The Fansided NHL Network, that SenShot is proud to be a member of, is embarking on its NHL preview. Each day in September, one of its members will be posting a preview for their club. SenShot will look at their preview, and let you have a look. After that, we will provide our own perspective. Jared will handle the Western Conference teams while Tony will look at the East.
Today, we’ll preview our Southeast , the Florida Panthers.
Here’s what The Rat Trick‘s senior editor, Frank Rekas had to say:
"A new slogan (We See Red), a new head coach (Kevin Dineen), and eleven new players give the fan base of the Florida Panthers reason to believe that things will finally be different. A complete house cleaning that began at the trade deadline in March, and continued into the off season, theFlorida Panthers and general manager Dale Tallon are following through on their promise of change. Change the attitude, change the culture, change the direction, and change the expectations of this franchise. I have lived through the broken promises and empty threats of change in the past, and am here to tell you that this time it’s different. It has to be. This franchise has missed the post season 11 years running, and it needs to stop. I’m not saying that this is the year, but I am saying that we’re close.Last season the Panthers finished with a 30-40-12 record, accumulating 72 points that placed them at 15th in the Eastern conference and 28th in the NHL. Blah! Dale Tallon’s trade deadline salary dumping of “deadwood” and expensive contracts needed to happen. The team had a horrible finish to the season as a result, but sometimes the only way to move forward is to take a couple steps back. To say that the Panthers were active in free agency would be an understatement. Dale and company made more noise than any other team had ever made with the signing of free agents, and the trades he constructed. Questions abound all summer long about the amount of money certain players received, and the length of contracts that were given to some of these newly acquired players. Seems as though pundits are never happy with this club and never want to give them the benefit of the doubt. Obviously the previous track record of the organEYEzation would make them feel that way, however I can’t say this time it’s justified. 82 games will ultimately determine if there’s the “chemistry” that so many people are concerned about. 82 games will determine if these moves were the right moves or not. Either way, the “New Beginning” is something that’s very refreshing, and finally the fans of the Florida Panthers can see the light….or red!Click here to read the entire Panthers preview."
You can follow Frank on Twitter here for all your Panthers news and info.
Here’s SenShot’s take on the upcoming Panther’s season:
The key word in Florida this past off-season was “Change.” With 11 new players, a new coach and a new philosophy, the Panthers are hoping to end their 11 year playoff drought. Will it happen depends on a lot of factors going their way?
With all the new face in town, the Panthers still lack a bon-a-fide NHL star. They have many good players, but nobody in their line-up will make opponents game plan for them. Chemistry will be the first thing the has to go right for Florida. But I don’t think it’s that big of a problem as these are professional athletes who have been playing the sport their whole life.
With a capable blue line, my real concern for the Panthers is in goal. With no starter declared as of yet, Jose Theodore and Scott Clemmensen will battle it out for games. If they can get decent goal tending from either of these two, the Panthers may have a shot to squeak into the playoffs in the weak Eastern Conference.
Do I think the Panthers will make it into the playoffs this season? I think they will toy with the hearts of the few fans they have left and will come in a disappointing ninth in the East.
Check back here tomorrow when we preview the Dallas Stars and their upcoming season.
**Don’t forget to buy your Tickets for SenShot’s Alfie Night in Ottawa on November 11th, 2011. Click here for more details**
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