Matt Ross: More of the Same Q Thoughts & Some New Ones

I’ll be watching way more Cats games come October.. that’s for sure ...

I’ll be watching way more Cats games come October.. that’s for sure ...
- dozerD10

Good to hear!

It’s certainly exciting to see what they put together.

I think it probably has as much to do with multiple racetracks and golf courses as well as the weather as it does the talent of the Panthers. Six mildo keeps rolling in and he's living large. Nice gig. People that said he'd wind up in Winnipeg had no clue.

They need to find a goalie..

Do you see any possible big name Panthers on the trade market?

Panthers in the mix should move pretenders like Torontoe out of the playoffs where they belong.

I think it probably has as much to do with multiple racetracks and golf courses as well as the weather as it does the talent of the Panthers. Six mildo keeps rolling in and he's living large. Nice gig. People that said he'd wind up in Winnipeg had no clue.
- 6628

Oh yea. They joked about the horse racing with Q and the owner, as well as the amount of tracks in FLA during the press conference. Haha.

Do you see any possible big name Panthers on the trade market?
- Ross77

It’s a great question and one of the things I’m curious to see in the summer.

It’s also a reason I’ve been sort of holding back some excitement, because we have to wait and see what this team looks like come summer time, you know.

Should be fun.

I'm not so sure about Panarin but Bobvrosky
is a MUST

Do you see any possible big name Panthers on the trade market?
- Ross77

I really don't think so. Maybe Hoffman who has one year left on his deal.

They need to find a goalie..
- dozerD10

😉 He's currently exorcising his playoff demons.
I guess Varlamov would be their plan B if they don't get Bob.

Matt, your point about Panther coaching history is spot on. Until Q, the Panthers never placed the emphasis on coaching talent that they place on player talent.

Gallant was a good coach, still learning when he was with the Panthers (quite a bit stronger now with VGK). But he got caught up in power struggles with the analytics group and lost.

With the money ball people, we got Tom Rowe as coach. Another inexperienced NHL head coach. The brass banked on stats and acquiring & playing the right players over coaching and structures. The result was incompetence behind the bench and the depressing dive of a division champion in the standings. Incompetence was stronger than money ball and the team's talent. Money ball might have worked with the right coach, but who knows? They certainly didn't apply any stats in the decision to put Rowe behind the bench.

With Boughner, they brought in another first-time coach who they expected to relate well to the young talent. Apparently Boughner talked a good game in the interview process because once again the brass valued managing youth over coaching experience and structures. It was almost as if they were all locked in a room together and expected to figure things out for themselves with no real strong visionary/strategist among them; no one to define how all the parts fit together. An inexperienced coach and an inexperienced team is no recipe for success. The result was missing the playoffs, first narrowly, then by a wide margin.

Now with Q, they seem to understand that coaching and experience matter and the young team needs to be led, not left to their own devices. No more "management by discussions;" Q has the answers and direction.

Optimism reigns in Pantherland now. Let's hope success follows quickly.
Go Panthers!

The Panthers owners before Viola grew nothing but apathy in S FL since 2000. Viola made strides to change that, and then ruined it all with Fudd Rowe and the firing of Gallant. Hiring Q goes a long way towards bringing those fans back (again), "Maybe these aren't the Same Old Panthers...."
https://www.nhl.com/news/...nneville-hire/c-306622568

Matt, your point about Panther coaching history is spot on. Until Q, the Panthers never placed the emphasis on coaching talent that they place on player talent.

Gallant was a good coach, still learning when he was with the Panthers (quite a bit stronger now with VGK). But he got caught up in power struggles with the analytics group and lost.

With the money ball people, we got Tom Rowe as coach. Another inexperienced NHL head coach. The brass banked on stats and acquiring & playing the right players over coaching and structures. The result was incompetence behind the bench and the depressing dive of a division champion in the standings. Incompetence was stronger than money ball and the team's talent. Money ball might have worked with the right coach, but who knows? They certainly didn't apply any stats in the decision to put Rowe behind the bench.

With Boughner, they brought in another first-time coach who they expected to relate well to the young talent. Apparently Boughner talked a good game in the interview process because once again the brass valued managing youth over coaching experience and structures. It was almost as if they were all locked in a room together and expected to figure things out for themselves with no real strong visionary/strategist among them; no one to define how all the parts fit together. An inexperienced coach and an inexperienced team is no recipe for success. The result was missing the playoffs, first narrowly, then by a wide margin.

Now with Q, they seem to understand that coaching and experience matter and the young team needs to be led, not left to their own devices. No more "management by discussions;" Q has the answers and direction.

Optimism reigns in Pantherland now. Let's hope success follows quickly.
Go Panthers!
- JimboCoppertone

Thanks, Jimbo and well said/thought out on your end.

To make a cheesy analogy...I feel like the Panthers have been a boat floating in the water. Just directionless. Now they have a captain.

As excited as I am, I'm trying to stay level-headed because we all know the proof is in the pudding. They have to put it all together and win, you know?

Looking forward top what's on the horizon.

