NHL's annual draft lottery and will have the first overall pick in the upcoming draft this June.

This was the third time in franchise history the Panthers won the annual lottery. In 2002 and 2003, Florida traded its top pick.

Last year, Florida finished last in the league but watched Colorado jump it in the lottery and pick first. On Tuesday, the Panthers hopped Buffalo.

The Panthers had a nearly 19 percent chance of winning the lottery; Buffalo had a 25 percent chance.

Florida has had a top three pick in four of the past five years. The Panthers haven't actually picked first since taking Ed Jovanovski in 1994.

"This is a chance for us to build on our top core players,'' said Travis Viola, the team's Vice President for hockey operations who represented the Panthers at the made-for-TV event in Toronto.

What Florida does with the pick is not known. This isn't considered a draft with a game-changing player and general manager Dale Tallon recently said he would entertain offers for Florida's spot.

If the Panthers do keep the pick, expect top-end defenseman Aaron Ekblad or forwards Samuel Bennett Sam Reinhart to be considered.

Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center will play host to this summer's draft June 27-28.

The Panthers will host the draft at BB&T Center in Sunrise next year.

 

Posted with Blogsy

JOVO COP'S LAST STOP?: Ed Jovanovski's Future In Doubt ... Panthers, Captain Will Discuss Next Season Later

TWITER: @GeorgeRichards

Captain Ed Jovanovski reiterated his desire to play one more season with the Panthers although he knows the team may have other plans.

Jovanovski, 37, returned from hip resurfacing surgery this season and played in 37 games since coming back Jan. 4. Jovanovski has one year remaining at $4 million, although the Panthers could buy that out over the summer.

"There are no decisions right now,'' Jovanovski said. "I have another year on my contract and I want to play. Can I? That's a different situation. We'll see where it goes.''

Said GM Dale Tallon: "There's a lot to talk about, talk about his fitness and his health. He showed some flashes of 'old Ed.' That was a major surgery and it takes time. We will have some heart-to-hearts and see what happens.''

On Saturday, Edmonton's Ryan Smyth had a tearful goodbye as he announced his retirement the day before. Smyth played big minutes in the Oilers' win over Vancouver and was feted by teammates and opponents alike when the game concluded. Jovanovski, the top pick of the 1994 draft by the Panthers, noticed Smyth's grand exit.

"I love to compete, do what I do,'' Jovanovski said. "Having watched Ryan Smyth, that's the right way to go out. Will I play beyond next year? Probably not. But I have another year on my contract. We'll figure something out.''

If Saturday was Jovanovski's last game with the Panthers, it ended early. He was ejected -- and fined $5,000 on Sunday -- for an retaliatory elbow to the head of Columbus' Corey Tropp in the first period.

 

Posted with Blogsy

THEN WE WERE DONE: Panthers, Tallon Look Forward after Dismal 2013-14 Season

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

Dale Tallon isn't happy with how the Panthers season went down although he wasn't necessarily all that surprised.

Before this season started, most experts picked the Panthers to finish near the bottom of their new competitive division and be out of the playoff chase weeks before the end of the season.

With little money to spend in the offseason with a team for sale, Tallon tried to salvage things once training camp started by offering tryout deals -- and later one-year contracts -- to the likes of Tim Thomas, Brad Boyes and Tom Gilbert.

Those moves helped the team out, although in the end it was too little and too late. Florida ended this season with a 3-2 loss to visiting Columbus on Saturday night and end 2013-14 ranked 29th out of 30 teams. Only Buffalo finished behind than the Panthers.

"I'm disappointed with the year, disappointed with a lot of things,'' Tallon said at his end-of-season meeting with the South Florida media before Saturday's game.

"We're moving forward. I'm going to fix it. We have great support now from [new owner] Vinnie Viola and we're going to add the pieces to help these kids get where they need to be.''

