Look at his wheels...lol.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
The Florida Panthers are embracing the cowbell!
This is a new poster being installed at the Bank Atlantic Center, outside of section 124. It's my friend Murphy's hand ringing the very first cowbell ever brought to a Florida Panthers Game! A friend of his who works for the Panthers took this photo of the poster with his iPhone and sent it to Murph! He was TOTALLY surprised by it and can't wait for he and his wife Vanessa to have their picture taken in front of it next season!
The most exciting thing about the cowbell? How it will connect the fans in the Bank Atlantic Center! Next season, Panther fans in the lower level will be ringing their cowbells as fans in the upper level do the same. It's a way of coming together, a way of getting everyone into one mindset. A rallying together.
One of the problems with the Bank Atlantic Center is that it doesn't belong to the Panther fans. Due to South Florida being a popular area for the "Snowbirds" to gather in the winter months, the BAC has fans of Montreal, Toronto, New York, Philadelphia, and Boston flocking there, often making more noise than Panther fans. After not making the playoffs in almost a decade, it's no surprise that Panther fans don't own that arena right now. However, the cowbells are a way of uniting the fans and getting them excited about the team and about being there. As the Panther fans take back their home, the players will hopefully catch on and will improve their play on the ice.
With a new coach, a new scheme, and a different roster, there are a lot of intangibles that need to be taken into account concerning the Florida Panthers. The cowbell is just one more thing to factor into the Panthers upcoming season.
My thoughts on the Olli trade...finally
I was called out by my friend, and fellow Panther message board poster, Erick for not giving my thoughts on the Olli trade as I said I was going to. So, here goes...
I've always been a fan of Olli Jokinen's. He was able to be a point-per-game player his last several years as a Florida Panther despite not having a true first line forward to help him get there. With linemates such as Josef Stumpel, Brett McLean, and Richard Zednik, Olli had little help on the top line. He used to be pretty good with the fans, stopping after games to give his autograph, and used to play hard.
However, the last couple seasons it seemed he wasn't as interested in the team or it's fans. He and fellow teammate Nathan Horton took off from a charity golf event where fans and sponsors paid a lot of money to be able to play with Panther players. Instead of staying and playing a game of golf, they took off and apparently decided to attend a strip club instead. Some say this isn't really a big deal as it was "just a golf tournament." However, people paid they're hard earned money to be there, to play with the team captain and one of it's best players, and they left like kids skipping school. I don't see how it's not a big deal!
He also began to float on the ice, rather than play hard and give his all. He seemed uninterested at times, as if he was trying awfully hard to get his coach, Jacques Martin, fired. If he didn't want Martin around any longer, that wasn't the way to do it.
Olli was traded at the draft to Phoenix for Keith Ballard, Nick Boynton, and a 2nd round pick. While it wasn't the return many Panther fans were expecting and may have not been 'enough,' I believe it is a solid return. Ballard is a young defenseman who loves to throw the body and is willing to drop the gloves to defend his teammates. He's also a tenacious defenseman who will work hard to move his opponent from in front of the net. Boynton is a mean player who takes little and is also quick to defend his teammates. This move shores up the Panther defense and moves out a disgruntled player who, like the Panthers, needed a change of scenary.
I appreciate Olli and wish him nothing but the best. I'm thankful for his team here in Florida and hope to see him in the playoffs with the Coyotes in the coming seasons.
Thanks Olli!
Latest on Mats Sundin
It was reported early Sunday in a Swedish newspaper that former Toronto Maple Leaf center Mats Sundin decided to accept the Vancouver Canucks crazy offer of 2 years at $20 mil. However, Mats and his agent came out and said that he has made no such agreement, nor has he decided whether to sign anywhere or just retire.
Apparently, the teams that have the best chance at landing the star forward are Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. While I doubt he'll go to hated rival Montreal, I'd be slightly surprised if he accepts Vancouver's offer. Sundin has never won a Stanley Cup, and I don't see Vancouver being a team that's terribly close to winning one before he retires. Nor is Toronto, who's supposedly in some sort of a rebuild.
There were reports out of Florida that Sundin was thinking about joining the Panthers and that Wade Belak was talking to him, trying to get him to come here. However, I'll almost pass out if he signs down here, for the same reason why I'll be surprised if he goes to Vancouver.
Could be he decides to go to Vancouver, but the best shot he has at landing a Cup is with Montreal. The saga continues...
Friday, July 11, 2008
Alexander Radulov bolts for Russia
The young Alexander Radulov has decided to leave the Nashville Predators to play for the Ufa of the Russian Superleague. At 22, he's a young forward who apparently wanted to go back home.
He joins Vasicek, Pilar, Dubielewicz, Kapanen, Zyuzin, Brylin, Rachunek, Kwiatkowski, Emery, Grahame, Jagr, Baranka, Radivojevic, Ruzicka, Lampman, Simon, Hossa, Ellison, Ozolinsh, Stumpel, York, and Chiodo.
Some of those guys are at the end of their careers, others are not. There are a lot of people who are concerned with this League taking premier talent from the NHL. I'm not. If someone wants to play for this Leauge, more power to them. That said, hockey players dream of lifting the Stanley Cup, that will always be the biggest draw for the NHL.
