Sunshine State Hockey

We Have Moved!

2010-07-01T12:15:00.001-04:00

Completely forgot to do this. Sunshine State Hockey has moved to a new site. Please follow us over there.

http://sunshinestatehockey.wordpress.com/

The Stanley Cup Final

2010-05-29T18:49:00.002-04:00

Hello everyone, I hope you all are as excited as I am for the Cup final to begin tonight. In just a little over an hour two teams will go head to head for the chance to hoist the cup. Neither team has one Lord Stanley's hardware in at least thirty five years.

I just wanted to stop in and give my pick for the series. I will admit I didn't do too well in these playoffs, but I hope to make up for it.

After all is said and done, the Chicago Blackhawks will be the 2010 Stanley Cup champions. Not only will they win, but I say that the Hawks will end this series in five. Bold prediction? Maybe, but only time will tell.

I hope everyone enjoys game 1 and the entire series. Check back later this week for another installment of What Really Grinds My Gears followed by a new poll.

If you have any comments or questions please post them on SSH's facebook page or send them to SunStateHockey@hotmail.com

Time For The AHL To Come To FLA?

2010-05-22T15:00:00.006-04:00

The Florida Panthers rocky relationship with their farm club, the Rochester Americans, will most likely be coming to an end after the 2010-2011 season. The main reason for the split, among others, is because the Panthers never forked over some money to help pay for the veteran players on the Amerks after they promised they would.

With the partnership ending that will leave the Panthers prospects without a place to officially play. I am sure the Panthers will fine another farm team out there, but before they go sending the boys off to play in Alaska or some other far off place why not consider staying close to home? Why not give AHL hockey a chance in the sunshine state?

Minor league hockey is nothing new to Florida. The Florida Everblades of the ECHL has a very strong following on the west coast in Fort. Myers. Orlando also had the Solar Bears, an IHL team that won the Turner Cup in 2001, the last year of the league before it folded. The issue with the Solar Bears though was attendance. Even though they had a good product on the ice, the people in Orlando didn't seem that interested.

There are plenty of other places in Florida that an AHL team might work. Let us forget Sunrise and Tampa since both areas already have NHL teams. Some other spots that come to mind would be Jacksonville, Miami, West Palm Beach, or maybe even give Orlando another chance. Of course the Panthers will have to help out and show interest in their farm club, which one has to think that the Panthers will do so and learn from their mistakes they made with the Amerks.

Time to bring back the Bears?

Not only will an AHL team in Florida be a good gauge for the growth of hockey in the sunshine state, but it will also help out with the traveling of prospects called up and sent down. Many times you hear from Panthers staff and players that traveling from Rochester to Florida and Florida to Rochester is taxing on guys, especially when they arrive on the day of the game. If you want a good example, look no further then Shawn Matthias.

So what do you all think? Would you like to see an AHL team in Florida? Do you think that one of the areas listed would be a good choice, or would you pick somewhere else? Or would you just like to see the Cats create a partnership with an already established AHL team?

Leave your feedback on SSH's facebook page or send it to SunStateHockey@hotmail.com.

Dale Tallon The New GM of Panthers

2010-05-17T13:25:00.005-04:00

Reports from George Richards of the Miami Heralds "On Frozen Pond" claim that Dale Tallon, former General Manager of the Chicago Blackhawks, will take over the GM role for the Florida Panthers.

This is a bit surprising to say the least. I for one felt that Sexton was doing a good job, especially with all of the prospect signings this off season.

If such reports are true the press conference to make the announcement will be held tomorrow at 11 A.M.

You can read GR's story here.

Conference Finals, Who Would Have Guessed?

2010-05-16T13:26:00.002-04:00

Good afternoon everyone, I hope you all are enjoying this years playoffs, I know I am. Thanks to Montreal and San Jose we are guaranteed a new match up for the cup this year. The playoffs have been wild though to say the least, especially the second round. Who would have guessed, aside from fans of the respected teams, that the Habs would knock off the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins in the same fashion as the Presidents Trophy winning Washington Capitals? Who would have guessed that the Boston Bruins would lose their series against the Philadelphia Flyers after being up 3-0 in the series, and 3-0 in game seven?

You couldn't write this script even if you tried.

On the western side of the fence things shaped up as they should have based on regular season standings. The #1 and #2 seed will battle for the right to go to the cup final. The Hawks goaltending has held up and Antti Niemi is doing an admirable job, but this is the series that will make or break Chicago's young netminder.

I am not going to recap last round, because well, my predictions were off. Can you blame me though? At least I called the Boston vs Philly series, that counts for something. SSH went 1-

For what it's worth, here are SSH's predictions for the Conference Finals.

Eastern Conference Final

#8 Montreal Canadiens vs #7 Philadelphia Flyers.

Old time hockey makes an appearance in the Eastern finals this year. This series is going to be a good one, but in the end the Habs will walk away the winners. The Canadiens have turned into a shutdown team with a no named defense, and if these no names can shut down Ovechkin and Crosby they should be able to shut down Richards and Co.

Montreal wins the series 4-2.

Western Conference Final

#2 Chicago Blackhawks vs #1 San Jose Sharks

The two power houses in the West battle for their shut at the cup. The San Jose Sharks are loaded on offense skill in both their forwards and defense while the Hawks are a more balanced team with the better defense. This series will go the distance, but in the end Antti Niemi will prove he is strong enough to carry his team to the promise land.

Chicago wins the series 4-3.

I hope everyone enjoys the games. If anyone has any comments or questions you can post them on SSH's facebook page or E-mail me at SunStateHockey@hotmail.com

Round 1 Done, Round 2 Starts Tonight

2010-04-29T17:35:00.004-04:00

The day after one of the most shocking upsets ever seen in the playoffs, people are still asking the same question. What in the world happened?

The Washington Capitals were the favorites of many to win the cup this season, unless your name is RJ Umberger. Something happened though that shocked everyone, including Alexander Ovechkin. The Caps ran into a wall named Jaroslav Halak. Let us not forget that the Washington Capitals had a 3-1 series lead before Montreal won three in a row to take the series. So, the Caps will have questions to answer in the off-season, and the Habs will live to fight another day.

On to my predictions for round 1. I have to admit it was a bit bold for me to say that Nashville would win their series against Chicago, but sure enough I paid for my boldness by getting that series wrong.

Eastern Conference

#1 Washington Capitals vs #8 Montreal Canadiens

SSH: "Capitals take series 4-0."

Reality: Montreal Wins Series 4-3.

Cut me some slack on this one. I am willing to bet that all of you said something similar, unless your a Habs fan.

#2 New Jersey Devils vs #7 Philadelphia Flyers

SSH: "Devils take series 4-0."

Reality: Philadelphia Wins Series 4-1.

This was another shocker in the first round. Hats off to Brian Boucher for coming out of no where and playing better then the quickly aging Martin Brodeur.

#3 Buffalo Sabres vs # 6 Boston Bruins

SSH: "Sabres take series 4-3."

Reality: Boston Wins Series 4-2.

Ryan Miller was not a happy camper after this one. I have a feeling he was banking on a long playoff run to erase the haunting memory of the Olympic finale. Sorry Ryan, now you have two bad experiences to dwell on in the summer.

#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs #5 Ottawa Senators

SSH: "Penguins take series 4-2."

Reality: Pittsburgh Wins Series 4-2.

I got one right! The Senators tried their best, and Pascal Leclaire came off the bench and played well, but the Pens were just too strong for the surprise team in the East.

Western Conference

#1 San Jose Sharks vs #8 Colorado Avalanche

SSH: "Sharks take series 4-2."

Reality: San Jose Wins Series 4-2.

Another correct answer for SSH, but it will be the last complete correct answer (team and # games) of the first round. This series was a crazy one that included a goal scored on San Jose by the Sharks own Dan Boyle. The Sharks prevailed but the Avalanche proved that they will be a dangerous team in the West for years to come.

#3 Vancouver Canucks vs #6 Los Angeles Kings

SSH: "Canucks take series 4-1."

Reality "Vancouver Wins Series 4-2."

The Sedin's, and former Panther Mikael Sammualson, handled the young and promising LA Kings with ease. Luongo played well, but never had to be spectacular in this series. The Kings go home with good feelings for the future.

#4 Phoenix Coyotes vs #5 Detroit Red Wings

SSH: "Red Wings take series 4-2."

Reality: Detroit Wins Series 4-3.

Phoenix tried with all their might, but come on, its the Red Wings. The end of game seven proved that hockey is just fine in Arizona as long as the Yotes keep winning. Hats off to the classy fans that stayed and saluted their team with a "Lets go Yotes!" chant.

So counting just the correct teams SSH went 4-4, .500 is not too shabby and I will take it.

Now let us wrap this up with predictions for round 2, which starts tonight at 9:00 PM eastern when the San Jose Sharks host the Detroit Red Wings in game 1.

Round 2 Predictions:

Western Conference

#5 Detroit Red Wings vs #1 San Jose Sharks

The Sharks make it out of round 1, only to run into the Red Wings. The Sharks will try their best, just as the Coyotes did before them, but come on, its the Red Wings.

Red Wings take series 4-2.

#3 Vancouver Canucks vs #2 Chicago Blackhawks

So maybe I shouldn't have went against the Blackhawks in round 1, but I am going to do it again in round 2. Roberto Luongo will have to be spectacular in this series, and I have a feeling he will be up to the challenge. The Hawks goaltending will fall apart in this series, leading to the end of the line for Chicago.

Canucks take series 4-1.

Eastern Conference

#8 Montreal Canadiens vs # 4 Pittsburgh Penguins

Halak will have to stand on his head again to give Montreal a chance in this series. You have to think though that Pittsburgh is ready for the Habs, and that Montreal may be just a little tired after the Washington series. Mix that together with the fact that Crosby is on fire and you will have the Penguins moving on to the Eastern Conference finals for the third straight year.

Penguins take series 4-3.

#7 Philadelphia Flyers vs #6 Boston Bruins

Out of all the match ups in round two this one is going to prove the hardest to predict. In the end though the more offensive team will win this series, making way for a pretty good Eastern finals match up between the Penguins and the Flyers.

Flyers take series 4-3.

If you have any comments or questions please post them on SSH's facebook page or send them to SunStateHockey@hotmail.com

The Panthers Pick 3rd

2010-04-14T10:50:00.003-04:00

The Panthers are no better, or worse, one day after the NHL 2010 draft lottery. The Cats held their spot at 3rd, as did all other fourteen teams in the lottery. The top five shapes up like so:

5. New York Islanders
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
3. Florida Panthers
2. Boston Bruins
1. Edmonton Oilers

Brian Burke may not want to admit it, but you know he is kicking himself for that trade with the Bruins.

One other side note before we get started with the Western predictions. The Atlanta Thrashers have overhauled their front office and coaching staff. The reason I bring this up is because the Thrashers decided to hire former Cats GM Rick Dudley to fill the General Manager role. This is the biggest mistake the Thrashers could make. As all of us Panthers fans know, this guy is a poison to any organization he joins. I guess ATL will find out just how bad Dudley is soon enough.

Alright, now on to more important matters. Here are SSH's predictions for the 2010 Western Conference playoffs.

#1 San Jose Sharks vs #8 Colorado Avalanche

Former Panthers goalie Craig Anderson will get his first taste of the post season, and will have to be spectacular to get Colorado past a very powerful San Jose team. The Sharks will look for Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau to carry over their exceptional play into to post season. Colorado will try their best, but the overall team inexperience will catch up to them.

Sharks take series 4-2.

#2 Chicago Blackhawks vs #7 Nashville Predators

The Blackhawks are going to win the Stanley Cup, at least that's what EA Sports said after their NHL 10 simulation. We here at SSH's are going out on a limb and saying that goaltending will be the downfall of the Hawks, and that their downfall will come quickly.

Predators take series 4-3.

#3 Vancouver Canucks vs #6 Los Angeles Kings

The Kings have finally made it back to the post season, but sadly in the first round they run into a brick wall named Roberto Luongo. I expect Lu will be in full form as the Canucks handle the Kings with some ease, only dropping one game.

Canucks take series 4-1.

#4 Phoenix Coyotes vs #5 Detroit Red Wings

How can you not love the Phoenix Coyotes? A team that was almost moved before the start of this season not only stays in the desert after many months of court battles, but also becomes one of the dominant western conference teams. Sadly for the Coyotes, they get to go up against those pesky Red Wings that just seem to never go away. Phoenix will surprise the Wings and win both games in Phoenix, but the veterans will calm down and pick apart the Coyotes the next four.

Red Wings take series 4-2.

If you have any comments or questions, or want to share your predictions, please feel free to post them on SSH's facebook page or send them to SunStateHockey@hotmail.com.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs - 2010

2010-04-12T12:42:00.002-04:00

It is that time of year again, the Stanley Cup playoffs are here. What will this years playoffs bring compared to last years exciting showcase? Will we see a team come out of no where and go deep like the Carolina Hurricanes of last year? Will we see a rematch of Crosby vs Ovechkin, playoff style? Heck, will we see a third rematch for the Stanley Cup?

These questions, and more, will start to get some answers Wednesday when the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins, face off against one of the surprise teams in the East, the Ottawa Senators. Puck drop is 7:00 PM East on CBC for Canadian viewers and Versus for us Americans.

Since the Florida Panthers are off playing golf we here at SSH will be following the playoffs in detail, so check back everyday for updates.

Starting off our playoff coverage will be my personal predictions for the first round. Feel free to voice your predictions as well on SSH's facebook page.

Eastern Conference

#1 Washington Capitals vs #8 Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens have to be a little angry since the Flyers knocked them out of 7th place, forcing them to play the high powered Washington offense. The strong goaltending tandem of Price and Halak will try their best, but they will be no match for Ovechkin and the Caps.

Capitals take series 4-0.

#2 New Jersey Devils vs #7 Philadelphia Flyers

Philly won an exciting game against the New York Rangers to make it to the post season, but with the lack of goaltending and Marty Brodeur on the other side, the Flyers will not last long in the post season.