For the Panthers to contend in their 20th anniversary season, just about everything had to go right. Although Florida got better than expected seasons from rookies Aleksander Barkov and Nick Bjugstad as well as veteran winger Scottie Upshall, it got way too many disappointing seasons from others.

When the team opens camp in September, a number of familiar faces could be replaced as Tallon reworks the roster throughout the summer.

With a top-end goalie in Roberto Luongo as a key selling point, Tallon is confident players want to come south and help put the Panthers back on track.

"You sell winning, the desire to win,'' Tallon said. "We now have the ability to put the pieces together and that's what players want. You can have the best facilities in the world; guys just want to win.

"I was denied for two years in Chicago. We were an Original Six team, great city. No one wanted to come because the perception was we didn't want to win. That perception has gone away, and it has gone away here. We're going to get guys who want to win.''

The Panthers offseason begins Monday although the first order of business comes Tuesday in Toronto. Florida is back in the NHL draft lottery and hopes to hop Buffalo and secure the top pick.

Last season, Florida finished last and was jumped by Colorado. The Panthers picked second and took Barkov, a player Tallon said was all but irreplaceable. When he got hurt in January, the Panthers were still in the mix for a playoff spot -- only without Barkov, they weren't for much longer.

Barkov is one of many young pieces the Panthers are going to work around moving forward.

"We definitely have a bright future with a lot of kids with talent who can be good NHLers,'' said Luongo, who came back to the Panthers last month and is signed through 2022.

"That's a good stepping stone for us.''

Bjugstad became the first rookie to lead the Panthers in scoring (albeit with just 38 points) and Jonathan Huberdeau should be improved after a rough sophomore season following rookie of the year honors.

The Panthers got a nice jolt from centers Brandon Pirri and Vincent Trocheck -- a pair of proven scorers.

"We need to get over this kind of culture of losing,'' said Upshall, who had a career-high 37 points to finish second in scoring. "We've had losing seasons here and we need to change that internally. It starts with hard work and it's not going to be easy. We have good young players and have made strides.''

Tallon says he is going shopping with an open wallet from Viola and is aiming at five new veteran players including a pair of defenseman.

Florida's abundance of young talent is very appealing to other teams. Tallon may just go to that well via trades to improve his team's lot.

"We have a lot of assets,'' Tallon said. "We have a lot of kids who are in college, 10 picks next year, a lot in the system. I'm open to any suggestions that make us better quicker without jeopardizing our future.''

 

Posted with Blogsy

DUBIOUS HONOR: Nick Bjugstad First Rookie to Lead Panthers in Scoring ... Cats Set NHL Record with 38 Point Team Leader

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

Nick Bjugstad ends the year as Florida's leading scorer with 38 points -- the lowest point total to ever lead an NHL team following a full 82-game schedule.

Scott Pellerin led the expansion Minnesota Wild with 39 points in 2000-01 despite ending the season with the Carolina Hurricanes.

"I did what I could do this season and it is what it is as far as the record goes,'' said Bjugstad, the first rookie to lead the Panthers in scoring.

"It's not one you think of very often so I hope it stays pretty deep in the books. .-.-. I don't know when it will be trumped. Or not trumped, however you want to put it. It's not an honor obviously, but it's my rookie year. I did my best and I learned a lot.''

Florida also became the first team to finish a season last in both power play and penalty kill since the 2009-10 Maple Leafs.

 

Posted with Blogsy

THAT'S ALL SHE WROTE: Panthers Finish Yet Another Regular Season Out of Playoffs with 3-2 Loss to Blue Jackets

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

The Panthers' 20th anniversary season began with a victory but wins came few and far between following opening night in Dallas.

On Saturday, Florida lost for the 53rd and final time this season as Columbus swept the season series with a 3-2 win at BB&T Center.

As the Blue Jackets head to the playoffs for the second time in their history, the Panthers go into another offseason without playoff hockey.

Florida missed the playoffs in 12 of the past 13 seasons and 15 of 19 overall. The Panthers will finish no better than 28th in the 30 team league fresh off a last place finish in 2013.

