Winning 7 out of 8 games in mid-December had the Cats thinking about a playoff push after a dismal start to the season. Now the Panthers are in a place that sounds like a broken record.
Buyers to sellers in a blink of any eye.
At least that is the way it looks.
For all the promise some of the young players have shown this year, especially Nick Bjugstad and Aleksander Barkov, there still just isn't enough firepower to put pucks in the back of the net.
Reigning Calder Trophy winner Jonathan Huberdeau is an a funk that is so inexplicable even he finds it hard to describe what he's going through. The normally solid Tim Thomas has been shaky of late, which was no more evident than the very soft third goal given up in Columbus Saturday night.
Just when things were looking up in South Florida, sadly eyes can start looking towards the draft to see who may be added to this talented nucleus of youth.
That is not to say the season is completely over. Technically it's possible for the Panthers to go on a major run and make some noise. But reality says being 11 points out of a playoff spot, with seven teams in front of you, with 27 games remaining, is not a good scenario.
The jump that interim head coach Peter Horachek gave this team on arrival is now gone, and the chances of him keeping his job are vanishing with this team's playoff chances.
New owner Vinny Viola gave GM Dale Tallon an open checkbook this offseason to be a "cap team" via free agency and trade. That in itself might warrant Horachek being dismissed to bring in a new voice and direction with yet another overhauled roster. However, the last time Tallon was allowed to overhaul the roster ended nicely with the first division championship in franchise history and a playoff berth for the first time in a dozen years. Thankfully a full rebuild is not needed, as there are many more assets in place than there were 3 years ago.
But it is what it is. Likely another failed season. Watching Tallon wheel and deal between now and mid-July should be highly entertaining, for all the wrong reasons.
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