Devils take series 4-0.

#3 Buffalo Sabres vs # 6 Boston Bruins

Ryan Miller was spectacular in the Olympics, so it is a no brainer to expect him to be spectacular in the playoffs. The Bruins will put up a solid fight, but it will be the Sabres who come out on top, because of the play of Ryan Miller and the inexperience of Tukka Rask.

Sabres take series 4-3.

#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs #5 Ottawa Senators

Crosby added a new aspect to his game this season, becoming a 50 goal scorer and winning the Richard with co-winner Steven Stamkos. The Senators are the surprise team in the East this year, so look for them to put up a fight. But, with the loss of Alex Kovalev and the inexperience of Brian Elliott the Senators playoff hopes will fade out in the first round.

Penguins take series 4-2.

Look for SSH's Western Conference playoff Predictions tomorrow. If you have any comments or questions please post them on SSH's facebook page or E-mail me at SunStateHockey@hotmail.com

1st Annual SSH Awards

2010-04-10T22:33:00.004-04:00

I will be the first to admit that the 2009-2010 season was one full of hope at the start, a little frustration in the middle, and a lot of disappointment at the end. There were so many dark spots this year that it is very hard to pick out the bright spots, but that is where I come in. For the sake of fun and entertainment I came up with a little award show for Sunshine State Hockey that honors just the Florida Panthers.

Lets begin.

The Scott Mellanby award (Team MVP) - Tomas Vokoun

What is there to say about Vokoun that hasn't been said already? The guy gave the Panthers a chance to win every night he played. T-Vo had some tough games this season, none tougher than the Phoenix game just a couple weeks ago, but most of the losses in his L column can hardly be blamed on him.

Sadly I have a feeling that the 2009-2010 season will be the last we see Tomas in a Panthers jersey. I think with all of the goaltending prospects being signed, and the strong play of Clemmensen at the end of the season, Vokoun will be shipped out for some much needed offensive help. Either way, I couldn't think of a player more deserving of the MVP award than Tomas.

The Branislav Mezei Award (Team LVP) - Kamil Kreps

What does LVP stand for you might ask? It's pretty simple actually. The Branislav Mezei award is awarded to the Panthers LEAST valuable player. I could not think of a more deserving candidate than Mr. Invisible himself, Kamil Kreps. The "Kreper" was hands down the worse player on the Florida Panthers roster this year. Heck, the guy hasn't been relevant since the 2007-2008 season.

It boggles the mind as to why Kreps is still on the Panthers and not in the KHL with the rest of the NHLs rejects.

The Pavel Bure Award (Best Forward) - Stephen Weiss

Weisser said that he was disappointed in his 14 goal season during the 2008-2009 campaign, and he said he was going to do something about it. Well, he sure did do something about it. Stephen has posted a career high 28 goals and is only two points away from tying his career high in points that he set a year ago. Weiss has been solid for the Panthers this year and provided much needed scoring with the absence of David Booth. With Booth hopefully healthy next year and Weiss putting up these kinds of numbers, the Panthers offense might just be okay.

The Robert Svehla Award (Best Defenseman) - Bryan McCabe

Caber did not put up a lot of goals this season, but he made up for that with solid D and a solid amount of assists. Bryan has also been a solid captain for the Cats this season, both on and off the ice. McCabe is a solid competitor and seems to be getting better with age.

The Kristian Huselius Award (Rookie of the Year) - Dmitry Kulikov

Kulikov came out of the gate weak in his first game against the Hurricanes, but after that the Russian born defenseman never looked back. Dmitry hardly made any mistakes after that game, but when he did they were not rookie mistakes, but rather the same that any veteran D-man would make. Not to mention he was pretty solid at recovering when these mistakes did happen. Kulikov put up fifteen points in a season where he missed a number of games due to injury. It will be interesting to see what he can do next year if he stays healthy.

The VanMurph Award (Fan of the Year) - Carl Kanas

Those around message boards involving the Panthers know him as CatFan927, but those closer to him, and who have the honor to call him a friend, know him as Carl. Mr. Kanas is at every Florida Panthers home game with his flags flying in the parking lot before every puck drop. Carl is as hardcore of a fan as they come, and has been following the Cats since 1993, and has managed to keep his spirits up even in the worst of times.

So Carl, here's to you buddy. As I said before, it is an honor to be your friend. You make going to the games that much more fun. Without you and the rest of the tailgate crew I am not sure if I would have survived this season.

That will be all for tonight. If you have any comments or questions you can send them to SunStateHockey@hotmail.com or post them on our facebook page.

Trade Deadline 2010

2010-03-03T10:35:00.027-05:00

Good morning folks. For up to the minute updates on trades you can follow SSH on our facebook page here.

I will also update this blog entry all day with every trade that goes down before 3:00 PM.

Let us also not forget Panthers fans, the boys are back in action tonight at the BAC, taking on those dirty Flyers. Come out and support your Cats, they need it. Puck drop is 7:30 PM.

Now to the trades.

- Boston Bruins trade Derek Morris to the Phoenix Coyotes for a 4th round pick (2011).

- Toronto Maple Leafs trade Martin Skoula to the New Jersey Devils for a 5th round pick (2010).

A couple of lines from TFP.com about the Florida Panthers.

"(10:05 AM): Panthers want Jeff Carter for Vokoun, Philly is not biting."
"(9.25 AM): The Panthers have some offers on the table, not for Vokoun."

Oh how the rumor mill turns.

- First Panthers trade of the day: Florida Panthers trade Dennis Seidenberg, and prospect Matt Bartkowski to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Byron Bitz, Craig Weller, and a 2nd round pick (2010) previously owned by Tampa.

- Carolina trades Aaron Ward to the Ducks in exchange for a 4th round pick (year TBA) and goalie Justin Pogge.

- Capitals trade a 7th round pick (year TBA) to the Hurricanes for Scott Walker.

- Vancouver trades Pierre-Cedric Labrie to St. Louis for Yan Stastny.

- Colorado trades Wojtek Wolski to Phoenix for Peter Mueller and Kevin Porter.

- Red Wings trade Kris Newbury to the Rangers for Jordan Owens.

- Phoenix acquires Mathieu Schneider from Vancouver for a conditional 6th round pick (2010) and Sean Zimmerman.

- LA Kings trade Ted Purcell and a 3rd round pick (year TBA) to Tampa Bay for Jeff Halpern.

- The Wild trade Eric Belanger to the Capitals for a 2nd round pick (2010).

- Ducks send Vesa Toskala to the Flames for Curtis McElhinney.

- The Sabres trade Nathan Paetsch and a 2nd round pick (year TBA) to Columbus for Raffi Torres.

- Buffalo trades Clarke MacArthur to Atlanta for a 3rd and a 4th round pick (years of picks TBA).

- Columbus trades Milan Jurcina back to the Capitals for a 6th round pick (year TBA).

- Toronto trades Lee Stempniak to the Coyotes for a 4th and a 7th round pick (years TBA).

- Carolina trades Joe Corvo to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Brian Pothier and Oskar Osala and TSN reports a 2nd round pick (year TBA).

- LA Kings acquire Fredrik Modin from the Columbus Blue Jackets for future considerations.

- Leafs trade Joey MacDonald to the Ducks for a 7th round pick (2011).

- Canucks acquire Andrew Alberts from the Hurricanes for a 3rd round pick (year TBA).

- Panthers second trade of the day: Florida acquires Mathieu Roy from the Blue Jackets for Matt Rust.

- Edmonton trades Lubomir Visnovsky to the Ducks for Ryan Whitney and a 6th round pick (2010).

- Pittsburgh trades Chris Peluso to the Maple Leafs for a 6th round pick (2010).

- Calgary trades Dustin Boyd to Nashville in exchange for a 4th round pick (year TBA).

That seems to be it folks. That brings today's total to 25 trades, involving 42 players and 21 picks. No big names dealt today, but a good amount of quality players. See you all at the game tonight. For those watching on TV the game will be on Versus tonight, shocking I know.

What Really Grinds My Gears II

2010-02-09T20:04:00.003-05:00

It is time for a new installment of my favorite segment here at Sunshine State Hockey, What Really Grinds My Gears.

You know what really grinds my gears? The fact that the Philadelphia Flyers continue to get away with cheap shots. For those who did not see it, Jeff Carter of the Philadelphia Flyers nailed Anssi Salmela of the New Jersey Devils after he scored a short handed goal, leaving him out cold on the ice for several minutes before being taken off on a stretcher. I have watched the hit multiple times, and I will say the hit itself is clean to an extent. It was a shoulder to shoulder hit, but it was the timing and the angle that I have a major issue with. Carter hit Salmela AFTER he scored a goal, in his blind side. People can continue to defend these hits, but I see nothing clean about a player targeting another player and hitting him at an angle where he cannot see it coming. There is a major difference between hitting a player when his head is down and hitting a player when he cannot see. Ask Mike Richards, he knows what i'm talking about.

You know what really grinds my gears? The fact that Kamil Kreps still has a roster spot on the Florida Panthers. Kreps has been down right terrible all season long, but continues to get ice time. The coaches say hes a good PK guy who can win faceoffs. I say so what, the Panthers are a team full of guys who are good grinders for the PK.

You know what really grinds my gears? The fact that the "savior", Peter DeBoer, is so against fighting. We have an AHL team loaded with scrappers who can make an impact on the Cats roster, but yet they are very rarely called up. This years Panthers team is soft, and that falls on coach DeBoer.

You know what really grinds my gears? The fact that the Florida Panthers seem to be scared to shoot the puck. The Cats recorded a season low thirteen shots against the Calgary Flames last Friday while allowing forty shots on net. The Panthers are no offensive power house, but you might be surprised with what could happen if they would just shoot.

And to wrap things up...

You know what really grinds my gears? All of the broken sticks for the Panthers this season. Heck, all of the broken sticks over the past month and a half! Where in the world is the organization buying these sticks from? The guys should switch to the plastic Franklin sticks little kids play with, they might just hold up better then the batch of garbage the team is using this year.

That is all for tonight. If anyone has any comments or questions feel free to post them on SSH's facebook page or contact me at SunStateHockey@hotmail.com.

Trade Winds Blowing In Sunrise?

2010-02-08T10:43:00.004-05:00

The Florida Panthers need a change, and that change seems to be coming as soon as this week. General Manager Randy Sexton spoke to George Richards of the Miami Herald Saturday evening, with Sexton claiming that he has as many as nine different trade scenarios on the table, and that he would like to get some deals done before the Olympic break.

"We are being active, there's no doubt about that." Sexton said.

Of course, when a GM has such talks you can expect some rumors to come up in conversation around the league. One rumor that I have heard, which does not seem to be from a reliable source, claims that Rusty Olesz may be dealt to the Edmonton Oilers along with prospect Drew Shore for Shawn Horcoff and a 5th round pick.

Just a note about the source, he/she claimed that New Jersey was out of the Kovalchuk running a day before the deal happened.

I will say though that it is a nice change of pace to see the organization trying to make changes in tough times. Former General Manager Mute...er...Jacques Martin didn't seem as active during his time is the sunshine state.

All of this information begs the question, who exactly is on the block for the Panthers? Well I cannot tell you for sure, but I will sure give you all an opinion.

SSH's Panthers Trading Block 2010:

Rusty Olesz - As much as I like Rusty I think his days here may be numbered. He is one of the better pieces of trade bait we have to offer and I think teams in seller and buyer mode will be interested.

Jordan Leopold - Jordan has had a good year, but is a UFA this off season. He has expressed desire to stay, and I wouldn't be surprised if Sexton keeps him the rest of the season and signs him back on in the off season. But you always have to keep your options open as a GM.

Dennis Seidenberg - ^ditto.

Dom Moore - Moore has been a decent addition to the Panthers this season, which also makes him a decent trade piece. I would not be surprised if he is dealt.

Cory Stillman - Stillman could be dealt depending on which mode the Panthers fall into. If they are buyers, then Stillman most likely stays. If the Cats are sellers then Stillman could go for younger talent.

Kamil Kreps - Kreps will not get the Panthers much, but he needs to go.

This week will be interesting for everyone in Pantherland. Stay tuned for what hopefully is an active trade week, and check back often for any info on possible deals.

That is all for today folks, have a good Monday and talk to you all soon.

You can leave your comments our question on SSH's facebook or send them to SunStateHockey@yahoo.com

Quick Thoughts VI

2010-02-05T10:49:00.002-05:00

Happy February folks.

It has been a while since I did a quick thoughts article, so I figured there is no better time then the present.

- The biggest news this morning is that Ilya Kovalchuk has been traded to the New Jersey Devils. Everyone knew a trade was coming after Kovalchuk reportedly turned down a twelve year, $101 million dollar contract, but to the Devils? This is a team that invented the trap under Jacques Lemaire and still play defense first hockey. In my opinion I see this as New Jersey making a last ditch effort to win a cup this year. Martin Broduer is not getting any younger and I think the Devils want to take one last run with Marty before it is too late.

- Keith Ballard was snubbed yet again by team USA general manager Brian Burke. Mike Komisarek and Paul Martin were both lost to injuries earlier this week, forcing Burke to find two replacements on D for his Olympic squad. Going in place of the two injured players are Tim Gleason and Ryan Whitney.

- Jay Bouwmeester makes his first return to South Florida as the Calgary Flames come down to take on the Florida Panthers. In an interview Jay did his best to get his little shot in on the fan base, claiming that Calgary cares about hockey. So to show Jay that South Florida cares as well, I hope everyone comes out and boo's Bouwmeester every time he touches the puck, because I plan to.

That is all for now folks. If you have any questions or comments feel free to E-mail me at SunStateHockey@hotmail.com or post them on SSH's facebook.

"Boring Hockey", So What?

2010-01-24T14:32:00.003-05:00

Hello folks, sorry for my too long absence. I thought I would have time come the New Year and I just didn't. Anyway, SSH is back now and I hope to make 2010 better then 09.