"It's a really bad feeling knowing that you're done, that you're not coming back to practice,'' said coach Peter Horachek, whose status for next year is not known.

"It's not a good feeling knowing we're not preparing for the playoffs. The most exciting and best part of the season starts now. I want our players to feel that. It's not about playing hockey; it's about making the playoffs. It's where we need to be.''

General manager Dale Tallon spoke before Saturday's game of his vision for a brighter future -- one that involves spending a lot more money -- but before Tallon can go to work, this wreck of a season finally had to come to a close.

Saturday, the Panthers played a pretty decent game against a Columbus team that dominated play in the first two games earlier this season.

Florida was in a scrappy mood after the Jackets took a 1-0 lead 47 seconds in on a Cam Atkinson goal.

Ed Jovanovski and Erik Gudbranson mixed it up a few times before Jovanovski was kicked out for his elbow to the head of Corey Tropp.

That penalty kill led to a shorthanded goal as Vincent Trocheck picked off the puck in the Florida zone and walked in on Sergei Bobrovski and scored with 1:01 left in the opening period.

Florida took its first lead of the season on the Blue Jackets early in the second when Jimmy Hayes scored on a nice slap shot, only the Blue Jackets scored the next two goals to escape Sunrise and head into the postseason.

"We obviously have a talented young group but we need more time to develop together,'' said Hayes, who ended with 11 goals. "I think we have a bright future here. We need to gel, get off to a good start next year.''

Columbus' win assures them of a first-round date with the Pittsburgh Penguins. A loss and the Jackets could have been forced into a meeting with the dreaded Bruins.

For Florida, well, Sunday means locker clean out day and the team dinner.

The offseason starts Monday.

"It's going to be great to see our young guys develop,'' goalie Roberto Luongo. "We're all excited to see what happens over the next couple of months. Then we'll get back together and start playing hockey again.''

-- Scott Clemmensen suited up in a Panthers jersey for the what is probably the final time on Saturday morning. Clemmensen was one of three goalies on the ice for morning skate but later in the day was sent back to AHL San Antonio.

Clemmensen is a free agent after five seasons with the Panthers.

-- Travis Viola, the Panthers' Vice President for hockey operations, will represent the team in Toronto for Tuesday's draft lottery drawing.

Florida had the worst record in the league last year but ended up being passed up by Colorado for the first pick. The Panthers came into Saturday with the third-worst record in the NHL but could slide into the second spot.

"That's why I'm not going this time,'' Tallon joked.

 

Posted with Blogsy

NICK BJUGSTAD: Poised to be First Rookie to Lead Florida Panthers In Scoring

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

Coach Peter Horachek says he doesn't really care that the Panthers could set an NHL record for having the fewest points lead a team in scoring.

Nick Bjugstad is Florida's current leader with 38 points -- one away from tying the mark of 39 set by Minnesota's Scott Pellerin in 2000-01.

Scottie Upshall (37 points), Brad Boyes (36) and Brian Campbell (36) could have big games Saturday and hit 40 points as well.

"The bad thing is we're not in the playoffs,'' Horachek said. "I really don't care about the rest of it, that our leading scorer has 38 points. I do care that we're not in the playoffs. I care about the dynamic of the team. We should surround Bjugstad with players scoring twice as many points as him. We need to help him become a better player.''

If Bjugstad does lead the Panthers in scoring, he would be the first rookie to do so in the franchise's 19 seasons.

"You don't worry about that right now,'' he said after recording three points Thursday. "When you look back on it, yeah, it would be pretty cool. But you have to play it out. We have one more game and see what we can do.''

 

Posted with Blogsy

PETER HORACHEK: Missing the Playoffs an 'Empty Feeling'

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

Although the final weeks of the Panthers' season has dragged on, coach Peter Horachek doesn't want his team to be happy the end is near.

He wants them to be mad that after Saturday's game against Columbus, it's over.

No more practice, no more morning skates, no more games.

