Maybe they were scrubs?
Maybe they got injured?
Maybe they were too old and past their prime?
Maybe they were traded quickly?
Maybe it was based on past glory and success?
Regardless of what the scenario was, every fan has a player(s) that have passed through their teams ranks that you just liked, for one reason or another, and regardless of their play and time spent with the organ-I-zation.
I've been throwing on some games from the past 8-10 years via YouTube and have been having a lot of fun remembering some of the past Cats.
For me, there's five guys that came through in that time period that I wish would have worked out better, but for some of the reasons listed at the beginning of this blog, they just didn't.
Interesting to note that four of the five guys came through the Blackhawks pipeline back when the two clubs traded pretty frequently.
1. George Parros
[Image from CBS Sports]
Years w/FLA: 1 (2012-2013)
Games Played: 39
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
Points: 2
+/-: -15
PIM: 57
Big George and his fantastic mustache. What else can I really say? I've just always been a fan of the guy and the old school style he brought.
When he signed a two-year contract as free agent with Florida in July of 2013, I was hoping we'd see more of the big man on a regular basis, but it wasn't meant to be. He was traded to MTL for Philippe Lefebvre and a 7th round pick. Lefebvre never saw NHL action in his career and the pick turned into goaltender Hugo Fagerblom, who currently plays for the Division 1 League Skövde IK out of Sweden.
Dylan Olsen
[Image from RObert Mayer/USA Today Sports]
Years w/FLA: 3 (2013-1016)
Games Played: 94
Goals: 5
Assists: 20
Points: 25
+/-: -11
PIM: 30
A left-handed defenseman with good size at 6'2", 214 lbs, I liked Olsen in Florida. I thought he moved well and had some grit to him. I found out from an
article that he struggled mightily with pressure and the fear of making mistakes - which spiraled into confidence issues. Sad stuff for a young guy with his whole career ahead of him.
After significant time in Europe, Olsen is currently on the Wichita Thunder of the ECHL (Oilers affiliate).
Glad he's still playing.
Jimmy Hayes
[Image from the Sun-Sentinel/Getty Images]
Years w/FLA: 2 (2013-2015)
Games Played: 125
Goals: 30
Assists: 23
Points: 53
+/-: -10
PIM: 38
The second part of the package in the Olsen trade. Hayes has the frame you'd kill for, but I think struggled to consistently fill the role guy he needed to be - big body to plant in front of the net, complete with some hands and skill to work in close.
I was always rooting for #12 and thought he had some great games in the Panthers sweater. I actually think Florida was where he had his best years.
Ultimately, I think the allure of Riley Smith was a bit too much for management and they sent Hayes to Boston in exchange for the skilled Smith and the Marc Savard's contract.
Jimmy is currently a free agent after playing the 2018-19 season with the Penguins AHL affiliate.
Dave Bolland
[Image from The Hockey News/Jim McIsaac/Getty Images]
Years w/FLA: 2 (2014-2016)
Games Played: 78
Goals: 7
Assists: 21
Points: 28
+/-: 2
PIM: 64
"The Rat" won a couple cups with Chicago, had a cup of coffee in Toronto, and came to Florida as a free agent after signing a five-year deal with them in 2014.
After struggling a bit, he was traded two years into his deal, along with prospect Lawson Crouse (ouch?), to Arizona in exchange for two conditional draft picks.
Hampered by an injury, Bolland wasn't the same player that he was with the Hawks, but he still managed to rock the "A" for a bit in Florida and I loved his knack for being a pest. I wish he could have been fully healthy during his time in the leaping cat sweater.
Tomas Kopecky
[Image from Fox Sports/John E. Sokolowski/John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports]
Years w/FLA: 4 (2011-2015)
Games Played: 240
Goals: 31
Assists: 48
Points: 79
+/-: -35
PIM: 106
I've always liked Kopecky. With three cups to his name (1 w/DET, 2 w/CHI), it's hard to not respect his talent.
I thought he was a good passer, had a pretty lethal shot, liked to hang around the net, and he was kind of an optical illusion to me - he looked skinny and lanky, but was actually a pretty solid guy at 6'3", 210 lbs. He also rocked the budding Robin Hood style facial hair from sometimes, which I thought was cool.
I remember he had some injuries, but it was surprising to go back and see how the production had dropped off over the years:
2011: 82 GP, 15 G, 22 A
2012: 80 GP, 10 G, 12 A
2013: 49 GP, 4 G, 8 A
2014: 64 GP, 2 G, 6 A
When his contract was up, the Panthers did not resign him, and he headed to Europe.
Here's a few other players I always liked:
- Tomas Fleischmann
- Sean Bergenheim
- Al Montoya
- Jacob Markstrom
Are there any guys in this 8-10 year period that you guys liked for one reason or another and wish their time would have been a little more fruitful in a Cats sweater?
Would love to hear your picks...
______________________
Stay safe and go Panthers!
Florida Panthers Blogger • 
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