Wild cat country
Florida's been trying to improve, but so far haven't found much traction as they try and move up the standings.
It's been a season of change and renewal for the Florida Panthers. It's also been another season of status quo when it comes to the standings. Despite some moves done under first year General Manager Melvin Chong, the Panthers have not been able to keep up in the surprisingly successful Eastern Conference, sitting 25 points out of a playoff spot with a record of 13-23-9. That's good enough for 13th in the Eastern Conference and 26th overall, though they are tied with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals for last in the conference.
Part of their lack of success can be traced to extra time play, where Florida is 1-9 in games that are decided in overtime or a shootout.
"We get there and we seem to clam up. We just can't seem to get the puck to the net. And I seem to fight the puck more for some reason. We're great in regulation most of the time, but in overtime, we just seem to come apart," said all-star netminder Pekka Rinne.
Despite the lack of success, Florida has made a significant transition in their state as a team, as deals for forwards Justin Williams and Brad Richards havecome together this year, not to mention Alexander Ovechkin and Blake Wheeler. The Panthers have brought in a lot of hired guns to do some mercenary work.
"We're hoping to keep up with the rest of the East that way," noted Chong. "We feel with Rinne in net and young defensemen like Leddy and Myers on the blueline, we can have the defense in place already, even if it is down the road a year or two. But we needed to enhance the offense and we did that."
Tyler Myers is a big piece of the future for Florida.
In thoery anyways. While the names Florida has brought in look great on paper, they haven't been on the ice. Despite playing a combined 156 games for Florida this season, Ovechkin, Richards, Williams and Wheeler have combined for just 35 goals this season. A former 60-goal scorer, Ovechkin is on pace for just 17 goals this year, and the pairing of Richards and Ovie has so far failed. Overall, Florida ranks 23rd in goal scoring in the WCHL and 25th in goals against. Part of the problem is Florida doesn't shoot the puck enough, sitting 27th in shots at just 21.69 per game while allowing the most shots against in the league at 28.89 per game. Only Chicago has a worse ratio of shots for and against.
Alexander Ovechkin has been anything but great as a Florida Panther.
Florida though will have to make a decision soon on what they are going to do going forward. Richards and Rinne are slated to be unrestricted free agents this off-season, as is Matt Cooke, who sits third on the team with 11 goals. Wheeler, Leddy and Mark Fayne will all need contract extensions meanwhile, and with the cap not expected to increase between now and next season, Florida may only have approximately $600,000 in wiggle room to get that done.
What potential unrestricted free agents Pekka Rinne and Brad Richards do will have a huge impact on Florida's future.
So do you blow it up and keep it together? On paper, Florida would be wise to keep the pieces in place and try and build around them, but with Rinne likely going to command a $3 million pay increase, it doesn't look like that will be easy to do.
If they do send some salary packing, Tim Connolly looks like a prime target. The $6.5-million man has picked up just 18 points in 36 games for Florida, and that is a lot of money for only average returns. With one more year left on his deal however, he figures to be hard to move.
With a $6.5-million contract, Tim Connolly's bang for the buck might not be enough for Florida.
Expect the team to purge a few defensemen as well, as they are carrying eight on the pro roster already. Additionally, the club is likely to try and make room upfront for Luke Adam, assuming the hot young prospect can sign a contract extension with Florida as well. Adam is currently leading the San Antonio Rampage in scoring and is expected to be ready for prime time duty next season, giving Florida yet another offensive option.
Luke Adam could be in Florida permanently as early as next season.
"If we can keep this core together, we have the ability to build around it," said Chong. "It's just a matter of doing that and not putting ourselves ina huge financial hole in the process."
It will be interesting to see what happens in Florida for sure. With a 1st round pick that is likely to be top 10 in the 2011 draft. Florida has a bright future, assuming they can keep the present intact.
Florida's been trying to improve, but so far haven't found much traction as they try and move up the standings.
It's been a season of change and renewal for the Florida Panthers. It's also been another season of status quo when it comes to the standings. Despite some moves done under first year General Manager Melvin Chong, the Panthers have not been able to keep up in the surprisingly successful Eastern Conference, sitting 25 points out of a playoff spot with a record of 13-23-9. That's good enough for 13th in the Eastern Conference and 26th overall, though they are tied with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals for last in the conference.
Part of their lack of success can be traced to extra time play, where Florida is 1-9 in games that are decided in overtime or a shootout.
"We get there and we seem to clam up. We just can't seem to get the puck to the net. And I seem to fight the puck more for some reason. We're great in regulation most of the time, but in overtime, we just seem to come apart," said all-star netminder Pekka Rinne.
Despite the lack of success, Florida has made a significant transition in their state as a team, as deals for forwards Justin Williams and Brad Richards havecome together this year, not to mention Alexander Ovechkin and Blake Wheeler. The Panthers have brought in a lot of hired guns to do some mercenary work.
"We're hoping to keep up with the rest of the East that way," noted Chong. "We feel with Rinne in net and young defensemen like Leddy and Myers on the blueline, we can have the defense in place already, even if it is down the road a year or two. But we needed to enhance the offense and we did that."
Tyler Myers is a big piece of the future for Florida.
In thoery anyways. While the names Florida has brought in look great on paper, they haven't been on the ice. Despite playing a combined 156 games for Florida this season, Ovechkin, Richards, Williams and Wheeler have combined for just 35 goals this season. A former 60-goal scorer, Ovechkin is on pace for just 17 goals this year, and the pairing of Richards and Ovie has so far failed. Overall, Florida ranks 23rd in goal scoring in the WCHL and 25th in goals against. Part of the problem is Florida doesn't shoot the puck enough, sitting 27th in shots at just 21.69 per game while allowing the most shots against in the league at 28.89 per game. Only Chicago has a worse ratio of shots for and against.
Alexander Ovechkin has been anything but great as a Florida Panther.
Florida though will have to make a decision soon on what they are going to do going forward. Richards and Rinne are slated to be unrestricted free agents this off-season, as is Matt Cooke, who sits third on the team with 11 goals. Wheeler, Leddy and Mark Fayne will all need contract extensions meanwhile, and with the cap not expected to increase between now and next season, Florida may only have approximately $600,000 in wiggle room to get that done.
What potential unrestricted free agents Pekka Rinne and Brad Richards do will have a huge impact on Florida's future.
So do you blow it up and keep it together? On paper, Florida would be wise to keep the pieces in place and try and build around them, but with Rinne likely going to command a $3 million pay increase, it doesn't look like that will be easy to do.
If they do send some salary packing, Tim Connolly looks like a prime target. The $6.5-million man has picked up just 18 points in 36 games for Florida, and that is a lot of money for only average returns. With one more year left on his deal however, he figures to be hard to move.
With a $6.5-million contract, Tim Connolly's bang for the buck might not be enough for Florida.
Expect the team to purge a few defensemen as well, as they are carrying eight on the pro roster already. Additionally, the club is likely to try and make room upfront for Luke Adam, assuming the hot young prospect can sign a contract extension with Florida as well. Adam is currently leading the San Antonio Rampage in scoring and is expected to be ready for prime time duty next season, giving Florida yet another offensive option.
Luke Adam could be in Florida permanently as early as next season.
"If we can keep this core together, we have the ability to build around it," said Chong. "It's just a matter of doing that and not putting ourselves ina huge financial hole in the process."
It will be interesting to see what happens in Florida for sure. With a 1st round pick that is likely to be top 10 in the 2011 draft. Florida has a bright future, assuming they can keep the present intact.
