Dan Spiegel: Atlantic Division Beware

Nuckstamped. Nice win beating Kings

Will Panthers be buyers by the TDL? Hire a new coach from dumped HC's for drive?

If Rowe is the answer, then why not remove the "interim" label. The team doesn't like the guy, so yeah, they're talented enough to win in spite of him when healthy.

Damn u guys! Ur getting healthy and team is playing great, keep up the good work and good luck. Would like to see FLA make PO's and see what they can do...

Dan- as someone who has followed you for a long time, I find it offensive you would call someone like me a "disguised" fan. You are on Twitter every day using the injuries as an excuse; why weren't they an excuse for Gallant? You think a 7-game stand makes up for 50 bad games? It doesn't. We're only alive because for some reason the rest of the division wants us to be. But don't you dare sit here and question MY dedication. Because, just like Cifu (and I told him as much) I was here BEFORE you and I'll be here AFTER you.

Ya know, people like me who were upset with the losses are more politically correct than someone like you who sit there and look at the man-games lost column. The team has a GIANT BANNER in their locker room that says "NO EXCUSES". I know this because, like you, I've been in the locker room. So, when they were losing, and losing badly, I called them on it like a real fan should. I saw Tom Rowe have ZERO grip on the on-ice product.

I am very happy we are winning, but if you think I am going to give credit to Tom Rowe for icing the same two top lines Gallant did for two years, you're wrong. He's still under-utilizing Bjugstad and over-utilizing Thornton/McKenzie. He's still the "interim" coach. We still have the 28th ranked power play (we won't go anywhere unless we're in the top half of the league). People like you YOU who finger wave are a lot worse than people like me who hold professionals accountable for their actions.

Extremely offensive, and from you that is surprising.

To be fair to the fans you criticised, I don't think people were bashing Rowe as much as questioning why Gallant was unceremoniously canned, while contending with the same injury plague that Rowe has had to deal with, and the team seeing no improvement under the new guy.

If you're going to fire a coach who has gotten good results in the past, while he's struggling with pretty severe adversity, you better make sure the replacement has the answers to turn things around in a hurry.

Also, being frustrated or confused by management decisions doesn't make someone less of a fan. It just means they aren't a sheep that blindly applauds everything their team does. Critical thinkers make for much better discussion than fanboys in rose-colored glasses

Tom Rowe has little or no reason for the wins lately. It is strictly a matter of having key players back from injury. Championship teams have nhl experience coaches. Tom Rowe has coached what like 25 nhl games in his life. He saw a means of getting a nhl coaching job and he took it.
And please everybody hold your horses. It ain't over yet. An 8th seed finish after last year is nothing to write home about in my opinion.

Tom Rowe has little or no reason for the wins lately. It is strictly a matter of having key players back from injury. Championship teams have nhl experience coaches. Tom Rowe has coached what like 25 nhl games in his life. He saw a means of getting a nhl coaching job and he took it.
And please everybody hold your horses. It ain't over yet. An 8th seed finish after last year is nothing to write home about in my opinion.
- harveykline

Exactly.

Dan- as someone who has followed you for a long time, I find it offensive you would call someone like me a "disguised" fan. You are on Twitter every day using the injuries as an excuse; why weren't they an excuse for Gallant? You think a 7-game stand makes up for 50 bad games? It doesn't. We're only alive because for some reason the rest of the division wants us to be. But don't you dare sit here and question MY dedication. Because, just like Cifu (and I told him as much) I was here BEFORE you and I'll be here AFTER you.

Ya know, people like me who were upset with the losses are more politically correct than someone like you who sit there and look at the man-games lost column. The team has a GIANT BANNER in their locker room that says "NO EXCUSES". I know this because, like you, I've been in the locker room. So, when they were losing, and losing badly, I called them on it like a real fan should. I saw Tom Rowe have ZERO grip on the on-ice product.

