Matt Ross: Cats Try to Turn Things Around

Nope, no turning things around....

I was surprised when Florida signed Stralman for 5.5 mil a year for 3 years

I looked at him as a formally solid defenseman starting to wind down and the Panthers gave him the most the money of his whole career

If they traded Trocheck, who would play 2C? They would patch one hole in their lineup while creating another. There's no one in their organization to fill that role right now. Borgstrom is not yet ready, everyone else is better suited in the bottom 6. Trocheck is finally rounding back into form after the leg injuries. Trading Trocheck would be idiotic at this time, imo. Buffalo has been struggling mightily with no true 2C since trading O'Reilly, FL would be foolish to make the same mistake.
Hoffman's all around game has really picked up since DT made the comment around New Year that guys would be traded if things didn't improve. What would Hoff as a rental even return in a trade? Interested teams would most likely be contenders wanting to give up picks & prospects. I doubt Hoff on an expiring deal would return the defender FL needs in a trade. I'd rather see them keep Hoff and see how far they can go. If he just walks away this summer, oh well, they pretty much stole him in the first place. I have concerns about trading Hoff and then calling up Tippett and expecting him to jump right in and immediately replace Hoff's scoring contributions.

Nope, no turning things around....
- Roadrunner75

I was surprised when Florida signed Stralman for 5.5 mil a year for 3 years

I looked at him as a formally solid defenseman starting to wind down and the Panthers gave him the most the money of his whole career
- jimbro83

I know what you mean. It was certainly a surprise to a lot of people.

If they traded Trocheck, who would play 2C? They would patch one hole in their lineup while creating another. There's no one in their organization to fill that role right now. Borgstrom is not yet ready, everyone else is better suited in the bottom 6. Trocheck is finally rounding back into form after the leg injuries. Trading Trocheck would be idiotic at this time, imo. Buffalo has been struggling mightily with no true 2C since trading O'Reilly, FL would be foolish to make the same mistake.
Hoffman's all around game has really picked up since DT made the comment around New Year that guys would be traded if things didn't improve. What would Hoff as a rental even return in a trade? Interested teams would most likely be contenders wanting to give up picks & prospects. I doubt Hoff on an expiring deal would return the defender FL needs in a trade. I'd rather see them keep Hoff and see how far they can go. If he just walks away this summer, oh well, they pretty much stole him in the first place. I have concerns about trading Hoff and then calling up Tippett and expecting him to jump right in and immediately replace Hoff's scoring contributions.
- Ratsreign

Awesome analysis, Rats. Thanks for sharing and I totally get your points!

I’m just thinking something significant needs to happen. Either way, it’s one of those hindsight is 20-20 things...if you don’t make a trade and you miss the playoffs, you wonder if you should have traded. If you do and you miss the playoffs, you wonder if you should have kept the band together.

You were the better team Saturday night. You have played Pens tough all year, I do not want to see you as an opponent in the playoffs...

I can't see you missing out though, the team is too good--barring injury.

If you can find a decent deal on Matheson I say take it. I have been a fan and his speed and poke check ability will be missed but those same pokes have been getting him in trouble as of late with penalties and the defensive side is lacking in my opinion

You were the better team Saturday night. You have played Pens tough all year, I do not want to see you as an opponent in the playoffs...

I can't see you missing out though, the team is too good--barring injury.
- Amanion

It would make for a great series 👍

Wow terrible missed call before that 3rd goal those are the "automatic calls" as they say. Refs should start getting fined for missed calls. Thats where the puck was so it shouldnt have been missed

If they traded Trocheck, who would play 2C? They would patch one hole in their lineup while creating another. There's no one in their organization to fill that role right now. Borgstrom is not yet ready, everyone else is better suited in the bottom 6. Trocheck is finally rounding back into form after the leg injuries. Trading Trocheck would be idiotic at this time, imo. Buffalo has been struggling mightily with no true 2C since trading O'Reilly, FL would be foolish to make the same mistake.
Hoffman's all around game has really picked up since DT made the comment around New Year that guys would be traded if things didn't improve. What would Hoff as a rental even return in a trade? Interested teams would most likely be contenders wanting to give up picks & prospects. I doubt Hoff on an expiring deal would return the defender FL needs in a trade. I'd rather see them keep Hoff and see how far they can go. If he just walks away this summer, oh well, they pretty much stole him in the first place. I have concerns about trading Hoff and then calling up Tippett and expecting him to jump right in and immediately replace Hoff's scoring contributions.
- Ratsreign

Trade who ever you have to and get some Defensive help. Handle is a turnover machine. Weegar thinks he’s a forward. Ekblad needs power skating lessons. Stralman is a dinosour

Ekblad you idiot all the time in the world and you fire it up over the glass!!!!
Not like we are down a couple goals or anything

God damnit this powerplay is stinking up the joint what is going on slow motion need 2 goals yoh idiots!!

I dont even know what to say. That allstar break f'd us so hard. Now we cant even score goals. Vatrano how many chances do you need to score a goal? Try hitting the net !
Idiotic passes all game long. Brutal slow powerplay. No hitting just fly-bys amd forgetting the puck

I dont even know what to say. That allstar break f'd us so hard. Now we cant even score goals. Vatrano how many chances do you need to score a goal? Try hitting the net !
Idiotic passes all game long. Brutal slow powerplay. No hitting just fly-bys amd forgetting the puck
- Shynes57

That’s what I was saying about the AS break in a previous blog...sometimes it seems like it can disrupts a team’s momentum, man.

It was a very promising looking first period

Why is Hawyrchuk on the Panthers and Tippett in the minors?

Why is Hawyrchuk on the Panthers and Tippett in the minors?
- edge1

It’s a good question. Initially, I think the idea was to have Hawryluk play that pest/agitator role. He was one of the few to bring some physicality, too.

But I’m kind of stumped at this point as to why Tippett has not gotten a long look this season - especially with him being an AHL points leader at one time this season (I believe).

There’s something odd about the handling of Tippett in my opinion. They hyped him for a long time and they seemed to have cooled on that. He has good size and skill, not sure why he isn’t up more.

I always heard that he was lacking on the defensive side of the puck. But what the hell do I hear up here?? All I hear is Leafs / Sens / Habs

I always heard that he was lacking on the defensive side of the puck. But what the hell do I hear up here?? All I hear is Leafs / Sens / Habs
- Shynes57

So he’d fit right in with these guys...

It’s a major problem when not 1 but 2 dman are playing forward

It’s a major problem when not 1 but 2 dman are playing forward
- harveykline

And they're playing on a line with noel effing acciari and have three goals after 2. It only goes to show how focused they were on getting offensive defenseman, and seeing actual defensive ability as a secondary requirement.
Great move by Q to kick start things, though.
Hawryluk keeps underwhelming.

Panthers fans saying, "we want six!" "We want seven!" aren't being greedy, we just know that might actually be how many it takes

It was a terrible and sloppy win against a poope team but we'll take it. Shame the yotes couldnt topple the leafs for us. Not sure what is going on with line 1 and the entire powerplay

Exactly right.