Roblogg’s Panthers Portal

Tomorrows transfer deadline will be eagerly anticipated by hockey fans everywhere with a mixture of dread and hope. Some General Manager’s will be more active than others and some will want to get their deals done already. In fact, some have. Here are the deals made today:

Sean Avery claimed by NY Rangers on re-entry waivers

No surprises here. The New York Rangers are obviously desperate and need any help they can get. From a financial (rather than sporting) viewpoint, this is a good deal for the Rangers. They get a big nasty centerman that can help them in their playoff bid and only need to pay half the bill. Dallas will lovingly pick up the other half, seeing as he was claimed on re-entry waivers. Avery has a $ 3.8 million yearly wage and it runs for another 3 year’s after this season. Coach John Tortorella who said Avery “doesn’t belong in this league” will have to learn to love Sean the way GM Glen Sather does…

Meanwhile, another recent Rangers waiver claim, Mark Bell, is sent to Hartford in the AHL to make room for Sean’s princely salary.

Nicklas Backstrom locked up in Wild

After a season of speculation that the Minnesota Wild may have to trade their All Star goalie Nicklas Backstrom on the deadline, if he didn’t sign a new deal – a new deal was signed. It’s a four-year deal worth $ 24 million, which will keep the inspirational netminder locked up to the organization for the foreseeable future. Nicklas had always said he’d like to remain with Minnesota and the Wild clearly wanted him to stay too. This is a great deal for Minnesota’s GM Doug Risebrough and the franchise.

Calgary claim D Nycholat on waivers from Canucks

The Flames were looking for some added defensive depth and got it for free as they claimed Lawrence Nycholat on waivers from the Vancouver Canucks, TSN reports. Calgary GM Darryl Sutter said in a statement: "We were prepared to give up a draft pick to acquire a depth defenseman." Well he got what he wanted and got to keep the draft pick; sounds like a good deal to me!

High profile players placed on waivers

In an attempt to shed salary before the trade deadline, some high profile players have been placed on waivers by their respective teams, TSN reports. The four most notable are:

Miroslav Satan was placed on waivers by Pittsburgh. The Penguins had hoped he’d take a wing spot next to Crosby, but the $ 3.5 million winger didn’t get any chemistry going with Sidney – and now he’s on waivers…

Brendan Morrison was placed on waivers by Anaheim.The Ducks need the cap space because of players returning from injury and Brendan never really got going in Anaheim.

Gary Roberts was placed on waivers by Tampa Bay. The 42-year old veteran forward is expected to attract some attention from tams around the league, including Calgary; where Roberts won the Stanley Cup in 1989.

Martin Gerber was (again) placed on waivers by Ottawa in the hope that someone would take his wages from their hands. Whether anyone is willing to gamble on the out-of-form Swiss netminder this time around however; remains to be seen.

More waiver-claim-eligibles: Brenden Bell was also placed on waivers by Ottawa, Aaron Voros by the New York Rangers and Erik Reitz and Eric Perrin by the Thrashers. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks put Craig Adams on waivers, while Islanders did the same with Jon Sim.

Burrows signed to new Canucks deal

The Vancouver Canucks gritty winger Alex Burrows was signed to a new four-year deal. The 27-year old has managed to work himself up from the ‘energy’ lines up to the top lines and is now rewarded with an $ 8 million dollars worth 4-year deal. It had been rumored the Canucks would trade Burrows if no deal was signed, but now those fears are dispelled in Vancouver and some will sleep a bit sounder tonight.

A couple of Panthers threats to that eighth spot, and beyond, were in action yesterday as the race tightens further. Making the playoffs will be a momentous task for Florida, but on the bright side we have fate in our own hands – with plenty of home matches and games to spare on the closest opponents. Winning against Philly was a great scalp, coming out from the All Star break, but there is no room for error as all teams get in to playoff mode.

The Panthers were hoping from more helping hands from Rangers, after they beat Carolina in their previous game, before taking last night’s trip to the steel city. Sidney Crosby returned from injury for the Pittsburgh Penguins and stated assertively that the playoffs start here. And a playoff game it was as the Penguins and Rangers were locked in crunching action. It was tied at one going in to the third period, but then the scene exploded and Pittsburgh ended up winning the period 5-1, and the game 6-2.