Lets get right to it shall we? Over the past couple of weeks the Florida Panthers have changed their style to what seems to be tight, defensive hockey. The Cats have scored a total of seven goals in their last four games, leading some fans to call these games "boring". Over those past four games the Panthers are 2-1-1, helping themselves to five out of a possible eight points, keeping themselves in the race for the post season.

Let us also not forget that the Panthers are currently without the services of their two best offensive players, David Booth and Nathan Horton.

So the question is, so what if it's "boring" if it is getting the Panthers wins? I think Keith Ballard said it best during a post game interview; "We usually don't have many pretty wins and we're not the most exciting team to watch. This is perfect for us. We don't mind this at all. You want to watch an up-and-down team? Watch Washington. As long as we win, I could care less how we do it.''

And that is exactly what the fans of this team need to remember. This team is not the Capitals. This team has it's two best players on IR and wont be back for at least four weeks. This team is doing it's best to stay in the race with a roster filled with AHL players. I have a feeling that you will not see "exciting" hockey until Booth and/or Horton make their return to the lineup, and this Panthers fan has no problem with that as long as it results in more W's. Because remember, you don't make the playoffs based on goal totals. If the Panthers want to continue to play tight defensive hockey, then so be it, as long as it works.

I think now is a good time to give a big nod to Tomas Vokoun, easily the best player in a Panthers jersey right now. The guy is on fire and has made everyone forget about back up, Scott Clemmensen. The NHL Network had a fun little fact the other night when showing the highlights of the Leafs vs Cats game. Vokoun is fourth in shutouts since the 2005-2006 season with 25, behind the likes of Marty Brodeur and Roberto Luongo. Not bad company at all for T-Vo. If fans out there like watching great goal tending as much as good offense, then come out and watch Vokoun, you will not be disappointed.

That will do it for now, if you have any questions or comments you can leave them on SSH's facebook page or send them to SunStateHockey@hotmail.com.

Go Panthers!

Happy Holidays

2009-12-20T21:41:00.004-05:00

Hello everyone.

I just wanted to jump on and say happy holidays to my loyal readers. I hope all of you have a very safe and great holiday season.

The great people over at Puck Daddy posted a music video from Alyonka and Diana Larionov, daughters of Igor Larionov. The video features players from all over the National Hockey League, including some of the guys from the Panthers.

I managed to spot Reinprecht, Campbell, Weiss, McCabe, Dvorak, and Olesz. Follow the link below to take a look at the video below and see if you can spot some of the Cats and your favorite NHL players.

Again, happy holidays and expect a lot more to come from Sunshine State Hockey in the new year.

That's What Christmas Means To Me

Change of E-mail

2009-12-15T01:53:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone.

How did my fellow Panthers fans like that big 7-1 win tonight? What a job by the team, and more specifically, Nathan Horton. The guy is playing some of his best hockey in a long time and it is showing on the stats sheet.

I just wanted to make a quick note that I created an E-mail account strictly for Sunshine State Hockey. FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com is my personal E-mail, so any E-mails sent to me for SSH might go unnoticed, especially during my transfer to Florida Atlantic University.

The new E-mail address for Sunshine State Hockey is: SunStateHockey@hotmail.com

So if anyone has any comments or questions you will send them to SunStateHockey@hotmail.com, not FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com. And of course, SSH's Facebook page is still active.

It's a Blog Off!

2009-11-29T12:58:00.002-05:00

The good folks over at the NHL Arena are having a blog off for all thirty teams, and yours truly is in the running for the Florida Panthers section.

If you would like to go and vote for your favorite Panthers blog all you have to do is go to the NHL Arena, register, and pick your two favorite blogs. SSH's good friends at Litter Box Cats are also in the running. You can vote for up to two blogs in the contest. I am not saying that any of you have to, but you will be helping grow the NHL Arena and helping out some great bloggers, especially if you take the time to vote on every board.

Follow this link: The NHL Arena, register, then head over to the Panthers board to cast your vote.

I Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.

If you have any comments or questions you can send them to FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com or stop by SSH's Facebook page.

Panthers Third Jersey Good, But Could Be Better

2009-11-25T13:38:00.014-05:00

Most of my Panthers friends know my feelings on the Panthers new jersey. I personally like them and the boys look just fine with all the new colored gear. The organization was aiming for a new, different look, and that is exactly what they got.

Panthers Third Jersey

I really only have two main issues with the new jersey that bother me a little bit.

1. The FLA on the shoulder is a decent design, but the A seems so far away from the FL. Not to mention, abbreviating Florida with FLA went out of style a long time ago, even if it is still used on the score board. If the A was not there then the shoulder patch would be that much better.

2. I am really bothered by the overall fact that the people in charge of designing this jersey just didn't try. This jersey is a copy of so many that even though they went for different, it doesn't feel different except for the color scheme that doesn't match the Panthers at all.

I did a little searching on the web and came across the Springfield Falcons home jersey. For those who don't know, the Falcons are an American Hockey League team. Take a look and tell me if this looks like something the Panthers might be wearing.

For shame jersey designer(s), for shame.

Yours truly knows his way around Photoshop pretty well, so I decided to mess with some color combination's and see just what could have been. I came up with three that I personally like and wouldn't have minded seeing in place of the new thirds. But, I am interested to see what you all think.

I will host a poll for one week to see if you guys like one of my designs, or the actual third.

Also, if anyone has their own design of the Panthers third jersey feel free to send them my way, I would love to see what others have and will even post them up if I get enough.

Anyway, here are my concepts:

I just want to stress again that I do like the new thirds. If I didn't like them I wouldn't have one hanging in my closet as I type this. These are just some ideas on how I think they could have done better while still going with a different look.

As always, you can find the poll at the upper right of the page.

If anyone has any questions or comments you can post them on SSH's facebook page or send them to FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com

I also wanted to let you folks know that since the issues with the comments section of this site have not been resolved I am looking at other hosts that having working pages. I want to give my readers the best page I possibly can and Blogger.com is just not allowing that.

Reason To Hope Or Getting Our Hopes Up

2009-11-21T12:02:00.002-05:00

Last night the Florida Panthers managed to do something they haven't done in thirteen years. In front of a half of the Red Wings faithful at the Joe Louis Arena (half because the others seem to be having financial issues and cannot attend games), the Florida Panthers beat Detroit. As I said, this is the first time in thirteen years that the Florida Panthers went into the Joe and came out with a W.

In all honesty the Panthers did not deserve to win that game. The Red Wings dominated them for fifty five minutes, but with the strong effort from Clemmensen the Cats managed to hang on and not only tie the game back up but get the OT winner.

Bill Lindsay said something last night that I took to heart. He said "A win against this type of storied team in this building could be a season changer". So I wonder, will the Panthers look at the rare win against the Red Wings as a season changer? As I see it, the season changed a couple weeks ago.

The Florida Panthers are 7-2-1 in the last ten games and are currently one of the hottest teams in the league. Tomas Vokoun has been nothing short of sensational during these games and Clemmensen finally put in a sixty minute effort last night. The offense is finally starting to click, something the Panthers had an issue with for a while last season. Chemistry is a very important aspect of the game and I think some of the guys are really gaining chemistry with each other.

The one thing the Panthers have to do for us fans is keep this up. The Cats will not win every game, and the fans need to understand that. At the same time the boys need to not fall back into winning two then losing two.

If the Panthers can stay consistent then maybe, just maybe, we will see some post season action in Sunrise.

Now Hiring, Enforcer Position

2009-10-26T10:05:00.003-04:00

I am willing to bet that everyone has seen the Wizard of Oz by now. Everyone remembers the bases of the movie, follow the yellow brick road to find the Wizard. Each character in the movie went on the journey seeking something different. The Tin-man wanted a heart, Scarecrow wanted a brain, and Dorothy wanted to go home. That leads us to my personal favorite character in the film, the Lion. In the wild, lions are one of the most aggressive animals that don't back down from anything. The Lion in the Wizard of Oz? He had no courage what so ever, and that is why he went on the journey to see the Wizard.

Now I am sure most of you are asking yourselves, "Why the heck is he talking about the Wizard of Oz?". The answer is pretty simple, the Florida Panthers need to go down the yellow brick road to find some of their own courage.

Everyone by now has seen what happened in the game on Saturday against the Flyers, so I will spare you all the details. I personally feel that the heat was dirty and uncalled for, and the league should have handed out at least a three game suspension, but I digress. I wanted to talk more about our teams effort to defend their star player after the hit, along with some other interesting events in the game.

Situation 1: Dominic Moore takes a huge elbow to the face, leading to a busted and bloody nose. Team reaction? Nothing, not even as much as an exchange of bad words.

My Take: I can let this one slide. It was penalized, but I would have liked to seen the veterans stick up for the new guy.

Situation 2: Radek Dvorak takes a knee on knee hit, he is injured on the play. Team reaction? Nothing again, you folks starting to see a pattern here?

My Take: You go after the cheap player that just injured your best PK guy on an illegal hit. There was no penalty on the play, which surprised me, but the point is that no one stood up for Dvorak after the hit.

Situation 3: David Booth gets blind sided by Mike Richards and is taken out on a stretcher. Team reaction? A little shoving, nothing else.

My Take: If this was any other NHL team there would have been a brawl. When your star player is laying there on the ice, not moving, because some player decided to take it upon themselves to throw a vicious, dirty hit to the head it is up to the team to stand up for their downed player. The Panthers seem to have no concept of the word team this season, and it is very disappointing.

Situation 4: Dmitry Kulikov is plastered into the boards by Dan Carcillo. Team reaction? You guessed it, a big fat nothing.

My Take: Bill Lindsay said it best, Kulikov is an eighteen year old kid and it is not his place to stand up for himself. Someone should have went after Carcillo and defended the young rookie.

So lets take a count shall we? Four times the Flyers got away clean with abusing players without as much as a single punch thrown. I have said it all over the web and I will say it here too, this team has no concept of what it is to be a team. Saturday night was one of the most disappointing displays by the Cats I have ever seen. Sure Peter DeBoer didn't want them to attack in that way, but rather on the scoreboard. Well Pete, I didn't see a close game from that point on, so why not let the boys go at it.

Another reason this troubles me so much is the fact that teams watch tapes, and those teams will know that the Panthers leave their players open for anything and the guys will get destroyed. If this team doesn't stand up for their selves and their teammates soon, they will be beaten and pushed around all season long.

To close out this rant I just want to say I really hope David Booth doesn't have long lasting effects from this hit. We have seen it before in a promising player named Eric Lindros, and we all know what happened to him after the Scott Stevens hit.

I also want to say to all those out there calling the hit clean by comparing it to any hit dished out by Stevens, this is the new NHL, a league that is suppose to protect players health for they can have long careers and a healthy life after. There is no need for shots like that in this sport, and to any fan that thinks there is I feel very sorry for you and ask you to put on skates, take the same hit, and see what your opinion of head shot is after that.

All I know is that this fan does not buy season tickets every year to see players laid out on the ice like that, no matter the jersey.

If you have any comments or questions, please contact me at FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com or post them on our facebook page.

Five Games In The Books

2009-10-15T15:56:00.004-04:00

Last Saturday the Florida Panthers took to the ice in Helsinki to open up the 2009-2010 NHL season against the Chicago Blackhawks. Fans packed Incredible Ice to watch the team they had such high hopes for play against a team that could be playing for the Stanley Cup in May. What happened in that game? The Florida Panthers delivered. The Cats answered back three times to tie the game and send it into a shootout. As the fans sat and watched in fear of the Panthers in a shootout something magical happened, the Panthers scored two in a row and they won in a SO to open the season. The game was a glimpse at what could be the rest of the year, and the folks living in Pantherland loved it.

So what happened...?

Why are the Florida Panthers currently sitting on a 1-4 record on the eve of playing one of the best teams in the National Hockey League, the Philadelphia Flyers. What happened to the hope the Panthers gave to the fans when they won their first game of the season in a shootout? I wish I could answer that question, and I have a feeling that the Panthers wish they could too.

In five games the Florida Panthers have allowed twenty goals on 193 shots. In the last two games (New Jersey and Tampa Bay) the Panthers took two lazy, late penalties that cost them the game or a shot at tying the game (Frolik - hooking against New Jersey which lead to a PP goal, Booth - Boarding against Tampa which took away the 6-5 chance in the last minute).

So who is to blame? If you ask DeBoer he thinks no one is. He was quoted in a couple of interviews stating "The team will be fine, it's too early to panic". While I agree it is too early to panic, I also think the year is not getting any easier. The schedule ahead is a tough one, and the Panthers need to turn things around quick before they fall to 1-10.

To be honest I think the Panthers can turn it around early this year. I think the Finland trip took a lot out of them and now that they have had time back in the states they can get back to working to their level. If not, well then there is always a good draft pick in it for us.

That is all for now, if you have any comments or questions feel free to E-mail me at FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com or post them on our facebook page.

Quick Thoughts V

2009-10-06T10:06:00.004-04:00

- The standings after the first couple games seem to be upside down. Vancouver 0-3 and the Coyotes in a playoff spot? What I just said is 100% truth. Of course we are only a couple games in, but one has to wonder why the dominant teams are starting off slow and letting last years bottom feeders run the show currently. It will be interesting to see the standings this time next month.

- Is Ilya Kovalchuk about to move to Canada? The Hot Stove crew over on CBC discussed the possibility of the Thrashers moving to Winnipeg. You know, that city they took a team away from not too long ago. What's next, Nashville to Hartford?

- The two European match ups, Hawks vs Panthers, Wings vs Blues, seemed to have gone over well with the fans. The fans that attended that is. One could easily see a lot of empty seats in both buildings, which hold 12,000 people. Can we put an end to that experiment now Gary?

- If the Canucks organization would stop worrying about what lies Brian Burke is spreading on a daily bases maybe they wouldn't be 0-3. For those who don't know what I am talking about, The Maple Leafs organization released an inside the draft video, and in that video Brian Burke claims that the Canucks made a hard push for Tampa's 2nd overall pick by offering Bieksa, Burrows, and their first round pick. Vancouver is so outraged that they have taken it up with the league. While your at it Vancouver, can you ask the NHL to punish Eklund, he makes up the same kind of outlandish deals and he gets away with it.

