Dan Spiegel: Versteeg, Panthers Are Snakebit

Remembering Versteeg's comments during the lockout, it serves him right.

The panthers need to get their fans back or they'll end up moving somewhere the market was never the friendlist for a hockey team and its only getting worse for them. They've been hit brutal hard with injuries this year and i don't think they truely are this bad but at the end of the day they may not be able to survive much longer in FL. I'm an Oilers fan, but i've had a lot of respect for the panthers, no team deserved to win a devision title more then them last year truely was a great surprise but the market just isn't there for a struggling team. Unlike edmonton where the fans love hockey and will support the oilers lossing or not the panthers are in a market where they either must win games or the fans can watch some other team in some other sport. Thats just my take on the matter though, i'm from edmonton and only get to read the reports and i've never been to a game down there, i'm sure the fans that do go to games are great and loyal to their team. Heres hopeing to see a oil panthers cup final in the future, two talented young teams with some of the best youth in the league going at it. Might be a pipe dream but it would be something new for a change.

Remembering Versteeg's comments during the lockout, it serves him right.
- allycat

A player deserves to be injured because he sticks up for his union during a lockout??? Give yer head a shake buddy.

Remembering Versteeg's comments during the lockout, it serves him right.
- allycat

Oh, what an ugly comment. Shame.

It was tough to watch Versteeg go down like that. Thing is, it wasn't even really a hit from Gudas as much as it was an awkward collision while both guys were going to the puck. Never like to see a guy go down like that. Hope he's alright.

It was tough to watch Versteeg go down like that. Thing is, it wasn't even really a hit from Gudas as much as it was an awkward collision while both guys were going to the puck. Never like to see a guy go down like that. Hope he's alright.
- Michael_Stuart

Gudas is a brick on skates. As solid as they come. Sucks for Versteeg.

The panthers need to get their fans back or they'll end up moving somewhere the market was never the friendlist for a hockey team and its only getting worse for them. They've been hit brutal hard with injuries this year and i don't think they truely are this bad but at the end of the day they may not be able to survive much longer in FL. I'm an Oilers fan, but i've had a lot of respect for the panthers, no team deserved to win a devision title more then them last year truely was a great surprise but the market just isn't there for a struggling team. Unlike edmonton where the fans love hockey and will support the oilers lossing or not the panthers are in a market where they either must win games or the fans can watch some other team in some other sport. Thats just my take on the matter though, i'm from edmonton and only get to read the reports and i've never been to a game down there, i'm sure the fans that do go to games are great and loyal to their team. Heres hopeing to see a oil panthers cup final in the future, two talented young teams with some of the best youth in the league going at it. Might be a pipe dream but it would be something new for a change.
- deadsector

I agree with most parts of your statement. South Florida is definitely not a place for losing teams. The Dolphins can't draw like they used to, and that's the NFL. The Marlins games are a joke. Even the Heat, reigning champions can't sell out every game, and when they do, people don't show up til midway-late into the 1st quarter. There is too much to do down here for people to waste their time going to see a bad team. Right now, this team is bad.

What I disagree with tho is that this team will move. I just don't see it. They make money, continuously. And, if it goes through this summer, they'll be building a casino next door to the arena, and then it will never leave. The team is going in the right direction with Tallon, last year almost hurt them more than it helped because it got the bandwagonners all excited when in reality, they overperformed in almost every way imagineable. They snuck into the playoffs with all the one point OT losses.

The issue I have this year isn't the injuries, those suck, but it's that the defense is as porous as a strainer. It's really quite ridiculous. They don't have a single two-way forward not named Skille or Matthias. Campbell is -17, but it's not even his fault really, having to play every other defensive pairing, what do you expect? Filip Kuba is a good player, but FAR past his prime. Gudbranson is good for a few moronic mistakes a game. Kulikov before he got injured looked like poo warmed over. We gotta do something on defense, fast.

For teams that are struggling, this season just feels like a throwaway season. If I'm a Panthers fan, I'm glad this is happening during a shortened stint rather than having to endure it for a full season.

Everything is quirky this year, and I don't think any team or their fans should overreact to what's happening out there. Next year will be more normal and the good teams that are struggling this year, like Philly, will most likely get back to their normal standards when they've had a normal off-season and training camp.

