Thrashers, Yotes...what about the Panthers?

[Mit Yarrum]

Put together a top-15 (7-8 seed) team and the minor attendance problems they have will go away.

And sponsorship money comes in quick down here. As was posted already, they do pretty well there as it is.

 

[Phil Parent]

I for one have had zero reason to care about the Panthers since 1996. THAT would be a problem with any team.

And 1996 gave them an idea what worked in that town, a team of hard-working journeymen. The people were really into them during their playoff run in 1996, remember the rats?

But yeah, if it brings Quebec a team sure why not, bring the Cats up here we'll fix them.

 

[Dado]

All we ever heard about is the Thrashers and Coyotes, but never the Florida Panthers in terms of relocation.

The Panthers are on many peoples' short list of teams to relocate/contract. I doubt they have 5 years left before the axe fall, especially if Yzerman isn't a one-year-wonder GM in Tampa.

 

[JohnLennon]

Well, there's a track record of failure for the franchise so until the turnaround actually happens, hope is the best we got, isn't it?

You and I both know this "track record" argument is complete bull. Basing how the team will do in the future based only on their history is already silly enough, but when they have a new owner, GM and coach it's even more silly.

 

[Motown Beatdown]

IIRC, they own a bunch of land around the area, but not the building/land (which is owned by the county - Broward).


Development of the land was supposed to bring in the $$ to "support" the team.

Glendale v2.0

 

[The Great Dame]

Panthers are going nowhere.

 

[Street Hawk]

However, if they keep losing and keep losing, eventually it will fall out. An organization that fails to put a quality product will inevitably go out of business.

On the ice, that will be an issue.

1) need a new #1 goalie, as I don't expect Vokoun to return. Whether it's the kid Markstrom or a stop gap, they need to get someone

2) Young D. Kulikov and Ellerby. To be joined by Gudbranson next season and maybe another prospect.

3) Forwards, can't really say that they have 1st line prospects coming through the system.

Don't imagine them being in the playoffs in the next 2 seasons, so the losing will continue for a bit longer.

The mismanagement of the team, along with the inability to develop their young talent because of the losing is killing the franchise. Had the 1st overall pick in both 2002 and 2003 and grabbed JBo and Horton. Other top picks included Frolik, Olesz, Taticek, Stewart, McArdle over the past decade. Throw in Luongo, Jokinen, Weiss. That's a lot of players who did not reach their potential under the FLA management. So, FLA management needs to take some blame too.

 

[KuralySnipes]

The Panthers only averaged 3,000 TV Viewers

 

[LadyStanley]

OnFrozenPond 10:16am via Facebook #FlaPanthers offering new full or half STH a new replica home jersey, a 2011-12 signed stick, invitation to an exclusive Welcome Party, etc.

 

[GuelphMadHatter]

The Panthers only averaged 3,000 TV Viewers

That is way more telling than the not so bad attendance considering the team has been on the outside looking in of the top 8 for a decade now. Wow.

 

[farscape1]

However, if they keep losing and keep losing, eventually it will fall out. An organization that fails to put a quality product will inevitably go out of business.

Yeah tell that to the Pittsburgh Pirates. 19yrs of losing baseball and still going.



If they would move the Panthers i dont think it would hurt NHL that much as they still have Tampa Bay.

I see Atlanta needs a team lol

 

[KevFu]

The Wild are named after the state of Minnesota, not the city of Minneapolis. A very common mistake I see on these boards.

That's not a mistake. I know what the team is called. we're talking market. They're in the Minneapolis-St. Paul DMA.

 

[Hamilton Tigers]

Would love to know their ticket revenue numbers