As is usually the case around these parts, no Stanley Cup playoffs.

"It's an empty feeling when you finish the game, you know you're not going to the playoffs,'' Horachek said after he gave most of the team Friday off after Thursday's 4-2 win over the Maple Leafs.

"I want the players to know what a bad feeling this is. I want us to go out and win, put the effort in to win, and know this is a really [crummy] feeling. I don't want this feeling going forward. We should be in the playoffs. The only thing we should be thinking about is the playoffs.''

Horachek talks like he has a plan for the future although as the team's interim coach, he doesn't know whether he'll be back to be part of the solution or not.

General manager Dale Tallon has said there has been no discussion of whether Horachek returns next year, saying that a decision on that will come next month.

A number of experienced NHL coaches -- including Horachek's friend and longtime Nashville bench boss Barry Trotz -- could be available in the coming weeks and the Panthers are going to look at a number of different scenarios.

Horachek sure talks as if he'll be back with the Panthers and feels he deserves the opportunity.

Florida showed signs of improvement under his watch as the Panthers were 3-9-4 when Kevin Dineen and his staff was fired in November.

The Panthers were 21-24-7 after winning in Detroit on Jan. 26, but injuries and inconsistent play plagued them over the final months.

Florida goes into Saturday's season finale with wins in two of its past three games, but overall, has lost nine of 12.

"We should still be playing,'' Horachek said, "and in the future, we need to keep pushing to get to that point. We've just scratching the surface right now. There are so many things we can continue to get better. .-.-. After [Saturday], I'm going to go, 'ugh. This sucks.' It's an empty feeling. And I don't want us to feel it again.''

One player who is most definitely part of Florida's future plans is goalie Roberto Luongo. The Panthers re-acquired Luongo on March 4, Luongo coming to a team he knew was out of playoff contention.

Finishing out the string of games has been tough, but Luongo has been looking toward the future. He likes what he has seen in young players such as Nick Bjugstad, Brandon Pirri and Vincent Trocheck.

Florida is also excited to see rookie Aleksander Barkov blossom in his sophomore season after he missed the past two months with a knee injury that is close to being healed up in time for the offseason.

"It's a bit sad that this is it so we want to finish on the right note,'' Luongo said. "I'm looking forward to next year. It's bittersweet. It was a pretty good year for me. I want to re-establish myself as one of the top starters in the league and I think I've done that. It's disappointing not to make the playoffs, but I think it's about looking forward to building up next year.''

Saturday: Blue Jackets at Panthers

When, Where: 7 p.m.; BB&T Center, Sunrise

TV/Radio: No local TV (NHL Game Center blackout lifted); WQAM 560

The series: Columbus leads 10-4-0

Scouting report: Columbus is in the playoffs for the second time in franchise history but is without former Panthers' forward Nathan Horton who had abdominal surgery Friday. Columbus won the first two meetings this season, both in Ohio.

 

Posted with Blogsy

RAKING UP: Bjugstad Breaks Slump with Two Goals, Three Points in 4-2 Win over Leafs ... Bjugstad Now Team Leading Scorer

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

The collapse is over for the Toronto Maple Leafs yet the free fall continued Thursday night.

With its playoff hopes extinguished two nights earlier, Toronto limped into BB&T Center with a pared down lineup and a journeyman goalie making his first NHL start.

Thanks to a pair of third period goals from Nick Bjugstad, Florida ran away with a 4-2 win to take three of four in the season series.

"We needed to get pucks at the net. That was the first game for their goalie and we wanted to get some shots,'' said Bjugstad, a rookie who is now Florida's leading scorer.

"We started off well which is a different technique for us. It was nice to have the lead.''

Any thought of the Panthers making the playoffs disappeared months ago, yet for Toronto, the sting of this disappointment is still very fresh.

On March 13, Toronto was ranked second in the Atlantic Division and held a seven point lead on a playoff spot.