I don't believe Florida is as bad as they've shown. Not one bit. The worst thing Tallon could do is have a fire sale after he'd built up a pretty nice contender. Keep adding pieces to build up the roster, but don't scrap it all because of this fluky season. Oh, and keep the coach too. Any team firing their coach over this season is being foolish.

For teams that are struggling, this season just feels like a throwaway season. If I'm a Panthers fan, I'm glad this is happening during a shortened stint rather than having to endure it for a full season.

Everything is quirky this year, and I don't think any team or their fans should overreact to what's happening out there. Next year will be more normal and the good teams that are struggling this year, like Philly, will most likely get back to their normal standards when they've had a normal off-season and training camp.

I don't believe Florida is as bad as they've shown. Not one bit. The worst thing Tallon could do is have a fire sale after he'd built up a pretty nice contender. Keep adding pieces to build up the roster, but don't scrap it all because of this fluky season. Oh, and keep the coach too. Any team firing their coach over this season is being foolish.
- Predaceous

Well said!

I agree with most parts of your statement. South Florida is definitely not a place for losing teams. The Dolphins can't draw like they used to, and that's the NFL. The Marlins games are a joke. Even the Heat, reigning champions can't sell out every game, and when they do, people don't show up til midway-late into the 1st quarter. There is too much to do down here for people to waste their time going to see a bad team. Right now, this team is bad.

What I disagree with tho is that this team will move. I just don't see it. They make money, continuously. And, if it goes through this summer, they'll be building a casino next door to the arena, and then it will never leave. The team is going in the right direction with Tallon, last year almost hurt them more than it helped because it got the bandwagonners all excited when in reality, they overperformed in almost every way imagineable. They snuck into the playoffs with all the one point OT losses.

The issue I have this year isn't the injuries, those suck, but it's that the defense is as porous as a strainer. It's really quite ridiculous. They don't have a single two-way forward not named Skille or Matthias. Campbell is -17, but it's not even his fault really, having to play every other defensive pairing, what do you expect? Filip Kuba is a good player, but FAR past his prime. Gudbranson is good for a few moronic mistakes a game. Kulikov before he got injured looked like poo warmed over. We gotta do something on defense, fast.
- WeSuckAgain

Well, the way it's going you guys should finish last and get Seth Jones. He's gonna be a great player.

But, really, you guys won the division last year with a 36-28-18 record. You guys were a glorified 8th place team. That's unheard of, you're division was absolute garbage and still is. None of that will be happening next year, you're coming up with the big boys in the Northeast division + Detroit! Welcome to your nightmare.

Well, the way it's going you guys should finish last and get Seth Jones. He's gonna be a great player.

But, really, you guys won the division last year with a 36-28-18 record. You guys were a glorified 8th place team. That's unheard of, you're division was absolute garbage and still is. None of that will be happening next year, you're coming up with the big boys in the Northeast division + Detroit! Welcome to your nightmare.
- t_leafs21

We actually perform pretty well against the Northeast.. minus Ottawa who we win against and then lose against. I'm not scared of Detroit anymore at all. And we'd prefer MacKinnon or Drouin, we have pleny of studs on D.

We actually perform pretty well against the Northeast.. minus Ottawa who we win against and then lose against. I'm not scared of Detroit anymore at all. And we'd prefer MacKinnon or Drouin, we have pleny of studs on D.
- Panthers88

Totally agree the only two teams I don't want to play is Ottawa and Boston!

Well, the way it's going you guys should finish last and get Seth Jones. He's gonna be a great player.

But, really, you guys won the division last year with a 36-28-18 record. You guys were a glorified 8th place team. That's unheard of, you're division was absolute garbage and still is. None of that will be happening next year, you're coming up with the big boys in the Northeast division + Detroit! Welcome to your nightmare.
- t_leafs21

What were the Leafs "glorified" as last year?

I think we had an awesome series vs. NJ on top of all that "glorification"..NEXT.

