Roblogg’s Panthers Portal

After an initial flurry of signings in the early days of July, it has been chiefly quiet days in South Florida. Head Coach Peter DeBoer seems to be comfortable with the players at his disposal and feels confident that they can continue to develop and challenge for a playoff spot this upcoming campaign.

Overlooked among the paper speculations, names and numbers of the colorful free agent signings, is what happens behind the scenes; how everyone, from the front office to the staff to the players – all prepare themselves for the new season ahead.

Here I will uncover how the Panthers are using a new groundbreaking technology in its bid to constantly improve. And, according to both players and studies made, this new technology can actually make a huge difference to their on-ice performance and give the Panthers an edge on the opposition.

To find out exactly what this new technology is all about and how it came to involve the Florida Panthers, we need to first travel north of the border, as is often the case in hockey, to the roots of the sport.

From Vision to Realization

In Kingston, Ontario, we can find the home of Blackstone Sports and its co-founders Murray and Steve Wilson. A father-son team, who ten years ago took the first step in realizing a modest vision of being No.1 within their field. They took the step over the precipice and set out from nothing to realize their dreams. Well, maybe it wasn’t that modest, but today it seems like they are well on their way of doing what they set out to do – with a double digit growth over the past decade.

It was an “exciting journey” as the co-founder of Blackstone Sports, Steve Wilson, put it. Working with engineers, this father-son team had to create a brand name and try to come up with something that would give them an edge in their field. And the field in question? Skate sharpening!

It is a subject that Steve knows most there is to know about. Having started working in his father’s hardware store at the age of twelve – sharpening skates of course (this is Canada after all!) – later this came to pay for his college studies and has been a pivotal part of his life ever since.

And from the abovementioned humble beginnings in Chatham, Ontario, the profession of his choice would eventually take him to Southern Florida; where a Panthers equipment manager and veteran player would soon come to play a big role in the spreading of a new groundbreaking technology that Blackstone Sports had developed – called the Flat Bottom V.

The Flat Bottom V Technology

In their quest to optimize an old system of skate sharpening that had been largely unchanged during the previous century, Steve Wilson and his engineers came up with the ‘spinner system’ which dresses the sharpening wheel differently – than the traditional single diamond system. It creates a different shape that allows for “a more consistent and more efficient way to dress the wheel” as Florida Panthers Head Equipment Manager Chris Scoppetto clarifies.

The Flat Bottom V technology came from working with this spinner system and the engineers eventually guided the process toward what would become the Flat Bottom V (FBV) shape. “The Flat Bottom V allows the wheel to be shaped in a new way, allowing the skater to have the best of both worlds. Traditionally if you had a deep hollow you would have more bite for agility but less glide because you were digging into the ice,” Scoppetto goes on to explain.

In other words, with the traditional system of skate sharpening; a player had to choose between agility on the ice or speed. With the FBV technology that is no longer the case.
The below pictures can illustrate this difference:

Comparing the FBV technology with that innovative breakthrough with hockey sticks; namely the graphite composite hockey stick, is not wide of the mark. Difference here is that FBV skates are not likely to shatter whenever a Panthers player is trying to clear the puck from deep within their zone…

The Prototype Sensation that got Stillman on Rails

Panthers Assistant Equipment Manager Chris Moody had been using the spinner system for the dressing of the sharpening wheel even before Scoppetto arrived from Detroit – and now the two Chris’s work closely side-by-side. So, the Cats had early on, an established working relationship with Blackstone Sports and, in 2008 when this new FBV technology was still on the prototype stage, Steve Wilson was in South Florida on a routine visit. He brought with him the Flat Bottom V prototype, and as it happened, veteran winger Cory Stillman was in the dressing room at the time and was asked if he wanted to try something new. “He did, and he loved it!” Steve recollects. “He wouldn’t let me leave with it!”

Indeed, so enamored was Stillman by the FBV technology that Steve had to leave the prototype behind. Chris Scoppetto explains why the player felt such a difference in his own recollection of the event:

“Cory Stillman was on an inch and a half hollow which is almost flat (no edges). He tried the Flat Bottom V and skated like he was on rails. He did not have to slow down while turning/stopping/ or going into the corners. Other guys began to try the Flat Bottom V and remarked how they were less fatigued because they were not sinking deep into the ice. Because it was a ProtoType Spinner, Steve was not sure he could leave it with us. Stillman liked it so much (as well as a handful of other players), we were able to keep the ProtoType in Florida”.