- Ex Panther Craig Anderson is finding himself a nice little home between the pipes in Colorado. Andy has started both games for the Avalanche and has won both in pretty good fashion, including a shutout against the Canucks. I have nothing but love for Andy and I hope he can get the Avalanche into the playoffs.

- I have it on good word that the Florida Panthers Ice Dancers will be dancing on, get this, ice at the home opener. Videos and photos have been released online showing the girls practicing their moves at center ice inside Incredible Ice. October 10th should be a very interesting night indeed.

- Speaking of opening night, there are currently only 2000 tickets left. The staff of Sunrise Sports and Entertainment has worked their tails off to try and sell out the home opener. There are still good seats left, including seats for only $10. For those folks who cannot read or hear a commercial, the ticket price is STARTING AT $10. Enough with the thinking that the Panthers are in deep trouble and selling all seats for $10.

That will be all for now. If you have any comments or questions feel free to send them to FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com or post them on SSH's facebook page.

Tomorrow I will have a little project for my followers.

Report: Panthers Sign Moore

2009-10-05T09:56:00.002-04:00

According to the Sun Sentinel, the Florida Panthers have agreed to a one year contract with ex Leaf/Sabre forward, Dominic Moore. Yes, you heard me right Panthers fans, the Cats signed a forward.

Last year was Moore's "breakout year" with the Maple Leafs. At the deadline the Leafs knew he was at high value and decided to ship him out to the Sabres on deadline day. Moore didn't play as well as he did on the Sabres, leading to him not receiving an offer when it came time to resign players.

I think Moore will be a great fit in Sunrise. He is a Peter DeBoer type of player who can play solid two way hockey.

Moore's agent said a couple words about the signing to the Sun Sentinel.

"He's really excited about it," said Moore's agent, Larry Kelly told the Sun Sentinel. "He thinks it's a huge opportunity to play for Peter DeBoer. DeBoer is one of the brighter guys in the game. It's a perfect fit for Dom."

"These guys will be kindred spirits," Kelly told the Sentinel. "They'll be able to communicate extremely well and Pete will be able to assess what Dom does well and utilize him properly."

If anyone has an comments or questions you can send them to FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com or post them on SSH's facebook page.

Report: Sexton To Be Named GM

2009-10-02T09:36:00.003-04:00

Reports coming from TSN and NHL.com are that Randy Sexton is going to be named the Florida Panthers full time General Manager today before the team takes the ice to play Chicago.

I for one think this is a great move. Sexton proved he knows how to work the free agent market and the draft. He picked up quality players in a short time as GM, as well as locking up the biggest piece of the puzzle, David Booth. Know we will all get a chance to see how Sexton can do in the long run.

Once more information is out there you can expect to see it here. I will be out of the house for the game today. Hope everyone enjoys, and lets go Panthers!

You can contact me at FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com or on SSH's facebook page.

Is This The Year....For Nathan Horton?

2009-09-30T10:03:00.005-04:00

Oh Nathan Horton, where have you gone? Rather, where has your production gone?

The 2006-2007 season saw Nathan Horton become a thirty goal scorer, and the player everyone pegged him to be when the Cats drafted him in 2003. Sadly, something happened. No one knows what, or why, but Nathans goal production slipped the next two years, leading to his lowest goal total since his rookie season. Horton only put up twenty two goals in the 2008-2009 campaign, a year the Panthers needed offense more then ever after trading away Olli Jokinen.

Horton did suffer an injury that caused him to miss fifteen games, but still, twenty two goals in sixty seven games is a little weak for one of our highest rated players. Nathan was also put back at center most of the season, a position he played when drafted by the Panthers. I don't see how that is a valid excuse for not putting the puck in the net, especially when he played the center position all the way up until NHL draft day.

There really is no excuse for the way Nathan Horton has played the last two seasons. He looks lazy and bored on the ice and does not seem to have that same fire he did three seasons ago. There are some games where that fire makes an appearance, and you can tell, because he goes back to his old style of play. The real question is, how does DeBoer get Horton to use that fire every night? Maybe the reunited line of Booth-Weiss-Horton can provide Nathan with that spark.

Panthers fans want this Nathan back.

The Panthers are going to be counting on Nathan Horton this year, maybe even more then ever before. If the Panthers were to miss the playoffs again one has to imagine that there would be a fire sale that would see some players shipped out for youth and prospects. I also believe Nathan Horton is sitting on top of that pile of players that could be had if the team slips off the grid again.

Let us not think like that though, let us think that we have a team that can finally get over the hump, because I think we do. The only problem is we need solid production from everyone on the team, especially Nathan Horton.

Tomorrow's article will feature starting goalie Tomas Vokoun. If you all have any questions or comments you can contact me at FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com or you can post them on our facebook page and I will be sure to respond.

We Are Back In 3..2..1..

2009-09-28T12:29:00.004-04:00

Hey there everyone, I hope you all didn't miss me too much. I had some personal things to take care of the past two weeks, namely traveling the state of Florida and picking a college to finish my Business Administrations degree once I get my AA this fall. After all the traveling I decided that I am an Owl. Yours truly will be attending Florida Atlantic University in Boca this January. So if any of my readers out there attend FAU, lets meet up and talk some hockey.

Anyway, back to what this blog is about, hockey! This week is going to be a busy week for yours truly, because I will be doing feature articles starting tomorrow on players who need to be at their best to help the Panthers make the playoff push this year. Lets call it SSH's unique Panthers preview. To be honest, you can only write the same idea for so long before it gets tiring to read.

Before Tuesday roles around I had a poll question for everyone. I am looking to turn SSH into a brand name. Before I can do that however I need to build money up. Blogger.com has the option of putting ads on any site of theirs, so that is one way I could go about raising money. So the question is, would you guys mind seeing some ads on SSH? Just vote on the poll in the upper right, and be honest. If you guys don't want ads, then there will be no ads.

Now I will say this, if I were to put ads on the site, and if they were to generate some money, we could begin having contests and giving away SSH products (shirts, stickers, keychains, mouse pads, etc.). Like I said, I need money to do these things, but if you guys do not want ads then I will find another option.

That will do it for now, as always you can contact me at FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com or on SSH's Facebook page.

Panthers Sign Seidenberg

2009-09-14T10:11:00.002-04:00

We have heard rumblings about this the last couple of weeks, but a deal is finally done. Reported by TSN, the Cats have signed Dennis Seidenberg to a 1 year, $2.25 million deal.

Panthers Agree With Seidenberg On One Year Deal- TSN

I think this is a great signing for the Panthers. This takes some pressure off guys like Ellerby, Garrison, and Kulikov to step up this year. It will be interesting to see how the D all matches up come October.

This most likely means the end of a tryout for either Skoula or Backman.

SSH Featured In Puck Daddy's Panthers Preview

2009-09-13T11:36:00.002-04:00

Happy Sunday folks, hope everyone had a good weekend.

Last week I received a very unexpected, but much welcomed E-mail. Sean Leahy, one of the Puck Daddy's over at Yahoo Sports asked yours truly, along with our good friend Donny from Litter Box Cats, to write a small preview for the 2009-2010 Florida Panthers. I gladly accepted the task, as did Donny, and the preview is now up on Puck Daddy's website.

Puck Daddy's Florida Panthers 2009-2010 Preview

The article is a great read. The guys over at Puck Daddy know their hockey for sure, plus they add some entertaining photos, videos, and thoughts that you wont get from other hockey sites, well, except for SSH that is.

I would just like to give a big thanks to Sean for contacting SSH and giving me the opportunity to voice my opinion on the 09-10 Panthers. I hope the readers enjoy what Donny and I had to say.

If you guys have any comments or questions, just contact me at FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com or post them on our Facebook Page.

What Really Grinds My Gears

2009-09-08T14:20:00.003-04:00

I think it's time to introduce a new segment here at SSH. For those of you out there who watch Family Guy you will get this one, and hopefully get a chuckle out of it. Of course I am being completely serious, but take it as you will.

You know what really grinds my gears? The fact that Jim Balsillie is trying to take the Coyotes out of Phoenix before the 2009-2010 season. Jim listen, the team has hardcore fans, maybe not as many as your "major hockey market" club, but they do. If I were the judge I would do this. Award the team to Jim, but keep them in Phoenix for one more season. If the team generates profit, i.e. makes the playoffs, the team stays in Phoenix. If the team fails to make any profit this year then Balsillie is free to do what he wants with the team. I know some fans may not like that, but the guy is bidding way more then the team is worth. If he has the money, he should get the team. At the same time, Phoenix should get a fighting chance.

You know what really grinds my gears? FSU's crappy time management in the big FSU vs UM game last night. I know this isn't a hockey topic, but come on. You guys sit there and waste ten+ seconds switching players? Bad move, and it showed.

You know what really grinds my gears? Knowing that training camp starts soon and the Panthers will be spending theirs in Canada...for the next three seasons. Why exactly build the Incredible Ice expansion now when the boys will be spending their Septembers in Canada?

You know what really grinds my gears? Direct TV cutting Versus from their channel lineup. I personally have Comcast, but friends who have Direct TV will be suffering, and that sucks. The NHL better get on this one fast, or their ratings are going to suffer.

I think that will do it for now. If you have any comments or questions send them to FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com or post them on SSH's facebook page.

Interviewing The Artist

2009-09-04T21:30:00.010-04:00

Hello guys and gals, I hope September is treating everyone well so far. As promised, I had a chance to sit down with the very skilled artist who won Sunshine State Hockey's logo contest, Breanna Philley.

Sunshine State Hockey: "What made you decide to play around in Photoshop the first time?"

Breanna Philley: "I saw wallpapers online and I wanted to figure out how to make them. I delved around on google and figured out that you could use either Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro to make them. My friend actually had an Adobe Photoshop 1.0 disk and I used that to learn my way around the program."

SSH: "You have made a lot of different creations for SSH's friend site, The NHL Arena. How much did all of those requests help improve your skills?"

Bre: "In my opinion, I was able to improve immensely. I started out learning what the filters did, what worked and what people liked and what they didn't. I was getting requests almost everyday and that had me using the program and practicing everyday. I've been doing requests over there for 2 years now, and I owe the members over there a lot for helping fuel my passion."

SSH: "Your other major passion is hockey. How much has that helped you in creating designs? Do you think you would have as much success if you were to try something you were less interested in?"

Bre: "If I were to have started out creating artwork for something else, I do not think my skills would have developed much. It's the criticism and the people that want me to get better that make me want to do the art. It's a nice feeling when people say they really appreciate something you've created."

SSH: "How far do you plan on taking your skills in Photoshop? Do you plan to make a career out of it?"

Bre: "I plan on at least getting farther with it than I am currently. I wish to go into a career field that uses Photoshop in some way. I'm looking either to go into a Graphic Design career or Special Effects for TV titles. I've got an interest in a few different artistic fields."

SSH: "Lets talk hockey. Your a girl who loves hockey, what do you say to those guys out there who think your nothing but a puck bunny, this guy NOT being one of them."

Bre: "I say they need to give girls a chance. I love the game for the skill, the speed and the atmosphere. The journey of following a team from the beginning of the season and hoping they finally get to the Stanley Cup is something worth watching year after year. Not every girl is only watching the sport to admire the attractiveness of a guy."

SSH: "Who is your favorite hockey player and why?"

Bre: "Evgeni Nabokov of the San Jose Sharks. He's a phenomenal player with tons of skill and a lot of heart. I've never seen him give up, even when his team was getting tired."

SSH: "Your favorite team is the Sharks. If you had to pick a second favorite team who would it be?"

Bre: "I like the sense of unity among the players and fans of the Florida Panthers. So, if I had to pick a team, my pick is the Panthers."

Final Question

SSH: "What was your thinking behind the winning logo for the contest?"

Bre: "I had heard the story about "Mellanby and the Rat" and I loved it. I wanted to include a rat in some way. I liked the way a circle enclosed everything and brought it all together. The colors I used are based off the Florida Panthers colors."

To go along with the interview, Bre gave SSH one of her first works and her top five favorite creations.

**Warning** Most of these images contain designs based of the San Jose Sharks, sorry for the inconvenience. **Warning**

One of Ms. Philley's first creations.

If you have any comments or questions, or would like to know how to get in contact with Bre, send an E-mail to FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com or drop a comment off on SSH's Facebook page.

Dadonov Signed

2009-09-02T20:15:00.002-04:00

The Florida Panthers have agreed to an entry level contract with prospect Evgeny Dadonov. This news comes weeks after Dadonov left the KHL for the United States, in hopes of playing in America this season.

This past week Dadonov has been working out with other Panthers at Incredible Ice. Evgeny seems ready to make an impression with the big club, and I hope he does.

Bova Panthers Ice Dancers, 2009-2010

2009-09-01T15:24:00.006-04:00

Just wanted to give a quick shout out to the lucky girls who were chosen to join the Ice Dancers squad for the 2009-2010 season. A lot of girls tried out and there are a lot of new faces on the team. Some of the crowd favorite veterans are back as well, including newly named Ice Dancers captain Judy.

The final day of tryouts were held this past Saturday at the Broward Mall. For those unable to attend, watch the video below for a glimpse at the days activities.

To see the girls who made the final cut, watch the video below. Congratulations girls, the 09-10 squad looks great.

Please send any comments or questions to FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com or post them on SSH's facebook page.

Tanguay Contract

2009-08-31T09:54:00.002-04:00

Well the deal that will send Alex Tanguay to the Tampa Bay Lightning is all but complete. All Alex has to do is pass a physical and he will be a member of the Bolts.

What are the contract details that Randy Sexton just couldn't match you might ask? 1 year, $2.5 million. Unbelievable. Rusty Olesz is making over $3 million a year, and he isn't half the player Alex Tanguay is, at least not yet.

