That ought to give the team a little publicity bump.

florida should cease to exist.

the team not the state...sorry grandma!

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 08:42 AM ET  06.03 by twelve is next

florida should cease to exist.

The Panthers made a pretty decent run for the playoffs this year though...didn't they?

Florida suffers from early 90s NHL mismanagement. They put too many teams in "hip and trendy" markets without market research. Hockey is popular in cold climates with a local hockey tradition. I understand that they are trying to build the game. But if I am a kid growing up in Miami, would I rather freeze my ass off at a rink at 5am or go outside and play baseball, football or basketball? Hmmmmm, froze rink or fun in the sun? Frozen rink or fun in the sun?

QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 08:53 AM ET  06.03 by kjt146

The Panthers made a pretty decent run for the playoffs this year though...didn't they?

I believe the reference was not made about the team, but rather the location of the team. The franchise is in a weak hockey market.

QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 08:53 AM ET  06.03 by kjt146

The Panthers made a pretty decent run for the playoffs this year though...didn't they?

don't mean squat....the NHL is watered down by over-expansion in non-traditional markets that really don't make any sense. My dream is for 6-8 teams to fold hold a dispersal draft and *POOF* better product that would trickle down to the minors and overall would better suit hockey.

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 08:54 AM ET  06.03 by BatmanJWO

Florida suffers from early 90s NHL mismanagement. They put too many teams in "hip and trendy" markets without market research. Hockey is popular in cold climates with a local hockey tradition. I understand that they are trying to build the game. But if I am a kid growing up in Miami, would I rather freeze my ass off at a rink at 5am or go outside and play baseball, football or basketball? Hmmmmm, froze rink or fun in the sun? Frozen rink or fun in the sun?

thank you

Didn't they have problems keeping the ice from melting during their Stanley Cup run a number of years ago? I think that in itself means there shouldn't be hockey in south Florida.

QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 08:53 AM ET  06.03 by kjt146

The Panthers made a pretty decent run for the playoffs this year though...didn't they?

yeah they didn't if it was not for a bad month they played before 88 points if they played in west conference they would have made it

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 09:08 AM ET  06.03 by wend28

Didn't they have problems keeping the ice from melting during their Stanley Cup run a number of years ago? I think that in itself means there shouldn't be hockey in south Florida.

No your thinking of someone else that was 1997

QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 08:53 AM ET  06.03 by kjt146

The Panthers made a pretty decent run for the playoffs this year though...didn't they?

First time in in a long time. Hell, they last made the Playioffs in 1999 and last won a playoff series in 1995-1996.

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 09:41 AM ET  06.03 by LGP: Stanley Cup Champs

First time in in a long time. Hell, they last made the Playioffs in 1999 and last won a playoff series in 1995-1996.

Yep. In fact, when Florida plays an opposing team, say like the PENS, I am always surprised at how many Pens' fans are there compared to Florida fans.

I see this ship possible sinking in the next decade.

Maybe someone should tell the Panthers the reason they have no big time fan base is the bad product on the ice. GM not trading Bouwmeester was evident of that. You let your best player walk away for free instead of at least getting something for him. Was risking the future of your franchise worth trying to make the playoffs for 1 year.

Now the most famous person associated with the Panthers will be Hank Aaron

Toledo Ohio, now that's a place where I want to live! These are ironic comments coming from someone who lives near the Columbus Blue Jackets. Other than this year, the Straight Jackets were a frachise who couldn't boast of anything, except I guess for having Doug MacLean as an employee, who interestingly enough, coached the 1996 Panthers team. And for that Elias fan...gotta say and give Lou his due props; the NJ franchise is very well managed and that blasted team always seems to win. Too bad their fans still don't show up to support the team year in and year out. As for me, a Panthers fan and ticket holder, I am sooooo glad new ownership is coming in. This is the best news I've heard in a long time, and that Jaques Martin went to Montreal.

For those saying the Panthers are leaving So Flo... you are talking from ignorance. They have a state of the art arena (Barak Obama even did his 30 minute infomercial there), they have a state of the art practice facilty located right next to a middle and high school (IE marketing)... and if it wasn't for idiotic managment... they would currently have the best goalie in the NHL and some of the best young players in the game.... as is they were 11 games over .500 this year and should only get better.

Soda Popinski.. you are just hostile because you live in Toledo Ohio!!

And they put a picture of Jay Bouwmeester up? He's about to leave town as a free agent on July 1st

QUOTE(#17):

Originally posted 11:09 AM ET  06.03 by Hchenoy

Soda Popinski.. you are just hostile because you live in Toledo Ohio!!

You're confusing hostile with...what's the word...oh yeah...CORRECT. Hockey does not belong in Florida. There is no true fan base. When the team is doing well? Great. But look what happened this season with Fla? And Tampa?
I've said everything that Soda Pop has said (dispersal draft, etc) There is no animosity towards these areas per se`. Florida is a fine state, as are Texas, California and Arizona. (not too sure about the rest of the South..ha ha) but they are not for hockey much in the same way NASCAR does not belong in NY. I've been called a northern snob and you know what..I guess I am. Hockey does not belong down there...period.
Bettman is a moron

QUOTE(#19):

Originally posted 11:24 AM ET  06.03 by Spiny Norman

There is no true fan base.

Not so sure about that. There's a surprising amount of youth hockey down there - and in North Carolina. I bring up these two states as I witnessed it for myself and was surprised to see ice hockey at the college level in NC. You get parents and kids into the sport at the youth level and I'm thinking that eventually extends to interest in the pro game.

Gee, hoping I don't sound too much like Herr Buttman here.....Next stop, Saudi Arabia......