Horton Rumors Reappear, Dmitry Kulikov Decision to Be Made
Those pesky “Nathan Horton is being shopped around by the Panthers” rumors have reappeared. According to The Fourth Period the Ottawa Sun are adamant that the report is not mere gossip and cites “various unnamed league executives”.
General Manager Randy Sexton has also previously rubbished any talk of trading Nathan.
TFP editor David Pagnotta goes on to state his opinion about this rumor: “Of course, Sexton will deny the report, even if it was true. Horton’s a 24-year-old stud, who’s having a bad start to the season, and the fans love him. If the Panthers do trade Horton (and I personally believe it’s more of a ‘when’ than an ‘if’), they could command a solid package in return”.
Comments like this make me wonder how much hockey reporters really follow the Panthers, outside of the southern part of this state. Yet, despite their apparent Floridian unawareness they never stop having opinions about it nonetheless: “The fans love him”. Really??
Apparently there are no takers if you care to believe in this particular rumor.
Judge this latest tittle-tattle anyway you wish, but I still think Nathan won’t be going anywhere for a while—as I’ve previously detailed here in an extensive article.
Dmitry Kulikov and Nathan Horton - will they stay in Florida or will they go?
Meanwhile the tenure of 18-year old rookie defenseman Dmitry Kulikov is most likely to be decided later today. The coaching staff is to meet and discuss if Dmitry will stay with the Panthers or be sent back to the juniors in Canada.
Whilst everyone expects the former, some voices are being raised—claiming it might perhaps be better if Kulikov rejoins the juniors in QMJHL instead.
George Richards of The Miami Herald stated yesterday that: “With the team 2-6-1, it might be best for him to go back in my opinion. No, he’s not going to learn anything more in the QMJHL, but this place is close to imploding. It might just get ugly around here. This season has Titanic written all over it”.
The reasoning being that if this Florida cruise liner is about to sink, we might as well save Kulikov from the calamity that will inevitably follow from such a debacle.
Maybe enjoying some success in the juniors would be better for his mental progress than to have to endure the creaks and taunts of the ‘Titanic II’ as it dissolves in blue?
On the other hand, if there is still hope of turning things around, then the club might do well in keeping him here in Florida.
Head Coach Peter DeBoer has repeatedly praised Dmitry for his maturity and fine a displays; saying he has something that otherwise is missing among the Cats.
It sounds as if Pete would be loathed to see Kulikov leave. Especially considering the recent injuries to Radek Dvorak and David Booth one would imagine.
DeBoer is not someone to give up easily and would not want to be disarmed and hung out to dry during the remainder of the season. So, it would be very surprising to see Kulikov leave.
He is here to stay it would seem, for better or worse.
Well, I make it no secret: I do not like Nathan Horton. Not because he’s not talented. Oh no, the boy has talent indeed, but the laziness and inconsistency of a third overall in the 2003 draft. He CAN do more, and for some odd and unexplainable reason, does not. Is it by choice? Is it because he’s that inconsistent? I am not sure, but I, as a Florida fan, would MUCH prefer having a first liner who is worthy and can deliver than having Horton.
That said, I want Kulikov to stay. Yes, he has a lot to learn still, but is there a better way to learn than by playing at the NHL level? He’s surely impressed me so far! And let’s face it – we need all the help we can get …
@Tab
I’m on the hedge as to Horton. Yes, he can definitely do more, much more than he’s showing. I’d just hate to trade him and then see him do an Andy on us – if you know what I mean…
As for Kulikov – a very talented boy for sure – but maybe the Panthers need more men on the roster with some seething aggression rather than a developing creative defenseman?
I’d love to see the Cats add a big strong stay-at-home defenseman to supplement our blueline and for that to happen someone must go…
I was just reading comments on last night’s game’s ending score in Facebook, and I don’t see how anyone can think Horton is well liked by the fans… I mean, the fans are fed up with how he fails to “show up” to most games …