Pittsburgh finally started playing as a team and Captain Crosby deserves some credit for this revitalization. He had four points on the night, including a spectacular backhand shot – buried deep in to the top corner. Kris Letang also contributed with timely goals (2) and Florida need to take the threat posed by the Penguins seriously. We all know the level of talent in the squad and what they are able to do on their day (after all they were Stanley Cup finalists just last year). Level on points as us, but with a couple of games more played; who would bet against the Penguins making the playoffs? Not me.

All the more important then to catch up with the Sabres, and perhaps one of the other teams ahead of them, if we don’t want to bite our collective Cat claws all the way down the wire in April. Buffalo played again yesterday in Northwestern Canada, this time in Calgary. The Flames were well warned following Sabres 10-2 undressing of the Oilers the previous night and turned out to be too hot to handle for the visitors. The home side formed a different challenge entirely and there was always an element of control in their 5-2 win. Mike Cammalleri scored a hattrick and former Panther Todd Bertuzzi chipped in with the game winning goal, as it later turned out to be.

Good news for Florida that the Sabres finally lost, and so; we have a chance tonight to move within one point of them by beating the Canadiens – who are on a three game losing streak – sitting merely eight points ahead of us in the table. A win tonight and they too are within striking distance. Montreal’s last loss, their first after the All Star festivities, came at Tampa Bay, losing 3-5.

Whilst most Panthers sneer contemptuously at what the Lightning have been up to this season, fact is that they’ve won their last three and have been in scorching form since the Christmas break. They are now eight points out of the playoff race, but if they can continue to keep up their play at a consistent top-level and get the star players to continue shining; we can’t yet count them out of the race either. Later today they travel to North Carolina for an important game against the faltering Hurricanes. With the teams respective in-form-temperature-gage going in opposite directions, it remains uncertain what result would be best for the Cats. But of utmost significance – is that it doesn’t become a three point contest.

Elsewhere highflying Bruins entertain the red-hot Devils, whilst at the bottom the Thrashers entertain the Islanders. Ottawa and Toronto travel west for games against St. Louis and Colorado respectively. None of these games are expected to have any immediate effect on the Panthers, but as we next head to New York to meet the Islanders; an eye might be glanced at their direction to assess their current form: After all there are no easy games and we did lose that last time we played in the Nassau Coliseum on New Year’s Eve.

So, with all the action elsewhere and all the possible outcomes of those contests, the most important one is indubitably the game we play inside the Bank Atlantic Center. We are 0-2-1 against the Canadiens this season and need to change those statistics. A win would be priceless, but will undoubtedly come at the price of a sizeable Panther effort; all players need to perform tonight!

Hopefully Thomas Vokoun can continue his solid ways between the pipes – it will be necessary. We also need a couple of pucks bouncing our way whilst remaining unyielding at the back – as there is no room to err in a tight game as this will almost certainly be; and with Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and Buffalo doing what they can to take the playoffs spots up for grab away from us – the Panthers must defend what we currently have with every drop of blood and sweat available.

Bust or break, it’s now or never; if we are to realize our playoff dreams and ambitions!

With Dallas Stars coming to the Bank Atlantic Center tonight, the Panthers again have a chance to retake that elusive eighth spot. Carolina moved past us yesterday by beating Pittsburgh; which probably was a good result for Florida – as the Hurricanes are only one point ahead, with more games played, while the Penguins remain level on points.

Also of importance is that those games, between playoff rivals, don’t become three point contests; unlike our last game against Buffalo… Of course, when you are trailing as the Cats were – once again – you’ll take any point you can get, but ideally you don’t want to drop any points to your playoff foes. Another thing you don’t want to do in an ideal world is pay for your interstate rivals’ players…

Yet, this is exactly what the Panthers have found themselves doing. By placing D Cory Murphy on re-entry waivers, from a successful stint with the Amerks, he was up for grabs and Tampa Bay Lightning is, as we know, ready to jump on any thread of hope that they can – especially when it comes to bolstering a stringy defense.