The panthers need to get their fans back or they'll end up moving somewhere the market was never the friendlist for a hockey team and its only getting worse for them. They've been hit brutal hard with injuries this year and i don't think they truely are this bad but at the end of the day they may not be able to survive much longer in FL. I'm an Oilers fan, but i've had a lot of respect for the panthers, no team deserved to win a devision title more then them last year truely was a great surprise but the market just isn't there for a struggling team. Unlike edmonton where the fans love hockey and will support the oilers lossing or not the panthers are in a market where they either must win games or the fans can watch some other team in some other sport. Thats just my take on the matter though, i'm from edmonton and only get to read the reports and i've never been to a game down there, i'm sure the fans that do go to games are great and loyal to their team. Heres hopeing to see a oil panthers cup final in the future, two talented young teams with some of the best youth in the league going at it. Might be a pipe dream but it would be something new for a change.
- deadsector

First, I want to say Thank you! It is nice to have someone from Canada who actually likes and respects the Panthers. Usually, it's nothing but comments about how we don't deserve a team and how Quebec or another Toronto team needs to be made.
Second, let me just say that you are wrong about fans down here in S.Fla. We are as passionate with our teams as any other fan base. If you talked to any Panther fans this season, not one of them hate the team or the season. We wish things were going different but at the same time we understand that it's a shortened season,with tons of injuries to our top players. We have great prospects in our system as well as on the team (Huberdeau,Markstrom,Shore, and Bjugstad to name a few) and we have a great group of players to compliment them. As much as we want the playoffs again, I think a lot of us is okay with taking another top draft pick in a very deep draft. The majority of Panther fans, as well as Dolphins fans, are more upset with ownership/management then we are with the teams themselves. It took the Panthers a decade of bad management/ownership in order to get us to the point where we are finally turning the corner. It's not easy when you see that your team chose to draft Horton,Bouwmeester,Repik, and Ellerby instead of Nash,E.Staal, P.K. Subban, and Patchoreti(probably butchered his name). Those,of coarse, we're just examples of some drafts, but that's what we've dealt with for a DECADE! The Panthers have a great fanbase, it just doesn't show because our bonehead president, Yormark, decides to make "Club Dred" right behind the bench, that is always 90% empty seats! If you see the rest of the arena, it's usually pretty full. So yeah, long story short, the Panthers have great fans and a great fanbase. I know when I went to opening night for the playoffs last season, when the team came out, the roof was rocked off the building because of how loud it got. Sold out, even with standing room only left. It was crazy, and we fans we're cheering for the team even when they lost in 2OT of game 7. We love hockey as much as any,and if it snowed down here, you would see us playing hockey in the streets much like in Canada and the North.

@t_leaf21.. Are you really a Leaf fan,making comments about the Panthers?? I know the Panthers are boat-loads better than TO is. What did TO do last season???... I'll wait....... Say what you want about the team but they deserved to win the SE title last season. Had it not been for Steeg,Flash, and Weiss having injuries during the year,last year, we would've kept up the pressure and possibly finished #1 or #2 in the East. We have a great team right now, going through some growing pains but they will come out on top starting next season. The Panthers aren't afraid of Boston or Detroit either, as we fans look forward to more games against those teams. If the Panthers right now, had all healthy players on their team, I gaurantee we could compete with any team in the league. It's kind of ironic how I just complimented a person for being respectful towards my team, and then I see your post.

With 7 wins on the season and 20 games left we will most likely have a top 5 pick. Great chance at 1st overall if we don't get screwed in the lottery. Coach Dineen is the guy, I don't think Tallon is stupid enough to fire him. This season is a wash, no coach could win with this many injuries. They need stability, they can't keep changing systems every 3 years with a new coach. This is just one of many things the organization has done wrong, you can't keep changing coaches. It's crazy DeBoer gets fired and then leads a team to the Stanley Cup. Funny the way that is, same goes for Horton. One year out he gets a ring. I guess the Panthers were never meant to work out in the NHL. Horrible market, could be great if the owner really wanted to win. When was the last time you heard that the Florida Panthers were in the market for a superstar player? I bet your answer would be Pavel Bure. Hasn't happened since, shame on them for feeding the loyal fans lies after lies over the years. It's too bad.

With 7 wins on the season and 20 games left we will most likely have a top 5 pick. Great chance at 1st overall if we don't get screwed in the lottery. Coach Dineen is the guy, I don't think Tallon is stupid enough to fire him. This season is a wash, no coach could win with this many injuries. They need stability, they can't keep changing systems every 3 years with a new coach. This is just one of many things the organization has done wrong, you can't keep changing coaches. It's crazy DeBoer gets fired and then leads a team to the Stanley Cup. Funny the way that is, same goes for Horton. One year out he gets a ring. I guess the Panthers were never meant to work out in the NHL. Horrible market, could be great if the owner really wanted to win. When was the last time you heard that the Florida Panthers were in the market for a superstar player? I bet your answer would be Pavel Bure. Hasn't happened since, shame on them for feeding the loyal fans lies after lies over the years. It's too bad.
- BallardHitsHard22

This post.... I actually agree with.

