Us Panther fans though, have reason to celebrate, the consensus is that the Florida Panthers have won this trade. I am not any different, I think exactly the same. In fact, it’s been quite some time since the Panthers had won a trade, really, lets not go back to Olli Jokinen which was a debatable trade, but never mind Roberto Luongo. It seems like the Panthers have really only made two good trades, those being, Bryan McCabe and Tomas Vokoun. Other than that, it’s not looking too great.

And with that, McCabe rounds out the Panthers’ top four quite nicely. McCabe, a long with Jay Bouwmeester, Keith Ballard, and Bryan Allen make a formidable top four, not only in the division, but the conference, and heck, even the whole NHL. It’s not hard to see what GM Jacques Martin is doing here, building from the net out. So, our cross state rivals over there in Tampa Bay, stocking up on their offense, we are down south stocking up on defense, it’s like hot and cold. The Panthers’ won’t score a lot of goals, I can say that now. But with that kind of defense and goalie, will they need to?

Cory Stillman, signed July 1st, was not a bad signing at all, in fact it replenishes about 70 points of Olli Jokinen’s annual 80 or 85. Now full time General Manager Jacques Martin is taking a risk, it’s pretty much written in stone that unless Martin brings in a forward via trade, Shawn Matthias, the Panthers perhaps most valued prospect will make the team out of training camp and center Stillman. I’m not quite sure about this, but in four games last season Matthias scored 2 goals. Not bad at all. Can he do it for 82 games a season against top pairing defense men? Tough call, very tough call.

Peter DeBoer, very solid move on Martin’s part, bring in a coach that can get to these young players, I have a good feeling that he can get the best out of a lazy Nathan Horton, and bring perhaps once highly touted Anthony Stewart, to actually play the game. The Panthers offense would be a lot better if DeBoer got 40 goals out of Nathan Horton who has previously scored over 30. Anthony Stewart also would be tremendous if he put his mind to it. We will see what DeBoer can do there.

Jay Bouwmeester, flat out needs to be signed, bottom line. He needs to be signed, if he’s not, it will be a devastating set back. The only way that can be deemed not devastating is if he is traded for a monstrous return. Bottom line is, trading him shouldn’t be an option unless Bouwmeester has commented to Martin that he would indeed like a trade. Give the man the money he wants, he more than deserves it, through his six years of being a Panther, he has been a complete professional and has done his job each and every night. Kudos to him, if he wants out, grant his wish, I won’t like him any less. Just get a good return for him!

One must wonder why the Panthers really just have such a hard time winning against such a depleted team. The fact is, even when they are depleted, they still seem tough as ever. That’s with losing Cory Stillman and Mike Commodore to trade, Rod Brind’amour to injury and Justin Williams, others as well. Yet they keep moving along like nothing has ever happened. Quite amazing to me. A team so injury plagued, they still put up a fight each night and victorious on most. Even new comers to the team like Patrick Eaves and Joe Corvo look like they could have been there all season. Is it Peter Laviolette? Or is it just the amount of skill and experience the team itself has. I’d think its both, they don’t get rattled by much. The worst can happen and they will still play their system the best they can and keep doing what they do best. Sometimes thats all they need to win games they shouldn’t be in, too.

After being denied a history making eight game winning streak, the Panthers decided to start another winning streak by beating Tampa Bay. If they want to make the playoffs they need to get about 10 more points and rely heavily on teams out of the playoffs to put up a fight with the seventh and eighth spot holders.

Unlike other teams, the Panthers have a schedule that is heavily in their favor. Tampa Bay Lightning twice, Washington Capitals twice and the Hurricanes twice. Tampa Bay, I don’t see being a problem but the Capitals and the Hurricanes just might be a thorn in the side. The Capitals aren’t that same team that you just look at and expect them to fold to teams that are making a playoff push. They are right in it as well and needless to say a much better team on top of it all, than they used to be. Olaf Kolzig? Good goaltender but Huet I believe is more consistent, Sergei Fedorov definitely helps them and I believe Matt Cooke has a bit of an edge over Matt Pettinger. With Bruce Boudreau coming in as well and doing a wonderful job, I just don’t think winning against Washington will be all that easy.

