Matt Ross: Culture and ‘99 Cats

Culture is hard to change. The Cat Clan has a good amount of skill and are not a badly constructed team. I would have thought an old school coach like Q would have been the perfect guy to change things; and I still like him there. I think the Bob in goal signing was bad and after living with the massive Luongo contract the team would have avoided another massive commitment in goal to an aging guy...

The culture goes back as far back to Roger Nielsen and remains today when he said it’s great when you can ride your bike to practice while wearing flip flops. Ask coach Q and he will tell you it’s the great weather and Gulfstream park

Not sure that I totally understand the stats, but it seems like a problem to have Denis Malgin leading SAT for forwards. I didn't see Huberdeau or Barkov in the top five.

Maybe my multi-year eye test was right--the right guys are passing too much and the wrong guys are taking too many bad shots.

Go Panthers!

EJ is correct in much of what he said. Bob needs to be better, but the team effort on D in front of him sucked and too often left him hanging. Blaming it all on Bob is oversimplifying it all. I like Zito’s moves so far. I think he zeroed in on the main issue right away, that they were too willing to accept mediocrity. The players would say all of the right things, but never back it up with their actions or effort.
These players all seem to love playing in this warm weather market. Time for Zito to make it painfully clear that if you don’t care about winning here above all else, you will soon find yourself playing somewhere very very cold in the winter.

The culture goes back as far back to Roger Nielsen and remains today when he said it’s great when you can ride your bike to practice while wearing flip flops. Ask coach Q and he will tell you it’s the great weather and Gulfstream park
- harveykline

Not sure that I totally understand the stats, but it seems like a problem to have Denis Malgin leading SAT for forwards. I didn't see Huberdeau or Barkov in the top five.

Maybe my multi-year eye test was right--the right guys are passing too much and the wrong guys are taking too many bad shots.

Go Panthers!
- JimboCoppertone

The stats weren’t super clear, but some interesting info in there. Too funny about Malgin

EJ is correct in much of what he said. Bob needs to be better, but the team effort on D in front of him sucked and too often left him hanging. Blaming it all on Bob is oversimplifying it all. I like Zito’s moves so far. I think he zeroed in on the main issue right away, that they were too willing to accept mediocrity. The players would say all of the right things, but never back it up with their actions or effort.
These players all seem to love playing in this warm weather market. Time for Zito to make it painfully clear that if you don’t care about winning here above all else, you will soon find yourself playing somewhere very very cold in the winter.
- Ratsreign

I wonder what Zito would have done if he was in Dale’s position last year. Would he have went with Bob (who was familiar to him from CBJ)? Or would he have went a different, more cost-friendly/sensical route in terms on contract?

I wonder what Zito would have done if he was in Dale’s position last year. Would he have went with Bob (who was familiar to him from CBJ)? Or would he have went a different, more cost-friendly/sensical route in terms on contract?
- Matt Ross

Considering that Columbus wasn’t going to give him that type of money, perhaps he goes a different route than bringing Bob here.

Culture is hard to change. The Cat Clan has a good amount of skill and are not a badly constructed team. I would have thought an old school coach like Q would have been the perfect guy to change things; and I still like him there. I think the Bob in goal signing was bad and after living with the massive Luongo contract the team would have avoided another massive commitment in goal to an aging guy...
- Queenie_5_hole

The Bob contract kills me. Haha.

In the above comment, I mentioned that I often wonder what Zito would have done last year if he had been the GM. Does he do the massive Bob deal, or do something else?

Driedger is still the better option IMO and at a ridiculous fraction of the Bob money.

But it happens. Like Rats said, that’s sometimes the cost of doing business. Bob was the big goalie get last offseason and it was a roll of the dice if it would work out - so far it hasn’t.

Considering that Columbus wasn’t going to give him that type of money, perhaps he goes a different route than bringing Bob here.
- Ratsreign

I’m really curious how Knight will develop.

I’m really curious how Knight will develop.
- Matt Ross

Off to a good start, from Todd @ LBC,
“Florida Panthers top prospect Spencer Knight posted his second shutout in a row as Boston College blasted Providence 9-0 on home ice on Saturday.
After blanking the Friars 3-0 on Friday, the sophomore goaltender stopped a season-high 36 shots for the undefeated Eagles.
The 13th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft is now 4-0 with a 1.50 GAA and .955 save percentage. Knight has stopped 126 of the 132 shots he has faced this season.”

Knight is now joining team USA for the upcoming WJC. Hope to get to see some of their games around Christmas

The Bob contract kills me. Haha.

In the above comment, I mentioned that I often wonder what Zito would have done last year if he had been the GM. Does he do the massive Bob deal, or do something else?

Driedger is still the better option IMO and at a ridiculous fraction of the Bob money.

But it happens. Like Rats said, that’s sometimes the cost of doing business. Bob was the big goalie get last offseason and it was a roll of the dice if it would work out - so far it hasn’t.
- Matt Ross

I thought with taking Spencer Knight, Florida would avoid going hard after Bob. Obviously they needed an established goalie for several years before Knight would be NHL ready; but it is what it is.

I thought with taking Spencer Knight, Florida would avoid going hard after Bob. Obviously they needed an established goalie for several years before Knight would be NHL ready; but it is what it is.
- Queenie_5_hole

The crazy thing is that they signed Bob to the big deal and then drafted Knight...

Some people are saying Knight will probably be ready in 4-5 years. My guess is that they’ll try to move Bob out by then - but it’s going to be a tough sell with that massive contract. Haha.

Yes it's definitely a culture problem. But the thing is, that issue is there because of the other big problem. They don't know how to have rebuild, and see it through (I blame ownership 100%, especially this most recent debacle, ugh).
We don't have the right ownership. Who just stays out of the way, stays patient, and let's it happen.
That's where you build a culture (the rebuild). And that also is a big part as to why these prospects never turn out. It's all pretty obvious to me.

The crazy thing is that they signed Bob to the big deal and then drafted Knight...

Some people are saying Knight will probably be ready in 4-5 years. My guess is that they’ll try to move Bob out by then - but it’s going to be a tough sell with that massive contract. Haha.
- Matt Ross

After 5yrs Bob will be more easily moved. His trade protection lessens and the actual dollars owed goes down quite a bit. It might work out perfectly to move him out when Knight is ready to be the #1.

Yes it's definitely a culture problem. But the thing is, that issue is there because of the other big problem. They don't know how to have rebuild, and see it through (I blame ownership 100%, especially this most recent debacle, ugh).
We don't have the right ownership. Who just stays out of the way, stays patient, and let's it happen.
That's where you build a culture (the rebuild). And that also is a big part as to why these prospects never turn out. It's all pretty obvious to me.
- Redemption17

Good points if you ask me

After 5yrs Bob will be more easily moved. His trade protection lessens and the actual dollars owed goes down quite a bit. It might work out perfectly to move him out when Knight is ready to be the #1.
- Ratsreign

He’ll be 37 in five years. That, combined with his contract, will be interesting to see what happens...

Matt Ross: Culture and ‘99 Cats
- Matt Ross

A winning culture starts from the front office to the back bench. Ironic the Cbj are being associated with the term '' winning culture'' . They were horrible for close to 15 years.

JD came in brought Kekaleine , Siren and Zito on board, the turnaround wasn't over night but the basic concept of building a decent hockey team was finally showing (get your mobile defenseman , guys who know their role and spend the real money on the game breakers).

That being said, Zito is the surgeon you want in the room to fix the Panthers. Although Wennberg is not synonymous with that '' winning culture '' he's still low risk and was a former 60 pts player, I think he can reach those heights again.