By the end of the 2008/9 season, Stillman was not alone in using the Flat Bottom V. Among the Panthers team were: Nathan Horton, Ville Peltonen, Rostislav Olesz, Anthony Stewart, Bryan McCabe, Nick Boynton, Keith Ballard, David Booth, Michael Frolik, Kamil Kreps, Richard Zednik, Nick Tarnasky, Radek Dvorak and all three Coaches – using the FBV.

“Like dominos, more players tried the new Flat Bottom V and more switched to it.  This was uncommon because at the NHL level players usually are not open to drastic changes,” says Scoppetto.

“Thanks for Adding 3 More Years to my Career”

Since then the technology was introduced upon the market, it is now spreading rapidly word-by-mouth among hockey athletes. Steve tells me that they currently have six to seven weeks of backorders – due to the heavy demand. And so, whilst being first in the NHL to embrace it, the Panthers will no longer have this technology to themselves and will hence perhaps lose some of that initial edge on the competition – before soon – although they’ll no doubt continue to spearhead the technology in the National Hockey League.

Studies undergoing at the University of Ottawa have confirmed that the FBV “blew competitors out of the water” as Steve puts it, in their tests – adding as much as 5-6% of speed (whilst additional agility is more difficult to quantify). The players certainly feel the difference and some have even thanked Steve for “adding 3 more years to my career!”

In a time of salary cap crunches and long contracts, that certainly is not a bad compliment to this new technology and something everyone can gain from. Not least hockey fans; as a faster more exciting brand of hockey is suddenly possible, in the wake of this great skate sharpening innovation.

Leap of Faith

So what else is on the horizon for Steve Wilson and Blackstone Sports?

They are at the moment trying to keep up with the demand and backorders on the Flat Bottom V, but are also looking at how to use and adapt the technology to other ice skating sports; such as figure skating and speed skating. No doubt the technology could turn out to be an as great innovation here as it is currently proving itself within the hockey world.

About his experience with the Panthers, Steve says he “feels great to be a part of the Florida Panthers” who he feels he has “a great working relationship with and holds in high regards”. He also says that Florida’s Head Equipment Manager Chris Scoppetto and Assistant Equipment Manager Chris Moody “took a leap of faith” when utilizing the new FBV technology.

And hence, some of the credit for the rapid spread of this new technology must go to the Florida Panthers, and in particular aforementioned Chris’s, and not least veteran winger Cory Stillman – who is now officially on rails – thanks to the FBV and Blackstone Sports.

Game action pictures from yesterday’s game versus the Carolina Hurricanes. It was a thriller of magnificient proportions, with both teams battling and creating a plentitude of goalscoring opportunities. It may have not been the biggest crowd at the Bank Atlantic Center, but it was rocking all the way through this emotional rollercoaster of a game.

Here are 10 frozen moments from this ‘game of the year’.

Jay Bouwmeester is fed the puck and scores the opening goal of the contest.

Cory Stillman screens his former Stanley Cup winning teammate Cam Ward in Carolina's goal; who is forced to leave an inviting rebound...

...Nathan Horton is tied up when going for the ensuing rebound and is unable to get his stick on the ice to tap in the puck. But it's not for a lack of trying...

Jussi Jokinen gets a shot at goal, but Tomas Vokoun proves equal to the effort.

Vokoun may not have been as busy as his counterpart between the Hurricane's pipes, but nonetheless was forced to make several quality saves.

Cam Ward nets another save in stylish manner in Carolina's goal.

All eyes on the puck. Nathan Horton was back from injury in this game and contributed with a team high 6 hits and plenty of passion, as did Cory Stillman - who had his best game in quite some time.

Ward-ing off the puck. Cam was top of his game on the night and the main reason why Carolina could sneek out of Sunrise with 2 valuable points in the end.

The Panthers got a golden opportunity to get back in the game in the last minutes of the contest when going on a two man-advantage. Trailing 1-2 the Cats showed desperation around the crease and forced Ward to spill the puck...

...the puck is fished out from the top of the crease and Cory Stillman slots home the valuable equaliser, 2-2! Unfortunately Carolina ended up on top in the ensuing overtime, winning 2-3, but overall this was a very good effort from the Panthers. Bitter then that they didn't get the two points they deserved and would have needed in the playoff chase versus Montreal....

What can you say after the Panthers lost yet another big playoff game on home ice, this time against the Washington Capitals? What can be said that I haven’t already said in the last few post? Fact is; this is not good enough. Hell, it’s not even near good enough!

I’m not sure what irks me the most; the appalling sub-standard effort, the no (that’s zero!) shots on goal in the third period, or the mounting feeling that the club is yet again set to disappoint.