The Panthers owners before Viola grew nothing but apathy in S FL since 2000. Viola made strides to change that, and then ruined it all with Fudd Rowe and the firing of Gallant. Hiring Q goes a long way towards bringing those fans back (again), "Maybe these aren't the Same Old Panthers...."
https://www.nhl.com/news/...nneville-hire/c-306622568
- Ratsreign

Good article, Rats.

Bringing Q in certainly energizes the fan base and puts Florida on the map.

Amazing how one guy can legitimize a team/city so much and he hasn't done anything yet. Now we have to hope that he can get this guys on the right track and get this team trending in the positive (win) column

Corey Crawford???

I'm cautiously optimistic once again (25 years of Panthering will do that!)...

The role of the owner is to write checks, NOT micromanage things, especially with no experience. It's up to the GM and coach to give the owner results.

IF Viola (and more importantly "Dougie Large") stay the hell out of the way this time and let Tallon & Q run the hockey side of things.. The Cats have a bright future ahead, finally... IF everybody understands their role in this thing.

Corey Crawford???
- BlackhawkMike

Man...I'd say pass.

Crow has been great in his time with Chicago, but with all the injuries, I get nervous watching him each time he's in net now. I feel like he's one shot/tip/redirect/collision away from it leading to another concussion and possible career-ender.

Hope the guy can stay healthy

I'm cautiously optimistic once again (25 years of Panthering will do that!)...

The role of the owner is to write checks, NOT micromanage things, especially with no experience. It's up to the GM and coach to give the owner results.

IF Viola (and more importantly "Dougie Large") stay the hell out of the way this time and let Tallon & Q run the hockey side of things.. The Cats have a bright future ahead, finally... IF everybody understands their role in this thing.
- CC PantherFan

Great point and kind of what I was thinking as well.

That "power" has to be given to Q and Tallon to put together and run a team they see fit. Hopefully the front office can step aside and let these guys do their thing and see where it goes.

Man...I'd say pass.

Crow has been great in his time with Chicago, but with all the injuries, I get nervous watching him each time he's in net now. I feel like he's one shot/tip/redirect/collision away from it leading to another concussion and possible career-ender.

Hope the guy can stay healthy
- Matt Ross

I can't see Dale going after Crawford. His health has been a huge question mark the past two seasons and he still has a year at 6mil left on his deal. I would think he goes hard after Bob.

I don't think they'll be going after Hawks current players. I could see them possibly making a move for Hammer with the Yotes to help solidify the back end there. Another possibility would be say Kruger a depth center pk specialist who'd come cheap after the season. But I don't see the Panthers taking any of those major contracts off the Hawks hands.

AS far as Q playing the kids - if you play defense and a 200 foot game you'll play.

I can't see Dale going after Crawford. His health has been a huge question mark the past two seasons and he still has a year at 6mil left on his deal. I would think he goes hard after Bob.

I don't think they'll be going after Hawks current players. I could see them possibly making a move for Hammer with the Yotes to help solidify the back end there. Another possibility would be say Kruger a depth center pk specialist who'd come cheap after the season. But I don't see the Panthers taking any of those major contracts off the Hawks hands.

AS far as Q playing the kids - if you play defense and a 200 foot game you'll play.
- DK002

Hey DK -

Totally agree and sort of what I was eluding to about Crawford a couple comments above.

I'd love for the Panthers to get Hayden from the Hawks. I think he'd be a great depth guy and would fit nicely on the third (if Brouwer isn't around come summer, since I remember the rumors about him and Q) or fourth line. Not to mention he can slot in on the higher lines, too.

I love his game and think there's a lot of potential there IMO.

Thanks to NYI, the Panthers picks acquired for Bjugs and McCann just improved greatly from what was expected by most.
Watching San Jose vs LV, the Sharks should make a deal to get Reimer back 😐.
Reportedly there's long been a rift between Bob and CBJ management (stemming from previous playoff performance?), I wonder if hearts and minds may start to change now.
Not rooting for the Caps over Carolina, but Coach Trotz returning to DC leading the Islanders in the second round would be a great story. That story would pale only in comparison to the freak show that would be the ECF if Leafs and Isles somehow both make it there.

Thanks to NYI, the Panthers picks acquired for Bjugs and McCann just improved greatly from what was expected by most.
Watching San Jose vs LV, the Sharks should make a deal to get Reimer back 😐.
Reportedly there's long been a rift between Bob and CBJ management (stemming from previous playoff performance?), I wonder if hearts and minds may start to change now.
Not rooting for the Caps over Carolina, but Coach Trotz returning to DC leading the Islanders in the second round would be a great story. That story would pale only in comparison to the freak show that would be the ECF if Leafs and Isles somehow both make it there.
- Ratsreign

Hey Rats -

We were talking about the possibility of an Isles vs. Leafs showdown last night at mens league...it would be crazy/awesome.

To your point about Bob and Panarin....I'm still not 100% certain they're coming to Florida. I'd like to think the Panthers would get one (Bob) or both, but there's too many "slam dunk" deals that have not panned out.

At the end of the day, it's just a rumor at this point, you know?

Can't wait for the summer frenzy to begin!