It’s bad enough to lose Murphy for nothing, and to the Bolts of all teams, but to have to pay half of the remainder of his salary this season – is salt in the Panther wounds. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for Cory, he’ll get his chances across the state – indeed he already has found himself quarterbacking the Lightning power-play (getting a man-advantage assist against Dallas), but it just doesn’t make much sense for us does it? This must be a new way of doing business, since normally; you’d want something in return for giving up an asset. Certainly you wouldn’t want to pay for him to playing with our fiercest rivals and in the process significantly reinforcing their team, would you?

If indeed the Panthers have no need to keep Murphy, even as a back-up in case of injuries, wouldn’t it be better to either trade him or put him on normal waivers?

I would have to assume General Manager Jacques Martin fully explored the trading option to no avail first, but why not waive him, and if unclaimed (paying his entire salary is after all a less attractive option to other teams) let him continue to strengthen the AHL affiliate in Rochester. He had done very well there, according to reports, and keeping Cory with the Americans would significantly help that team overcome some of its previous struggles. Not doing this and preferring to place Cory on re-entry waivers, clearly signals to the Amerk faithful that the Panther organization has given up on Rochester’s season and that they really don’t care too much either.

Hopefully this is all part of a grand scheme, one in which the Panthers are preparing the way for a reinforcing trade. One in which Florida need the extra cap space and the sacrifice of Murphy, and the American affiliate, is for a higher purpose; one that will ultimately help both parent and affiliate in the intermediate and long term future.

But please, excuse my skepticism; apart from the Cory move, little else has happened to signal a move is in the offing. Of course we all know the unfortunate situation of Jay Bouwmeester and his expiring contract, but there is not much to suggest he’ll be moved before the trade deadline – if contract negotiations are indeed a no-go. Coach DeBoer swears by Bo and his importance to the team is unquestionable; he must be kept for as long as is possible – if the Cats are to have a realistic chance to push for the playoffs this year.

A few players have been mooted as possible departures from Florida in various trade rumors, such as Nathan Horton, but of late it has been very quiet on this front. Most likely because the team is performing so well that no one wants to shake up or disturb the balance of the roster. And Horton meanwhile, has started to put some much sought after points on the board. There are still some deficiencies that Jacques will need to address at some point; most notably the lack of a star center (none withstanding Horton’s late rise) and the prerequisite of having a decent penalty shooter or two…

Too many important playoff points have been squandered in the shootouts, and while there is undoubtedly some luck involved in these occasions, it isn’t bad luck which makes the Panthers lose one shootout after another. Hard work and determination is what has brought Florida success so far this season and the reason why they are able to stage so many comebacks. This is immensely important, but you don’t see the Cats out-skill their opponents and that lack of individual brilliance is what is costing them in the shootouts. Hence, some pieces are still missing in this puzzle of success.

Nonetheless, the current Panther team and staff deserve a lot of credit for what they have accomplished so far in the season. But, it is not over yet. We are still in that ninth spot and need to get two more points from tonight’s game against the Stars. It won’t be easy, but then again there are no easy games in the National Hockey League anymore. Dallas lost the other night to a Cory Murphy fuelled Tampa Bay Lightning, and if they can do it – so can we.

Moreover, it is an essential game for the Cats as we head in to the All Star break after tonight’s game. The importance of ending on a confidence boosting high – cannot be underestimated.

FSN Florida’s play-by-play announcer Steve Goldstein frequently uses the phrase “the comeback cats” to describe the metamorphosis that the Panthers have gone through from previous seasons. Last year the Cats never seemed able to claw themselves back from adversity or overcome deficits, but this season it’s been a different story altogether.

Trailing a goal or two, as we did both yesterday and the day before (versus Tampa Bay and Philadelphia respectively), used to be reason enough to head for an early night’s sleep. Florida rarely, if ever, managed to stage such comebacks – in fact – going in to the third period with a couple of goals ahead; would not even that be a reliable guarantee of points. This has all changed this term. With character players and veterans such as McCabe and Stillman on the team, the Panthers may be down – but never entirely out of the contest.

