Dan Spiegel: Dineen-kenstein

Will Huberdeau stay up all season?

Will Huberdeau stay up all season?
- Nucker101

They have three more games to figure it out. He certainly has been pushed around a little bit, as expected. But I think he'll stay up. The Panthers just aren't healthy enough to develop any chemistry yet.

Will Huberdeau stay up all season?
- Nucker101

Huberdeau will stick. Even last night although the team was generally lethargic Huberdeau was around the net and had quite a few chances to bury the puck. I have only watch 2 of the 3 Florida games but am lead to believe Huberdeau will not be sent down.

Huberdeau will stay up, I think... the kid is the real deal

As far as the Pathers "coming out flying" Thursday night... they had better, as the already fickle southern Florida fanbase will quickly move on if they continue to play many more games like I witnessed the last two nights. (I will not, but a lot more will).

This bunch mostly look like they sat around eating twinkies all lockout. KD called them out in the post-game, said that they were not in shape to play. He was already pissed off that Kulikov was not ready to play that opener. From the looks of his play since he was telling the truth- the KHL must suck because he is totally unprepared.
It of course starts with defense, and this bunch looks mostly bad. Soupy does not look like himself at all, Jovo looks just as awful as last season, Weaver has been o.k., Kuli, terrible, Kuba o.k., Ellerby decent. Now Caruso broke his arm, he was playing pretty well.

Skille, Mueller and Matthias have been our best forwards. Kovalev was just as slow as I predicted and can't play at this level anymore. Weiss looks terrible. Parros is playing slow, when he plays. Upshall has been decent but can't seem to hit the net, everything wide and high. In his limited minutes Drew Shore at least looked fast and got a chance or two, play him more!!!!

Whew, its bad.

Huberdeau will stay up, I think... the kid is the real deal

As far as the Pathers "coming out flying" Thursday night... they had better, as the already fickle southern Florida fanbase will quickly move on if they continue to play many more games like I witnessed the last two nights. (I will not, but a lot more will).
- CC PantherFan

He will stay he hasn't looked that bad he just needs a couple more games to adjust to the NHL. But god damn I don't know what the (frank) is up with cats in those last two game...

If it wasn't for our goalies we would have been out scored 12-1 in the last two games!

You're blind if you think Ellerby has played well. He shouldn't be playing in the NHL.

You're blind if you think Ellerby has played well. He shouldn't be playing in the NHL.
- BallardHitsHard22

I think you are giving up on him to fast. He has been playing ok the last couple of games better then most of the players...

He doesn't get played consistently most people who give him a lot of poop talk about his play last season but how often did he play. We are so deep in D he sat in the press box most of last year all I am saying is give him a chance.

I think you are giving up on him to fast. He has been playing ok the last couple of games better then most of the players...

He doesn't get played consistently most people who give him a lot of poop talk about his play last season but how often did he play. We are so deep in D he sat in the press box most of last year all I am saying is give him a chance.
- Crazycaboose

Ellerby is a defensive d-man. He can skate, has size and will scrap if necessary. Saying that I have seen very little offensive upside in the course of the 119 games he has played as a Panther.

There are a lot of D-Men in the farm system that will be up with the big club in the coming years. Does Ellerby replace Weaver in 2 years as a permanent cog on this team? Or does he become part of a trade package?

This bunch mostly look like they sat around eating twinkies all lockout. KD called them out in the post-game, said that they were not in shape to play. He was already pissed off that Kulikov was not ready to play that opener. From the looks of his play since he was telling the truth- the KHL must suck because he is totally unprepared.
It of course starts with defense, and this bunch looks mostly bad. Soupy does not look like himself at all, Jovo looks just as awful as last season, Weaver has been o.k., Kuli, terrible, Kuba o.k., Ellerby decent. Now Caruso broke his arm, he was playing pretty well.

Skille, Mueller and Matthias have been our best forwards. Kovalev was just as slow as I predicted and can't play at this level anymore. Weiss looks terrible. Parros is playing slow, when he plays. Upshall has been decent but can't seem to hit the net, everything wide and high. In his limited minutes Drew Shore at least looked fast and got a chance or two, play him more!!!!

Whew, its bad.
- clarkey

-Defense
Soup looked fine game one. I think he and Kuba just haven't developed that chemistry yet. Kulikov has looked terrible. Poor speed and it seems like he is playing a half-second slow to me. Kuba...meh. Ellerby was ok if you exclude that stupid penalty.

-Forwards
Mueller has looked good. Fast with good stick handling and taking shots when other options are not open. JoHubs looked fine skating. Not keen on some of his neutral zone back passes leading to shorthanded rushes but other than that he has been good on the breakout. Flash looks a bit rusty in the shooting department but otherwise ok. Weiss just needs to get some games in and regain his focus. Also he needs to shoot first when in the slot. Skille is playing his brand of hockey. Speed, north/south and drawing penalties. Mathias has been ok. Upshall needs target practice. Jovo is a step slow always reaching when he has to play reactive but he still takes the body in front of the net and clears the garbage. Shore was amped up and I am glad that he will be back in the lineup tonight.

-Goalies
They are fine if everyone stops turning the puck over at the opposing blue line leading to too many odd man rushes. DOH!

Another loss to Ottawa and Mr Anderson. Man, they know how to beat us. Of course the secret is to allow us the opportunity to beat ourselves! DOH!

Ottawa knows we are still slow and not up to speed so they clog the passing lanes looking to intercept break out passes which they did all night. Of course, that strategy is open to speed on the wings which we saw from Skille, Mathias and Shore when they carried it from blue line to blue line. Our passing would need to be pinpoint accurate to break through and 90% of the time it wasn't. Pucks in the skates of the receiver or just off the stick causing quick turnovers and rushes the other way. Add to the fact the propensity of the defense to try long passes across the ice instead of going up the boards and the Panthers were like a broken slot machine just giving away everything.

The SMS line (Skille-Mathias-Shore) was good last night, aside from the Mathias pass. Flash did all he could trying to generate offensive chances. Upshall had chances but couldn't finish. Kovalev had chances. Mueller looked good. Santorelli needs to hit the net. Parros looks really slow out there. Kopecky played solid. Hubs had a good chance to score and made some good passes but needs to learn that you don't get much time and space at this level.

The defense really needs to step up. Way too many turnovers. Campbell is just a half step behind game shape. Jovo is way too slow and is making bad decisions with the puck. Kuba is ok but is mostly just skating out there. Kulikov is starting to get his legs back but his timing is still off. Ellerby is doing nothing to standout. Weaver needs more time.

Hopefully Weiss can play tomorrow. Maybe put Strachan back in the lineup for Ellerby or Jovo...Need to play desperate and get a win to halt this losing streak.