I really want to hear an explanation from Sexton on this one. If he claims it's an ownership issue I call BS. Tanguay is getting $2.5 million for 1 year, hardly a contract that the Cats would be tied down on when the sale actually goes through.

If Tanguay took less money to play with the Bolts then there wont be any blame on the part of Randy Sexton, but I don't believe that for one second. My guess is that Sexton and the cheap ownership offered Tanguay a 2 year $1.5 million deal.

All I can say is Randy has some explaining to do. If any of the situations are true, then ownership and Sexton need to leave the Cats as soon as possible.

Report: The Wrong Florida Team Signs Tanguay

2009-08-29T12:49:00.003-04:00

Multiple news sources are reporting that the Tampa Bay Lightning have signed UFA Alex Tanguay. There is no details on the length or cost of his services, but there are rumors that it is one year, and around $2 - $3 million.

As I said those figures are just a rumor, but if it is true someone needs to remove Randy Sexton from the GM position as soon as possible.

As soon as there are more details I will let you all know.

Quick Thoughts IV

2009-08-27T10:09:00.002-04:00

- The Panthers and Rangers are apprently the front runner for former Carolina Hurricane Dennis Seidenberg. Right now these are just reports, which is another fancy word for rumors, but we will see where it goes. Seidenberg would be a solid edition to a D-core that is not as strong as it was last year. He could easily step in if Allen goes down again, or if the younger guys are not NHL ready.

- The Florida Panthers are hosting the third annual Face-Off Luncheon on October 7th. The past two years have sold out and raised a lot of money for charity, so if you have the cash feel free to help the cause. A bonus is that you get to have lunch with a Panthers player. Single tickets are $100, tables for ten are $900.

- Former Panther Mike Sillinger announced his retirement yesterday. Sillinger was the NHL's journey man, playing for twelve different teams during his career. Mike is one of those guys that leaves everything on the ice, and he will be missed.

- UFA Mats Sundin is expected to make an announcement about his career in the coming weeks. No one knows if he plans to play another year or if he is calling it quits. I personally like Mats Sundin, he is one of my favorite players, and one love to see him play again.

- A little SSH news for you. Sunshine State Hockey has reached fifty two followers through the main site, Facebook, and Twitter. I just want to thank everyone who spread the word about SSH, and hope that you continue to do so. Without you guys reading my articles it makes what I am doing pointless. Thank you again.

If you have any questions or comments send them to FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com or drop them off at SSH's official Facebook or Twitter page.

Interview With Cats Prospect Drew Shore

2009-08-25T14:02:00.008-04:00

In the 2009 draft the Panthers, under new leadership, decided to go down a different path after their first round selection of Dmitry Kulikov. This path was one not explored during Jacques Martin's time as GM in Sunrise. This mysterious and avoided path is known as drafting offense.

When the Panthers made their announcement on day two of the draft that they select Drew Shore with the 44th overall pick, fans were perplexed, dazed, and some even cried. This didn't happen because of Drew, but rather the position he plays on the ice. The Panthers actually drafted correctly, leaving it's fan based surprised and very happy.

Drew Shore (2nd round pick, 44th overall)

I believe that is enough of the Jacques Martin bashing, lets get down to the fun. SSH was able to get in touch with Drew and he kindly took time out of his busy, hockey filled summer to answer some questions.

Sunshine State Hockey: "Do you own any NHL jerseys? If so, which ones?"

Drew Shore: "I do not currently own any NHL jerseys besides my Florida Panthers one."

Drew Shore's draft photo

SSH: "A lot of younger guys coming into the league are "gamers", are you a fan of any video games out there?"

Drew: "I love playing NHL 2009 and Madden."

SSH: "What is your favorite hockey memory as a player?"

Drew: "My favorite memory would be winning the world under 18 championships on our own soil."

Shore representing the United States

SSH: "What is your favorite NHL memory when watching on TV or at an Arena?"

Drew: "Watching the Avalanche win the cup with Ray Bourque."

SSH: "You recently came down to Sunrise to check out the BankAtlantic Center and to work out with the trainer. What are your first impressions about the area and the Florida Panthers organization?"

Drew: "I was very impressed with the quality of the facilities and thought the rink would be an awesome place to play. Everyone within the organization was very helpful and supportive."

SSH: "Which NHL Player, past or present, would you say you model your game after, why that player?"

Drew: "I model my game after Ryan Getzlaf because he is a big skilled center who competes hard."

SSH: "What are some of your strengths on the ice?"

Drew: "I think my hockey sense and playmaking ability are my strongest assets."

SSH: "Based on the current roster, which player on the Panthers are you looking forward to playing with in the future, why?"

Drew: "Michael Frolik because he is a young center who had an awesome rookie year in the league."

SSH: "What are your feelings about cowbells at hockey games? (When you come to play for Florida you will be hearing a lot of them!)"

Drew: "I support things that make the environment louder and thus more fun to play in."

SSH: "Any special jersey number you want to wear when you come into the NHL?"

Drew: "I hope to wear 15 because that has always been my number since i started skating."

Drew wearing his signature #15

Last question for Drew.

SSH: "Do you have a signature move when on a breakaway or in a shootout?"

Drew: "I like to fake the shot and go to my back hand."

SSH: "That will do it, thank you Drew for answering the question, I think I can speak for many when I say the Panthers faithful cannot wait to see you on the team."

If anyone has any questions or comments send them to FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com or post them on our Facebook page.

The Winner Is...

2009-08-23T13:49:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone, sorry for the lack of updates this past week. This guy is getting ready for his final semester before he gets his AA degree, then off on the adventure for the bachelor's. Anyway, back to the business at hand.

Voting is officially over, and a new logo has been chosen for Sunshine State Hockey. The combined voices of you readers here and my friends over at the Arena picked the logo you felt would represent the blog, and I feel that you guys made the right choice.

The winner, and new permanent logo of Sunshine State Hockey is.....

The skilled artist who created this is a very close friend of mine, and someone who helped me learn my way around Photoshop. The winning artist is Breanna Philley! She is aiming to make a career out of her skills in computer art/design. Check back soon for a featured article about the winning designer, including some of her favorite creations.

If you have any questions or comments send them to FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com or post them on SSH's official facebook page.

JR Moment #3

2009-08-17T12:16:00.004-04:00

Sorry for not updating the countdown sooner. Had some trouble finding the videos I wanted to use, but was finally able to track down my 3rd favorite JR moment.

This moment is the whole reason SSH kicked off this little top ten list. Jeremy Roenick, as always, caused a frenzy during his press conference to announce his retirement from the National Hockey League. Not only did JR get the normal retirement speech, but he also got phone calls from his close friends around the NHL. This was a very emotional day for Jeremy and his fans, and the press conference made it that much worse.

The number #3 JR moment on this guys list is that conference.

**Due to sizing conflicts I have to post the link to the video, not the actual video.**

JR Moment #3

Please send comments and questions to FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com or post them on SSH's Facebook page by clicking here.

Also keep those votes coming for the logo contests. Higher numbers in the poll equal better results.

Sunshine State Hockey Needs Your Help!

2009-08-16T13:54:00.008-04:00

I promised some big things for the upcoming weeks, and this is one of them. I contacted two friends of mine who are very skilled with photoshop to design a new logo for the blog. The artists came up with a couple concepts each, leaving us with four logos. This is where you, the reader, comes in.

For one week starting today I will be hosting a poll to see which of the four logos you guys like best. You can vote here, or over on thenhlarena.com under the Panthers board. All you have to do is pick your favorite logo to participate.

Now I present the four logos:

Pick your favorite and vote fir it on the poll on the left side of the page. Once a winning logo is chosen the winning designer will be announced and they will be featured in full article right here on SSH with their favorite designs!

If you have any comments or questions send them to FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com or post them on SSH's Facebook page by clicking here.

JR Moments #4 And #3

2009-08-14T16:41:00.003-04:00

Kinda had a long day yesterday and was unable to post the Roenick Moment of the day. So for your viewing enjoyment you get two JR classics for the price of one!

Not only did Jeremy Roenick capture his 500th goal while in a Shark uniform, he also picked up his 1200th career point while playing for San Jose. My 4th favorite all time JR moment is him getting that point.

Jeremy Roenick has always been one for the dramatics, so him and game sevens are a perfect couple. When the Flames came in to the Shark Tank back in April of 2008 they had no idea just how much gas was actually left in Jeremy's tank. JR tallied two goals and two assists in a 5-3 game seven victory that sent San Jose to the next round of the playoffs. This game is my 3rd favorite JR moment.

If you have any comments or questions please send them to FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com or post them on the Sunshine State Hockey Facebook page, which can be found here.

Panthers featured on NHL.com

2009-08-13T12:46:00.005-04:00

Today is Florida Panthers day all over the National Hockey League.

In an effort to inform fans about all thirty teams, the NHL came up with the 30 teams in30 days campaign. During this run you can read special articles during the certain teams day and see special programing on the NHL Network.

As I stated, today is the Panthers day to shine in the campaign. All you have to do is head over to NHL.com and see some of the stuff they posted for the Cats. They have highlights off the 2008-2009 season for each of the key members of the team along with a great article about the Cats and their "new look". You can read that article here.

On the TV side of things the NHL network will be airing the glory days tonight at 6PM or 12AM. That's right, if you have the NHL Network you can relive the 1996 Playoff match up between the over talented Pittsburgh Penguins and the Florida Panthers. Didn't some no named Florida team beat those all-star Penguins?

The Panthers organization is also doing something special to celebrate their day in the sun, but the Cats decided to spread it out for thirty one days. The Florida Panthers "31 Day Run of Fun" Began this morning on all major social networking sites. During this event you can enjoy Q&A sessions, prizes, and other entertainment offered by the Panthers online staff.

To be a part of the 31 Day Run of Fun all you have to do is follow the Panthers on Twitter, become a fan of their Facebook page, or become their friend on Myspace.

It's a good way to pass the long days left of the off-season.

JR Moment #5

2009-08-12T17:39:00.002-04:00

Jeremy Roenick is a very emotional guy. He shows all his emotions in everything he does.

There was no difference on the night that he reached a milestone only three other American born players in National Hockey League history had reached before him, the 500 goal club. The shot was from center ice, and it took a funny bounce. With a little help from former Panther netminder Alex Auld, JR got his 500th goal.

After that Jeremy went through a range of emotions right after the goal and during his interview. This will go down as a great moment for JR, the Sharks, and the National Hockey League.

If you have any questions please send them to FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com or you can post them on SSH's Facebook page by clicking here.

The Web, Faster Than Pat Kane's Right Hook

2009-08-11T21:02:00.006-04:00

When someone famous gets in trouble, be it with the law or something else, people tend to poke fun at that person and his/her misfortunes. Well Pat Kane, your story is no different. People have come out of every where with witty one liners, jokes, and even T-Shirts that poke fun at Kane's taxi troubles. Yes that's right, I said T-Shirts.

An E-bay add popped up around the net yesterday selling this T-Shirt:

If your interested in buying one of these shirts for your collection, you can find the add here. The shirt is $15.00 and free shipping, not a bad deal.

As far as jokes and one liners go, there have been plenty of them around the web as well. A lot of news sites are using the witty one liners as titles of their articles, such as:

"Patrick Kane vs The Cabbie" (viewfrommyseats.com)

"My 2(0) cents on Patrick Kane" (ballhype.com)

"The Web, Faster Than Pat Kane's Right Hook" (Sunshine State Hockey) ....I had to.

"We'd Punch Our Own Grandma Over 20 Cents" (thepensblog.com)

Also over on the pens blog, the other put together a nifty photoshop picture to accompany his article.

That is just classic if I may say so myself.

To be honest Patrick Kane doesn't deserve this until he is proven guilty. If that is the case though, I have a feeling Mr. Kane and the Hawks will have much bigger problems then some jokes and T-shirts.

You can send your comments, questions, Pat Kane jokes, T-shirt designs, and photoshop images to FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com or post over on SSH's Facebook page by clicking here.

JR Moment #6

2009-08-11T12:00:00.002-04:00

Jeremy Roenick's lively attitude does not end when he steps off the ice. During the short time when JR was a free agent he would make appearances on TSN and the Best Damned Sports Show Period.

Moment #6 occurs when JR visits his buddies at TSN to discuss the OT rule. Roenick goes a little beyond trying to not only sell the idea of continuous OT, but sell himself for $450,000. This gets the whole TSN crew laughing and makes it another JR classic moment.

Please send comments and questions to Floridaflyer86@hotmail.com or you can leave them on Sunshine State Hockey's Facebook page.

Quick Thoughts III

2009-08-10T13:34:00.002-04:00

- There is a chance Chicago Forward Pat Kane could be facing strong armed robbery charges because he and his cousin assaulted the cab driver together. No matter the charge, the Kane duo are in some seriously hot water.

- According to TSN.ca, Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Justin Pogge may be heading to Anaheim for a draft pick. Rumors are that Brian Burke is making this move so he can sign unrestricted free agent, Joey MacDonald. Macdonald proved himself to be a pretty decent goalie after covering for injured Islander Rick DiPietro for most of the season.

- The Florida Panthers "31 Day Run of Fun" begins on Thursday on all major communication networks (Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter). Q&A with a majority of Panthers players and personnel and prizes given out every day. All you have to do is become a fan of the official Florida Panthers Facebook, Myspace, or Twitter page to enjoy the fun.

- Theo Fleury is attempting another NHL comeback. The troubled hockey player wants to try and play in the National Hockey League again after playing senior hockey last season. Look, I understand the passion for the game, but enough is enough. There is a reason he hasn't been in the league for years, and that is the fact that he was banned. So before he gets a chance to play for a team the NHLPA will have to lift that ban. Just stay on the senior league Theo, the NHL is too fast for you now.

- Former Florida Panthers goaltender Ed Belfour has been hired by the St.Louis Blues as a goalie consultant for their minor league club in Peoria. I wish Belfour nothing but good luck. He is a great guy and he should fit in to this role well.

