Matt Ross: Driedger on the Move? Hinostroza, Cats & Jackets

Geez i know driedger is tempting to sell but are we really that desperate for more picks? And i dont see any contenders giving us any important pieces. We got him as a free agent so it didnt cost us anything to acquire so i would feel slightly better about losing him for nothing. Tis a tough call indeed i think unless we take an awful tumble over the next week we stay the course and ride both goalies

It might depend on the offers. If they’re not getting at least a 2nd or an equivalent prospect, they should definitely hold onto him in a year when draft scouting has been mostly poor due to COVID and the draft even more of a crapshoot as a result.

Let’s face it Bob’s contract is going to change way to many decisions moving forward.
Bob is an anchor.

Geez i know driedger is tempting to sell but are we really that desperate for more picks? And i dont see any contenders giving us any important pieces. We got him as a free agent so it didnt cost us anything to acquire so i would feel slightly better about losing him for nothing. Tis a tough call indeed i think unless we take an awful tumble over the next week we stay the course and ride both goalies
- Shynes57

I’m not sure if it’s more picks, but something of value in terms of current player (that makes sense) or promising prospect?

But like you said, what team in the hunt is going to give up a legit guy at the TDL?

It might depend on the offers. If they’re not getting at least a 2nd or an equivalent prospect, they should definitely hold onto him in a year when draft scouting has been mostly poor due to COVID and the draft even more of a crapshoot as a result.
- Quetzalcoatl

Great point, Quetzalcoat.

Let’s face it Bob’s contract is going to change way to many decisions moving forward.
Bob is an anchor.
- Tee56

Oh yeah. You won’t get any pushback from me regarding the contract - never liked it from the beginning, but, it happened and we’re stuck with it.

I’m just glad he’s looking more confident and playing much better.

no team alternates goalies in the playoffs. Once the playoffs start, its all BOB. Get a 3rd line center who wins faceoffs (Glendening from Detroit) or a solid defensive player (Dumba) for Driedger. Thank him for his awesome services to the Panthers and get something solid for him and our playoff run.

And if you are looking for the most replies to your blog, I agree the new Ballys scoreboard sucks. SOG were always on the screen. PUT THEM BACK.

no team alternates goalies in the playoffs. Once the playoffs start, its all BOB. Get a 3rd line center who wins faceoffs (Glendening from Detroit) or a solid defensive player (Dumba) for Driedger. Thank him for his awesome services to the Panthers and get something solid for him and our playoff run.
- GudbransonFan

Oh, I know it will be Bob come payoffs. But the Hutton idea is was more so to help finish the season and if something happens to Bob come/during playoffs, he’s there.

And if you are looking for the most replies to your blog, I agree the new Ballys scoreboard sucks. SOG were always on the screen. PUT THEM BACK.
- GudbransonFan

Haha. Yeah! Also, I wasn’t pointing out the comments as a way to try and build more, I was just surprised to see as many as we had. It was a fun night chatting while the game was going on.

My biggest hang up with the Bally’s bar is it’s on the bottom and the fact that it goes across the whole screen...

I'm not so sure keeping him is a bad idea.... our current situation in goal is strong, and we're about to possibly have a deep playoff run with an actual shot to the cup. Changing the goalie tandem could possibly screw that up. We have Knight signed for the future, so, why not let Driegs get grabbed by Seattle? That would save the possibility of losing someone else. Or, maybe a sign and flip during UFA?
Tough call here, unless ome team offers up a deal that can't be refused.

I'm not so sure keeping him is a bad idea.... our current situation in goal is strong, and we're about to possibly have a deep playoff run with an actual shot to the cup. Changing the goalie tandem could possibly screw that up. We have Knight signed for the future, so, why not let Driegs get grabbed by Seattle? That would save the possibility of losing someone else. Or, maybe a sign and flip during UFA?
Tough call here, unless ome team offers up a deal that can't be refused.
- gstclairinc

Totally agree. A number of avenues they can take here. Not moving him keeps a great tandem, but if a team is willing to give “an offer that can’t be refused,” then I guess you go with it.

With Zito at the helm, I think it’s going to be very interesting.

I wonder if a goalie swap would be beneficial for your play off run?
Say Bernier (soon to be UFA) for Driedger + Connally
This only happens if Driedger agrees to a contract before hand.

Not really sure we improve our forward depth by trading an NHL player for an AHL player with no NHL experience. To me, trade looks like a friendly gesture to Hinostroza to get playing time/opportunity with another team. We might save some money too.

My understanding is that Brad Morrison's contract expires after this season, so unless he has an amazing month in Syracuse, I don't see the Panthers re-signing him.

The new Bally score bar is terrible. 50% bad design and location and the loss of the SOG function; 50% distraction with large news feed and updates. Unfortunately, it appears to be standard across the Bally family of networks. I saw the exact same bar on the On The Fly highlights across many teams. That means fixing it is likely not a local channel decision.

I think they're going for an NFL look to the score bar and a universal "feature" of their networks. I watched a few mins of the Marlins-Rays game looking for the Panthers game and I saw the score bar but didn't see the score. Bally, back to the drawing board for score bars.

