Dan Spiegel: Florida Panthers Are Going For It; Pirri's Future In Doubt

Good moves thus far...

Good luck with Kindl. He was always so promising as a 6th or 7th D, if he could not turn the puck over every other shift. He did provide a jolt with the goal scoring. He has a better shot than half of our current D. Glad we could shed the salary at least.

Outside of Bolland, it's hard to find any kind of fault with anything Tallon has done. Good for him since he doesn't get the kind of credit he deserves for putting the pieces together for this Chicago run.

Dale deserves and gets a ton of credit for the first Cup in 2010, in fact the Hawks organization gave him a Stanley Cup ring.

But he also left Stan Bowman in a bind with the salary cap. Bowman was forced to deal Ladd, byfuglien, Versteeg and Campbell after the 1st Cup win. He turned over the bottom half of the roster and won in 2013. Then Bowman was forced to deal Bolland immediately after that.

In addition, Tallon wanted to sign Martin Havlat instead of Marian Hossa. He also did not want to remove Denis Savard in favor of Joel Quenneville. In both cases Hawks President John McDonough sided with Scotty Bowman and overruled Tallon.

Most hockey people in Chicago refer to Tallon as Santa Claus Dale Tallon because he gave anybody and everybody millions of dollars. McDonough ultimately got rid of him because he did trust that Tallon understood the salary cap or all of its aspects.

Dale deserves and gets a ton of credit for the first Cup in 2010, in fact the Hawks organization gave him a Stanley Cup ring.

But he also left Stan Bowman in a bind with the salary cap. Bowman was forced to deal Ladd, byfuglien, Versteeg and Campbell after the 1st Cup win. He turned over the bottom half of the roster and won in 2013. Then Bowman was forced to deal Bolland immediately after that.

In addition, Tallon wanted to sign Martin Havlat instead of Marian Hossa. He also did not want to remove Denis Savard in favor of Joel Quenneville. In both cases Hawks President John McDonough sided with Scotty Bowman and overruled Tallon.

Most hockey people in Chicago refer to Tallon as Santa Claus Dale Tallon because he gave anybody and everybody millions of dollars. McDonough ultimately got rid of him because he did trust that Tallon understood the salary cap or all of its aspects.

Dale deserves and gets a ton of credit for the first Cup in 2010, in fact the Hawks organization gave him a Stanley Cup ring.

But he also left Stan Bowman in a bind with the salary cap. Bowman was forced to deal Ladd, byfuglien, Versteeg and Campbell after the 1st Cup win. He turned over the bottom half of the roster and won in 2013. Then Bowman was forced to deal Bolland immediately after that.

In addition, Tallon wanted to sign Martin Havlat instead of Marian Hossa. He also did not want to remove Denis Savard in favor of Joel Quenneville. In both cases Hawks President John McDonough sided with Scotty Bowman and overruled Tallon.

Most hockey people in Chicago refer to Tallon as Santa Claus Dale Tallon because he gave anybody and everybody millions of dollars. McDonough ultimately got rid of him because he did trust that Tallon understood the salary cap or all of its aspects.
- Omahawk

Dale helped us get a cup, Bowman is working on a dynasty.

I liked watching Fleischmann play when he was in Florida, I hope that he has a few months of inspired play left in him before he hangs up the skates.

New rumor going around has Pirri and draft pick for Yak

Personally I'd take it. Maybe a change in scenery would help the youngster.

Awful game tonight. These new guys can't get here fast enough. Only two point division lead now. Injuries are starting to kill us and to make it worse we lost Montoya and MacKenzie today as well. Shaw even left injured. Luckily we get some new blood Tuesday.

We can probably beat the Jets tomorrow.

Just need to keep winning. Purcell is a decent player, he can play on the 2nd line.

New rumor going around has Pirri and draft pick for Yak

Personally I'd take it. Maybe a change in scenery would help the youngster.
- BallardHitsHard22

Far cry from a 6th round pick hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Far cry from a 6th round pick
- harveykline

What's the point for the cats to do this?!

They really couldn't get anything better? I thought the Sens could've match that at the very minimum and easily give a better pick...especially with the fact that they are shutting down Turris...

So regarding the Pirri trade... here's the deal and if you don't believe me it's on you. I was NOT happy with the trade. I was all for trading him, but a 6th round pick is just awful in terms of return for a 24 year old 20-goal scorer with RFA status.

I won't name names, but someone in the Florida Panthers' organization, who saw my tweets of disgust, DM'd me on Twitter and kind of sort of bashed me for sharing my opinions. The follow are his messages to me:

I'm not going to comment publicly but you're wildly off on your Pirri thoughts. Let's just leave it at that. Not our first rodeo.

After a few responses from me he goes on to say:

No it actually works the other way. He's arb eligible. Makes him radioactive. He's soft and disappears and every team knows that. And in hockey arb he will be way overvalued because he puts up goals. In a salary cap error no team wants to touch a player with arb rights.

I then said that I would rather have Pirri simply for playoff depth and lose him after the season and was told:

Right then we get nothing. He doesn't fit. That's about all i can say out of respect to the player.

Now I'm over this whole thing; it's done. However....... the Hurricanes got a 3rd for John Michael Liles. The Leafs got two 2nd's for Roman Polak. Don't ask me to accept this. He's arb eligible, fine. But if you don't like what he's awarded, let him go be a UFA. Are you REALLY afraid of losing a 6th round pick?

So regarding the Pirri trade... here's the deal and if you don't believe me it's on you. I was NOT happy with the trade. I was all for trading him, but a 6th round pick is just awful in terms of return for a 24 year old 20-goal scorer with RFA status.

