Entries with the tag: florida+panthers

Denis Potvin on Richard Zednik

by Alanah on 02/11/08 at 11:19 AM
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Earlier today, Denis Potvin was on “Hockey This Morning” (NHL Home Ice XM 204) describing the scene last night in Buffalo regarding the horrific injury to Richard Zednik.  Denis was doing color for FSN Florida last night.

Our thanks to Hockey This Morning on NHL Home Ice XM 204 for the providing the audio for KK readers.

Kukla’s Korner.com

Note: details of last night’s events were previously posted here on KK (including video).

Update 2:04pm ET: An update from the Panthers states that Zednik is still in stable condition, but remains in the intensive care unit.

Van Ryn Hopes To Avoid Surgery

by Paul on 11/28/07 at 08:43 AM
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from the Sun-Sentinel,

While his teammates left for Washington on Tuesday, Panthers defenseman Mike Van Ryn went to receive a cortisone injection in his right wrist.

It’s likely the last resort for Van Ryn before he’s forced to have surgery on that wrist for the third time in a year and a half — surgery that would end the 28-year-old’s season and possibly his seven-year NHL career.

continued

Countrymen Everywhere

by Paul on 11/24/07 at 08:46 AM
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from the Sun-Sentinel,

At any time inside both the Panthers’ and Rangers’ dressing rooms this season, you can hear Czech spoken.

Both rosters have six players from the former Czechoslovakia, now split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia....

“It’s not something I can’t be without, but it definitely helps, no question,” Vokoun said. “You’re always close to people who grew up the same way and have gone through the same things. It’s very good for family life.”

more

The Panthers Room

by Paul on 11/21/07 at 02:14 PM
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from On Frozen Pond,

JM got testy today when asked about the reported division in the room, telling us to name our sources. That, of course, is not going to happen. And it can’t happen. But none of this is new. JM hasn’t been a good communicator and I don’t think he thinks he needs to be.

JM is an old-school guy in the thought he feels these guys should be able to motivate themselves from within, that they make enough money they should play with pride and be up for every game. Yet this is the real world. That always isn’t the case.

Has Jacques lost the room? I don’t think he has.

more

Panthers Must Make The Playoffs, Or Else…

by Paul on 11/20/07 at 08:53 PM
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from the Palm Beach Post,

Majority owner Alan Cohen denies it, but a well-placed NHL source said Tuesday that general manager and coach Jacques Martin and captain Olli Jokinen must get the Panthers to the playoffs this season or one or both are likely to be gone.

“Jokinen has got to pick up his productivity and leadership and get this team to the playoffs,” said the source, who deals with the Panthers on a regular basis. “And with an excellent draft next year, Jacques needs a playoff berth after giving Nashville his first- and second-round picks in the (Tomas) Vokoun trade.” Cohen was quick to issue denials when Jokinen trade rumors surfaced last weekend, insisting he would never trade the ninth-year center, and Tuesday he was just as quick to underscore his faith in Martin.

continued

The Jokinen Talk

by Paul on 11/17/07 at 09:57 PM
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from George Richards at On Frozen Pond,

...That said, there is word few people on this team is real happy with how things are going and there has been word of a possible revolt. I’m not kidding about this.

My take: If JM is shopping Olli, not good. He’s the captain and face of this franchise—for better or worse. If this is true, JM needs to come out and say so. I haven’t had a chance to talk to him about it really, but I will in the near future. Probably tonight. Word of Olli being shopped has leaked to the players and it is not, NOT, sitting well in the room.

I don’t think it’s happening....

more

added 10:28pm, more from George Richards,

Spoke to JM, Olli and Alan Cohen. They say absolutely no truth to the rumors that Olli has been shopped.

read on

It Is All Mental For Panthers

by Paul on 11/12/07 at 02:33 PM
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from the Palm Beach-Post,

It’s not like these guys are a bunch of losers. Jokinen and linemate Ville Peltonen won silver medals with Finland at the 2006 Olympics. Mike Van Ryn won a national championship at the University of Michigan. Ruslan Salei, Radek Dvorak and Steve Montador have all come within one win of a Stanley Cup. Nathan Horton won gold with Canada in the World Under-18 championships.

But collectively, there’s some mental bridge that has been impossible to cross. Not that there’s any shortage of thoughts on the subject.

“We just have to have the mental preparation and focus, even if it needs to be 30 seconds at a time,” Peltonen said. “Create that as a habit, do it as well as you can every time out there, and the result will come.”

more

Everyone Has To Pull Their Weight

by Paul on 11/05/07 at 08:25 AM
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from the Sun-Sentinel,

Standing in the visitors’ dressing room inside RBC Center, goalie Tomas Vokoun pointed out all of this after Florida’s 4-2 loss at Carolina, and then said he couldn’t understand why the Panthers didn’t work hard.

“We’re not consistently doing that enough to be successful on an every-night basis,” Vokoun said. “We are whatever we feel like that day, and that’s just not winning hockey. If you want to be in the playoffs, you have to be a whole lot better than that.