I saw that Q said Spencer Knight will see game action soon. I think this will be good experience for him in a safe opportunity. (It will also be a good measuring stick to demonstrate if he needs AHL development time or not.) If he plays like a vet, maybe they'll feel comfortable taking the risk and getting a return for Driedger. I think Driedger was critical to getting us here and there are still a lot of back to backs coming up. And, we need insurance against an injury to Bob. I would hate to see the Panthers bow out of the playoffs in the first round just to get a 2nd round draft pick.

For tonight, Panthers should be motivated with Barkov and Hornqvist coming back.

Go Panthers!

The day after they trade Driedger, Bob will pull a groin. Driedger has been a big part of what this team has done so far this season. They’ve fought through some adversity over the last couple of weeks, and have really come together as a team. Idk, trading him kinda seems like it would be a kick in the gut to the players. No team is gonna give up a lot for a still relatively unproven NHL goalie. Unless the offer is incredibly over value, they’d be better off keeping Driedger. No need to rush Knight along, either. If FL wasn’t sharing an AHL team with Tampa, Knight would be in Charlotte right now getting his feet wet. The taxi squad is great for him to get practice time with the big club, and throw him in a game or two to get a taste of the NHL.
Trading Driedger would be very foolish,imo.

And Stan Bowman continues to be fascinated with ex Blackhawks.

SiGn AnD tRaDe

Not really sure we improve our forward depth by trading an NHL player for an AHL player with no NHL experience. To me, trade looks like a friendly gesture to Hinostroza to get playing time/opportunity with another team. We might save some money too.

My understanding is that Brad Morrison's contract expires after this season, so unless he has an amazing month in Syracuse, I don't see the Panthers re-signing him.

The new Bally score bar is terrible. 50% bad design and location and the loss of the SOG function; 50% distraction with large news feed and updates. Unfortunately, it appears to be standard across the Bally family of networks. I saw the exact same bar on the On The Fly highlights across many teams. That means fixing it is likely not a local channel decision.

I think they're going for an NFL look to the score bar and a universal "feature" of their networks. I watched a few mins of the Marlins-Rays game looking for the Panthers game and I saw the score bar but didn't see the score. Bally, back to the drawing board for score bars.

I saw that Q said Spencer Knight will see game action soon. I think this will be good experience for him in a safe opportunity. (It will also be a good measuring stick to demonstrate if he needs AHL development time or not.) If he plays like a vet, maybe they'll feel comfortable taking the risk and getting a return for Driedger. I think Driedger was critical to getting us here and there are still a lot of back to backs coming up. And, we need insurance against an injury to Bob. I would hate to see the Panthers bow out of the playoffs in the first round just to get a 2nd round draft pick.

For tonight, Panthers should be motivated with Barkov and Hornqvist coming back.

Go Panthers!
- JimboCoppertone

I think there’s a part of the trade that’s a solid to Hino to go to CHI and get some regular playing time. I also think it’s potentially done to save some cash for a deadline deal.

Going to be interesting if Knight gets a look soon. One of the more anticipated guys in a long time - def the most anticipated since being drafted.

Maybe you throw him in there against DET or something down the line.

The day after they trade Driedger, Bob will pull a groin. Driedger has been a big part of what this team has done so far this season. They’ve fought through some adversity over the last couple of weeks, and have really come together as a team. Idk, trading him kinda seems like it would be a kick in the gut to the players. No team is gonna give up a lot for a still relatively unproven NHL goalie. Unless the offer is incredibly over value, they’d be better off keeping Driedger. No need to rush Knight along, either. If FL wasn’t sharing an AHL team with Tampa, Knight would be in Charlotte right now getting his feet wet. The taxi squad is great for him to get practice time with the big club, and throw him in a game or two to get a taste of the NHL.
Trading Driedger would be very foolish,imo.
- Ratsreign

Haha. That’s my fear, Rats!

It’s a good point about the impact on the locker room, too.

And Stan Bowman continues to be fascinated with ex Blackhawks.
- Shady1962

One of the bigger hang ups with Bowman for sure.

Kiersted making his NHL debut tonight. They are throwing him right into the fire, don’t know if he even got a practice in with the team. They are dressing 7 D again, though, so we’ll see how much he plays. He will wear #8.

Kiersted making his NHL debut tonight. They are throwing him right into the fire, don’t know if he even got a practice in with the team. They are dressing 7 D again, though, so we’ll see how much he plays. He will wear #8.
- Ratsreign

Whoa...I thought he had to go through a 14 day quarantine.

Whoa...I thought he had to go through a 14 day quarantine.
- Matt Ross

Wouldn’t 14 days be if coming from Canada? I don’t know what the protocols are. I think it might’ve been Forsling, when they claimed him off waivers, drove down from Carolina and didn’t have to quarantine at all.

Knight was on the ice this AM, too, so he’s also through any required waiting period after travel.

I think there’s a part of the trade that’s a solid to Hino to go to CHI and get some regular playing time. I also think it’s potentially done to save some cash for a deadline deal.

Going to be interesting if Knight gets a look soon. One of the more anticipated guys in a long time - def the most anticipated since being drafted.

Maybe you throw him in there against DET or something down the line.
- Matt Ross

Well 1 thing is certain it wont be detroit were done with them lol