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If you’re a Simpsons fan, I hope you appreciate the “GABBO” reference. My plan was for it to get your attention like it did the residents of Springfield, because there’s been some much needed league and Panthers news the past few days...so let’s take a look...
Obviously the big announcement was the news that broke yesterday that the NHL is shooting for a January 13th 2021 start. That’s right, Jason Voorhees will be out on a Wednesday and not a Friday next January.
Still a lot of items that need to be ironed out, but it’s nice to at least hear a proposed date. Hearing hockey could be back certainly gives a feeling of hope to a lot of fans who have been drained by 2020 - myself included.
If all goes well, a vote could take place next week and we could see the ball really start moving. Apparently one of the items discussed on the Board of Governs call today was the proposed realignment for divisions. Take a look at the below:
If these stick, the cast of characters Florida finds themselves amongst is an interesting assortment of talent, with a couple teams in there that can make for some spicy competition:
CAR - poised to do some serious damage
CBJ - solid defense, struggling offense
DET - struggling
CHI - rebuilding but have some exciting young guys
FLA - will they ever take the next step?
MINN - ehh...
NAS - window closing?
TB - champs looking to repeat
At this point I don’t care who is in the division, let’s just get this thing going again!
The Blue Paint
The big Panthers news as of late centers around the crease and it starts with Florida’s 13th overall pick in the 2019 draft: Spencer Knight.
How ironic that I mentioned in the comments of the last blog that I was curious to see how he will develop, and he ends up notching back-to-back shutouts for Boston College and is now on his way to play for Team USA at the WJC.
From CBSSports.com:
“Knight is up to his old tricks again, sporting a perfect 4-0-0 record along with a 1.50 GAA and .955 save percentage thus far in the early going. The No. 13 overall selection in the 2019 draft by the Panthers, Knight is off to Edmonton where he will backstop Team USA at the 2021 World Junior Championship. Any hopes the Americans have of winning the tournament rest solely on the wide shoulders of the 19-year-old Connecticut native.“
Pretty incredible to make 30 saves Friday night and another 36 the next day on Saturday and not let anything in. Add to that a 4-0-0 start to the college season and a .955 save percentage...wow.
Not to mention the guy has some comedic chops, too:
So, yes...it’s easy to be very excited about Knight. Heck, The Hockey Writers certainly are judging by the
glowing review of the potential future star.
From the article:
“
Although Knight likely won’t make his NHL debut until the 2022-23 season, his recent play in college and national hockey has him destined for success in the NHL. Knight dominated with the U.S. National U18 team in 2018-19 – in 33 games, he produced a 2.36 GAA and a .913 SV%.
His success continued in the NCAA – in the 2019-20 season with Boston College, he played 33 games and managed a 1.97 GAA and a .931 SV%. After being the highest-drafted goalie since Price, Knight now has a lot of pressure on him to become the next star goalie in the league. He will be taking over from Sergei Bobrovsky, who will likely help him in his transition to starting goalie as Bobrovsky ages.
The 2020-21 World Junior Championship (WJC) this month is going to be a big test for Knight and Team USA as they look to win gold for the fifth time in tournament history. Having another successful performance on a global stage like this is going to be big for Knight’s reputation around the league, as the WJC is a great tournament to watch when it comes to the next big talent in the NHL. In only four games at the WJC in 2019-20, Knight produced a 2.49 GAA and a .913 SV%.“
Adding...
”Knight will be a top 10 goalie in the NHL when he finally becomes the Panthers’ starting goalie – the reason I am so sure he is destined for this success is because of the numbers he produces and continues to improve on. He is only 19 years old so he still has time to work out any problems that he has in his game.
As he takes over in net for Florida, I think he will eventually become one of, if not the best goalie in the NHL.”
I can’t wait for Knight. As Panthers fans, I think we’re all pumped. He is putting together an incredible resume thus far and I hope he continues to do so.
But I have one fear with Knight and that’s this: hype.
I love the article’s enthusiasm, but it also plays into my above-mentioned “hype” fear. Sports fans fall victim to the “can’t miss” or “generational talent” hype train surrounding a player all the time.
Guys have fallen short for a multitude of reasons - it happens - but it’s always a shame when unrealistic expectations destroy a player because he can’t live up to them.
An organization like Florida - who is starved for a star player or bright light to guide them out of the mediocre darkness - is especially susceptible to this.
Knight doesn’t have the luxury of being able to fly under the radar and take the league by surprise. He’s just too good with signs of getting stronger.
He’s dominate in a pool of his peers right now and certainly looks to have the chops to keep developing up the ladder to the ultimate destination: the NHL.
For me, I think the best thing Cats’ brass can do right now is take it slow and let him develop. Don’t rush it. Let him take his lumps and develop his game at each level. Be excited, but keep the expectations for him and the fan base realistic.
So how do you do that?
Enter the “Goaltending Excellence Department”
[Image from Panthers Website]
There’s an in-depth
article on the Panthers’ site that explains the premise and outlines the main minds behind the Goaltending Excellence Department.
In a nutshell, it states:
“The Panthers first-of-its-kind department will focus on a comprehensive, integrated experience and program for all goaltenders in the Panthers system and will coordinate and oversee coaching, development and scouting. Upon joining the organization, a Panthers goaltender will experience consistent communication, guidance and unified instruction from the goaltending excellence staff.”
It’s a great idea, but, truthfully, I don’t think it’s anything terribly unique. While they might not have their own name or department, I think most organizations practice some form of unified player development throughout all of their affiliates.
The name can use some work, but a few other thoughts come to my mind when seeing this news:
1. Goaltending (and true development there) has been a sore spot for Florida for a long time. This is an initiative to really focus on this aspect of the team and give it the extra attention it needs. It sort of feels like when a small school uses the idea of small classes offering more attention and one-on-one learning opportunities for students, as opposed to a big school where that attention can often be lost because of sheer volume of students.
2. With the drafting of Knight, the Panthers know they have something special and they cannot blow it. This initiative is to make sure Knight (and future goalies) develops into the potential difference-making star this team desperately needs. I know, seems like something they should have been doing all along, but maybe the realization of Knight’s talent and the fear of squandering it, has kickstarted this whole thing...
3. Lip service to fans to make us feel like they’re developing (one of the many) areas of the organization that needs it.
4. Maybe it’s a little bit of everything?
Whatever it is, its a cohesive effort aimed at bettering a very important position. My hope is that it works and unlocks Knight, and the organization’s goalies, full potential.
Just another thing Zito is doing to strengthen this club. Let’s see where it goes.
____________________
Here’s to hoping that January 13th date (even if it’s a little longer) gets set and we have hockey back.
Go Panthers!
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