I already talked about how we can’t seem to have any luck against Carolina, to begin with. Winning against the Capitals will be the MOST important objective to get into the playoffs, winning both games eliminates them from the playoff race because ideally Florida and Washington are chasing the same spot. Both games are must win scenarios for the Panthers. The Panthers also need to at least win one game against Carolina to stay in the chase. Although the schedule looks easy, to me, it really isn’t. The Panthers need to come out and play some of the best hockey they could ever imagine playing to make it that far. There is no other way around it. This roster on paper, wouldn’t make the playoffs. They are playing with their hearts and souls into the game. Thats the way they need to play to win. Thats the only way. Florida just does not have the Michael Frolik’s and the Shawn Matthias’ ready for the club yet.

I personally could not fathom the feeling of seeing the Panthers in the playoffs, in my opinion they have every right for being there as much as the next team. It would just be so nice to overcome the “laughing stock” that the Panthers are, in the NHL. Its never easy or nice to hear, “They haven’t made it into the playoffs in over six years.” Over and over again. I blame that on the endless ring of coaches and general managers that Mr. Alan Cohen felt was needed to make this team into a winner.

Olli Jokinen has certainly stepped up his game. After the Zednik incident he went into a prolonged slump. Something not good for this club that already has horrible troubles trying to score. Not only that but its like dressing a player that is injured. He was close to useless for that time. It took him to score against Henrik Lundqvist in a Panthers win to snap out of it, and ever since he has been back to the captain clutch, that he is. That the Panthers need. That the team relies on. If there is no Jokinen leading the way and helping the team. There is no playoffs. There is no leadership. There is no hope. Most of all, everybody in that locker room loves that guy. If there isn’t Jokinen doing what he does best, there isn’t a Panthers team that has desire to do much.

Why is this? Why can’t they sustain a level of play like this for at least half a season so they can have a rather good chance of making the playoffs? I think honestly its just a matter of growing as a team. Besides the team’s core there are only secondary scorers who really don’t score all that much. So needless to say, a lot of Florida’s hockey games are decided by the young core that is still learning. They tend to take nights off and only start to play desperate hockey when there is less than ten minutes left in the game.

That’s not the case with this six game winning streak. The Panthers are playing hockey the way it has been needed to be played all season. A relentless style. There is no doubt that this Florida lineup cant compete skill wise with most clubs. They have to outwork their opponent to win games. That won’t change for a while until this group matures into their prime. Do they have a chance? A little one, yes. As of last night, they were three points out of eighth position. I believe that spot is held by the Philadelphia Flyers. The problem there is, they have two games in hand on the Panthers. My guess is that the Panthers, although it hurts to say it, won’t make the playoffs. Don’t get me wrong, I would be totally psyched if the Panthers did make it in. The team just has to realize that they need to possess a strong work ethic to make it that far. It won’t come easily to them like the Ottawa Senators or The Detroit Red Wings the Panthers just do not have that type of talent to take a night off and still win the game.

Some have given Coach and General Manager Jacques Martin a rough go of it, mainly the fans for the team’s problems this season. Well usually isn’t that were it would always fall, on the coaches shoulders? Yes, mostly I’d have to say, but most fans need to keep in mind that this team is growing and that you can’t right a ship in three seasons, well maybe with a team that has a more deep talent pool, but for the Panthers who have had a revolving door of coaches and general managers, I don’t see how you can blame him for the problems.

The thing is, whenever a coach or general manager is fired the process of learning a new system starts all over again, and if its for a general manager, the process of bringing in quality players, or players in general that fit the coach’s system starts. The Panthers have gone through that, well, more than five times.