Yes, sure, the team is still deeply involved the playoff chase and even have the luxury of having fate squarely in its own hands; being just one point behind the Hurricanes in eighth spot and with one game in hand on the Carolinians. But, the abysmal Florida play and overall effort of late, does not install any greater sense of confidence that that will be enough in the end. Does it?

Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau, who was left fuming after his team’s 5-1 loss to Atlanta on Monday, said; “To hold them to zero shots in the third period and 19 in their building in a game that they had to win was quite a testament.” Yes it was… A testament both of the good defensive display that the Capitals mounted and the pitiful offense that the Panthers meagerly tried to assemble from nothing… But in the end the scant Floridian efforts turned to dust and trickled away – and it was probably what they deserved for this horrendous showing.

And as far as I know there aren’t that many Irishmen or players of Irish descent on the team either, so blaming St. Patrick’s Day – or any less solid liquids than the ice – doesn’t bounce any better than the puck is currently doing for the Panthers. Neither can I find any other, more hockey-related, excuses that I can tolerate; yes Horton is still injured and missed – but that happens to all teams – and McCabe was back for this game to quarterback the deteriorating powerplay. Although that didn’t help all too much… In fact the Cats gave up a crucial shorthanded goal instead and that goal seemed to deflate the Panthers all too quickly on this day.

Now coach Peter DeBoer’s leadership skills will be tested and he’ll be expected to change the current mindset of his charges. This should be desperation-time, not relaxation-time, and the players obviously need to be reminded of their on-ice responsibilities.

I would hope, and not be surprised, if Pete decides to try and instill some sense of desperation by shaking things up in the line-up. Nick Boynton and Anthony Stewart, healthy scratches against Washington, could be back in and perhaps one of the top six forwards will be rested against Toronto. That might implant some fire back into the forward’s bellies. Based on performances it should probably be Richard Zednik (or Cory Stillman that has been equally poor of late) that is rested, but then again ‘Z’ has a good track record against the Maple Leafs this season; so your guess is as good as mine. Something needs to be done anyway.

David Booth on the fly. David is one of the few Panthers that has been playing well of late; racking up the points, although he and the Cats were left off the board on Tuesday against the Capitals.

Having been bit by the injury bug of late, the Florida Panthers are starting to experience some hardship along the winding path of playoff hockey. As the teams get more desperate in that race, the checks get harder and the injuries more prone to occur. Now is when a team’s depth is usually challenged. That has been the case for the Panthers on this latest five game road trip, which will be closed out tonight in Atlanta, Georgia.

Two players that are definitely out of the line-up are: David Booth and Nick Boynton.

David was hit hard a couple of time by Washington’s defenseman Mike Green, in the previous game, and will be out with an upper-body injury. He’ll then be listed day-to-day and might be back for the pivotal Pittsburgh game on Thursday.

Boynton will perhaps also be back in the fold for that game. He was sent home after an alleged breach of discipline, after the NY Rangers fixture. Quite what happened has not been fully revealed, but it seems Nick may have confronted Head Coach Pete DeBoer as to why he was sat out in the second half of the game. Whatever was said, and how it was said, it was enough for DeBoer and GM Jacques Martin to discipline Boynton by sending him home to South Florida. Pete has said the Panthers will meet with Nick tomorrow and “go from there”.

Cory Stillman and Tomas Vokoun however, may be ready to return today, already.

Stillman who has been out since the morning skate at Madison Square Garden on Feb 26th with a bruised foot, looks like he might be ready to return: “If Cory makes as much progress today to (Tuesday) as he did from (Sunday) to today, I’m pretty sure he’ll play. We still have to give him another 24 hours to make sure,” Pete DeBoer said yesterday. With Booth definitely sidelined it seems like a sure thing that Cory will be starting the game tonight.

Vokoun meanwhile is doing better after an ear infection had sidelined him for the previous four games on the road trip. He joined the team yesterday, after driving from Washington to Atlanta. Coach Pete DeBoer said: “I want to see how Tomas feels after the skate today. […] When he wakes up tomorrow morning we’ll make a decision.”

At time of writing, no decision has yet been made, but with Craig Anderson rebounding well against Washington (after the big loss to New Jersey), I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s in goal today too. There’s no point in rushing Tomas unless he’s fully fit to play. Craig is a capable back-up goalie who’ll be ready to play if needed.

Whoever is in goal, he’ll have an active night tonight, as he’ll face the hottest player in the NHL at the moment: Ilya Kovalchuk. Kovalchuk was named the NHL’s No. 1 star of February; after scoring 13 goals and getting a total of 21 points during that previous month. Atlanta will however be without veteran puck-moving defenseman Niclas Hävelid, who was dealt to the New Jersey Devils yesterday. Rookie defenseman Anssi Salmela went in the other direction.