Will Martin Survive?
March 4th, 2008 by The IcemanEighteen games in the last three years in which the Florida Panthers have lost the lead and eventually lost the game. Nine of those games have been this year alone! Four in 2006-2007, and five in 2005-2006. All of these games have been with Uncle Jack behind the bench. That statistic alone should be enough to get him fired.
In addition let’s not forget that in each of these seasons the Panthers have come out of the gate very slowly. In 2005-2006 the slow start was blamed on Hurricane Wilma, which if you have never lived through one you have no idea what it’s like. Therefore I might be able to buy that. However, many of the leads that were lost were on soft goals given up by Roberto Luongo, who did not play anywhere during the lockout and was not sharp in the beginning of the season.
In 2006-2007 there was another slow start. The trade of Luongo, the injury to Todd Bertuzzi, and the ghost of the prior year’s poor start seemed to hang over the Panthers. In addition when Bertuzzi was known to have been lost for most of the season, and Joe Nieuwendyk had to retire, nothing was done to replace them. That was potentially 40-50 goals that were lost! This year, it was slow starts to games again, lack of chemistry, and early injuries to the defense, and lack of focus from many of the players.
With the exception of this season since it is not over yet, the Panthers have made a dramatic turnaround in the months of March and April. Why? Is it the players trying to save their jobs? Is it because the trade deadline passed and the rumours are dead, and players can relax?
Regardless, the slow start, the lost leads and the late season push show that this is apparently a coaching issue. I would think that anywhere else this type of play would get anyone fired! In addition, it has been proved that a coach has a difficult time also being the GM. Not too many can do it. There is no way that Uncle Jack who has no previous experience as GM can be giving full attention to both jobs, with or without an assistant. That has hurt this team.
The Panthers need someone full time behind the bench, and someone full time as GM.
The team suffers from consistency, lack of preparation, motivation, and seems to either play scared or goes into a defensive shell with 10 minutes left in the game. While they can blame injuries all they want, every team suffers from them. The issue is magnified when injured players are not replaced by proven NHLer’s and a youngster is called up to fill the void. I addition it has been said that lack of toughness has been a problem also, and that a player like Wade Belak should have been picked up sooner. Uncle Jack said that deal was not available earlier in the year. Are you kidding me? We had to wait till the trade deadline to send a low draft pick to the Leafs for him?
Excuses, excuses. All of which the natives are getting tired of, and from what I hear and read, so is ownership. Majority owner Alan Cohen has promised to evaluate and do whatever is necessary to turn things around in the offseason. Perfect. Let’s stop the circus though. Hire a GM first. Then find the right coach. Then go out and get some offense.
Easier said then done. But until Alan Cohen figures out that the youth of the Panthers is not growing up fast enough, or that they are not as promising as they were predicted to be, and some North American veteran players are added, they will not make the playoffs.
Period!
Thanks for reading.
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