Fans need to give Martin the time he needs to bring in his players that will play his system, and also give him time to develop the younger players on this team. If the Panthers could learn anything from their history, its try sticking with one coach and sticking with one direction, because if you fire Martin because he couldn’t get to the playoffs in an unrealistic amount of time given, well, that process of hiring and firing will go on forever.

I’m not going to bash Martin for making the trade because I have personally not seen Kilger play, although mostly a bottom six type of player, he seems beneficial to any club with a ferocious fore check and penalty kill ability. Now, I have some background information on how Kilger was out of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ line up for two weeks or more before the trade deadline, but this is what I want to know, why would Martin trade for Kilger if he knew he would be out of the line up for a extended period of time?

What’s more interesting is that hes suspended from the club and without pay, Kilger failed to report in to the Panthers and has yet to dress up in a Panthers game. One can only wonder, I mostly find it interesting that nobody really knows why, especially with a very “in the face” Toronto media.

Since the Zednik incident, Olli Jokinen has had a couple of assists and no goals. This is extremely unlike the Florida Panthers’ captain who usually nets one or two every other game. Its hard to tell whats going on with Jokinen because in his interviews he seems completely fine.

I guess most Panther fan just find it odd because in one way or another, Olli is always on the score board. Its just quite interesting that Olli has been scoreless since then. In most games he’s working hard but its just not paying off. One thing is certain though, without his offensive presence this team sorely lacks goal scoring ability, it already lacks goal scoring ability even with Olli scoring like a mad man.

When the one person that carries his team on his back goes cold, the outlook isn’t too bright for that team. Luckily over the past few games the Panthers have been blessed with unbelievable goal tending and only came out of games with 1 goal and both games being a shutout and win. That can’t go on for ever though, this team needs to snap out of its scoring woes. You can’t rely on one player to carry a team the whole season, because why else dress any other players if none of them are going to contribute or even be willing to contribute.

I think if the Panthers were located in a more hockey dominant market, things would be much different. With as much of a band-wagoning state as Florida, the pressure is just not on the Panthers to perform like they should be, night in and night out. One may argue that firing Martin would just begin another revolving door of coaches and general managers that couldn’t get Florida into the playoffs. I tend to agree here, although I think Martin should resign from being coach but should stay on as general manager. I think getting rid of Martin completely would be a mistake. Believe it or not, the Panthers have never had a general manager that actually did what he was supposed to do. Martin is doing a fine job as general manager, so why take the chance at bringing in another one that may not know what they are doing? We’ve had enough of those.

Lets not toss all the blame on Martin though, a lot of this has to do with owner Alan Cohen. I’m very critical of him for good reasons, he wants to fire Jacques Martin for not making the playoffs. OK thats fine, but he doesn’t look at it any more than that. Martin had to inherit a mess of a team and has done a good job putting it together. I just think that he has done all that he can, coaching wise. I believe Cohen speaks of getting rid of Martin all together and like I said I think thats not a good idea at all. Now, Alan Cohen talks about not getting to the playoffs, but why doesn’t he look at himself as well, while throwing blame around. Cohen really has no hockey knowledge, but feels he needs to get his paws into hockey operations, and knows what should be done. In reality hes very financially strict and not giving Martin any breathing room in signing unrestricted free agents which could help our team dearly. Not only that but hes a complete control freak, we’ve had so many coaches and general managers in and out of this franchise in the Cohen era its ridiculous. It would be so much better if he just admitted he wasn’t that great with running a hockey organization and left most of the decision making to the people that are paid to run it and know what they are doing. Sadly that isn’t the case, and this is mostly why we have been doing circles since 2001.

Will Cohen keep firing coaches and general managers that cant build a winner in 3 seasons? Very tough to say, like I said bring in a new coach because Jacques Martin’s system is just not working, but keep him on as general manager, plus he has done nothing wrong to warrant being fired at that position anyway. If Cohen fires Martin all together, that will only bring more seasons of hopelessness and just keep this franchise in a tail spin.

