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Posts tagged 'Florida Panthers' (Page 3)

Posts Tagged ‘Florida Panthers’

Dale Tallon to be Named GM of Florida Panthers

May 17, 2010 - By

The revolving door with the Florida Panthers organization continues with the news that Dale Tallon will take over the role of general manager replacing Randy Sexton (reported by George Richards), he’ll also be the Panthers third GM in three years.  Tallon is the former GM of the Chicago Blackhawks and has been in the role of a senior adviser since July 2009.  Tallon is credited with turning the Blackhawks around from a last place team to the contender that they are today.

That’s good news for the Florida Panthers bringing in someone with some experience in turning a team around.  We’ll have to wait and see what it means for the Rochester Americans.  The Ice Hogs have had a competitive team with winning records in recent years, not sure how much he had to do with it though.

We’ve all questioned the comments by Randy Sexton about the players and coaching staff here in Rochester and now they mean nothing as someone new will have to come in and “evaluate things.”  That can only mean good news for the Amerks, if he does his homework.

Bob McKenzie sent out a tweet saying that Randy Sexton has been let [...]Read More

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The Groulx Debate Rages On; from Hockey O-Zone

May 8, 2010 - By

The Rochester Americans season has been over for almost two weeks now and it’s pretty obvious that people are still surprised by the first round loss.  A Hershey Bears fan recently read a Hockey News article about Graham Mink being scratched for game 7 and was amazed.  The debate about the fate of Benoit Groulx also continues, I was at my sons baseball game last week when someone brought it up out of nowhere.

It’s interesting that the team had what many consider a wasted season and there’s only one person that everyone seems to point the finger to.  Typically when a sports team makes an early exit from the playoffs the media and fans start pointing fingers at players who did not perform up to expectations.

Kevin Oklobzija wrote a blog entry today about the Groulx debate and brought up some more points and also had a few quotes from Randy Sexton as well.  Here’s one that stands out:

Sexton said he’s well aware of complaints. He heard the fans (who didn’t). He also heard and/or read what some players had to say about Groulx.

But player complaints not made directly to Sexton have little credibility, [...]Read More

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Randy Sexton on Amerks Coach Benoit Groulx

May 5, 2010 - By

A week after the game 7 loss to the Abbotsford Heat the hot topic amongst Amerks fans is the fate of Amerks head coach Benoit Groulx who has one year left on his contract.  The issues most have with the coach were decisions made during the playoffs, perceived lack of strategies during the season and also an issue of respect between the players and coach.

No one should expect that someone from either the Florida Panthers or Rochester Americans organization would say anything bad about the guy or that his job is in jeopardy.

I asked Randy Sexton about the thoughts players have given to the press and also the response from the crowd he heard in game 7 to which he responded, “I think Ben did a very good job for us.”

“We came in 29th place last year, this year we came  in 10th.  Granted we had more talent but at times this year we had up to 14 guys out of the lineup and we continued to enjoy success.”

An NHL General Manager is expected to give those types of answers.  The same types of answers that Ted Nolan and Lewis Staats gave.  We’d all love to [...]Read More

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Players Leaving Panthers System in Rochester Feeling No Respect

May 4, 2010 - By

The Rochester Americans, the Florida Panthers affiliate in the American Hockey League, recorded history this week when they were eliminated in the first round of the AHL playoffs after getting out to a 3-1 series lead.  It was a devastating loss for a team that was built to make a run for the Calder Cup.  After a loss like that players will typically call it disappointing, but the players took it a step further calling the entire season wasted.

(this also appeared on LitterBoxCats.com, a great Panthers site over on Sports Blog Nation)

There was one player more than willing to share his thoughts the day after the playoffs ended last week and his feelings towards the Florida Panthers, the player was Jamie Johnson.  He was the Amerks leading scorer (27 goals + 44 assists), on a two way contract, played through his own injuries, gave a solid effort when half the team was called up and also played in all 80 games but never once got a call from the Panthers.  I asked him if he would come back next season and he said he does not want anything to do with Florida.