If you have any comments or questions you can reach me at FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com.

JR Moment #7

2009-08-10T13:12:00.002-04:00

One of my all time favorite playoff series is the Philadelphia Flyers versus the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 03-04 season. This series had it all, but in the very end it would be JR who would get the last laugh on one of the Flyers bigger rivals. Roenick scored in OT to send the Flyers to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they would eventually lose in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

My seventh favorite JR moment is that goal in overtime that shocked the Leafs and their faithful.

If you have any comments or questions please contact me at FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com

JR Moment #8

2009-08-09T13:43:00.003-04:00

Jeremy Roenick has always been a very outspoken person on and off the ice. When JR played for the Blackhawks he decided to go after one of the best goaltenders to ever play the game, Patrick Roy.

In a playoff series between the Blackhawks and Avalanche Jeremy Roenick had a few choice words for Roy, mainly insulting his performance in game three. Patrick's response easily put Roenick in his place.

Ouch..

The worse part for Jeremy is that this quote will live on, because sadly Roenick never won the Stanley Cup.

Please send your comments and questions to FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com

Pat Kane In The Slammer

2009-08-09T13:20:00.004-04:00

A very interesting story came out today about Chicago Blackhawks forward Pat Kane. Apparently Pat and his cousin James assaulted a cab driver because he would not give the Kane duo change for their $13.80 cab ride. How much did the dynamic duo give the cab driver? $15.00.

Kane and his cousin were arrested for assault and robbery. Really Pat Kane? You beat up a cab driver for not giving you $1.20 back? Have you ever heard of giving someone a tip?

If this all ends up being as true as it is being told, then I will lose a lot of respect for Pat Kane. I have a feeling Mr.Kane will be losing a lot of other things as well, maybe even his endorsement with EA Sports. When Dany Heatley was in his car accident which killed his teammate, EA Sports changed covers of NHL 2004, a game that was out for months before the accident happened.

Let us hope Pat Kane learns a lesson here and grows up. When your in the spotlight it is not wise to go beating up random people over small amounts of change.

To read the full article on TSN, click Here.

When more news on this story comes out I will update you all.

If you have any comments or questions please contact me at FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com

Where Are They Now? Part II Delayed

2009-08-08T14:29:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to update you guys that I have to delay the next installment of where are they now. I am working on the big surprise I have in store for you all in a couple weeks, so I will push Part II to next Saturday.

Trust me, this surprise is big.

Big Things...

2009-08-08T14:09:00.002-04:00

With the blogs fans on the main site and the followers on facebook we have gone above twenty people following the blog. Stay tuned for a special surprise in the coming weeks.

JR Moment #9

2009-08-08T13:51:00.002-04:00

Jeremy Roenick's presence at the All-Star game always made it that much better. Whenever he would play in the game he would usually be the one wearing the mic and talking to the announce team during the game.

When Minnesota hosted the 2004 All-Star Game JR made his mark not only for his words, but for his skills in the accuracy shooting contest. Before going up to shoot, Roenick publicly apologized to referee Lane Angus for throwing a water bottle at him in a previous Flyers game. Call it good karma, Jeremy Roenick went on to hit 4/4 in the accuracy shooting competition right after his apology.

As a side note after watching that video. Can the NHL please bring Gary Thorne and Bill Clement back to the broadcast booth?

If you have any questions or comments, please contact me at FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com, Blogger.com is still working on the comments section, so it is still unavailable.

JR Moment #10

2009-08-07T13:19:00.003-04:00

I sat and thought about my promise to list a top ten of my favorite Jeremy Roenick moments last night and decided to drag it out into a ten day event. It is the off season, so time is not an issue to celebrate one of my favorite players.

Starting of the top ten count down is a little clip of Roenick busting a move. For those of you that have not seen this clip yet, JR got jiggy with it during a preseason game in Las Vegas against the Avalanche back when he was a King. There needed to be some rink repairs, so Jeremy decided to entertain the fans while they waited.

This will always be a classic moment, but trust me, the next nine easily top this.

If anyone has any comments or questions, or if you want to share your top JR moments, please contact me at FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com.

Calling It A Career

2009-08-06T14:54:00.002-04:00

When the off season began, no one could have predicted the amount of players that would be hanging up the skates for their final time. During this off season the NHL has lost two of the classiest North American players, and two of the classiest European players to ever play the game of hockey.

Of course the players I am talking about are Bobby Holik, Teppo Numminen, Joe Sakic, and as of today, Jeremy Roenick. All four of these men left a huge mark on the NHL and its fans, and I would not be surprised if at least two out of the four ended up in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Bobby Holik will best be remembered for his time with the New Jersey Devils, helping them win two Stanley Cups while being one of the top point producers on the team for ten seasons. After Holik's long stint with the Devils ended he tried elsewhere, signing with the Rangers in 2002, then the Thrashers in 2006. Holik would make his return to the Devils to play one last season. Even though he only picked up nine points in sixty two games this past season, Holik and the Devils were the perfect couple. It would have been like Mellanby coming back to the Cats for one last season, it's where he belonged.

Teppo Numminen had one very, very long career in the National Hockey League. He made his way around the Western Conference, playing with the Jets, Coyotes, and Stars, before finally signing with the Buffalo Sabres in 2005. He would go on to be a huge help in the Sabres rebirth, even if it ended quickly after the Sabres lost such key players as Drury and Briere. The worse part about Numminen's successful NHL career is that he never won a Stanley Cup.

Joe Sakic. What is there to say about him that hasn't been said already? He is hockey. He is one of the greatest captains to ever play the game, and one of the classiest guys to ever do so. I remember in 96, when I wasn't a huge fan of hockey, but I knew about it. I remember seeing Joe Sakic on the local news, raising the cup on the Miami Arena ice. Looking back on that day and watching the highlights of that game on YouTube, you just can't get angry at the Avalanche for beating the Panthers. Seeing Joe Sakic with the cup just washed all the anger away, and it still does. Of course it would have been great if the Panthers won, but I wouldn't want any other guy raising the cup for an apposing team on our ice. It is obvious that Joe's number will be retired and that he will be in the Hall of Fame in the next three years, and he deserves it for sure. Everyone thinks of the cup wins in Colorado and relates it to Patrick Roy. Roy may have played great, but without the leadership of Sakic the Avalanche would not have gone as far as they did.

And this brings us to Jeremy Roenick. Where do I start? JR is, and will always be one of my favorite players. I really think he is the reason I began following hockey full time. His charisma on the ice, his love for the game, and his skill combined made Roenick the perfect representative for the game of hockey. I remember watching a game on ESPN when JR played for the Flyers and he broke his jaw. The next week he was on with the TV crew commentating on the game. I thought to myself, how the heck is this guy laughing and chatting it up after getting his jaw wired shut? The answer? He's Jeremy Roenick. Like Numminen, Roenick never won a Stanley Cup, no matter how hard he tried. One has to believe though that JR will get a nod for the Hall of Fame in the near future.

Tomorrow I will be doing a more in dept tribute to Roenick, so check back here tomorrow for that and my top ten JR moments.

If you have any comments or questions, please contact me at FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com

Going Digital

2009-08-05T13:15:00.003-04:00

Good afternoon all.

I just wanted to post a quick note to let my current followers know that Sunshine State Hockey now has its own Twitter and Facebook page. So when all you good folks get a chance, head over to the links I will provide before and follow SSH over there too, and please spread the word. Remember, the larger SSH's community grows, the better product I can put out there.

Facebook: Click Here.

Twitter: Click Here.

As far as hockey goes there is not much to report today. Some veterans retiring over these next couple days, I will do a write up about that on Friday.

I do want to address something though. To the Panthers fans out there changing their tune from Tanguay to Zherdev, please stop now. Zherdev is a skilled player, I will give him that, but he is a very immature person and a virus in the locker room. This is not the type of player we want on the Panthers. The organization tried that already with a couple guys and you all know how that worked out. Keep shooting for Tanguay and forget about Zherdev, he will only make our team worse.

If you guys have any comments or questions please E-mail me at FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com

Another Slow Day In Sunrise

2009-08-03T13:00:00.003-04:00

Good Afternoon folks. I hope everyone out there is managing to survive Monday as best as possible.

Today is another slow day in Sunrise. The Panthers have sat quietly the past couple of weeks, waiting for an answer from the Tanguay camp, or not. If you ask Randy Sexton he will tell you the latter of the two.

The Panthers kicked off the countdown caravan this past Saturday. Yours truly attended and it was a pretty cool setup. I do have one request though, lets get a DJ who knows a little bit about the Panthers and hockey. The caravan will continue its tour on the 8th when it stops in at Palm Beach Ice in West Palm Beach. If you have the time, check it out. You can check out the rest of the caravans schedule here.

The Florida Panthers official website sat down with coach DeBoer the other day and asked him a few questions about the upcoming season. You can read the Q&A session here.

In a little news around the league, a deal for Dany Heatley may actually get done, but it will not involve the Edmonton Oilers. A few days ago the Oilers held a press conference to announce that the club is no longer interested in Heatley's services. Days after this announcement an article came out on TSN claiming the San Jose Sharks could get a deal done for Heatley, but it would have to involve a third team. That third team is being reported to be the Montreal Canadiens.

I find this interesting. It has been a while since a blockbuster deal involved three teams, and I am curious to see how this one works out, if Heatley allows it of course. Once more information is reported I will do the same here.

That will do it for now, please E-mail any questions or comments about this entry or previous entries to FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com

Where Are They Now? Robert Svehla

2009-08-01T13:40:00.007-04:00

Robert Svehla is a name many Panthers fans will remember for a long time. Svehla played a major role in the success of the 96 Panthers, picking up 57 points (8 goals, 49 assists) is 81 games.

The one thing a lot of Panthers fans will remember most about Robert is his dedication to the organization. Svehla spent all but one year of his National Hockey League career with the Florida Panthers. He played with the Cats from 1994-1995 to 2001-2002, picking up 290 points during his stay in Sunrise.

After Svehla's one year stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2002-2003 he decided to call it quits and retired from the National Hockey League.

Ever since Robert called it quits it seemed as if he fell off the face of the earth. No news ever came out about him, anywhere. The biggest surprise came when he was a no show at the 96 reunion game at the BankAtlantic Center in 2007. Many really began to wonder what exactly happened to Robert Svehla.

Well a photo appeared on the internet of Svehla a while after the 96 reunion game took place. It is understandable why Robert decided not to join in on the on ice activities during the event. I am not here to pick on the guy, but lets just say he is enjoying retirement.

Well people knew what Robert looked like now, but there was still no information about what he was doing. He was just enjoying his life, living away from hockey in Slovakia, his native country. But everyone knows you can never fully leave hockey behind.

On January 2009 Robert Svehla signed a contract with HC Dukla Trenčín as an assistant coach. Finally, some solid news on the most mysterious Florida Panthers alumni member.

I wish there were more to say about Svehla and what he has been up to. I searched the web for hours in search of anything about Robert, and came up with what I wrote.

If any of my readers have any other pieces of information about what Robert has been up to since his retirement please contact me and I will add it to the article.

As always you can send your comments, questions, and now info about Robert Svehla to FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com

Quick Thoughts II

2009-07-29T10:42:00.002-04:00

- The Tampa Bay Lightning bought out former Panther Vaclav Prospal. Anyone else think he is a pretty good alternative if the Cats cannot land Tanguay?

- Rumor has it that the sale of the Florida Panthers, Sunrise Sports and Entertainment, and the BankAtlantic Center is a done deal and is to be discussed by the NHL board of governors today. If this is true then take care Cohen, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

- If the sale is indeed finalized there may be a chance that Randy Sexton will not get the job as General Manager. Rumor is that Neil Smith would be the top candidate to run the Cats front office.

- The new group that has put in a bid for the Phoenix Coyotes are in discussions with the NHL about letting the team play five games in Canada. If I were a fan of the Coyotes I would not be for that at all. If they play in Canada and attendance is double of what it is in Phoenix, then the Coyotes are as good as done in the desert if the ownership ends up deciding to move.

- Brett Favre has decided to stay retired. It took him long enough to finally make the right decision. Of course this should have been his answer before signing with the Jets last year. Wait...oops, that is not hockey news!

- The Red Wings signed Andy Delmore yesterday. It's good to know the Wings are adding to their young core....

Just wanted to add a note before wrapping up. Starting tomorrow I will begin a new feature on SSH titled "Where Are They Now? Former Cats". Basically the description is all in the title. Once a week I will do my best to track down a former Panther and see what they are up to now and let all of you faithful readers in on it.

That should about do it for right now. Please E-mail any comments or questions to FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com.

Interview With VanMurph

2009-07-28T12:45:00.004-04:00

To celebrate Sunshine State Hockey reaching ten followers (now eleven) I decided to do something special for my readers. I got in touch with my good friend Murphy, also known as VanMurph around Panthers hockey, and asked if he would be willing to do an interview to help celebrate reaching ten followers. Murph was happy to participate, and today I am happy to bring you the results of our interview. Every time SSH reaches +10 more followers (10, 20, 30, etc.) I will do my best to grab an interview or bring you something special involving someone (or something) involved in the Panthers organization. So if you want to see more features like this, go out and get your friends to follow Sunshine State Hockey.

Ok enough promoting the site, lets get down to business.

Sunshine State Hockey: "In your line of work I am sure you get to fly all over the world. Which destination is your favorite to fly to?"

VanMurph: "I enjoy flying to many places, but my very favorite is Vancouver, British Columbia. It’s such a beautiful city. I have many fond memories from Vancouver (and some not-so fond ones, like the Panthers 5-3 loss there last December)."

You know, there are some things that just stick in your mind… Once back in the very early 1990’s I was in Vancouver in the middle of August, and it was really hot that day. A bunch of us from the crew were walking around downtown and decided to stop for something to drink. We walked into a pub and had a seat. The pub was dark and quite well air-conditioned. I decided to have myself a big ole’ glass of Labatt’s Blue (It was the first time I’d ever decided to have a Canadian beer). When the server put that frosted mug of Canada’s best in front of me, I felt like an honorary Canuck! It was the single-best glass of beer I’ve ever had in my life…"

VanMurph Dropping The Puck.

