With acquisitions like Marty Reasoner, that playoff drought his-tor-ee!
Shortly after the Florida Panthers wrapped up their end of June’s Entry Draft, the praise for the club’s weekend moves flowed in from all over the hockey world. Shortly after July 1st Free Agent signing period began, the Panthers were an afterthought once again.
And that’s where things stand as another hockey season dawns just a month away. The NHL’s least competitive division isn’t going to be as easy for the Washington Capitals as it has been in recent years, but it has nothing to do with what the Panthers have done since Dale Tallon took the GM reigns from Randy Sexton. Florida’s management appears to be content to let confetti rain down upon another playoff-less season (which would make ten seasons, a league record) rather than open it’s checkbook to compete now.
To be fair, Dale Tallon has added young talent quickly here to go along with soon-to-be-NHL-ready guys like G Jacob Markstrom, RW Michal Repik and Keaton Ellerby. But that’s little consolation for the immediate future as the rest of the Southeast Division will be in the playoffs or could seriously challenge to get in.
Count Washington in before the puck drops. Despite last season’s playoff debacle at the hands of Halak, the Caps will once again challenge for the President’s Trophy.
Tampa Bay, known more for who they brought in as GM as they are for anyone signed in the offseason, should make their way into the top 8. The Lightning should be better on the blueline to complement their tremendous top six on offense.
GM Rick Dudley had an interesting way improve his Atlanta Thrashers in the offseason. Take a club that narrowly missed the playoffs, add as many guys as you can from the defending Stanley Cup Champs, then hope! It’s conceivable that Atlanta could squeak into an eight-seed, which would send the five Thrashers fans into delirium!
That brings us to the Carolina Hurricanes. Tell you what, if you can figure that team out, I’m all ears. They’ll either finish fourth in the division or make the Eastern Conference Finals. Who knows with them?!
And with that, the Panthers are probably doomed to the cellar for at least another season until the reinforcements arrive. Without Nathan Horton, goals will be even harder to come by. Tomas Vokoun will probably keep the Cats in more game than they should be, but expect him to be elsewhere by the trading deadline. Have the confetti ready!!
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Original Story:
http://therattrick.com/2010/09/08/for...