The team lost its next eight games and will miss the playoffs for the ninth time in 10 years. Last year, Boston rallied and knocked the Leafs out of the first round.

For Florida, Thursday's win was its second in three games -- a rare bright spot in a season of bleak ones. Toronto, meanwhile, has lost 11 of 13 heading into Saturday's finale at Ottawa.

The Panthers' season also concludes Saturday against the visiting Blue Jackets.

"We had two games left and I really wanted to see that positive response at this time of year,'' said coach Peter Horachek, whose team never trailed. "We wanted to feel positive about these two home games. It was something we needed to do. We want to make sure we're doing the right things.''

With Roberto Luongo back for the Panthers, Toronto countered with 30-year-old Drew MacIntyre in net. MacIntyre, who broke into the minors in 2003, started well but found himself down 1-0 when Brandon Pirri continued his hot streak for the Panthers by scoring 6:06 in.

Toronto tied things 4:13 into the second when Tyler Bozak zipped some high cheese past Luongo. Florida took the lead into the second break when Brad Boyes popped in Nick Bjugstad's feed with three seconds left in the period.

Bjugstad, perhaps excited his Minnesota Golden Gophers were playing in the Frozen Four, made it 3-1 early in the third before putting the capper on the game minutes later.

"That was one of my longest droughts of my life,'' said Bjugstad, who hadn't scored a goal in 20 games. "It was good to get off that.''

CLEMM RETURNS

The Panthers had an old friend back in the building on Thursday as Scott Clemmensen was recalled to back up Luongo against Toronto.

Usual backup Dan Ellis, who filled in for Luongo on Tuesday, was "nicked up" at practice on Wednesday said Horachek.

Clemmensen wasn't able to take part in Thursday's morning skate however because of flight issues on Wednesday. Although Clemmensen arrived in Fort Lauderdale around 1 a.m. on Thursday, his equipment bag didn't get in until the skate had already concluded.

-- Bjugstad recorded three points to take over as Florida's leading scorer with 38 points.

The Panthers have one game left to try and avoid setting an NHL record for fewest points by a team's leading scorer. Minnesota's Scott Pellerin had 39 points for the expansion Wild in 2000-01.

-- Ron Young, the team's longtime timekeeper and crew chief for the NHL's off-ice officials, dropped the ceremonial first puck before Thursday's game.

Young has been working Panthers games since their first season in 1993 but is moving to Toronto after Saturday's season finale.

 

Posted with Blogsy

LEAFS NOTEBOOK: Ellis 'Banged Up,'' Clemmensen Recalled

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

 

With only two games left, there's not much left to talk about. The Leafs, eliminated from postseason consideration on Tuesday, didn't even bother to leave Fort Lauderdale Beach to take part in Thursday's morning skate.

 

Good move on their part in my opinion.

Anyway, Scott Clemmensen is back in Sunrise as Dan Ellis apparently got "banged up" in practice yesterday says Peter Horachek. Clemmensen flew back late last night but because of some air snafus, his equipment didn't get here until the skate was already done. Clemmensen will back up Roberto Luongo and his new mask -- plenty of photos on the post below -- tonight against the Leaves.

 

What else happened today? That's about it.

 

-- Ron Young, the long-time off-ice official for the Panthers, is retiring after Saturday's game and moving back to Toronto.

 

The Panthers will honor him tonight as he drops the opening puck against his hometown Leafs.

 

It's a nice honor for a good guy who has been around this team since its inception. He'll be missed around the rink.

 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

LOUIE'S NEW LOOK: Roberto Luongo Breaks Out New Mask With Two Games Left

 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

NEW JERSEY: Panthers 'Shirts Off Our Back' Starts Thursday

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

The Panthers annual 'Shirts Off Our Back' auction will start a game earlier this season.

Instead of starting during the season finale on Saturday against Columbus, the bidding will be begin on Thursday against the Maple Leafs.

The team will hold a silent auction at the arena in which fans will bid for their favorite player's jersey.