SSH: "Do you follow any other sports as much as you do hockey?"

VM: "The simple answer is: Not even close. I grew up playing baseball, and I went to college on a baseball scholarship. I was a dyed-in-the-wool Atlanta Braves fan from the time I was old enough to talk. I’ve been told that my first word after “Mama” was “Braves”. But since I moved to South Florida from Chicago in 1999, I’ve tried to become a Marlins fan. Not being one to jump on a bandwagon, it’s been kind of tough to make the transition. Over time though, I’ve begun to loyally follow the Marlins. I think the biggest reason I have an affinity for them is because even in their own city, they’re underdogs. They can be in first place and riding high, but the only time they have good crowds is when they’re playing teams from the northeast (and all of the transplants head out to the ballpark to watch “their” team play against the Marlins).

I’m also a pretty big fan of the NFL, and I grew up an Atlanta Falcons fan. But much the same as with the Braves, not being able to attend their games as often as I did when I was a kid, I’ve grown apart from them. In Chicago I became an avid Bears fan, but again, my heart was in Atlanta. However, when I moved to Broward County, Dave Wannstedt was coaching the Dolphins, and since they were in the AFC, I adopted them as my “second” team behind Atlanta. Now, though, I follow the Dolphins exclusively.

But as passionate as I’ve ever been about baseball or football, they absolutely pale in comparison to the enthusiasm and fanaticism I have for hockey, and for the Panthers in particular. This is the greatest sport on the planet! When I try to give an explanation to the question of why I love it so much, I always come up short of an adequate explanation. It’s like trying to describe a sunset to someone who’s never seen one. The words just don’t do it justice; you just have to witness it for yourself."

SSH: Let's say Vanessa (VanMurph's wife) changed her favorite team from the Panthers to a rival team, what would you do?

VM: "Well, let me tell you, this is about as hypothetical a question as I’ve ever attempted to answer, because Vanessa is a HUGE fan of the Panthers! She enjoys hockey nights almost as much as I do. But let’s say she decided to follow another team… I think we’d have fun with it. We’d probably be like a couple who had attended rival universities before we met. There would be some good-natured ribbing, and some wacky bets taking place when our teams played each other. I’d be pulling for the Panthers extra-hard, because if they lost to Vanessa’s favorite team, I would probably end up being forced to do the yard work in a tutu or a Halloween costume…"

VanMurph with wife Vanessa.

SSH: "Have you been impressed with the off-season moves that the Panthers have made so far?"

VM: "Well, I don’t know if “impressed” is exactly the right word I’d use at the moment. I’ll tell you this. So far I haven’t really been disappointed. I sincerely hope there’s more to come, but up to now, I think Randy Sexton has done an admirable job in the role of interim General Manager. He was able to get “something” for Bouwmeester when it appeared that we would be getting absolutely nothing in return for him. Getting Leopold under contract wasn’t exactly a slam-dunk, but Sexton was able to do it (I think Keith Ballard gets the first assist on that one though). Sexton also went into the draft and took the best player available in the first round, then he proceeded to pick nothing but forwards in the remaining rounds (something which this organization desperately needs).

We’ve also been able to get David Booth and Radek Dvorak under contract. Booth’s signing in particular was exactly what the doctor ordered for this franchise.

On the downside, we’ve yet to secure a scoring forward (although there’s still plenty of time for that), and we allowed a couple of key pieces of last year’s team (and big-time fan favorites) to leave the organization (Anderson and Skrastins). Over all though, considering all the variables, I’d give the off-season moves SO FAR somewhere between a C+ to a B-."

SSH: "For those of us that know you, we know you have a rather large jersey collection; of those jerseys, which is your favorite, and why?"

VM: "My very favorite jersey is probably the new-style Panthers home jersey. I think it’s subconsciously my favorite because that’s the one I see my favorite team playing in the most. My second favorite is probably the gold Panthers jersey by Starter. I love that one because a group of my close friends (Carl, Jerry, and Vinny) all decided to get them and have them personalized in the same custom-made color scheme I used on mine. It’s also the jersey that Mad Cow wears in the arena. I was really touched when the Panthers’ Game-Presentation folks decided to use that jersey in homage to the founding members of the Cowbell Club.

I started collecting jerseys from around the NHL for one reason, and one reason only: When I visit another arena, and the Panthers are NOT playing there that night, I wanted to be able to show respect to the home team’s fans by wearing that team’s jersey. A pet peeve of mine is seeing people in the arena wearing the jersey of a team that isn’t playing that night. I started collecting jerseys, and now I have at least one from every team in the NHL (yes… even the Habs), and several from minor league teams around the country. My favorite non-Panthers NHL jersey is my old-school black and green Phoenix Coyotes jersey. And last but not least, my favorite minor league jersey is from the Amarillo Gorillas. My Mom and Dad actually bought it for me when they went to their very first professional hockey game last season. They wanted to see what I was so excited about, so they bought tickets and went to a game. They sent me the jersey as a thank-you for introducing them to hockey!"

SSH: "What do you have to say to all the negative fans out there who are turning their backs on the Panthers this off-season? (From what I read there seems to be quite a few)."

VM: "Actually, I understand the negativity. It’s annoying, and it’s really, REALLY getting old, but I do understand why people are disappointed. They’re passionate fans of this team, and they’ve not had anything to be proud of since Bill Clinton was in the Oval Office. Wanting to win is just human nature, so a decade of not winning has begun to take its toll on the fan base.

I just can’t live like that though. I cannot imagine not trying to find a positive in all of this. When I was a little kid, I was out with my dad at the baseball field. I remember stepping in a pile of poo and just stopping and standing there looking down at my misfortune… My dad trotted by and didn’t miss a beat; he just said, “Well, at least you were wearing shoes”. That’s the way I’ve always tried to look at things. There are plenty of positive things about the Panthers out there, and at the top of that list is Coach Peter DeBoer. I sincerely believe that he ll get the most out of this team. Just look at last year’s Western Canada trip; we went into Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, and Carolina and played those teams very well on the road with a lineup of AHL guys.

I really think this season has the potential to be great. Despite all the negativity to the contrary, I think guys like Frolik, Horton (save it, I’ve heard it all before), Weiss, Booth, Campbell, Dvorak, Ballard, McCabe, Allen, and others will have good seasons, and we’ll be just fine.

I guess if there’s just one thing I’d say to all of the negative folks, it’s just wait and see. Let’s give the guys another chance to prove themselves before we throw this season under the bus."

SSH: "Out of the current players on the roster, whom do you see as the face of this franchise currently, why?"

VM: "Without question: David Booth. He’s the epitome of what this team is about. The guy works harder than anyone else on the ice. He’s the first one out there, and the last one back in the dressing room. He’s committed to the Panthers, and now that he’s under contract for at least the next 6 seasons, the Panthers are committed to him. He’s a good-lookin’ kid too, so that doesn’t hurt.

I also think Keith Ballard (another guy under contract for 6 seasons) would be an excellent candidate to be a face of the franchise. =2 0He’s a young guy, a hard worker, and a play maker. If you made a highlight reel of his terrific plays from last season, you’d need at least 20 minutes to watch it. Put Ballard AND Booth in an advertising campaign and you’d have a real crowd pleaser."

SSH: "In your travels you have gone to a lot of arenas. Besides the BankAtlantic Center, which is your favorite and why?"

VM: "Before last season I would’ve said the Bell Center in Montreal. I love their passion and knowledge of the game. But after the way their fans behaved during the playoffs (booing the American National Anthem), I lost a lot of respect for them.

Vancouver is a great place to watch a hockey game. Actually, all of the Canadian cities are. But in Vancouver, I actually got goose bumps watching the crowd react to the game. When Craig Anderson let in a couple of soft goals, it was amazing to watch 20,000 people start chanting in unison, “ANNNNN-DERRRRR-SONNNNN, ANNNNN-DERRRRR-SONNNNN.” I felt horrible for Craig, but at the same time, I couldn’t believe how awesome the crowd participation was up there!

There are also a ton of great places to watch hockey games in the US. Some of my favorites are: Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Raleigh, and Chicago."

VanMurph cheering on the Cats.

SSH: "Everyone knows Tanguay is at the top of every Panthers fan’s list. What do you think he could bring to the team that has fans so interested in him?"

VM: "Honestly, I think the reason everyone jumped on the Tanguay thing is simply because it was put out in the media that we were pursuing him. Had it not been for that rumor, I don’t think we’d be seeing all of this fervor. It was funny to watch it happen. Tanguay wasn’t even on the radar of most Panthers fans on one day, and the next day I heard people threatening not to renew their tickets if we didn’t sign him. I don’t think Tanguay is the savior of this organization, and quite frankly, I don’t know if he’s worth the 5 million dollars per season he’s reportedly trying to get. Only time will tell. I definitely think he’s a dynamic player who, if healthy, has the potential to be a high-octane addition to any team. For proof of that, you need look no further than last season to see what he’s capable of. His 41 points in 50 games in ’08-’09 shows why there is a bidding war for his services.

Although I’m not willing to overpay him, I would happily welcome Tanguay with open arms to the Panthers. But if he doesn’t choose to accept the offer the Panthers are reported to have on the table, I’ll just dismiss that option and start looking forward to who else is available, either in free agency or the via a trade, to help make our team better."

SSH: "This question is similar to question 3. What do you say to people who dislike the cowbell?"

VM: "Well, I know there are people on both sides of the issue, and I’ve sort of become the lightning rod for all of the complaints. I feel their pain, and I understand their issue with the cowbells. In general, they can be annoying when not used with a bit of consideration for the people seated around you. For instance, I’ve seen people who’ll sit and clang away even when there’s nothing happening on the ice that would warrant the ringing of the bell. That can really get under people’s skin, and can wreak havoc on your neighbor’s ability to enjoy the game. I tend to look at ringing my cowbell as another means to make noise when I’m already on my feet cheering. In other words, if it’s not a time that I’d normally be clapping, it’s not a time to ring the cowbell.

I first brought the cowbell into the BankAtlantic Center because I was hoarse and simply couldn’t cheer any louder. I wanted to be able to show audible support for my team, even though my vocal cords had failed me. Never in a hundred years would I have envisioned that simple gesture catching on so quickly and with such a vengeance. It still makes me feel proud when I walk through the concourse and hear the clinking of cowbells as people pass by. I’m delighted to have been a part of something that allows the team I love to hear their fans’ support.

In all honesty, for every complaint I’ve heard about the cowbells, I’ve seen dozens of people in the arena with a bell around their neck. You can’t please everybody, and hopefully the people who don’t like the ringing of the cowbells will find a happy medium, because unfortunately for them, I don’t think the cowbells are going away in the near future."

SSH: "If there is one thing you could change about the Panthers, what would it be, and why?"

VM: "If I could wave a magic wand and make changes, I’d make us perennial contenders for the Stanley Cup. But from a practical standpoint, if given an opportunity to realistically change one thing about the Panthers, I would immediately re-hire Denis Potvin, and I would increase his visibility within the organization.

I don’t know any of the private details of his firing earlier in the year. I only know the reasons that were given publicly, and in my opinion, those reasons didn’t warrant the release of a man who’s been here since day one, and who is one of the few hockey legends ever to have been associated with the Panthers. Denis Potvin offered an air credibility to the organization, and his termination is something I would immediately reverse."

SSH: "If there is one thing you could change about the NHL, (rule, penalty, etc.), what would it be and why?"

VM: "As much as I love the excitement of the shootout, I’d do away with it. Instead of having a skills competition to decide an NHL game after a five-minute 4-on-4 period, I’d go to 3-on-3 five-minute periods until somebody put the puck in the net. I think it’d be an awfully exciting way to have a game decided. Throw in a penalty or two, and the place would really be rockin’! Can you imagine a 3-on-1 in the 4th overtime period? If we were on offense, it’d be really exhilarating! If we were on defense, imagine the hero status that would be bestowed upon Ballard and T-Vo if they held the line and fought off a 3-on-1 for two minutes…"

SSH: "Last question, favorite Ice Dancer?"

VM: "Well, this is a tough one… Since I’m friends with many of the Ice Dancers, I don’t want to have any of them thinking I don’t love them equally… So, I’ll just say that there is a 20-way tie for my favorite!"

SSH: "Thank you Murphy for taking the time to do this interview. If any of my readers would like to read more from VanMurph all you have to do is go over to the Florida Panthers official website and check out his blog, VanMurph's View."

There you have it folks. I hope everyone enjoyed the interview and I hope this gives incentive for people to spread the word about Sunshine State Hockey. The more followers the better product I can bring to you all.

I would just like to thank Murphy one last time for doing the interview. He took time out of his busy week while working his butt off at the flight academy in Texas to answer the questions. That shows you the dedication of a true hockey fan.

As always please feel free to E-mail any comments or questions to FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com.

A Great Cause

2009-07-23T14:43:00.006-04:00

Over at the NHL Arena, the forum I post on often, two Columbus Blue Jackets fans are aiming high for a great cause. From October 2nd to October 5th they will be riding in the "Tour de Pink" to raise money and awareness for the Young Survival Coalition. Now you may think, well that is great, but what's the big deal about riding a bike? Well these two tough gals are going to be starting their ride in Hershey, PA, and ending it in New York City. That is a lot of bike riding in just three days, 440 miles to be exact.

Here is a little bit of background information from the Young Survival Coalition's website:

___________________________________________________________

YSC Mission Statement

"Young Survival Coalition (YSC) is the premier international organization dedicated to the critical issues unique to young women and breast cancer. YSC works with survivors, caregivers and the medical, research, advocacy and legislative communities to increase the quality and quantity of life for women diagnosed with breast cancer ages 40 and under."

___________________________________________________________

You can check out the YSC site here.

