While teams like Detroit, San Jose and Washington have thrived for 5 or more years, there has also been a boat load of teams that have struggled over that time. The New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs & St.Louis Blues are well into their rebuilding stage, other teams such as the Florida Panthers are making very little progress.
It all starts with the top line forwards, or the lack there of. David Booth has the most potential up front, but has he fully recovered from his 2 concussions 1 year ago? His 22 goals and 39 points this year would indicate that he’s not the player that scored 31 goals 2 seasons ago. Stephen Weiss, now in his 8th season, is again fighting inconsistency. In 2009 he had a career high 28 goals, in 2008 a career high 61 points, this year he’s scored 21 times with 49 points. Weiss is at best a second line center; some experts might argue a 3rd line center on some top teams.
Besides Booth and Weiss, the Panthers have younger smaller forwards that have yet to reach their full potential. But at best most of those forwards might be second liners, and for some that could be a stretch. Tim Kennedy 5’7 has career high 10 goals last year; Jack Skille in his first full year has 7 goals. Michael Repik & Evengy Dadonov are 22 year-old forwards, again small, soft but have explosive speed and have some potential to score into 20+.
The one player who came out of nowhere this year has been Mike Santorelli, who was acquired from Nashville in the off-season for a late round pick. In his rookie season Santorelli, has scored 18 goals with 20 assists. Does he have the potential to be the Panthers #1 center man? To the extreme, former first round pick Rostislav Olesz is the most overrated, over priced 25 year old in hockey today maybe ever. In his 5 years he has a career high 14 goal, but has 3 years left on his contract at 3.25 million per season.
When it’s all said and done, it falls onto Peter Deboer & his coaching staff for the lack of progress. They work day in & day out, it is their responsibility to motivate anyone and everyone. Does that mean Weiss needs to be scratched if he goes 5 games without a point? Maybe not, but benching him for 1 period might send a strong message the team. Deboer has 1 year left on his contract, but odds are he will not return as head coach. They have missed the playoffs every year, and things aren’t getting better anytime soon.
The team’s approaches or lack thereof have not changed since Deboer has taken over. A speed but defensive game but very passive physically, they have been beat up time and time again. They have always been near the bottom for fighting majors, and unless Mike Duco and Kendall Mcardle get full time roles next year, the Panthers have to address that in the offseason, by adding size and grit.
Overall the team defense is alright, they have solid prospects in place with Dmintri Kulokov, Erik Gudbranson and Keaton Ellerby, that combined with Jason Garrison & Mike Weaver the teams shut down pairing, they have 5 of the 6 de-man already in place for next year. Their goaltending is weak, only Scott Clemmensen is under contract, they can possibly give Jacob Markstrom a chance to make next year’s team.
If things continue like this, how long can they survive in Miami? Will the owners continue to lose money hand over fist; will the fans continue to show up for a team with a lack of direction? Could the Panthers move to Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Kansas City? We’re only another two or three years away from finding this out.
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