I won't name names, but someone in the Florida Panthers' organization, who saw my tweets of disgust, DM'd me on Twitter and kind of sort of bashed me for sharing my opinions. The follow are his messages to me:

I'm not going to comment publicly but you're wildly off on your Pirri thoughts. Let's just leave it at that. Not our first rodeo.

After a few responses from me he goes on to say:

No it actually works the other way. He's arb eligible. Makes him radioactive. He's soft and disappears and every team knows that. And in hockey arb he will be way overvalued because he puts up goals. In a salary cap error no team wants to touch a player with arb rights.

I then said that I would rather have Pirri simply for playoff depth and lose him after the season and was told:

Right then we get nothing. He doesn't fit. That's about all i can say out of respect to the player.

Now I'm over this whole thing; it's done. However....... the Hurricanes got a 3rd for John Michael Liles. The Leafs got two 2nd's for Roman Polak. Don't ask me to accept this. He's arb eligible, fine. But if you don't like what he's awarded, let him go be a UFA. Are you REALLY afraid of losing a 6th round pick?
- Panthers88

Strictly a numbers game. If he stayed he'd be on the 4th line. I don't believe any that stuff about arbitration. That shot happens all the time. Then DT has the jewels to say he can be a top 6 guy somewhere. Keep him and deal him at the draft or this summer or whenever you can but makes more sense to keep him thru the playoffs. A 6th red pick is no different in getting nothing fr the guy.

So regarding the Pirri trade... here's the deal and if you don't believe me it's on you. I was NOT happy with the trade. I was all for trading him, but a 6th round pick is just awful in terms of return for a 24 year old 20-goal scorer with RFA status.

I won't name names, but someone in the Florida Panthers' organization, who saw my tweets of disgust, DM'd me on Twitter and kind of sort of bashed me for sharing my opinions. The follow are his messages to me:

I'm not going to comment publicly but you're wildly off on your Pirri thoughts. Let's just leave it at that. Not our first rodeo.

After a few responses from me he goes on to say:

No it actually works the other way. He's arb eligible. Makes him radioactive. He's soft and disappears and every team knows that. And in hockey arb he will be way overvalued because he puts up goals. In a salary cap error no team wants to touch a player with arb rights.

I then said that I would rather have Pirri simply for playoff depth and lose him after the season and was told:

Right then we get nothing. He doesn't fit. That's about all i can say out of respect to the player.

Now I'm over this whole thing; it's done. However....... the Hurricanes got a 3rd for John Michael Liles. The Leafs got two 2nd's for Roman Polak. Don't ask me to accept this. He's arb eligible, fine. But if you don't like what he's awarded, let him go be a UFA. Are you REALLY afraid of losing a 6th round pick?
- Panthers88

There's more to it. I bet it has something to do with character. Could've gotten more? Who knows... What did WE pay for him, I don't remember. Even the Chicago guys say "no great loss"...

20 goal scorers don't grow on trees

I bet he shagged a teammates woman or something, that always gets a guy out of town fast for the first offer...

Bjudstad can't be healthy.

Bjudstad can't be healthy.
- harveykline

Allow me address the pie as a whole before I discuss one slice....

For the first two periods last night I was sitting on my couch going "we aren't going to make it". I was really concerned. The 3rd period was obviously our best period of hockey in the last two weeks. Also... incredible stat time.... we are 10-7-4 when we don't have all of Huberdeau, Barkov, and Ekblad in the line up. When we do have all 3 healthy, we are an astonishing 16-0-1. That is mind boggling. Huberdeau COULD be joining the team in Colorado and let's hope he does. I liked the debut's last night for Hudler and especially Purcell. Purcell was great on that power play and I think once he and Hudler get used to the system they will both really gel the top 9.

Bjugstad is definitely suffering from something. Idk if it's mental or physical. Also, I'm not impressed by Rau like I thought I would be. Am I missing something there?

Allow me address the pie as a whole before I discuss one slice....

For the first two periods last night I was sitting on my couch going "we aren't going to make it". I was really concerned. The 3rd period was obviously our best period of hockey in the last two weeks. Also... incredible stat time.... we are 10-7-4 when we don't have all of Huberdeau, Barkov, and Ekblad in the line up. When we do have all 3 healthy, we are an astonishing 16-0-1. That is mind boggling. Huberdeau COULD be joining the team in Colorado and let's hope he does. I liked the debut's last night for Hudler and especially Purcell. Purcell was great on that power play and I think once he and Hudler get used to the system they will both really gel the top 9.

Bjugstad is definitely suffering from something. Idk if it's mental or physical. Also, I'm not impressed by Rau like I thought I would be. Am I missing something there?
- Panthers88

I agree, I don't think Bjugstad is 100%. he's had a couple good games, but he ain't right.

Kindl needs to play instead of kamper

Kindl needs to play instead of kamper
- harveykline

I think we'll see Kindl tomorrow. He hadn't practiced with the team so that's why he didn't play yesterday.

I agree, I don't think Bjugstad is 100%. he's had a couple good games, but he ain't right.
- PanthersGoal

Agree.

Doesn't look like Hudler or Purcell will play tonight because of visa issues. The NHL really needs to come up with a different system for all players (dual visa's?). Neither of them flew from Winnipeg to Colorado.

Can't "Florida Panthers Media" do better than drum up an article every 4 days?

Finally have a good team, Finally have something worth writing about, Finally have Fans (in general) and the only attendance problem the Panthers have is their Hockeybuzz blogger.....