“No team is going to give you an easy game and say, ‘We’ll just let you win tonight.’ Especially with our team, we need everybody pulling their weight. That’s the bottom line for us to win. If that’s not happening, we can’t blame anyone but ourselves. We’re on the ice.”

read on

Nieuwendyk Inspires Panthers

by Paul on 11/01/07 at 08:54 PM
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from George Richards at On Frozen Pond,

At first, I didn’t think much of seeing Joe talk to the team during the second intermission. Especially when Zednik was called for an early penalty giving the Canes a chance to break the game open. But then things started to go Florida’s way, and lo and behold, the Cats took advantage. Haven’t seen much of that.

A lot of the guys were praising Joe’s speech, the captain of the team saying it really inspired them.

Now, why would Joe’s voice hold more credence than that of coach/GM Jacques Martin? Or Olli himself?

read on

Panthers Sign Cullimore

by Alanah on 10/26/07 at 03:22 PM
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From Sports Network via KETV,

The Florida Panthers signed defenseman Jassen Cullimore on a one year deal Friday and assigned him to their AHL affiliate in Rochester on a two week conditioning stint.

The 34-year-old Cullimore has played in 643 career games with Vancouver (1994-97), Montreal (1997-98), Tampa Bay (1998-2004) and Chicago (2005-06), registering 21 goals and 59 assists.

Last season, the 6-foot-5, 245-pound defenseman played in 65 games with the Blackhawks scoring one goal with six assists.

Making the Big League

by Alanah on 10/24/07 at 06:27 PM
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From Patrick Dorsey at the Miami Herald,

Any remaining doubters of his town’s passion might check [Stefan] Meyer’s calls-received log. After receiving word at practice that he had been called up [to the Florida Panthers], Meyer got excited.

Then, when the town itself got word, Fox Valley got excited. ‘’My phone just about blew up [Monday],’’ Meyer said. ``It was smoking from my pocket.’’

Meyer expects similar thrills back home Wednesday, although the locals again might need to hike to Medicine Hat for a TV that carries the game. Meanwhile, more than 2,600 miles away, Meyer expects to feel the same when he first touches NHL regular-season ice.

‘’A lot of things will flash before my eyes—just growing up as a kid and skating and stuff like that,’’ Meyer said. ``It seems so far away. But I’m here right now, and I can hardly talk I’m so excited.’’

more...

David Booth Update

by Alanah on 10/21/07 at 04:52 PM
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From George Richards at On Frozen Pond,

Word out of One Panther Parkway is that all is well with the young Mr. Booth, and his scheduled MRI is now not needed.

According to spokesman Justin Copertino, Booth flew home with the team last night and met with team trainer Curtis Bell today. All seems fine. David is hurting a bit, understandable, and is wearing a precautionary neck brace.

Booth will not practice Monday at the Ice (10:30 a.m., open to public) and isn’t expected back until later in the week. So it’s good news: no permanent damage, just some soreness. “Kind of like he was in a car wreck,’’ Copertino said. Yep, that’s about what it looked like last night.

continued... (*Booth was taken off the ice on a stretcher last night in Ottawa)

Panthers’ Booth Leaves Game on Stretcher

by Alanah on 10/20/07 at 09:26 PM
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From The Sports Network,

Florida Panthers left wing David Booth was removed from the ice on a stretcher during the second period of a game against the Ottawa Senators Saturday night.

Booth was in the offensive left corner when he was checked from behind by Ottawa defenseman Anton Volchenkov with 15:12 left in the period. Booth’s head went flush into the boards and he remained on his back until medical personnel assisted him to the stretcher.

Volchenkov was given a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct.

Update 10:45pm ET - George Richards at On Frozen Pond

Booth has been taken to the Ottawa Civic Hospital, said to be alert and moving around. The Panthers are optimistic doctors at the hospital will release him and he’ll be able to make the charter flight home. [...]

The hit by Volchenkov may have been in retaliation for a similar hit just moments earlier. There, Florida defenseman Branislav Mezei sent Nick Foligno into the boards. Foligno had to be helped off the ice…

Home At Last

by Paul on 10/19/07 at 02:29 PM
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from Pierre LeBrun of the CP via Yahoo,

Cory Murphy muttered two words.

“Lyndon Slewidge,” said the Florida Panthers defenceman.

Murphy’s long hockey odyssey, which began two minutes from where Scotiabank Place was built and included six years in Europe, finally comes full circle Saturday night when the Ottawa native stands for the national anthem before a game against the Senators - performed as usual by the Ontario Provincial Police constable Lyndon Slewidge.

continued

Worst Trades in NHL History

by Alanah on 10/18/07 at 03:06 PM
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Michael Farber at Sports Illustrated,

When asked recently during a radio interview if the Roberto Luongo trade to Vancouver prior to the 2006-07 season was the worst in the history of the sport, Florida Panthers coach and general manager Jacques Martin answered “True.”