First, I want to say Thank you! It is nice to have someone from Canada who actually likes and respects the Panthers. Usually, it's nothing but comments about how we don't deserve a team and how Quebec or another Toronto team needs to be made.
Second, let me just say that you are wrong about fans down here in S.Fla. We are as passionate with our teams as any other fan base. If you talked to any Panther fans this season, not one of them hate the team or the season. We wish things were going different but at the same time we understand that it's a shortened season,with tons of injuries to our top players. We have great prospects in our system as well as on the team (Huberdeau,Markstrom,Shore, and Bjugstad to name a few) and we have a great group of players to compliment them. As much as we want the playoffs again, I think a lot of us is okay with taking another top draft pick in a very deep draft. The majority of Panther fans, as well as Dolphins fans, are more upset with ownership/management then we are with the teams themselves. It took the Panthers a decade of bad management/ownership in order to get us to the point where we are finally turning the corner. It's not easy when you see that your team chose to draft Horton,Bouwmeester,Repik, and Ellerby instead of Nash,E.Staal, P.K. Subban, and Patchoreti(probably butchered his name). Those,of coarse, we're just examples of some drafts, but that's what we've dealt with for a DECADE! The Panthers have a great fanbase, it just doesn't show because our bonehead president, Yormark, decides to make "Club Dred" right behind the bench, that is always 90% empty seats! If you see the rest of the arena, it's usually pretty full. So yeah, long story short, the Panthers have great fans and a great fanbase. I know when I went to opening night for the playoffs last season, when the team came out, the roof was rocked off the building because of how loud it got. Sold out, even with standing room only left. It was crazy, and we fans we're cheering for the team even when they lost in 2OT of game 7. We love hockey as much as any,and if it snowed down here, you would see us playing hockey in the streets much like in Canada and the North.

@t_leaf21.. Are you really a Leaf fan,making comments about the Panthers?? I know the Panthers are boat-loads better than TO is. What did TO do last season???... I'll wait....... Say what you want about the team but they deserved to win the SE title last season. Had it not been for Steeg,Flash, and Weiss having injuries during the year,last year, we would've kept up the pressure and possibly finished #1 or #2 in the East. We have a great team right now, going through some growing pains but they will come out on top starting next season. The Panthers aren't afraid of Boston or Detroit either, as we fans look forward to more games against those teams. If the Panthers right now, had all healthy players on their team, I gaurantee we could compete with any team in the league. It's kind of ironic how I just complimented a person for being respectful towards my team, and then I see your post.
- pantherfan12

Any team can compete with anyone in the league, it's the NHL. The Leafs can compete with anyone in the league too and we have without two of our best scorers in Lupul and Frattin and at times without our starting goalie.

And lets see. Last year you had Jason Garrison, who had the year of his life. He's gone. You're going to lose your "franchise" player in Weiss next year. You've talked about trading Versteeg but now you can't cause he tore his acl.

What is your core? Campbell,Fleishmann,Versteeg,Huberdeau,Mueller and Gudbranson.

Then secondary is....Upshall(never healthy), Kopecky,Bergenheim,Goc,Matthias, Jovo and Kuba

It's not a very good team. The potential is there and you will be good eventually cause Tallon knows what he's doing. But for now, you're really not.

It's just a bunch of spare parts that all came together last year. The only reason you won the division is cause you played "please don't beat me" hockey and lost 18 games in overtime.

You can scoff at me all you want cause Im a Leaf fan but with your travel next year and the teams you're playing, theres not a chance in hell you're doing anything. If anything you're going to be sellers again and won't be as good next year, with the addition of possibly another young gun that will be stuck with a rebuilding team.

@t_leaf

Dude 11 out of the 18 were shootouts and you seem to not know much about what's coming up next year for us. plus we will be added a another top pick most likely jones who is NHL ready or maybe one year way. So try talking next year and stop acting like you know the future things are so unpredictable good example this year montreal.