Tampa Bay Lightning continue to "reload"
Notice the quotes?
The new ownership in Tampa Bay is in a rebuild, which is more of a reload, mode. Rebuilds consist of teams trading away and dumping players who are older and building through the draft and through trades with youth. Instead, Tampa has reloaded as they've signed underachievers Ryan Malone, Brandon Bochenski, and Radim Vrbata, older vets Gary Roberts, Mark Recchi, and goalie Olaf Kolzig. They traded away a valuable 3rd round pick in a very deep draft for the rights to Malone and Roberts, something a rebuilding team shouldn't do. They also traded a pick for the rights to Vaclav Prospal before he went to Free Agency as well. Then, they forced Danny Boyle to waive his 'No Trade Clause,' which he just signed in his new deal, so they could trade he and Brad Lukowich to San Jose for Carle, Wishart, a 1st, a 4th, and an unknown prospect. Add to that their signings of Adam Hall, Zenon Konopka, David Koci, and bringing back Evgeni Artyukhin, that's a whole lot of forwards and only a few defensemen.
Forgive me for not being overly optomistic with Tampa Bay's "reload." They're trying to turn things around like Philly did after being in last place the season before last and being a playoff bound team in the Conference Finals this season. However, Philidelphia signed a lot of hard working player, not guys who are all but retired and career underachievers.
Anyway, it should be fun to watch Tampa this season...lol. At least they have Stamkos, he'll be brilliant.
Also, GM Jay Feaster has resigned today, saying that it's obvious his services are no longer needed. Well, seeing as how he sat on the sidelines as the new ownership made all these deals, I'd have to say it's very obvious he's no longer needed.
Still getting settled
Still getting settled from our move(s). Were finally in our own place and things are somewhat getting back to normal. Thanks to everyone for continuing to check in.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
More signings
Radim Vrbata has signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning as they stay active on their re-build. Some risky signings, but you don't go places if you don't take some risk. We'll see how this works for them next season.
The Bruins have signed Blake Wheeler. Wheeler declined to sign with the Phoenix Coyotes, who drafted him, making him a free agent.
A few trades
Carolina has sent forward Eric Cole to the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Jani Pitkanen
Chicago sent forward Rene Bourque to Calgary for a 2nd round pick in next years draft
Cujo has gone back to the Toronto Maple Leafs
A lot of teams have re-signed their players just before Free Agency
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?id=11353 You can also follow the free agent signings through this link.
12:04PM
Anaheim re-sign forward Corey Perry to a five-year deal worth
$26.625-million which will average $5.325-million a
year.
11:58AM
Pittsburgh Penguins sign forward Pascal Dupuis to a
three-year deal which will average $1.4-million per year.
11:58AM
Detroit
Red Wings and veteran defenseman Brad Stuart have agreed to terms on a 4 year
contract that averages 3.75 per year.
11:35AM
New Jersey re-signs forwards
Jay Pandolfo (undisclosed) David Calrkson (undisclosed) and Barry Tallackson
(undisclosed). Declines option on forward Sergei Brylin.
10:21AM
New
Jersey agrees to terms with defenceman Bryce Salvador to a four-year deal worth
$11.6 million (average of $2.9 million per season).
8:45AM
Washington
re-signs defenceman Mike Green to a four-year deal worth $21 million (average of
$5.25 million per season).
Monday, June 30
TIME
(ET)
TRANSACTION
6:53PM
Detroit Red Wings re-sign defenceman Andreas
Lilja to a two-year contract.
6:45PM
Buffalo Sabres re-sign forward Paul
Gaustad to a four-year, $9.2 million contract.
6:39PM
San Jose Sharks
re-sign forward Jody Shelley to a two-year contract.
5:55PM
Tampa Bay
Lightning sign forward Vaclav Prospal to a multi-year
contract.
8:03AM
Tampa Bay Lightning sign forward Gary Roberts to a
one-year contract.
Sunday, June 29
TIME
(ET)
TRANSACTION
9:20PM
Colorado Avalanche sign defenceman John-Michael
Liles to four-year, $16 million contract.
9:20PM
Colorado Avalanche sign
defenceman Adam Foote to an undisclosed contract.
Tampa Bay Lightning active before Free Agency
The Tampa Bay Lightning have been very active before Free Agency started by re-aqcquiring the rights to and re-signing Vaclav Prospal.
They also sent a 3rd round draft pick (in a very deep draft) to the Pittsburgh Penguins for the rights to and signed Gary Roberts and Ryan Malone.
They also acquired the rights to Brian Rolston, but Rolston told them this morning that he's going to test the Free Agent market.
Edmonton Oilers have traded a few players
The Edmonton Oilers have traded Raffi Torres to the Columbus Blue Jackets for 21 year old center Gilbert Brule.
They also sent forward Jarret Stoll and defenseman Matt Greene to the LA Kings for defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky.
Free Agency kicks off at Noon Eastern
The Free Agent frenzy gets under way today starting at noon. Unfortunately, I'm moving today and won't be able to do nearly as much with this as I'd like, as has been the story the past month or so.
I'll do what I can, thanks for everyone's patience.
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