Help Wanted - Florida Panthers Seeking Inept GM

by Bob Wage on Jun 3, 2009 12:37 PM EDT

Jacques Martin was recently named as the new head coach for the Montreal Canadiens. That leaves the Florida Panthers without a general manager, at least for the time being. The question is, will anyone notice a difference in South Florida when the GM is gone? As an outsider looking in, Martin never really impressed. He did a great job hiring promising coach Peter DeBoer, but unlike during his successful days in Ottawa, he failed to make enough positive personnel moves to push the Panthers into the playoff mix.

Most importantly, he failed to deal or re-sign soon to be free agent, Jay Bouwmeester. One must wonder if anyone in Florida is trying to get the superstar defenseman under contract at the present time? Or is it a forgone conclusion that he will move on?

Here's an interesting question. Would the Panthers have some kind of collusion case if "Jay-Bo" ends up signing with the Canadiens on July 1st?

Believe it or not, this is not the most important hockey news coming from Florida. There are reports that a sale of the franchise is imminent. Can the Panthers handle anymore change in one offseason? Hopefully, the new ownership group was made aware of this "playoff guarantee" by previous management. At least fans will get a few free games next season when all the dust settles.

Will the Panthers follow NHL conventional wisdom and hire an ex-goalie for the job? I hear that Eddie Belfour is available.

Between this turmoil and the circus in Tampa, it is very interesting down in Florida right now and it certainly bears watching.

Sorry about the infrequency of my articles over the past few days. I'm taking some vacation and visiting family nearby the pristine shores of Lake Ontario. Hockey news in Carolina seems a bit slow right now, but Jim Rutherford should be in Detroit meeting with franchise owner Peter Karmanos this week. The GM will be actively working on contract issues shortly after that. Things won't stay quiet for long, and we will have updates as soon the news breaks.

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Comments

1) Never have been a big Jacques martin fan. In fact from reading various media reports his bigest stribute to land him the gig was the ability to speak English AND French.
2) In our opinion the Habs will be better defensively next season, but get knocked out of the playoffs in the first round. In other words, no better, but a tad less entertaining to watch.

I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else

by Fauxrumors on Jun 3, 2009 1:05 PM EDT reply actions

This sort of fiasco by yet another Sunbelt team, seemingly lost and without much to build on, doesn’t help overcome the stigma of the Southeast conference, which effects the Canes indirectly. How much does it effect us in terms of both money and getting NHL support?

Adding to the Panthers is the perception that Tampa Bay and Atlanta are not faring much better. And terrible timing with the Florida economy.

Kind of like the Phoenix Coyotes, only more humid Rough.

Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!

by Carolyn Christians on Jun 3, 2009 1:42 PM EDT reply actions

It could get worse if they re-hire Rick Dudley.

CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey

by Cory Lavalette on Jun 3, 2009 2:56 PM EDT reply actions

This is worth looking at:

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_hockey_panthers/2009/06/florida-panthers-wholl-replace-martin.html

Denis Potvin? Really? He can barely put together a coherent sentence, and his guest spots on XM were almost always cringe-worthy.

CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey

by Cory Lavalette on Jun 3, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions

That would be awesome. Then we would have to hear his ear-stabbingly obnoxious voice when the Canes play the Panthers and the game isn’t on FSN. Potvin and the Capitals’ Craig Laughlin are two guys I absolutely cannot listen to.

by nomadologist on Jun 3, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions

He lost his broadcast job. So already “Win Canes fans”

CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey

by Cory Lavalette on Jun 3, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Mad Mike!

Mike Milburry is ripe for the picking! Please, get him off broadcast!

The only guy I cring to listen to is what’s-his-name from Sabres broadcasts…“He SCawwwwwerrrrs!!”

by Caniac1026 on Jun 3, 2009 4:04 PM EDT reply actions

Rick Jeanneret … like Harry Caray, an acquired taste. Buffalo people love him.

Personally, Mike Lange is the hardest for me to listen to. And Dave Mishkin. I much prefer the Forslund/Kaiton objective play-by-play style to Mishkin’s “I only get excited if the Lightning scores” announcing.

CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey

by Cory Lavalette on Jun 3, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Haha...

you learn to live with things you can’t change.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jun 3, 2009 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions

A report from always reliable ESPN says that the Panthers have already been purchased by another company.

Member of Canes Country and the Cat Scratch Reader

by Ivan459 on Jun 3, 2009 9:22 PM EDT reply actions

Here’s the link:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=4225161

Member of Canes Country and the Cat Scratch Reader

by Ivan459 on Jun 3, 2009 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s a really interesting article – I had no idea garbage like that existed. Makes me wish all sports teams were owned by people like Mark Cuban – guys with too much money that love sports. Come to think of it, PK obviously loves hockey otherwise he wouldn’t bother with owning three teams. Holy bologna i just spoke about PK in a positive light!!!! MEDIC!!!

by Caniac1026 on Jun 4, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions

*Already have an offer

It has to be approved by the other teams.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jun 4, 2009 2:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Enron? ; )

I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else

by Fauxrumors on Jun 4, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Pristine shores of Lake Ontario? What alternate universe are you visiting? How does one get there?
;)
Enjoy your vacation Bubba (and don’t drink the water!)

by Andrea's evil twin on Jun 4, 2009 12:45 AM EDT reply actions