@t_leaf

Dude 11 out of the 18 were shootouts and you seem to not know much about what's coming up next year for us. plus we will be added a another top pick most likely jones who is NHL ready or maybe one year way. So try talking next year and stop acting like you know the future things are so unpredictable good example this year montreal.
- Crazycaboose

Or Toronto.. who on earth would have predicted that they would be having the year they're having.

Any team can compete with anyone in the league, it's the NHL. The Leafs can compete with anyone in the league too and we have without two of our best scorers in Lupul and Frattin and at times without our starting goalie.

And lets see. Last year you had Jason Garrison, who had the year of his life. He's gone. You're going to lose your "franchise" player in Weiss next year. You've talked about trading Versteeg but now you can't cause he tore his acl.

What is your core? Campbell,Fleishmann,Versteeg,Huberdeau,Mueller and Gudbranson.

Then secondary is....Upshall(never healthy), Kopecky,Bergenheim,Goc,Matthias, Jovo and Kuba

It's not a very good team. The potential is there and you will be good eventually cause Tallon knows what he's doing. But for now, you're really not.

It's just a bunch of spare parts that all came together last year. The only reason you won the division is cause you played "please don't beat me" hockey and lost 18 games in overtime.

You can scoff at me all you want cause Im a Leaf fan but with your travel next year and the teams you're playing, theres not a chance in hell you're doing anything. If anything you're going to be sellers again and won't be as good next year, with the addition of possibly another young gun that will be stuck with a rebuilding team.
- t_leafs21[/quote

Garrison had a career year because of Campbell, just look at him now in Van!
You forgot Kulikov, Petrovic,Robak,Markstrom,Shore, and next year Bjugstad and the 2013 top 5 draft pick as our core group.
I wouldn't count Weiss out just yet. I know all of TO thinks Weiss will be a leaf next season,but he has stated over and over again his desire to retire a Panther, and according to Tallon, they want to make that happen.
Upshall,Jovo,Kuba,Clemmensen and probably Smithinson will be gone by next year. Goc,Matthias,Kopecky,Bergy, Weaver, and Strachan are all great secondary players that I am damn glad to have on my team. Just like you said, Tallon knows what he is doing and I am sure he will do great things come draft day and free agency.He'll be able to replace those players I mentioned being traded or gone from the team, and he'll continue to build a solid prospect pool.

You say we're not going to do anything significant because of travel and teams we're playing next season??? Why is that? We just played Boston last night and although the game ended 4-1, it wasn't indicitive of how the game actually went. Imagine the Panthers being 100% healthy,with some new faces in the lineup? Like you said in this post, any team can win on any given night, regardless of the odds.

Florida Panthers ‏@FlaPanthers

The #FlaPanthers have acquired d-man TJ Brennan from the @BuffaloSabres for a 5th round pick (2013).

John Moore ‏@rinkrant

Jonathan Huberdeau flew to Halifax today for Stephen MacAulay's mom's funeral. Speaks volumes about the character of both & their friendship.

Huby is a class act. I met him after the Memorial Cup parade here.

Florida Panthers ‏@FlaPanthers

The #FlaPanthers have acquired d-man TJ Brennan from the @BuffaloSabres for a 5th round pick (2013).

John Moore ‏@rinkrant

Jonathan Huberdeau flew to Halifax today for Stephen MacAulay's mom's funeral. Speaks volumes about the character of both & their friendship.

Huby is a class act. I met him after the Memorial Cup parade here.
- AGalchenyuk27

we love Huby, lets just hope the Florida Panthers feel the same way. We'll see if they surround him with talent. Mueller and Shore are good but Huber could be a world class player, you need to surround the kid with other star players. It's time to open the wallet.

All's I'm saying is we better draft Seth Jones 1st overall if we are lucky enough to get the top pick in the draft.

He's going to be a star, we've given up the most goals in the NHL and he's NHL ready. Huge mistake not to draft him.

If we have the first overall pick I almost guarantee we pick Seth Jones, he would be huge for our team. He's great player in all aspects of the game and the way he skates is unreal. He played awesome in the world juniors, you can just tell how dominant he is when he is on the ice. If we are lucky enough to get him in the draft I would match him with Gudbranson or Kulikov when the season starts. But Let's just say we don't get him and have a chance at Drouin and Mackinnon, who would you chose?