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Inside The Panthers: Draft Preview Premieres June 18
Tuesday night June 18th at 8:30 P.M. Eastern time Fox Sports Florida will premiere “Inside The Panthers: NHL Draft Preview”.
This special episode will take an in depth look at how the Florida Panthers who currently have the 2nd overall pick in this summers NHL Draft are evaluating the talent available, as they look to add what is hoped to be a franchise player. Seth Jones, Nathan MacKinnon, and Jonathan Drouin are slated to be the top three choices, and depending on how things go down, the Florida Panthers could end up with any one of those three, or maybe not.
Frank Forte of Fox Sports Florida will sit down with Panthers’ general manager Dale Tallon and give viewers an inside look at how the Panthers are looking to add to their current list of homegrown talent that includes Calder Trophy winner Jonathan Huberdeau, Erik Gudbranson, and last year’s first round selection Michael Matheson.
In the event you miss Tuesday’s broadcast here’s a list of additional times you can see the show:
Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 1:30 p.m.
Monday, June 24, 2013 at 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 27, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.
Friday, June 28, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 29, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.
Be sure to tune in for a glimpse into the future of the Florida Panthers.
Thanks for reading. We welcome your comments and opinions.
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Panther Parkway Headlines: Happy Father’s Day, Bruins Win, Huberdeau The Best Rookie, and More
Game two of the Stanley Cup Final ended in similar fashion to game one….dramatically, and in overtime. Dan Paille scored the game winner when Brendan Bollig of the Chicago Blackhawks couldn’t clear the puck out of the zone and now the series goes back to Boston tied at one game a piece. In brief, the first period was all Chicago as they peppered Tuukka Rask for 19 shots while holding the Bruins to 4. After that, Chicago meandered through the balance of the game, and seemingly became slower as Boston appeared to look fresher. Two teams that again are so evenly matched are giving fans all the drama, excitement, and disappointment that they can ask for. Andy why not? After a long and useless lockout, what else could the NHL do but give us extra hockey?
* Three Stars for game 2 from Puck Daddy.
* More NHL Awards were announced last night with the Florida Panther’s own Jonathan Huberdeau winning the Calder Trophy as the league’s best rookie. NHL.com.
* Outstanding article by Eric Duhatschek about the Hart Trophy which was won by Alex Ovechkin. Globe and Mail.
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Jonathan Huberdeau Named 2013 Calder Trophy Winner
As they approach their 20th season in the NHL, the Florida Panthers were treated to a franchise-first achievement on Saturday night as rookie sensation Jonathan Huberdeau was announced as this season’s Calder Trophy winner – the first time a Florida Panther has received this honor. Although their 2012-2013 season was marred by injuries and uninspired play, the Panthers found solace in the exceptional and exciting exploits of Huberdeau.
Jonathan Huberdeau Named Calder Finalist
In what will most likely be the team’s’ only chance at some hardware this year, the NHL announced today that Florida Panthers C Jonathan Huberdeau has been named a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy award along with Montreal Canadiens RW Brendan Gallagher and Chicago Blackhawks LW Brandon Saad. For those who are unfamiliar, the Calder Trophy is given out every season to the player who is deemed most proficient in his first year of competition.
In a season in which the Panthers could only score a meager 2.27 goals per game on average, Huberdeau rose above the muck and did his best to spark the team’s offense every night. In 48 games this season, 19-year-old Huberdeau finished tied for the rookie scoring title with an admirable 31 points (14G 17A). In addition to his impressive point total, Huberdeau also placed first among rookie forwards averaging 16:55 TOI/per game and ranked third among rookies with 112 total shots on goal.
After being selected 3rd overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Huberdeau most definitely lived up to the hype that had been building up since his exceptional performance at Panthers’ training camp prior to the 2011-2012 season. Although both Gallagher and Saad had seasons worthy of recognition, it’s hard to say that anyone did more with less than Huberdeau. While Gallagher and Saad got to play alongside established NHL veterans, Huberdeau often found himself surrounded by other rookies such as Drew Shore. Given these circumstances, to call Huberdeau’s season a success would be an understatement.
In a statement released by the team, Florida Panthers’ General Manager Dale Tallon spoke very highly of Huberdeau and his accomplishments.
“Jonathan played very well for our club during his rookie season and is most deserving of this honor,” said Tallon. “He is a young, skilled and dynamic player who was matched up against the opposing team’s best players on a nightly basis. Jonathan handled himself with professionalism and class throughout the season and we are very proud that he has received this recognition.”
While all three candidates are worthy of this award, deciding on the winner will basically come down to how a player’s “value” is viewed. Should it be given to a player who fit in well with an already established team, or rather a player who had to rise above the mediocrity of his surroundings? This question will surely be at the forefront of a heated debate until the winner is announced during the upcoming Stanley Cup final.
Thanks for reading and please share your thoughts in the comments section below!
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2013 NHL Draft Lottery Tonight.
Tonight at 8:00 P.M. you can catch the official lottery for the upcoming NHL Draft that will take place in June from New Jersey. The Florida Panthers who finished 30th in the NHL will have the best opportunity to be awarded with the number one overall pick with a 25% chance, followed by Colorado at 18.% and Tampa Bay at 14.2%. The worst that the Panthers can do is end up with the second pick, which still gives them a tremendous opportunity to draft a highly rated prospect, and someone who can almost immediately contribute to the franchise.
