Panthers Done Shopping
July 2nd, 2009 by FrankAccording to interm GM Randy Sexton, the Florida Panthers are apparently done shopping for free agents, or at least any free agent that would come in and be a top six forward. What a shame to make such an announcement after only the first day of free agency.
Is this a smokescreen? Is this a ploy to make other teams “think” they are done? Or is it an actual reality? My bet is the latter. It has become very obvious in Panther history that whenever a high priced player leaves town and takes his big salary with him, the Florida Panthers NEVER replace him with one or two or even three players. With the departure of Jay Bouwmeester and his 4.75 million dollar salary, the Panthers have decided that they have enough players to round out the roster and make a go of it for the 2009-2010 season.
Too bad, as they quickly replace backup goalie Craig Anderson with Scott Clemmenson, resign hard working winger David Booth, resign the serviceable Radek Dvorak, and sign defenseman Ville Koistinen (who) from Nashville. Once again completely ignoring the fact that this team still does not have a number one center, and needs a top line scorer. Two things that I and many other Panther fans have been screaming for ever since Pavel Bure left town.
The big splash for a new addition is going to be center Steven Reinpricht, who at best is a third line center, but will be pushed as our second line center. We are told he’s fast, good on faceoffs, has won a stanely cup, and is a good guy in the room. Great attributes no doubt, however, we need scoring and better players.
In my mind the Panthers have taken a step back from last year. Everyone improves in the division and the Panthers continue to stay the same, just change the players. Once again putting on the ice a group of third and fourth liners.
Here’s your number one center everyone!!
Thanks for reading
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3 Responses to “Panthers Done Shopping”
By mthompson on Jul 2, 2009
i’d agree with your step-back comment Frank, but i’m actually pretty impressed with Sexton’s job so far.
to re-sign Booth, and come out of the draft with a really quality players like Kulikov and Shore, all while trying to hire a new GM and living under a tight budget as rumours of an impending sale float around… thats not bad.
By Frank on Jul 2, 2009
Signing Booth was a no-brainer. He had to do that, and the drafting of Kulikov and Shore are both positive. My point is that this team fell short of the playoffs last year by one point. The GM has said that we bascially have the players already to get the job done.
Trust me, I watch this circus every nite, and without a legitimate goal scorer, they are going nowhere!
The Panthers management just doesn’t get it. Each team in the division improved with at least one quality player that was not on the roster last year.