I am very happy we are winning, but if you think I am going to give credit to Tom Rowe for icing the same two top lines Gallant did for two years, you're wrong. He's still under-utilizing Bjugstad and over-utilizing Thornton/McKenzie. He's still the "interim" coach. We still have the 28th ranked power play (we won't go anywhere unless we're in the top half of the league). People like you YOU who finger wave are a lot worse than people like me who hold professionals accountable for their actions.

Extremely offensive, and from you that is surprising.
- Panthers88

You're taking this guy too personally. And, how do you know he's labeling you? It could any SIX of us who regularly post here!!
Maybe ALL six of us!

You're taking this guy too personally. And, how do you know he's labeling you? It could any SIX of us who regularly post here!!
Maybe ALL six of us!
- PanthersGoal

I've known Dan a long time. We've had many a discussion about this via Twitter. I'm happier than he is about us winning. But I won't be called a "disguised" anything. And there are 8 of us. :-)

I trade raped a guy in my league by getting Huberdeau for Schwartz earlier in the season (Dynasty - full keeper)

That line of Huberdeau-Barkov-Jagr is fantastic, as good if not better than any line I've seen play this year. The Panthers could be be a surprise team in the playoffs.

I can't say enough good things about Barkov, that kid is amazing.

There's more to this than Gallant vs Rowe. 1) Gallant was in disagreement with upper management, and outspoken about it. He's stated as much. The team performed the exact same under both coaches this season, which is understandable when you have 4 of your top 6 out. Well, 3 of top 6, and 1 top 4 D man. It's pretty amazing that this team of rag tag AHL'ers was able to even keep pace- which in itself, says something about the organization. With guys like those out, no line is stable, no pairing safe. The return of those guys has seen the entire team stabilize. Would have been with either coach.
2) The "new" concept is solid, although maybe not properly executed. Our speed is insane, and drives the opposing D men crazy when we forecheck into the zone. Again, 3-4 of top 6 out, this theory is garbage. With them back in, it has possibilities.
3) The stabilization of lines allows players to play where they should; Trocheck should NOT be playing 23 min a night, etc., etc. This actually gives us 4 solid lines, all with scoring ability, giving opposing teams serious match up issues.
4) There's a great many more Panthers supporters out there than many of you know. I, for one, read this site and listen to the podcast almost every week, but have never bothered posting, as I generally don't have the time, nor desire to enter a blogger bashing contest.
Have a great day!

New aggravating thing:

Owner and family members belonging to Facebook fan groups trying to beef up support of Rowe...NOW, of course. Many lemmings now indulging in the Kool-Aid.

Now we're feeling the injury woes...losing 3 top 6 forwards in 24 hours!

To me, I don't have any interest in Rowe, good or bad. And that goes for everyone outside the players. That includes the owners, the president, the GM, anyone. I'm here for the team. If I see someone possibly being a detriment to the team, you best believe I'm going to speak on it.
This team was already headed in the right direction. As any idiot could see, the last thing you wanted to do was go off course. This front office sees that situation and says "I don't like where this headed, got to go in a different direction". Of course people are going to react negatively to that. Now let's throw in the awful last 20 years and the fans were going to have a major problem with the people making these decisions.
I'm very very happy about how they are playing now, but this is not because Rowe or ownership did anything, this team was this good last season, after massive improvement the season before that, UNDER GALLANT, and built BY TALLON.

To me, I don't have any interest in Rowe, good or bad. And that goes for everyone outside the players. That includes the owners, the president, the GM, anyone. I'm here for the team. If I see someone possibly being a detriment to the team, you best believe I'm going to speak on it.
This team was already headed in the right direction. As any idiot could see, the last thing you wanted to do was go off course. This front office sees that situation and says "I don't like where this headed, got to go in a different direction". Of course people are going to react negatively to that. Now let's throw in the awful last 20 years and the fans were going to have a major problem with the people making these decisions.
I'm very very happy about how they are playing now, but this is not because Rowe or ownership did anything, this team was this good last season, after massive improvement the season before that, UNDER GALLANT, and built BY TALLON.
- Redemption17

100% this.

Ekblad really needs to work on his defense