The auction starts at 6:30 p.m. and will go though the end of the second intermission. The auction will then resume Saturday night at 6:30 with the auction closing at the start of the third period.

Fans who win said jersey will be brought out onto the ice after Saturday's game and given their jersey from their favorite player. I think they even autograph it for ya.

Good luck and happy bidding!

 

Posted with Blogsy

LUONGO BETTER: Goalie Says He'll Try and Go Against Leafs ... Adds Mike Gillis 'Put in Tough Spot'

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

Roberto Luongo said he felt better on Wednesday after missing Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Flyers after feeling sore following warm-ups.

"We'll take morning skate [Thursday] and see where it goes,'' Luongo told reporters. "Hopefully I'll be back in.''

Backup Dan Ellis said Luongo indicated during the day that he might not be able to go so Ellis had some warning that he may have to fill in.

Ellis is still searching for his first win since coming to the Panthers in the Tim Thomas deal on March 5. Ellis is 0-5 with Florida with a 4.81 goals-against average and has made just 84 percent of his saves.

-- Luongo said he and former Vancouver general manager Mike Gillis had a good relationship. Gillis was fired on Tuesday just over a month after trading Luongo to the Panthers on March 4. The Luongo trade came after Gillis sent Cory Schneider to New Jersey last June.

Gillis' failed trades -- some which came with the Panthers -- is said to have hastened his departure from the Canucks. Vancouver will miss the playoffs for the first time in six years.

"It's tough, Mike was put in a tough spot there,'' Luongo said. "When the team doesn't have success and misses the playoffs, someone usually tends to pay the price. Unfortunately it was Mike.''

 

Posted with Blogsy

TIME'S UP: Original Panthers Off Ice Official Ron Young Retiring After 20 Seasons

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

It all started in 1993. Then working as a referee doing men's league games at a skating rink in Lighthouse Point, Ron Young was approached to be an off ice official and work NHL games for the newly-created Florida Panthers at Miami Arena.

Young hopped at the chance to work in the NHL and today is one of three original hires still doing the games in Sunrise.

On Saturday, Young's 20-year run with the NHL and the Panthers comes to a close. Young has decided to move back to Toronto full-time.

Since retiring from his job in the transportation sector, Young shuttled between South Florida and Canada to see his three grandsons, but those long commutes are about to come to a close.

As is Young's up-close view of the NHL. He doesn't expect to find this kind of work in hockey-mad Toronto although he's hopeful. Before the NHL came calling in 1993, he never thought he would have been doing this either.

"These have been some great times and it has been fun to be part of it,'' said Young, who as crew supervisor and game timekeeper, works at center ice directly between the two penalty boxes at BB&T Center.

"For 41 nights a year, I've just loved coming to work. To be able to watch the game at this level has been terrific. But there's not much turnover for these jobs in Canada. They are gold. You are in it until they carry you out basically. But you never know. Someone may retire. It would be a dream come true if I could continue on.''

When the Panthers are in town, so is Young. He spends his game mornings at the arena in a spot down near the Zamboni tunnel drinking his home brewed Tim Hortons' coffee and catching up on the latest hockey news on his iPad.

Players and coaches from the Panthers as well as the visiting teams always skate by to say hello, Young's faded Toronto Blue Jays cap as recognizable as his goatee.

When Young started this part of his career, he was working in the transportation business and was living in Cooper City. His job offered the perks of many frequent flier miles, although Young says they went fast.

In his time with the Panthers, Young has seen some bad hockey but also worked every playoff game in franchise history. He also had the honor of working Game 7 of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals when the Lightning brought the Cup to the Sunshine State to stay for the first time.

Now he has two games left. With his three grandsons all playing youth hockey, however, he'll remain close to the game he loves.

"It's a little bittersweet because I've been here 20 years,'' he said while watching the Flyers skate on Tuesday morning. "Hockey, to me, is a passion. I'm going to miss it, miss the people I interact with on a nightly basis. But I'm looking forward to revisiting a time when my son played, the 6 a.m. practices sitting in the stands with a cup of Tim Hortons watching them play.

