Let’s see where the Panthers were on March 14 since the lockout:
2005-06 – 26-29-9, 61 points, 12th in the East, 10 points out of 8th
2006-07 – 29-28-7, 71 points, 13th in the East, 7 points out of 8th
2007-08 – 34-31-8, 76 points, tied for 10th in the East, 3 points out of 8th
2008-09 – 34-25-10, 78 points, tied for 8th in the East
2009-10 (before this evening’s games) – 28-29-10, 12th in the East, 6 points out of 8th
So it’s more of the same this year. I can’t see the Panthers going 12-3 over their last 15 games to get to 90 points. I hope I’m proven wrong. I was happy with the trades made on deadline day by Randy Sexton. I thought that 3 2nd round picks and Byron Bitz was a good return for 3 rent a players. I think the major moves mentioned in the letter to fans from the new owners will happen around draft time, which is becoming an annual tradition for Panthers fans. I think the team can go in two directions:
1. The team can actually add players using either their 1st round pick or the 2nd round picks acquired this year.
2. The team trades Weiss, Horton, Vokoun and McCabe and tries to build a Cup contender.
I think #1 is not the viable option since even if a legitimate top 3 forward and top pair D are acquired this summer, this team’s ceiling is a lower end playoff spot. The organization needs to start building a team that will challenge for a Stanley Cup in 3-4 years. Plus option #1 would have a small window since Vokoun/McCabe/Stillman etc. are entering the last year of their contracts.
Here are the players I keep from this year’s team:
Forwards: Booth, Frolik, Matthias, Repik, Bitz, McArdle
Defencemen: Kulikov, Ballard, Allen, Ellerby, Garrison
Goaltenders: Markstrom, Salak
In other words, I would like Weiss, Horton, McCabe, Vokoun, Stillman, Dvorak, Campbell etc. all traded for young players. Hopefully the Panthers will have a top 5 pick this year to add to the core. I am excited about the Panthers having 4 of the top 60 picks in this year’s draft.
We will see what happens. I am cautiously optimistic about Sexton. The only thing that worries me is that if Sexton was fired today, he probably wouldn’t get an interview for other GM vacancies.
March 14, 2010 at 8:53 pm |
My wife thinks I am brilliant. I think she is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. She is so beautiful and I love her. She supports my opinions and I love that. She is behind me 100%. I can’t wait to meet our little girl Annabelle in just 3 short months.