Matt Ross: 2016 First Round Playoffs: Game 6 Loss to NYI

Just replied to your comment about watching Isles game6 on the previous blog, I'll paste it here...
So many chances to put that series away, and they just never could do it. That would've been something to see Jags and Lu go further into the playoffs.
Love the old logo, but those jerseys were not the greatest. The original home/white jerseys were the best, by far. I wish they'd bring them back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN60rbyE_1I

Stu Barnes finds a way onto my all time team,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zixDPFaOfbY
never should've traded him away.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rxjrTEBrnO4

Just replied to your comment about watching Isles game6 on the previous blog, I'll paste it here...
So many chances to put that series away, and they just never could do it. That would've been something to see Jags and Lu go further into the playoffs.
Love the old logo, but those jerseys were not the greatest. The original home/white jerseys were the best, by far. I wish they'd bring them back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN60rbyE_1I

Stu Barnes finds a way onto my all time team,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zixDPFaOfbY
never should've traded him away.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rxjrTEBrnO4
- Ratsreign

Good to hear from you, Rats!

Totally agreed on the sweaters! I was just speaking more so from a leaping cat logo perspective.

The amount of chances to put NYI away were certainly there. NYI has a lot of great ones, too. Legit playoff hockey.

Good to hear from you, Rats!

Totally agreed on the sweaters! I was just speaking more so from a leaping cat logo perspective.

The amount of chances to put NYI away were certainly there. NYI has a lot of great ones, too. Legit playoff hockey.
- Matt Ross

Panthers playoff hockey hopefully becomes a much, much more frequent occurrence.

Panthers playoff hockey hopefully becomes a much, much more frequent occurrence.
- Ratsreign

That would be great

TAVARES YOU SCUM! how dare you score! My couch took a beating that night for sure

Matt Ross: 2016 First Round Playoffs: Game 6 Loss to NYI
- Matt Ross

"I remember Tallon saying he saw Gudbranson as captain down the line because he had those leadership qualities. Not sure what happened..."

Basically, Tom Rowe happened.
Gudbrandson and Kulikov were traded because they weren't offensively, or corsi-ly, gifted enough. The replacements were all great with the puck, except no one could/would take it away from the opponent to begin with. Gallant wasn't down with the changes, but he lost the pissing match with Rowe, and was fired. While Reilly Smith had a terrible year immediately after signing a big extension, I think there was more to Smith leaving than just salary cap reasons. Rowe (who extended Smith's deal) and him seemed to clash, with Rowe once publicly blaming Smith for a loss. I think there was more going on there than was ever reported.
Ekblad was indeed more "stay home" under Gallant. GG having Brian Campbell as his partner made it so the young Ekblad could focus more on his defense.

"I remember Tallon saying he saw Gudbranson as captain down the line because he had those leadership qualities. Not sure what happened..."

Basically, Tom Rowe happened.
Gudbrandson and Kulikov were traded because they weren't offensively, or corsi-ly, gifted enough. The replacements were all great with the puck, except no one could/would take it away from the opponent to begin with. Gallant wasn't down with the changes, but he lost the pissing match with Rowe, and was fired. While Reilly Smith had a terrible year immediately after signing a big extension, I think there was more to Smith leaving than just salary cap reasons. Rowe (who extended Smith's deal) and him seemed to clash, with Rowe once publicly blaming Smith for a loss. I think there was more going on there than was ever reported.
Ekblad was indeed more "stay home" under Gallant. GG having Brian Campbell as his partner made it so the young Ekblad could focus more on his defense.
- Ratsreign

I think there’s a lot of truth to that, Rats. Gallant knew how to operate this team and why they needed. He clashed a lot with the brass.

It’s a dangerous game when you start to rely solely on the numbers - it’s a shame, really.

One of the things I remember most about the end of that season and the playoff round was Matheson joined the team after his ncaa season ended and looked like a perennial all star in the making.

One of the things I remember most about the end of that season and the playoff round was Matheson joined the team after his ncaa season ended and looked like a perennial all star in the making.
- Ratsreign

That play certainly got him his deal.