“They haven’t [...]Read More

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Audio from 2010 Amerks Locker Cleanout, Vets, Nolan and Staats

April 30, 2010 - By

The Amerks season is over and a few of the players spoke after their exit meetings and they cleaned out their lockers.  Uploading audio is a new feature and this one took me a little while longer as I’m uploading them to YouTube.  This way the audio is easier for people to share outside of this site.

Jamie Johnson was the most outspoken player because he does not plan to come back here next season.  Some people have criticized him for his words but if others were leaving they probably would have shared the same thoughts.  Everything said are valid points about the way he felt he was treated.  Johnson was the team leader in points with 27 goals and 44 assists.  He was also one of only two players that played in all 80 games.  Sure he had a rough stretch but so did everyone else, in the end he was there every day working hard.

Lewis Staats and Ted Nolan talked about hearing the fans loud and clear and said that it’s something that will be brought up during meetings.  The decisions are all made by the Florida Panthers but in meetings everything is brought up and thoughts [...]Read More

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Contract Status for Amerks Players Heading into Next Season

April 29, 2010 - By

Now that the season is over for the Rochester Americans it’s time to take a look and see who is still under contract with the Panthers or Amerks, who is and who is not still likely to sign.  I grouped players by signed, likely to sign and RFA and UFA.  Under each category I put some guesses about the status of the players.

Currently Under Contract for 10/11:

Coaches: Benoit Groulx and Jason Cipolla

Goalies: Alexander Salak, Marc Cheverie

Defense: Michael Caruso, Keaton Ellerby, Adam Comrie, James DeLory

Forwards: Evgeny Dadonov, Michal Repik, Brady Calla, Graham Mink, Chris Taylor, Shawn Matthias, Victor Oreskovich, Eric Selleck, AJ Jenks

One Way: Clay Wilson and Jeff Taffe are signed but to one way contracts with the Florida Panthers.  If they don’t fit into their plans it’s still possible the Panthers will try and have them clear waivers to be sent to the Amerks.

***** Shawn Matthias has probably played his last game in the AHL and should be able to earn a job with the Panthers going forward.  Keaton Ellerby will be trying to earn a job as well but he has some work ahead.  It’s amazing that James DeLory is still under [...]Read More

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Panthers Sign C AJ Jenks to Entry Level Contract

April 28, 2010 - By

Shawn Matthias will likely earn a full time job with the Florida Panthers next season and today the Panthers signed his likely replacement for the Amerks, AJ Jenks from the Plymouth Whalers.  The kid has put up some good numbers in the OHL, here’s hoping he can continue in the AHL.

Here’s the press release:

SUNRISE, FL – Florida Panthers General Manager Randy Sexton announced today the club has agreed to an entry level contract with C AJ Jenks.

Jenks, 19, played in 52 games with the Plymouth Whalers (OHL) this season placing second on the team in goals (23), assists (40) and points (63), finishing behind the National Hockey League’s Central Scouting No. 1 prospect Tyler Seguin. Jenks, who served as Plymouth’s team captain played in nine playoffs games this year with the Whalers scoring four goals with eight assists.

The Wolverine Lake, MI native won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in Saskatchewan, recording five points (3-2-5) in 7 games. Jenks was drafted by Florida with their fourth choice (100th overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Jenks becomes the fourth prospect to be signed by the Florida this off-season [...]Read More

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Players Talk About A Wasted Season, Only One Change is Needed

April 28, 2010 - By

There was one player not afraid to make his feelings known and that was Jamie Johnson.  He shared his displeasure with the lack of acknowlegdment that the Florida Panthers gave to him as well as what seemed like a lack of respect from the head coach (no problems with Jason Cipolla).  During the tough times in the season when other players were injured or called up he was one player on the ice every game playing through his own injuries and contributing night in and night out.  How was he repayed?  By technically playing a role on the third line in the playoffs.