The lottery drawing can be seen live on NBCSN at 8:00 P.M., and will be rebroadcast on the NHL network at 9:00 P.M.. General manager Dale Tallon will be in attendance of course in hopes of obtaining that number one pick. Regardless, this will be the fourth draft that Tallon has participated in as Panthers GM, and all three of his four picks will have come in the top three. His first was in 2010 when he selected defenseman Erik Gudbranson with the number three pick. In 2011 Tallon and the Panthers selected Jonathan Huberdeau, who is in the running for the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie. Last summer the Panthers selected defenceman Michael Matheson in the first round, 23rd overall.
Preview: Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning. So Get Right, Get Tight, Get Down
FLORIDA PANTHERS: 14-27-6 (34 PTS.) vs. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING: 18-25-4 (40 PTS.)
GAMEDAY SONG: Kitty’s Back Part one, & Kitty’s Back Part two. Bruce Springsteen
Back in October, knowing that there wouldn’t be a season due to a lockout, we were impatiently waiting for the season to begin, and the nonsense to end. The longer the stalemate dragged on, the further away the games seemed to be. Finally after months of waiting, on January 19th the season started, and faster than you can snap your fingers, it ends tonight. The final game of the “shortened” season is a meaningless one between state rivals, the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Other than pride and making a final statement for a few players, this game will have very little substance.
The good news for the Panthers is that their poor season has guaranteed them to have one of the top two picks in the upcoming NHL draft in June. Meaning that either Seth Jones, Jonathan Drouin or Nathan MacKinnon will be a Florida Panther come this summer. The draft lottery takes place on Monday, and the Panthers will learn their position then, and we’ll all begin speculating on which one of those three will be chosen. In the meantime, there hasn’t been much to get excited about this season other than the performance of Jonathan Huberdeau as he continues to make his claim for Rookie of the Year. If he does win the Calder Trophy, it would be the first time in Florida Panther history that a rookie did, and he stands the best chance of any rookie the club has ever had to do so.
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Strong Rangers Third Period Blows Panthers Away
For two periods, it looked like the Florida Panthers might be able to at least put a scare into the New York Rangers playoff hopes. Despite a 3-1 deficit (thanks to late second period goal from Mats Zuccarello), the Panthers were playing pretty well against a squad desperate for a win.
Then the third period happened….
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Watch: Jonathan Huberdeau’s Sweet Goal Against the Rangers
Even in the Panthers’ 6-1 blowout loss to the New York Rangers on Thursday night, the team still gave fans a brief moment to stand up and cheer for. With the team down 2-0 early in the game, Panthers’ rookie forward Jonathan Huberdeau brought the team within one by shelfing a nifty goal over net minder Henrik Lundqvist. Although this tally ended up being the lone goal in an otherwise forgettable game, the talent that was displayed should give fans something to be excited about heading into next year. With only a few games remaining in a disappointing season, moments like this can be something for Panthers’ fans to cling to during the upcoming offseason.
Below, watch the video of Jonathan Huberdeau’s spectacular goal. (I will update if I find a better quality video)
Thanks for reading!
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Florida Panthers Recall Defenceman Alex Petrovic
In a season marred by injuries, the Florida Panthers have announced that rookie defenseman Alex Petrovic has been recalled from San Antonio in order to help the team’s wounded defensive unit. If Petrovic does suit up for the team down the home stretch he will become the 8th Panther to make his NHL debut this season, joining fellow rookies Jonathan Huberdeau, Mike Caruso, Drew Shore, Quinton Howden, Jon Rheault, Eric Selleck, and most recently Nick Bjugstad.
The 21-year-old Petrovic, has already played in 55 games with the San Antonio Rampage this season, recording 17 points (4G 13A) and 102 PIM. Known for his all-around ability, Petrovic’s 6’4 frame will be a welcome addition to a Panthers’ blue line which has struggled to maintain a physical and intimidating game this season. Although Petrovic could still benefit from filling out his 194 lbs. frame a bit, both he and the team should benefit from this brief stint in the NHL as the season nears its’ end.
Preview: Ottawa Senators vs. Florida Panthers. I’ll Take The Trouble You Have In Mind
Ottawa Senators: 19-12-6 (42 PTS.) vs. FLORIDA PANTHERS: 12-20-6 (30 PTS).
Game Day Song: Entertainment (Official video)
With not much time to dwell on last night’s 4-3 loss to the Washington Capitals, the Florida Panthers are right back at it this evening against the Ottawa Senators here in Sunrise. Head coach Paul MacLean of the Senators is calling this game a “must win” for his club, and based on the recent trend between the two, it may not be an issue. Ottawa has won 11 of the past 12 meetings against the Panthers, and they’ll be looking to take an early lead to set the pace. You have to give a great deal of credit to Ottawa for the position that they find themselves in. Ravaged by injuries to key players like Jason Speeza, Milan Michalek and Erik Karlsson, the Sens are still in the thick of the race in the Eastern Conference.
The Senators will also be looking to snap a three game losing streak as they are now in 6th place in the Eastern Conference, and unless they turn this around, the spiral they’re on could land them in a dogfight for the final playoff spot overall. Two points separates the Senators from both the New York Rangers and New York Islanders, while the Winnipeg Jets sit four points back. MacLean is stressing urgency to widen the gap:
“We can’t do anything about the last three, all we can do is something about the next one we play,” MacLean said. “It’s a must-win to make sure that we stop the bleeding type of thing.”
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