Before I begin, I want to say Peter Horachek might be one of the nicest people I've ever met, in sports or in life. He was always so genuine, funny, and friendly with the media, and I'm sure his professional career will continue to provide many opportunities.
Moving forward, GM Dale Tallon is about to make the summer of 2011 roster overhaul look like child's play when it comes to reshaping and reforming the on-ice product.
It began when Vinnie Viola took over ownership of the team last summer and since vowed the Florida Panthers would be a "cap team." Tallon has never had such financial freedom.
Then the restructuring of team management began with former CEO Michael Yormark and Assistant GM Mike Santos being relieved of their duties. Little by little, more room was being made for fresh blood, ideas, and enthusiasm.
Now it's Horachek, who really was in a tough position taking over for Kevin Dineen who had left the team in a huge hole after a terrible start to the season. Tallon stated that he needed more NHL experience behind the bench for the future, as his last two hires came in with none.
At first, it looked like Horachek might be the lightning in a bottle the team needed to climb out of the cellar.
In early December the Panthers won five games in a row and 7 of 8 to start making things interesting. They were only three games under .500 on January 26th. But losing 5 of 6 before the Olympic break, and then losing talented rookie Aleksander Barkov to season-ending injury in Sochi all but sealed the fate of a team trying to hold on to faint playoff hopes.
As is commonplace in South Florida this time of year, time to put that in the past and move on. But this offseason has a different feel. More big changes are coming, and for Panther fans at least, it is exciting. The way of the doormat seems to be coming to an end.
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