There have been numerous reports, which I will call mere speculation and editorial pieces, questioning the confidence Florida Panthers' ownership has in GM Dale Tallon after a disastrous season. In this "win now" sports culture we live in, it is possible there is some slight merit in asking this question. However, I think it's preposterous to think anything less than Tallon is the GM for the Panthers for now and the extended future.
Most fans outside of South Florida cannot comprehend how important last season was for this franchise and its fan base that was starving for over a decade for ANY kind of success. Winning their first division title in franchise history and making the playoffs for the first time in 12 years was such an amazing ride. Coming within one goal in double overtime in Game 7 against the Eastern Conference Champion Devils further validated the Panthers are on the right track.
South Florida sports fans are known for being front-running phonies and last year was no exception, but what last year proved is that South Florida has not forgotten 1996. They have not forgotten that hockey is the best sport in the world when everything is on the line. They have not forgotten how to cheer for their team. They have not forgotten what they have been through to arrive at a place where success is a possibility for a change.
Yes this year was a disaster, but more because of the health of the team. Putting square pegs in round holes in this shortened season is what head coach Kevin Dineen has been dealing with from the start. The Panthers lead the NHL in man games lost due to injury and they have not had their projected starting lineup on the ice all season.
Bringing up lots of youth and asking them to play prominent roles at this level is a tough task for any coach or team, especially when many of them were asked to do things that didn't necessarily compliment their skill sets. Doing it all season, with very little practice time, is an impossible proposition.
These are not excuses, mind you. These are just facts that directly affected the production of this team.
Regarding Tallon, he cannot control injuries. It is not as if the team he assembled on paper cannot succeed, as last year showed. However, he is in charge of the strength and conditioning coach. There might be a change in that area after the season is over, because there is no doubt the team was physically fragile on a large scale.
Looking at the youth he has assembled over the years, from Huberdeau to Gudbranson to Shore to Bjugstad to Howden to Petrovic to Trocheck to Matheson and beyond, he has stockpiled the organization with talent that just needs to grow physically as well as through experience. In two years these naysayers and critics will have nothing to say as much of this youth will be firmly entrenched and succeeding in their NHL careers.
If their is any silver lining to this season it is that Tallon will be adding another key piece for the future in this year's draft with either Seth Jones, Jonathan Drouin, or Nathan MacKinnon. While MacKinnon is considered to be the only one of these three with any question marks surrounding his value, there is no question another cornerstone of this Panther franchise will be joining the fray next year for what is hopefully to be a healthier season.
No objective NHL owner could expect the sun out of a team so decimated by injuries. The short-sighted will say injuries are part of the game and good teams prevail through the adversity. While I would agree with this, the scope and depth of injuries for the Panthers this year would be too much for anyone to handle.
Let us not forget that thanks to Jacques Martin and Mike Keenan, Tallon was left with practically nothing in terms of organizational talent and had to start from scratch. To this point, I'd give him an "A" for his work thus far, and I could not conceive of owner Cliff Viner pulling the rug out from under Tallon without letting him at least see his 5-year blueprint through.
Tallon admitted last year that the success achieved by his team was a bit unexpected and "ahead of schedule." Perhaps the step backwards this "season" was to be expected, which will set up next year as a big step forward in terms of team accomplishments and development. But to think Tallon is on the hot seat for a shortened season gone wrong is far from sound reasoning.
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Dan Spiegel...
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