Maybe this is a stretch. After all, the Montreal Canadiens handed Colorado what amounted to three Stanley Cups when they traded goalie Patrick Roy to the Avalanche in December 1995.

continued... *a look at a few other “worst ever” trades around the NHL, plus a closer look at what’s happened in Florida

Vokoun’s Game Has Changed

by Paul on 10/10/07 at 10:20 AM
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from the Palm Beach Post,

Former Panthers goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck and Terry Crisp, a former player and coach who’s now the Predators’ TV analyst, have noticed a slip in the enormous confidence that helped make Vokoun one of the league’s top 10 goalies.

“He’s had a lot of things happen the last couple years: the blood disorder, the thumb injury,” said Vanbiesbrouck, now a national broadcaster who worked Tuesday night’s Toronto-Carolina game for Versus. “Talking to him after all that, I thought everything was fine. Then I started focusing on him and saw he was a lot further back in the net than he had been.

“Before, he had been personified as a real rock - a guy who would challenge shooters and was hard to score on in the third period. Now he gives up four goals (to the Rangers) in the third his first game out.”

read on

All Jacques Martin

by Paul on 10/04/07 at 08:54 AM
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from Dan LeBatard of the Miami Herald,

Q | Philosophy to live by?

A | ``Fair and simple. Do right.’’

Q | Most moved you’ve ever been by hockey?

A | ``Winning the gold medal in 2002 in Olympics with Canada. For 50 years, Canada hadn’t won. Coaching the best players in the game at the top of the sport and winning for your country. I didn’t cry, but it was very touching.’’

more

From Luongo to Vokoun

by Alanah on 10/02/07 at 11:45 PM
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From Steve Gorten at the Sun-Sentinel,

Jacques Martin has never publicly said, and probably never will, that trading Roberto Luongo was a mistake, despite how it shook the Panthers’ organization.

Martin ultimately gave his approval of the trade to then-General Manager Mike Keenan not because he wanted to — Luongo was the reason Martin chose to coach the Panthers instead of the Coyotes — but because he felt he had no other choice after contract negotiations with the star goalie grew too contentious.

So Martin, the coach, made do with Alex Auld and Ed Belfour in goal. In June, Martin, the general manager, made a major move to stabilize that position and this franchise: He traded three draft picks to the Nashville Predators for goalie Tomas Vokoun.

continued...

Panthers in Basic Training

by Alanah on 10/01/07 at 06:05 PM
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From George Richards at the Miami Herald,

Now that the Florida Panthers’ roster is complete, it’s time for them to grow a little closer.

To facilitate this, the team will spend the next three days training at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. While the team will do plenty of work at the Army hockey rink, what coach and general manager Jacques Martin hopes is the most beneficial is the stuff done off the ice.

continued...

Florida Has New Direction

by Alanah on 09/30/07 at 05:12 AM
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From George Richards at the Miami Herald,

Martin has solidified his standing as the leader of the franchise after being handed the keys last summer when Mike Keenan was fired.

Serving as coach and general manager, Martin has complete say over every aspect of Florida’s hockey operations.

Some might say Martin doesn’t deserve such power, but it’s hard to argue with what he has done so far with the Panthers.

more...

Goalie Expectations in Florida, Boston and Toronto

by Alanah on 09/27/07 at 05:18 PM
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From the CP via Yahoo! Sports,

A trio of Eastern Conference teams feel they’ve made themselves better this off-season by acquiring goalies who couldn’t hold on to No. 1 jobs in the West.

Trades brought Tomas Vokoun to Florida, Manny Fernandez to Boston and Vesa Toskala to Toronto this summer and every one of those teams is hoping those guys can carry them to the playoffs.

Expectations might be a little high.

All three have shown some shaky form during the pre-season, although it would be foolish to put too much stock in the exhibition play.

continued...

Jokinen’s Voice Being Heard

by Paul on 09/23/07 at 09:33 AM
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from the Sun-Sentinel,

Jokinen was just 24 when then-coach Mike Keenan made him the Panthers’ captain in 2003. Some wondered whether the easygoing center from Finland was equipped to be a leader. Some still do. Teammates and former teammates say he’s a good one.

But there’s also a perception that he’s a poor — or perhaps incapable — captain. One of the most beloved players in franchise history, retired goalie John Vanbiesbrouck, criticized Jokinen’s leadership abilities on a radio show in July.

“He doesn’t know how to bring people together,” said Vanbiesbrouck, who insinuated Jokinen’s leadership suffers when he tries to be more vocal.

read on

It’s Olli’s Team

by Paul on 09/16/07 at 08:24 AM
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from the Miami Herald,

Olli Jokinen might have served as captain of the Florida Panthers the past three seasons, but today, it appears he truly gets what the ‘’C’’ on his jersey represents.

‘’He’s our leader and the guy everyone looks up to,’’ Nathan Horton said. ``He’s our guy. He leads the way and we follow.’’

‘’This is Olli’s team,’’ Mike Van Ryn said.

continued...And someone please tell my why Jokinen’s name kept popping up in outlandish trade talk this summer!