Johnson said that it was a wasted season.  The franchise turned things around from worst to second place but this season they should still be playing for the Calder Cup.

Jeff Taffe, Graham Mink, Mike York and Jamie Johnson all talked about the decisions made in the playoffs and said they’re not really sure how they came to be, whether it was Groulx or someone higher but what happened happened.

One player not going to the arena today for exit meetings was Rory Fitzpatrick.  On Tuesday night he said he was not going to be there for [...]Read More

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Panthers Sign Adam Comrie, Jenks to be Signed

April 11, 2010 - By

A couple of new faces will likely arrive in Rochester in a few days as the Panthers start signing drafted players to entry level contracts now that their junior seasons are finishing up.  The first player being Adam Comrie who just signed a three year entry level contract with the Florida Panthers.  The defenseman had 14 goals and 26 assists for the Guelph Storm in the Ontario Hockey League in the regular season.  In five playoff games the defenseman had one goal and two assists.

A.J. Jenks, a winger from the the Plymouth Whalers is also expected to sign his entry level contract in the coming days.  In 52 games for the Whalers in the regular season Jenks tallied 23 goals and 40 assists.  He played in nine playoff games and scored four goals and had eight assists.

Comrie was a third round pick and Jenks a fourth round pick in 2008.  Comrie’s contract still needs to be approved by the NHL but that should go through with no problems.  The same for Jenks once he officially signs.

Randy Sexton told Steve Gorten of the Sun-Sentinel that both are likely headed to Rochester for the playoffs but neither was on [...]Read More

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Panthers Sign Cheverie to Add to Stockpile of Goalies

April 9, 2010 - By

Goalie Prospects at the Panthers 2009 Development Camp

The Florida Panthers are set with at least one position, goalies.  On Thursday the Florida Panthers signed Marc Cheverie to a two year entry level contract.  Cheverie just finished his junior year with the University of Denver Pioneers where he led the nation with 24 wins, six shutouts and a .937 save percentage.  The season ended for the Pionees with a loss to RIT in the NCAA regional semifinals.

“It’s great to have this done,” said general manager Randy Sexton. “He’s a good young goaltending prospect. He made himself a player. He went to Denver as a backup and became one of the top goalies in the NCAA.” (quote from On Frozen Pond)

I’m sure the Panthers worked to get him signed so they could get two years out of him on an entry level contract to see what he’s capable of at the pro level.  He will be at the Panthers training camp in September and possibly spend some time with the Amerks.

The signing of Cheverie does raise some questions about what the Panthers are going to do with all of these goalies.  The Panthers also have [...]Read More

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Panthers Recall Mike Duco and Clay Wilson

April 3, 2010 - By

It only took 74 games played by Clay Wilson to get the call but it finally happened after the Amerks win over the Hershey Bears.  The dust was wiped off the Panthers duffel bag and off he goes to play with the Florida Panthers against the New York Rangers on Saturday night.  Wilson is second in scoring on the Amerks with 16 goals and 46 assists.  He was also recently named to the 2009-2010 AHL Second All-Star team.  He was pretty happy after the game to finally got noticed and his teammates in the locker room congratulated him as well.

Mike Duco is joining him as well for his first call up since December.  Duco has played in nine games this season for the Panthers and will likely be filling in for Victor Oreskovich who left the game on Thursday with a leg injury.

The Amerks will need to call up another defenseman for Saturdays game with Wilson called up and John de Gray questionable with an upper body injury.  Scott Hotham probably barely unpacked his bags and may be on his way back up.

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Steve MacIntyre Takes on Wade Belak

March 30, 2010 - By

Steve MacIntyre was called up this past Friday to the Florida Panthers when David Booth was injured the night before.  During the Panthers vs Predators game on Monday night he took on Wade Belak for an NHL heavyweight fight.  Not a bad fight at all.  Here’s hoping he’s back in time for the final game of the regular season against the Syracuse Crunch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VLGlQzr8QM

Share and enjoy!

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