"And I'll have the Center Ice package so I'll be watching the Panthers every night anyway.''

 

Thursday: Maple Leafs at Panthers

When, Where: 7:30 p.m.; BB&T Center, Sunrise

TV/Radio: FSNF; WQAM 560

The series: Toronto leads 33-26-7

Scouting report: The Leafs were officially eliminated from the playoffs with Tuesday's listless 3-0 loss at Tampa Bay. The Leafs have lost 10 of 12 and haven't made the postseason since 2004. Florida has won two of the three meetings this year.

 

Posted with Blogsy

PLAYOFFS IN PHILLY: Flyers Clinch Spot in Postseason as Ellis Takes Blame for Panthers' 5-2 Loss ... Roberto Luongo 'Sore'

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

The Panthers hoped to put Philadelphia's playoff party on hold just another day bolstered by the addition of three forwards to the lineup.

Alas, Roberto Luongo came out of warmups complaining of what coach Peter Horachek described as being sore and the Flyers took full advantage. Philadelphia scored three goals off its first four shots in the second and clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs with a 5-2 win at BB&T Center.

The Panthers, meanwhile, will miss the postseason for the 12th time in 13 seasons. In the franchise's 19 seasons, it has missed the playoffs 15 times.

"It was a terrible second period and you can't expect to win when you play like that,'' said Erik Gudbranson, whose long shot put the Panthers on the board early in the third to make it 4-1.

If the Flyers thought they had an easy one on their hands, the Panthers looked like they wanted to prove them wrong.

Florida played one of its best periods of the month in the first, dictating play and surviving what could have been a disastrous penalty kill late.

First, Drew Shore -- brought up from the minors on Monday -- drew four minutes in the penalty box for drawing blood with a high stick on Wayne Simmonds.

With 1:40 left in that penalty, Scottie Upshall was called for slashing, giving the Flyers a two-man advantage for 100 seconds.

Although the Flyers challenged backup goalie Dan Ellis, they didn't get anything through and the two went into the first break still scoreless.

Florida's tough play didn't last, however, as the Flyers scored two quick goals to kick off the second and all but stamp their ticket to the playoffs.

"It was a good start and then in the second I gave up four crap goals,'' said Ellis, who faced 12 shots in the second. "It's unacceptable. It's frustrating as hell when you're the primary reason for the loss. I take responsibility for the loss.''

The Flyers got its first when Vincent Lecavalier -- who long owned the Panthers from his days in Tampa -- jammed one through Ellis' skates 2:02 in.

Lecavalier became the seventh player in the Flyers' lineup to hit the 20 goal plateau; Florida has one.

Four minutes later and Claude Giroux made it 2-0 by scoring his first of two, this one off a nice slap shot from 20 feet out. The Flyers scored their third at 8:50 of the second from Giroux and led 4-0 with five minutes remaining in the period.

Jonathan Huberdeau, who missed 11 games with a concussion, made it 4-2 with 14:22 left to play. It was Huberdeau's first goal since Jan. 20 and second in a span of 37 games.

-- Aleksander Barkov practiced Tuesday but it's doubtful the rookie center will play again this season.

Barkov has been out since re-injuring a knee representing Finland at the Olympics in February.

"I could've played better but then I had the injury,'' Barkov said. "I will go back to Finland, practice a lot and I'll be a better player next year. Now I know I can play on this level and I want to be better.''

-- Former UM track standout Lauryn Williams (won Silver in bobsled) dropped the first puck.

 

Posted with Blogsy

NEW ENVIRONMENT: Panthers to Close Off End Zone, New Capacity Like Miami Arena

 

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

The Panthers plan to drop capacity at the county-owned BB&T Center even more next season by blocking off entire sections in the upper deck.

Former team president Michael Yormark put tarps on some upper rows of the arena in 2010.

