Post-Game Talk: Panthers play like it's 2004 and waste great goaltending against old southeast rivals, lose 4-1 to Caps

FrolikFan67

Registered User
Apr 29, 2012
7,375
4,150
as this happens every season, friendly reminder that the regular season is long. Let the chips fall where they may. The regular season is not the playoff and they can turn it on. They started off fantastic. They have the talent and they know how to play, they’ll be fine, but I am eager for this rut to end.

Having said that, my main concerns a quarter into the season:

The losses of montour and OEL, and our 4th line being kinda useless. I’m not worried about Forsling, Ekblad, Mikkola, and kuli, but we need to find a replacement for montour. I think we were hoping Adam would take reigns and be a decent replacement and that hasn’t happened. Both Schmidt and balinskis are fine on the bottom pairing, even if they’re not OELs level I think they’re both very solid with one being on that bottom pairing (most likely Schmidt) and the other as the #7. But we need to find an offensive D for the 2nd line and they’re not easy to come by.

Nosek really doesn’t do anything for me aside from maybe being decent at face offs and that’s about it. I like Jesper but more in a top9 role as he gets bullied too easily along the boards, and Greer and gadjo don’t provide a whole ton other than being a big body. Lombo brought the physicality but also that unrelenting pressure and speed, he was like Taz. And Stenlund was one of the best 4th liners we’ve ever had.

Priority is to find a top4 offensive D. Improving everything else is secondary. I’d love chychrun but with how Washington is playing this season it’s unlikely right now that he’s traded at the deadline and who knows if he hits the open market. Fowler could be a possibility, however I prefer a right to play with mikkola if possible. I wonder if skeji in Nashville could be available and while we’ve always shown interest in Karlsson it’s almost impossible to make that salary work even with retention unless bob or knight are involved in some way
 
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Idiot Stick

Youre back on the case Bobrovsky!
Sponsor
Oct 22, 2023
5,113
8,489
You Got, Florida
its all part of Zitos 10000 IQ plan to tank the season to keep our first round pick so next year we can beat the devils in november
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Jean Luc Discard

Registered User
Jul 11, 2014
15,603
11,406
as this happens every season, friendly reminder that the regular season is long. Let the chips fall where they may. The regular season is not the playoff and they can turn it on. They started off fantastic. They have the talent and they know how to play, they’ll be fine, but I am eager for this rut to end.

Having said that, my main concerns a quarter into the season:

The losses of montour and OEL, and our 4th line being kinda useless. I’m not worried about Forsling, Ekblad, Mikkola, and kuli, but we need to find a replacement for montour. I think we were hoping Adam would take reigns and be a decent replacement and that hasn’t happened. Both Schmidt and balinskis are fine on the bottom pairing, even if they’re not OELs level I think they’re both very solid with one being on that bottom pairing (most likely Schmidt) and the other as the #7. But we need to find an offensive D for the 2nd line and they’re not easy to come by.

Nosek really doesn’t do anything for me aside from maybe being decent at face offs and that’s about it. I like Jesper but more in a top9 role as he gets bullied too easily along the boards, and Greer and gadjo don’t provide a whole ton other than being a big body. Lombo brought the physicality but also that unrelenting pressure and speed, he was like Taz. And Stenlund was one of the best 4th liners we’ve ever had.

Priority is to find a top4 offensive D. Improving everything else is secondary. I’d love chychrun but with how Washington is playing this season it’s unlikely right now that he’s traded at the deadline and who knows if he hits the open market. Fowler could be a possibility, however I prefer a right to play with mikkola if possible. I wonder if skeji in Nashville could be available and while we’ve always shown interest in Karlsson it’s almost impossible to make that salary work even with retention unless bob or knight are involved in some way

I predicted that the Panthers would clinch a playoff spot and maybe advance to the 2nd round but now we're starting to see their weak points taking full effect.

Kulikov should be the reliable veteran presence on the bottom pairing while Bals and Schmidt divy up the games between them. ppl scoffed at the notion that the Panthers would survive without Weegar but at the time Montour was conveniently there to save the day as a physical offensive dman. Therefore, since the Panthers were able to survive without Weegar then that must be true also in regards to Monty.

Nosek and Greer haven't shown anything that would indicate that they are something more than Just Another Guy(tm). Maybe they'll need just more games with Mo's system, it's not like Lomberg was an instant success too with the Panthers. I really liked how Lomberg played. Even if the game wasn't going in their way then he's still be out there stirring the pot with his speed and physicality.

I'm not expecting Zito to make any trades because I think that his m.o. is to let the players figure it out themselves even though solving this problem is out of their abilities, and Zito has limited assets to trade for a proven offensive dman.
 

Dread Clawz

LAWSonic Boom
Nov 25, 2006
28,048
10,062
Pennsylvania
Maybe take a flyer on Gryzelyck from Pittsburgh, a UFA. He's not really top 4 anymore, but he can still produce. He's still a little small, but maybe being paired with Mikkola negates that. He can't be worse than ABo at defense.
 

Remparts666

Registered User
Feb 11, 2021
264
221
Yeah a trade sure but only at the trade deadline. Split Mikola and Kulikov, pair Balinskis, Boqvist and or Scmidth with them. Run 3 pairs evenly so Ekblad plays less. Have a puck mover per pair. Have Forsling take extra shift as needed.
 

ScottyMascotty

Registered User
Dec 24, 2017
1,860
3,494
St. Petersburg
Team hot start was just product of a scoring heater from bunch of players, some of them cooled off since. They need more 5v5 offense in terms of creating chances, which would make scoring more sustainable.



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