Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2013 18:40:52 GMT -5
Sunrise, FL - Gone are the days in Pantherland of where the hope was to make the playoffs, as it has now become the expectation.
It seemed like last year, the team rode on shoulders of many youngsters who seemed to be unproven, unexperienced and not quite ready to compete with the best in the JGHL. The likes of Cody Hodgson, Dmitri Kulikov, Kyle Turris and Jake Gardiner were called upon to take huge strides in having the Panthers compete for a playoff spot.
Those days are gone, as with some major refining.... GM Kevin Singh believes he now has a core that should be expected to contend with the best in the league.
"We wanted to get a group together that was young enough to and not only skilled enough to compete this year and get better as time went along, but to understand that they were brought in now to contend.... this is a team that I expect to contend right away."
It's believed that the Panthers boast a deep lineup up front, coupled by solid goaltending with Optimus Reims leading the way with Jonathan Bernier backing up. However, if there's any question marks on this Panthers team, it seems like it will be their blue line.
"It's no secret that we wanted to bring in another guy to help us on the blue line, but we're confident with the six that we're going with right now and hopefully they'll get the job done. It's gonna have to be defense by committee, but hopefully we'll be in good shape," said Coach Doug Gilmour.
The Panthers are looking to make noise in an Atlantic Division that boasts the rejuvenated powerhouse Montreal Canadiens, the always dangerous Toronto Maple Leafs along with the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning that will surely contend for playoff spots. When asked Kevin Singh on where he believes the Panthers size up with the Division and the conference, he didnt shy away from his beliefs "I think we're up there. I think we have a chance with the big boys to really make a name for ourselves this year. Make no mistake, we're going to compete and we're expecting to win every night."
The last time such expectations were put on the team were a couple of years ago where the squad was led by the likes of Jonathon Toews, Jerome Iginla and Brendan Morrow..... and many Panther fans will recall the dissapointing 11th place finish that followed.
Surely, one can appreciate that the GM and upper management will be on the hot seat if this team does get off to a rough start, as the Panthers GM has heard only too often that the Panthers have only gotten as far as the second round under his watch. "We hear the critics, and surely we understand. Our goal here is to win, and that should be the expectation..... so I share the dissapointment that many fans have, but i think we're on the right track."..... surely, fans wont have to wait much longer to see.
The expected Panthers starting lineup on opening night is as follows:
Skinner - Duchene - Kessel
Marleau - Sedin - Stewart
Henrique - Turris - Condra
Raymond - Bolland - Komarov
Markov - Hjalmarsson
Fowler - Murray
Vlasic - Hannan
Reimer
Bernier
It seemed like last year, the team rode on shoulders of many youngsters who seemed to be unproven, unexperienced and not quite ready to compete with the best in the JGHL. The likes of Cody Hodgson, Dmitri Kulikov, Kyle Turris and Jake Gardiner were called upon to take huge strides in having the Panthers compete for a playoff spot.
Those days are gone, as with some major refining.... GM Kevin Singh believes he now has a core that should be expected to contend with the best in the league.
"We wanted to get a group together that was young enough to and not only skilled enough to compete this year and get better as time went along, but to understand that they were brought in now to contend.... this is a team that I expect to contend right away."
It's believed that the Panthers boast a deep lineup up front, coupled by solid goaltending with Optimus Reims leading the way with Jonathan Bernier backing up. However, if there's any question marks on this Panthers team, it seems like it will be their blue line.
"It's no secret that we wanted to bring in another guy to help us on the blue line, but we're confident with the six that we're going with right now and hopefully they'll get the job done. It's gonna have to be defense by committee, but hopefully we'll be in good shape," said Coach Doug Gilmour.
The Panthers are looking to make noise in an Atlantic Division that boasts the rejuvenated powerhouse Montreal Canadiens, the always dangerous Toronto Maple Leafs along with the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning that will surely contend for playoff spots. When asked Kevin Singh on where he believes the Panthers size up with the Division and the conference, he didnt shy away from his beliefs "I think we're up there. I think we have a chance with the big boys to really make a name for ourselves this year. Make no mistake, we're going to compete and we're expecting to win every night."
The last time such expectations were put on the team were a couple of years ago where the squad was led by the likes of Jonathon Toews, Jerome Iginla and Brendan Morrow..... and many Panther fans will recall the dissapointing 11th place finish that followed.
Surely, one can appreciate that the GM and upper management will be on the hot seat if this team does get off to a rough start, as the Panthers GM has heard only too often that the Panthers have only gotten as far as the second round under his watch. "We hear the critics, and surely we understand. Our goal here is to win, and that should be the expectation..... so I share the dissapointment that many fans have, but i think we're on the right track."..... surely, fans wont have to wait much longer to see.
The expected Panthers starting lineup on opening night is as follows:
Skinner - Duchene - Kessel
Marleau - Sedin - Stewart
Henrique - Turris - Condra
Raymond - Bolland - Komarov
Markov - Hjalmarsson
Fowler - Murray
Vlasic - Hannan
Reimer
Bernier