At Tuesday's morning skate, a large theatre curtain hung from the rafters blocking off six end zone sections. New team president Rory Babich said Tuesday the team will either tarp those seats off or keep the curtain.

Florida isn't offering season ticket packages in those sections. The arena holds almost 19,000 now for hockey and is among the largest in the league.

Babich says the new capacity -- if all upper deck tarps are utilized -- will be around 15,700.

The Panthers left Miami Arena (cap. 14,703) in 1998 for the larger arena in Sunrise. The team had a 5,000-person waiting list for tickets when they went north.

Florida had an announced attendance of 12,487 for Tuesday's game.

"This is one of the biggest arenas in the NHL so we're trying to make it a little smaller for most games,'' Babich said. "We'll have people in a smaller area, make it a more intimate experience.

"I think people recognize what we're doing. It's not minor league at all. There are other arenas and stadiums who have done it. We're not selling out at 19,000-plus, so instead of having empty seats in the less desirable sections, we've decided to block them off.''

 

Posted with Blogsy

CURTAINS!: Panthers to Seriously Cut Back on Sunrise Capacity in 2014-15?

 

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

The Panthers had a huge curtain cutting off part of the end zone at Tuesday's morning skate and it looks like that may be a sign of things to come.

According to the team website, seats in those sections aren't being offered as part of any season ticket plan. As you can see from the chart below, season ticket sales end at Section 306 and resume in 313*. It also appears the tarps are staying as 'Goal Zone' seats will only be sold up to row 10.

(*) The team is renaming the 400 level the 300 level as well.

The Panthers have already cut chunks out of the upper deck with tarps the past few seasons, opening up seats as the need arises. I would think the curtain would be gone for single game tickets if needed (when Montreal comes to town, the Holiday Series) but will ask about this when I'm at the game tonight.

Your thoughts on the matter? Leave 'em below in the comment section.

 

Posted with Blogsy

FLYERS NOTEBOOK: Boyes, Huberdeau, Shore Back in Lineup ... End of the Line for Gomez? ... Barkov Works Out with Team

TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards

Busy day for the Panthers at Tuesday's morning skate as three players jump back into the lineup.

Brad Boyes is back after missing the past few games on a revamped 'B-Line' as Nick Bjugstad rejoins Sean Bergenheim after playing down on the third line.

Jonathan Huberdeau is also back in the lineup after being out since last month with a concussion.

Drew Shore, recalled yesterday, is also in the lineup.

That means two players need to be scratched tonight and it's going to be Scott Gomez and Quinton Howden. That last decision led to a lot of head scratching among the gathered media as many wouldn't mind seeing Tomas Fleischmann take a day off. Personally, I'm looking for a big bounce-back year from Fleischmann in 2014-15.

"I'm really excited. It's been a while,'' Huberdeau said. "When you've been out for a while, you want to get back out there and do everything you can to help the team. I'm going to keep it simple out there and try and finish the last three games the right way.''

-- With the influx of forwards, Gomez goes from playing on Florida's top line to being scratched. It's possible Gomez has not only played in his final game with the Panthers but perhaps his final NHL game.

Coach Peter Horachek admitted that scratching Gomez -- he's been a pretty good citizen with the Panthers -- was a difficult decision.

"That's the hardest thing that's happened because he's part of the driving force,'' Horachek said "He's saying the things he needs to say, been a total pro and works hard.

"When things are happening in the game, he's trying to make a difference. He's speaking on the bench, in the locker room. He's doing all the things a good pro does. At this time, sometimes you're looking at next year more than the final three games. You want to see what chemistry the younger players have. I can't say enough good things about Scottie.''

-- Aleksander Barkov was out practicing on Florida's fifth line with Gomez and Howden but it's still very doubtful we'll see the rookie center again this season.

Barkov has been out with a knee injury since the Olympics.

"I'm a hockey player and I want to be on the ice with the team,'' Barkov said.

 

Posted with Blogsy