Like I said, this is for a great cause. These two ladies are giving it all for a charity they care deeply about. If any of my readers would like to help them out by making a donation so they can reach their goal of $5,000 just go here and follow the instructions.

To participate in the "Tour de Pink" the girls must reach the $5,000 minimum. So if you can please help them out with any amount you can donate.

If you would like to follow their training for the event, all you have to do is go over to the NHL Arena (linked under my friends), register, and go to the Arena BBQ thread and you will see the post.

I really hope the girls reach their mark and get a chance to participate.

If you have any comments or questions please E-mail me at FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com

Third Jerseys

2009-07-17T14:13:00.004-04:00

Well today is kind of a slow news day around Pantherland. For that matter today is a slow news day around the NHL. Cats fans are obviously waiting for the big news on Tanguay...if it's true. If it does have any truth to it I have a feeling we wont know until Monday.

Anyway I wanted to let today's post cover a lighter topic, the third jersey. Last year a number of teams introduced third jerseys to their fans. Some being very creative, others not so much. I mean who puts a team nickname on a jersey? This year some more teams will produce third jerseys, and the Florida Panthers are among them. I think every Panthers fan in the known world knows that our third jersey will be red, which I am ok with. But why not change it up a bit for fun? How about a black jersey with a new logo? Or keep the red and try out a new logo? I think it would be a fun way to usher in a new era of Panthers hockey.

One of my favorite sites on the web for jersey info is icethetics. The guy knows his hockey jerseys and usually makes a daily post about them, even if there is not much to say. A while back a fan of the site submitted a concept logo and concept third jersey that I liked a lot.

As you can see above he uses a completely new logo and a new shade of red, blue, and gold on the jersey. He did an amazing job with this and I would love to see these on the boys. The shoulder logo is another Panther head, which that could be switched up to something else. But overall this is a strong design.

Now if the Panthers stick to the norm, which I am pretty sure they will, I wouldn't mind seeing that new logo on the website used on a jersey. I can't find an image of the logo, but it is the one of the Cat jumping of "Florida Panthers".

I guess only time will tell what kind of third jersey we get. Let us all hope that it's not "Cats" across the chest. Because, as I said before, who uses their nickname on a jersey?

Usually this is the part I say please leave of a comment, but I can't do that. Blogger.com is having problems with the comment function, so any questions or comments need to be directed to my E-mail at FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com

RUMOR: Tanguay To Florida A Done Deal?

2009-07-16T18:23:00.004-04:00

So there are reports, or as I like to call them, rumors, floating around cyberspace that the Panthers have signed Alex Tanguay. Randy Sexton, the Panthers interim GM has said no, there is no done deal.

Eklund is the one who first broke this, so take it for what you will. I generally take anything Eklund says as seriously as I take anything a lying crack addict says.

Once more news comes in I will post it.

The Five

2009-07-16T11:02:00.006-04:00

Yesterday the National Hockey League released the schedule for the 2009-2010 season. The schedule is heavily affected by the 2010 Winter Olympics, causing all thirty teams to play a lot of back to back games. The Panthers will be playing seventeen back to back games, nine of them being a home and home series.

From a marketing standpoint the Cats got some pretty interesting days this season. The Panthers have a three game home stand in November (23rd-27th) in which they will play three teams that have opposing fans vacationing in our state around that time (Penguins, Rangers, and Leafs). The Panthers also have another big three game home stand for the opposing fans to pack our house in late December (Bruins, Canadians, Penguins). One might say that is really convenient...well guess again. Mr.Yormark sat down with the league to build the schedule that way. As a Business major I can understand his reasoning behind the schedule, and that reason is money. As a Panthers fan though, I get very frustrated when I find out that one of the guys running my favorite team is working the schedule to fit fans from the opposing team. At any rate, at least the Arena will gain some solid revenue from those two home stands. Us fans will just have to put up with the drunk, rude, fans of those teams.

There is one very easy way to combat the out of towners. All one has to do is simply pick up a phone, or go to the box office, and buy some tickets to those games. More Cats fans mean less out of town fans.

Anyway I am getting side tracked. Lets take a look at the top five home games for Panthers fans to attend. I will not include opening night or last game of the season because those two are obvious. Also these are in no special order.

1. Montreal vs Florida, December 31st, 5:00 PM.

This is a game Panthers fans should be excited for. The reason is not who we are playing, but rather the coach of who we are playing. Jacques Martin will make his first appearance back at the BankAtlantic Center since jumping ship and leaving Randy Sexton with a bit of a mess. This is a game Cats fans will want to be there for, because I am sure there will be a lot of good chants to join in on throughout the game.

2. Calgary vs Florida, February 5th, 7:30 PM.

Talk about a big game for Panthers fans. If the Flames roster stays the same this will be the first game back in town for both Olli Jokinen and Jay Bouwmeester. I think Jay deserves a round of boo's, but lets all give Olli a nice ovation.

3. Vancouver vs Florida, February 11th, 7:30 PM.

If this game is anything close to Luongo's first return back to South Florida then we are in for another classic. I still think that game was the best I have ever seen at the BAC. The shootout win and the emotion by Vokoun at the end was amazing.

4. Pittsburgh vs Florida, November 23rd, 7:30

The first trip down here for the current Stanley Cup champs. Should be a good game as always, especially if Ballard lands another hit on Malkin like he did in 08-09. Actually, he should switch it up and lay out Crosby.

5. Colorado vs Florida, December 2nd, 7:30.

This will be a bit of a sad game for yours truly. Anderson will always be one of my favorite Panthers and seeing him in the jersey that beat the Cats in 96 might make me a little nauseous. I will be giving him a standing O though. All Andy wanted was to be a starter and he got what he wanted, and I hope he goes far.

Well there you have it folks. This season is shaping up to be a good one, even if it is compressed. I hope to see a lot of Panthers fans out at the BAC this year, especially around December. Remember, this is our house.

Please leave your comments and questions below or E-mail me at FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com.

Quick Thoughts

2009-07-15T14:31:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to post a couple of thoughts on some hockey topics that have been floating around in my head today while we all wait for the NHL to release the 09-10 schedule.

- The line at arbitration court seems short this year, really short. Usually you see about two to three guys per team waiting to go to arbitration. This year? twenty total players from all thirty teams. Maybe it's the economy.

- The next Winter Classic has been announced, and it will take place at Fenway Park as the home town Boston Bruins play host to the Philadelphia Flyers. This isn't a bad match up, but if the NHL wanted a real game they would have made it Bruins vs Rangers.

- Anyone else get the feeling that this is the year the mighty Red Wings may not be as god like as they are every season? There are a lot of key pieces falling from the Detroit puzzle and Ken Holland does not seem to be doing anything about it. Maybe he thinks some more 8th and 9th rounders can step up and be the next Datsyuk and Zetterberg.

- Rumor has it that the Panthers will be among a handful of teams to debut a third jersey in the 09-10 season. I like the idea to be honest, even if it is just to make more money. I love the red, but I would like to see some creativity and a whole new design. Black anyone?

- George Richards over at the Miami Herald crunched some numbers on the Panthers pre-season schedule yesterday. The total mileage before going to Finland? 7,000. At least the boys will have another excuse for a slow October.

I think that will do it for now. Once the schedule is out check back here for my take on it, including a top five must see Panthers games.

Please post your comments and questions below or E-mail me at FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com

Blackhawks Demote Tallon

2009-07-14T11:05:00.003-04:00

A very interesting piece of news is making it's way around all major sports networks. That news is that Dale Tallon is now the former general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks. This move comes just a week after management had to deal with the embarrassing mix up with the clubs restricted free agents.

Chicago ownership is claiming the RFA situation had nothing to do with their decision to let Tallon go. If that is the case, why let him go at all? Why let a guy go who drafted two young superstars that have caused a rebirth in Chicago? Why let a guy go who has done nothing but stock pile this team with young talent to keep them winners for years to come? Let us also not forget that this is the same Dale Tallon that just signed Marian Hossa to a staggering twelve year deal but kept the cap hit pretty decent.

I have a feeling there are stronger forces at work here, well let's say a strong force. Taking over the GM role for the Hawks is none other then Stan Bowman, the sun of Scotty Bowman...who also works for the Blackhawks. See where I'm going with this?

The reason I bring this topic up on Sunshine State Hockey should be pretty obvious. That reason is the Florida Panthers are still in the hunt for a general manager, and one has to believe Bill Torrey is going to place a call right away to the Tallon camp. I know a lot of Panthers fans, including myself, feel that Randy Sexton should get the job after the good work he has put in as interim GM. But let's face it, a general manager like Dale Tallon does not come along very often. It's obvious he knows how to put together a winning team, But to be able to do so with a young roster is very impressive.

I am sure a lot of Panthers fans will not lose any sleep if we do not sign Tallon, but this gives us all something to think about.

That will do it for now, as always please leave your comments and questions below or E-mail me at FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com.

*** So it seems the Blackhawks did not fire Tallon, but rather demoted him. There was some confusion, so as of right now remove him from the Panthers plans***

Stewart Goes To ATL

2009-07-13T16:04:00.002-04:00

TSN reported that Anthony Stewart has signed a deal with the Atlanta Thrashers. Stewart has spent all of his four season career with the Panthers prior to this signing. I wish him a lot of luck. It is too bad that his career did not go like it was suppose to. But, that happens to some players, it's all about the luck of the draft. Stewy did try to give it his all this last season, but I think he finally realized that he was not getting any better then a 3rd/4th line scrapper.

Another interesting note in that article is that another ex-Panther, Noah Welch, has also signed with Atlanta. Noah was traded by the Cats at the deadline for Steve Eminger.

Signing Stewart and Welch is a pretty good depth move by the Thrashers. Stewart will find himself on the 4th line and Welch will see ice time on the third line. It's just nice to see the two of them getting another chance to play.

So Long, Farewell.

2009-07-12T13:48:00.002-04:00

I am sure many Panthers fans have noticed by now that our team is going to look different next year. A decent chunk of our roster made their way to new homes either in the NHL or in Europe. Some we knew were going, while others came as a bit of a surprise.

The list of players gone from the 2008-2009 season include Richard Zednik, Jay Bouwmeester, Karlis Skrastins, Ville Peltonen (rumored to be heading to the Swiss A league), Nick Boynton, and Craig Anderson. These are all guys who had a pretty big impact on the roster last year, and some of them will be missed more then others by knowledgeable Panthers fans.

Before I go on about the players who left that matter, I want to stop and talk about Bouwmeester for a minute. Before everyone boos Jay in his first game down here in a Flames jersey I want to point a few things out that may change your mind. Bo and his agent approached our amazing former GM, Jacques Martin about not re-signing eighteen months ago....eighteen! This is before the trade deadline in which JM decided not to move Bouwmeester, heck, this was before the draft last year when he moved Jokinen! Why would Martin not do anything when he knew Jay was intent on leaving Sunrise? I think about this a lot, and to be honest I think Jay signed a one year deal prior to the 2008-2009 season to help the Panthers. He wanted to give JM some time to move him, obviously that had to be the case, unless Jay gets a high on building up, then crushing the hopes of the Panthers faithful. Well of course Jacques Martin had a great reason why he did not do anything with Bo when he had many chances, remember that press conference he held a few weeks ago.....oh wait, he got out of town faster then Mike Keenan after the Roberto Luongo trade. That is right folks, another GM screwed over the Panthers and followed it up by purchasing a plane ticket to sanctuary in Canada. The point I am trying to make with this is if you want to focus your boos somewhere, focus them on good ole Jacques Martin, the coward that jumped ship when he knew he shot the cannon that sunk it. So when Montreal comes to visit, make sure you all give him a nice, "warm", welcome.

To get back on topic here, lets chat about the rest of the ex-Panthers. I think the biggest loss this off season is that of Karlis Skrastins. I have said it, and will continue to say it. Skrastins was the Panthers best defensive D-man last year hands down. He led the team in blocked shots and made some amazing plays in front of the net that Patrick Roy would be proud of. The other guys lost to free agency are blows to the team, but not as big as the on dealt when Skrastins signed with Dallas.

I do want to wish all of the ex-Panthers good luck in their careers, especially Craig Anderson. Andy wanted to be a starter and he got his wish. I hope he gets the Avalanche back to the playoffs and proves that he can be a starter in the NHL.

I also want to give a round of applause to Randy Sexton, the current interim general manager of the Cats. Randy did a great job at the draft and followed it up by a filling the holes that needed to be filled in free agency. If Sexton can pull of one more signing, and I think you know which player from Montreal I'm talking about Panthers fans, then Bill Torrey should stop the search and peg Randy as the new GM of the Florida Panthers. Heck even if he doesn't sign Tanguay (but please do,) he should be heavily considered for the position.

I think that will wrap up today's post. Keep checking back for more news, notes, and opinions here at Sunshine State Hockey.

As Always please leave your comments and questions below, or E-mail me at FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com.

Heeeeeeeres Johnny!

2009-07-10T13:14:00.002-04:00

Well folks it has been a while since I last wrote on this blog. Life has been crazy, causing me to forget about Sunshine State Hockey for a while. Well that while is officially over, and I am glad to say that you will once again be getting blogs everyday (or almost everyday).

I have known that I was coming back to this project for about a week now. During that week I sat down and thought about the direction the blog was going, and to be honest I really did not like the old style. So I did something about it. Some of you may notice that the page is looking a bit more Navy, Red, and Gold, the colors of that team in Sunrise Florida. The reason for this is I decided to make my blog focus on the one team that holds a true spot in my heart, the Florida Panthers. I will still be reporting out of town news, but just the major stuff. So to all those Panthers fans out there, I hope you enjoy the change. And to those non-Panthers fans, well, maybe you will learn a thing or two about the team in South Florida.

I may also have a few surprises in store for the blog, and some guest interviews, but those will have to wait until we get some more followers.

As always, please leave your comments and questions below. I created a new E-mail just for Sunshine State Hockey, so if you want to contacted me please send your E-mails to FloridaFlyer86@hotmail.com

I hope everyone is having a great summer, and I am excited to get back to blogging.