“I signed here two years ago a four-year extension, and I want to stay here longer than those four years. Like I said before, this is the place I want to be.”

Said Jokinen, I honestly think Cohen told Martin “NO” to trading Jokinen, because if he didn’t, I think Olli would be sporting another team’s sweater.

Among the new additions to the Panthers would be “Iron Man” Karlis Skrastins, Chad Kilger and Wade Belak. Honestly when I got to thinking about the trades the more I got to like them. At first I didn’t think they were good at all. The Panthers saw Ruslan Salei leave for Skrastins and a third round selection. In my opinion that was a good trade. Unlike last season, Salei hasn’t been producing the same type of play that he was producing last season, which was all around good defensive play and contributing on the power play. Salei has been prone to take many penalties at important points in games, as well as being caught out of position and having a hard time keeping the puck in the offensive zone. At three million a season, I believe all of those weaknesses should be under control. Now, Karlis Skrastins although, has seemed to run aground in Colorado, should be a useful replacement for Salei. Skrastins has his discipline in control and is one of the better shot blockers in the game. Maybe they both just need a change in scenery? I believe this trade was good for the Panthers and at worst, a wash.

Next, the additions of Chad Kilger and Wade Belak. I honestly would have never thought these two players would be in Panthers’ uniforms after today. Two minor acquisitions but how minor are they really? Considering we had been icing 6 AHL players in our line up, Kilger and Belak are just a little bit more than minor acquisitions, they also address several issues the Panthers have been dealing with. One would be physicality, Florida had not one tough guy in the line up, not one. This will help us in several ways, one would be the ability to answer the other team’s enforcer’s call. Another way is to give our offensive players like Jokinen, Horton etc. breathing room. That’s mostly what I expect from Wade Belak.

I believe Chad Kilger is more of a hole filler, fast with a very hard shot, I guess the only down side of that is, well he can’t get it on net. But again, ferocious fore checker and back checker. We could definitely use more of that on this team. If its anything these two players bring to the table, its character and energy. Character could go a long way in a dressing room that is awfully gloomy right now. Energy is one thing the Panthers have been lacking as well.

Maybe this team will come out differently against the Toronto Maple Leafs Wednesday. The Panthers are six points out and although very dim, there is still a light at the end of the tunnel. If this team gives it everything, they can make the playoffs, even when teams around them in the division just got stronger.

There was some speculation that majority owner Alan Cohen had gave head coach and general manager Jacques Martin an ultimatum. He could deal Olli Jokinen but he would then have to make the playoffs. If he didn’t then he would risk losing his job.

Olli has the Panthers’ fan base behind him, would the Panthers’ risk losing fans if Jacques Martin dealt Olli Jokinen? Yes the Panthers would. I believe though, that if the Panthers did deal Jokinen, it would help them if anything. Olli’s stock is as high as it will ever be. He’s not a rental, because of his contract, so the asking price is understandably high. Jacques Martin can bring in several pieces that could help the team more than Jokinen does now.

Olli Jokinen was held pointless since his mishap with Richard Zednik. Jacques Martin sat down with Olli Jokinen after the shootout loss against Boston and told him he needed to step it up. Olli did just that by winning the game tonight against the Flyers. Does this take Olli off of the market? Doubt it, I still feel that if Jacques Martin is presented a deal that can help the Panthers in several ways, I think the odds are that he does it. Nobody really knows what Jacques Martin is thinking.

The Panthers are six points behind the Carolina Hurricanes for the division lead and tied with the Washington Capitals for second place in the division. I doubt this team makes it to the post season, so Martin needs to think wisely about his options. Its still very hard to tell whether Jokinen will be dealt or not but the Panthers play the New York Rangers tomorrow night, a team that they haven’t had good luck against for a long time. It will be a big game considering its the last before the deadline. Tomorrow’s game will decide a lot. Will Olli Jokinen be dealt despite recent success? I don’t think there is anyway to tell, if the Panthers lose tomorrow the scenario may be that much more serious.

