Crib Notes - Florida Panthers

Florida Panthers
Finished 3rd in the Southeast. Did not make the playoffs
Let Nick Boyton and Karlis Skrastins go unsigned.
Signed D Ville Koistinen as a free agent.
Richard Zednik signed with a KHL team.

Questions going into 2009-2010:
Looking back, was it a good idea to trade Jay Bouwmeester and not resign him?
Does this team have enough depth for a playoff run?
Can Jordan Leopold do enough to make the team forget about Bouwmeester?
Can Booth, Weiss, Frolik and Greg Campbell top last season's results?
Why did the creators of Seinfeld make Larry David's character an Italian?
Did you know that the Panther is an endangered species in the state of Florida?

Poised for a breakout season:
The Panthers had a couple of players last season that raised some eyebrows.
David Booth had over 30 goals. Stephen Weiss had over 60 points. Michael Frolik was great out of nowhere.
If Vokoun stays healthy this whole team has a breakout season.

If you had to buy one Panther sweater:
I am a fan of the dark blue jerseys. If I was an 8 year old in Sunrise I'd ask for a David Booth (with the new "A") for Christmas. If I came across a Scott Mellanby for cheap on eBay I would be pumped.

Player whose game you like:
Nate Horton is a 30 goal scorer who hits, fights and plays in traffic. There's alot to like here.

Player whose game has abandoned them:
Bryan McCabe. He's still got the hammer from the point and is a bear on the power play but that's really it now. Remember how much of a beast he was the first few years in Toronto?

Old guys:
Cory Stillman is 35
Bryan McCabe is 34
Steve Reinprecht and Tomas Vokoun are 33

Young guys:
Michael Frolik is 21
David Booth is only 24

Tough guys:
Ballard and McCabe still bruise shit up.
Nathan Horton is a wrecking ball.

Favorite old school Panther:
Paul Laus was our generation's Lyle Odelein. I don't know what that means.



Goaltending coach:
Former Bruin Rob Tallas

Nostalgia:
Florida fans chucking rats on the ice after Scott Mellanby killed one in the locker room. I used to think it was dopey but now I sneaky like the idea of it.




Interesting?:
You can buy a Panther Ice Dancer swimsuit calendar! Seriously, check out Judy.

NHL 94 players:
Brian Skrudland, Andrei Lomakin and Scott Mellanby up front.
Gord Murphy and Joe Cirella on D with John Vanbiesbrouck in net.
I don't think I have ever heard of Andrei Lomakin - honestly.

Prediction?
The Panthers make the playoffs. And this chick has sex with a dolphin.

YouTube:
Lefty goalies freak me out so it's nice to see a guy go back hand over the glove side on a shoothout attempt.



- Nemmy