The Panthers, after five days off from competitive hockey, started slowly both against Philadelphia and Tampa Bay; going two goals down in the first period against both those adversaries. Friday’s comeback against the Flyers salvaged a point, after losing the ensuing shootout, and yesterday’s game against the Lightning went a notch better – claiming all the spoils. And it was two very important points. It sends the Cats into eighth spot in the Conference; claiming a playoff berth at this moment in time.

It may not have been a beautiful win, as Florida Head Coach Peter DeBoer readily acknowledged after the game, but the steely resolution on display from his team, heralds a promise of better times ahead. The Panthers looked sluggish from the previous day’s shootout defeat to the Flyers and lost the first period, 3-1, much to the hometown supporter’s glee. The only goal scored by the Cats was by Gregory Campbell, which was a positive omen in itself for the visitors; as when he has scored this season – the Panthers have always got at least a point in compensation.

This game was no exception to that rule. The Cats came out hungry and started the second period by chasing the Bolts around the rink. The energy applied soon reaped its due reward, with Cory Stillman scoring on the visitors’ first power-play opportunity. By staying out of the box this period, the Panthers could roll their four lines and put pressure on Tampa’s weak backline; turning the game on its head and the hosts on their back feet.

Especially Nathan Horton, who up until this point had looked hesitantly hapless and lethargic – suddenly burst in to action. He was the one who fought for possession, and claimed the puck, so that Stillman could pick it up and discharge it into the top of the net. Horton got an injection of confidence from the play and assisted on the next two goals also. The game leveler was scored by Richard Zednik, who jabbed home a loose puck in front of the crease through sheer will of determination. The game winning goal was shot home by, recently prolific goal scorer, Jay Bouwmeester – with merely tenths of a second remaining of the second period. The third was period played out as cagy 0-0 contest.

The Bo goal and game winner was scored on a power-play; the best possible settling of scores – as Evgeny Artyukhin was penalized for an unclean tripping on Ville Peltonen. At least that was the official call from the referees. The television pictures however showed a very different story. It was a deliberately dirty challenge by the big Russian; which purposely targeted Peltonen – with the conscious effort to maim the opponent. Mission accomplished; as Ville struggled to get back on his feet and is now out with a lower body injury.

It remains a mystery how the officials could miss this blatant foul and how Artyukhin could be allowed to continue to play, after a measly two minute penalty. It was a career ending kind of tackle – that has no place in hockey; the NHL commissionaires must come down hard on this kind of behavior to set a firm precedence. Florida Coach Peter DeBoer said after the game: "It’s a dirty hit. […] We’ll let the league decide what they’re going to do with it." Whatever they decide, fact is that these actions aren’t, and cannot be tolerated within the game; it is a much worse offense than the much talked about badmouthing by Sean Avery and the penalty must reflect this clearly.

The only reason Artyukhin literally got away with murder on the ice, was the naivety of the referees. Perhaps not accustomed to players faking injuries – so that they won’t risk being penalized (unlike professional soccer where this is a common occurrence and is less likely to fool the hardened umpire), Artukhin successfully played hurt in order to gain sympathy from the officials – and only ended up getting the two minute tripping call. It is unfortunate, but replays clearly show the degree of the offense, and subsequent theatrics, and we can only hope the league will set a forceful precedence; in order to avoid any such future travesties.

However, the significant consequences of this incident are, and remain, that Ville will be out for an unknown period of time and that the Panthers scored the goal which won us this important game. 4-3 was the end result and next follows an imperative game against the Sabres on Monday at the Bank Atlantic Center.

Having now moved into eighth spot, Florida trail Buffalo with only two points and can take a decisive step toward the playoffs – by beating them on home ice. With the mental strength and aptitude displayed, so far in to the season by the Panthers, I for one wouldn’t bet against them winning on Monday. It’s another all-important test for this year’s “comeback Cats” and let’s hope they pass this one as well.