The Panthers inability to win important games is a big problem that needs to be fixed quickly. Is it a coaching problem? Is it a leadership problem? Is ownership taking a backseat ride through it all? I’d say yes to all three of those questions.

First, Jacques Martin who is indeed a good coach with over 500 career wins, has navigated this team for the past three seasons, has indeed made progress towards the playoffs. After each season, the point total is higher than the last season’s which is progress, especially with a team that has seen so much change in so little time its frightening. Jacques Martin has a done an outstanding job with our younger players and molding our team into a responsible defensively team. Hold on a second though, isn’t this the new NHL? Granted just because it’s the new NHL doesn’t mean that you don’t play a sound defensive game, but it seems as if the Panthers have totally forgotten about offense. In all honesty I used to believe that the lack of goal scoring on this team was more of a skill issue among the players, which in some cases it is but last night was a clear explanation of why they aren’t scoring. After taking leads early, this team then plays a scared defensive style which never has worked and it will continue to not work. Martin is a big believer in playing a defensive game as most of you know and I believe this system is failing in the new NHL because way too many games the Panthers have lost from sitting on one or two goal leads, I certainly do believe this has something to do with the system. Maybe it’s simply outdated?

Now, getting to the main part, which is leadership. Last season was very different than this season. Why? Because this team has very little veteran presence, actually the Florida Panthers are the 4^th youngest team in the NHL. Last season saw fantastic veterans like Joe Nieuwendyk, Gary Roberts and Martin Gelinas leave the club. Who’s left? Olli Jokinen. Granted he was the captain during their stints with the Panthers but the veterans like Nieuwendyk had a far louder voice than Jokinen’s. There is virtually no leadership on this team. I believe although this is a big learning season for the core of this team, the Panthers should have at least one seasoned veteran on the roster to take control of the locker room when things aren’t going smoothly out on the ice. I never have thought Jokinen was a good captain, although immensely skilled. Since the season seems like it’s been decided for the Panthers, will Olli be dealt? That’s a big, big maybe. He has two years left on his contract with a little more than 10 million dollars yet to be paid. A 29 year old goal scoring center with a very, very reasonable contract at five million a year should have general managers salivating. But does it? It’s hard to say, so many teams are in playoff contention why would they want to gut their roster for one player, albeit a very good player but I’d imagine Martin wanting back a monstrous return. Or why else trade Jokinen? I personally do not see the market value being there to land Jokinen. I think to get Jokinen out of Florida it would take a “wow” type of deal and that very well could be offered to Martin at the deadline or off season. Is Jokinen available? No doubt about it, I’m more than certain Martin is fielding offers on him. Will one suffice? Way too hard to tell, I’d imagine Martin wanting something back with age being a factor. Someone he can continue to build around.

Lastly the Panther’s ownership has never been something to talk high about. Alan Cohen, the majority owner of this team, I believe is ill-educated in hockey. In other words I believe Martin is wrapped around his finger. I do not believe he has ever really talked about glaring weaknesses with the organization, like the need for goal scoring wingers or anything of that sort and he also has a self imposed cap which is OK because many teams have them but maybe just a little too strict with it? I think so, our free agency activity has been minimal the past couple of seasons, because as we all know in free agency, the higher the money, the better the player. I think this season could have been completely different if we had actually brought in a scoring winger to play with Olli Jokinen. We had trouble bringing in Todd White who makes 2.375 million in Atlanta now. So what did Martin do? Brett Mclean who has been a pretty nice pick up in all honesty, Martin got him for 1.7 million. This restricted spending in free agency I believe definitely has to do with ownership holding back Martin from bringing in some players that can really help this team excel. I would think spending a little more money in free agency is better than rushing in our future way too soon then saving a couple more bucks. Because after all, the Panthers haven’t been rebuilding for six seasons for no reason.