Forwards

 

David Booth

Gregory Campbell

Radek Dvorak

Rob Globke *

Nathan Horton

Olli Jokinen ?

Brett McLean

Rostislav Olesz

Ville Peltonen

Jozef Stumpel

Stephen Weiss

Richard Zednik

 

Defensemen

 

Bryan Allen

Jay Bouwmeester

Branislav Mezei

Steve Montador

Cory Murphy

Ruslan Salei

Mike Van Ryn

Noah Welch

 

Goalies

 

Craig Anderson

Tomas Vokoun

 

* Won the final roster spot this morning, beating out Anthony Stewart and Kamil Kreps. Stewart and Kreps were re-assigned to Rochester.

I saw that a few minutes ago. Interesting. I thought for sure that Kreps had the inside track to the job.

 

As far as the Panthers Season is concerned, the season preview I was commissioned to write has been posted onto the internet on a major blog named "The Pens Blog."

 

 

Go here to see it!

I saw that a few minutes ago. Interesting. I thought for sure that Kreps had the inside track to the job.

 

As far as the Panthers Season is concerned, the season preview I was commissioned to write has been posted onto the internet on a major blog named "The Pens Blog."

 

 

Go here to see it!

Great job! BTW I am shocked Globke was selected over Kreps, or even Stewart who played very well

I so need hockey season to start with the Gators probably winning again for 3 weeks, Marlin season ending, and Dolphin season ending before it starts.

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/hockey/v...ory/255719.html

 

Posted on Sun, Sep. 30, 2007

Ten questions for the Panthers

By GEORGE RICHARDS

1. Is Tomas Vokoun the new Roberto Luongo or is that too much to ask?

 

Vokoun has said himself that he just wants to be himself. And that's fine. Vokoun is one of the top goalies in the game, and it can be argued one of the best in the Eastern Conference. The Panthers got decent goaltending at times last year from the Ed Belfour/Alex Auld combo, but in Vokoun, they have something consistent. No one knew what was going to happen in net last year; now, the Panthers are confident they can win each night with what they've got stopping pucks.

 

2. Who is expected to have a breakout year?

 

Last year, we said it was Stephen Weiss and lo and behold, Weiss delivered. This time around, we're looking at Rostislav Olesz, a talented winger who can do some amazing things with the puck. He's one of Florida's most versatile players, one who feels right at home on the power play as he does killing off penalties. But he needs to finish, needs to become more aggressive when inside his offensive end. Olesz can score, we know that. Now it's time to see it.

 

3. How long can Jacques Martin continue to double dip?

 

Martin is the only guy in the league pulling double duty as both coach and general manager, but I don't see him giving up one job to do the other fulltime any time soon. Martin is great at delegating and is perhaps the most organized person in the city of Sunrise. Bringing in old friend and former Ottawa general manager Randy Sexton has helped greatly, and Martin has hired people he trusts to do a lot of the dirty work. The hockey side of the organization is solely in his hands.

 

4. Will Florida win a few more games this November?

 

The Panthers won one game in the entire month of November in 2005 and only three last year. That's a big reason this team hasn't tasted the postseason since Jacques Martin took over the coaching duties. This season, Florida's November doesn't start off easy with back-to-back games in Buffalo and Carolina. But of the remaining 12 games, Florida should be favored in all but a handful.

 

5. Who has become the Panthers' biggest rival?

 

The team hasn't been around long enough to develop a tasty rivalry, although Tampa Bay being so close should be the natural enemy. But lately, it appears the Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes have enjoyed some pretty memorable games. The image of Ed Belfour doing the swan dive in a game against the Hurricanes last year is one that won't be forgotten as the Panthers love ripping Carolina's penchant for taking penalties. Of course, Carolina loves pointing out that it owns the Panthers of late.

 

6. Opening Night in New York will be big for the Rangers, but will it be big for the Panthers?

 

It should be an electric atmosphere at Madison Square Garden, what with the new-look Rangers taking the ice for real for the first time. The Panthers have wilted in the spotlight in the past, but can make quite the statement by going out and taking the game to the home team. If Florida gets rolled in the opener, all the good feelings and momentum gathered over the offseason gets tossed off the Empire State Building.

 

7. Who is this Cory Murphy fellow?

 

Florida scouts have been raving about Murphy since Florida signed him out of the Swedish Elite League last season. He's a smallish defenseman, but he plays hard and has shown he can put the puck in the net. He's also a power play specialist and is expected to run things from the point. A better power play can't be a bad thing.

 

8. Nathan Horton scored 30 goals last year. Expectations this year?

 

Horton appears to have matured and is truly taking his game seriously. I think hockey has come easy to Horton, and now that he is serious about working to be a better player, there is no limit to how good he can be. He's expected to be paired up with Stephen Weiss again, and those two seem to play very well together.

 

9. Will Roberto Luongo be booed when he returns to BankAtlantic Center on Feb. 1?

 

I really don't know why he would be. Luongo was one of the most popular players in this franchise's history, and while he bears the brunt of some of the blame for his departure, obviously there were other things working. Luongo loves South Florida, still has a soft spot for the Panthers. The Panthers expect a sellout, and I expect a standing ovation when he skates over to the net. Just hope he goes to the wrong one out of habit.

 

10. Are the Panthers really a playoff team or is this talk just more of the same?

 

One has to expect the Panthers to take the next logical step, and that is to advance to the postseason. The year 2000 doesn't seem that long ago, but it really is. And that's the last time the Panthers sniffed the postseason. There are some things Florida doesn't control - like how other teams play - but they have enough games within the conference to make a difference. And yes, this is the year the Panthers break through. Maybe.

i really hope this is the year they get into the playoffs.

they have a good enough squad.

i expect a great year from vokoun

What will the 4 lines be, along with defensive pairings?