Lacerated foot injury to Nathan Horton: No timetable for return as yet

"That is a very deep cuuuut." - Anonymous Panthers' medical staffer going by the name of "Mo". He can be reached at The Palm Isle motel.

"Pick-Your-For-Real-Worthy-Panther All Star" Update - 11/28/08

He just voted for our boys. Have YOU?

Gather 'round the fire, kids: it's time to check the NHL All Star Game vote totals on our trio of Deserving Panthers.

David Booth (11G-2A-13P): 295, up from 261 (or 359,234 behind Kovalev's 5G-11A-16P).

Keith Ballard (2G-8A-10P): 455, from 432 (or 401,026 behind Markov's 2G-14A-16P).

Andy (3-1-2, 2.01, .942): 156, from 148 (or 391,099 behind Price's 10-4-3, 2.33, .923).

For the record, the Cats' "legitimate" candidates (no forwards, BTW) are:

Jay Bouwmeester (1G-9A-10P): 32,958 (none of these votes actually originated in Florida).

Tomas Vokoun (5-10, 3.01, .911): 6,459.

And just for fun:

Nathan Horton (6G-7A-13P...and back w/Booth & Weiss on that horribly-named line): 166.

Shawn Matthias (1GP, 0G-0A-0P): 6. He's played one game, peeps.

Michael Frolik (18GP, 1G-1A-2P): 24. That gives him 4 times the popularity of Matthias!

Keep pumping those votes...

AccuScore Prediction: Panthers(!) 2.6 over Rangers' 2.4

Now I'm worried. Take cover, bring in the kids, lock the doors. Even after the loss of Nathan Horton, the Cats are projected to outscore the Rangahs, according to AccuScore. Must be the addition of center Nick Tarnasky that puts 'em over the top.

By the way, so far, Tarnasky should be playing tonight, and it will be fascinating to see where he's placed. Rumor has it that C Shawn Matthias is going to be called up. Horton is out, as are Richard Zednik and Cory Stillman. Question: Outside of David Booth (11G), does that troika represent all of Florida's hopes?

New York is seeking their third consecutive win, while Florida (4-3-1 in the past eight) looks to, well, get points any way they can. It's that desperate.

One of the finest Rangers-themed sites on the net, Scotty Hockey is the only place to go for coverage of the New York side of the ice.

So Now What?

This guy's a center...and he's available! The one on the right. Jerk.

Here we are, redefining the term "laughingstock", mired at 15th place in the conference. The league? Twenty-ninth. Only Dallas is statistically worse, and there's no way The Brett Hull Experience will allow for that much longer.

Perennial jokes such as Atlanta, Columbus, and Phoenix (um, sorry) are looking down at us in the standings. Every respectable MSM Power Ranking has Florida in 29th or 30th (and you wonder where I've gone with those updates...how many different routes can I travel to arrive at the same spot?).

My two cents? Thanks for asking:

• The "D" is far too porous for a group of this sort. Cullimore escaped serious injury and is day-to-day. Bryan Allen remains the only long-term casualty. Welch has proven to be capable of playing respectably, if unspectacularly, each night. Boynton? Big, strong, fearless...and the perfect complement to conjoined twin - and new fan-favorite - Keith Ballard. Skrastins? Does it all (just ask Phil Kessel). Seriously, steady and reliable. Bryan McCabe? Awesome PP addition, less-than-stellar 5-on-5 play (but we knew this before he arrived). Who's the other guy? Starts with a "B"? The guy who's value is dropping faster than his team's? Oh well...must not be important.
• Goaltending? What's to say? Andy's been the star to this point, but neither he nor Vokoun has - realistically, salaries aside - locked up the starter's spot. Reliability and consistency have been frightening concerns, but face it folks...this tandem is what we've got for the year, and we all know they are both far superior than recent performances have shown. This should at the very least improve.
• Weiss? Vanilla. Horton? Back on the wing. Give it another game or two. Complete flop at center. Booth? As usual, the point of ignition for the entire offense. Stillman? Ah, what could have been. Once again, the Cats need a center. Like really really double badly now. Nylander from Washington? Big contract, little return in his second stint with the Caps. And dealing with a divisional foe is never without great risk. Could he work with Horts? Or (currently benched) Olesz? Might be quite a spark. Who to deal away? Yikes...the Caps are a positionally-sound club, though some cheap defensive help probably wouldn't be frowned upon. What do I know...I'm at work.

To borrow an overused phrase in PantherLand, I'm "frustrated". Sure would be nice if JM gave some indication of life with his office.

AccuScore Prediction: Bruins over Panthers 3.2 to 2.3

Pretty sapped over last night's Joke in Jersey, but why not be positive? We've got the B's next! The 12-3-4 B's. In Bahston. Cards stacked against the Cats? Definitely. I'm just curious when we're going to be given some talent and effort to work with. Which Nathan Horton will show up tonight? Do we still care? Does he still care?

Ok...so AccuScore has projected a solid win for the Broons. While I get up from the floor, consider the Cats have beaten the likes of Anaheim and San Jose...while coming oh so close to dispatching Detroit. Good teams? Yay. Bad teams? Nay. A pattern is being established here, as I said to a buddy this morning. FSN at 7:00, children.

New Jersey 3, Frolik 1

That's not entirely fair. The Cats played well for forty minutes. Really well. Compared to the beginning of the season, they looked much more composed in what I have to deem as a strenuously fast-paced final two periods. Pleaqse don't misunderstand: the Devils played some great hockey, and deserved to win. Frolik? First goal. The kid's been robbed time and again...gonna see some good stuff now that the monkey's off his back. Horton? Present, if unremarkable. As usual. Vokoun? Only reason it was close. If that man doesn't tear up the visitor's room...left out to dry far too much in the first period. Didn't deserve to lose this one. Honorable mention: Dvorak had his speed, Zeds brought the plays, and McCabe had the shots. Bouwmeester? No one was hotter on this dude than me in the first five games of the year. Now? Takes a back seat to Ballard, Boynton, Skrastins. I'd include Cully but he was Tonight's Dead, going down with what looked to be a severe leg injury (caused inadvertently by a teammate, of course...did not return).

If nothing else, second- and third-string goalies across the NHL have the Panthers to thank for upping their value come UFA season.

Two requests for the Panthers: One, for the coaching staff: Can we develop someone who has a desire to WIN a faceoff? Two, for the "management": HAD ENOUGH, JM? What further suffering must be endured? I don't ask that we throw away the future, and you know far better than we dime-store fans about the proposals sent your way, but it's one of two things...either the deals faxed to you are lousy, or the deals you have proposed are lousy. Either way, your team on the ice has a record which can only be described as...lousy. And insulting. Don't come back with frightful tales of fat injury lists, and please refrain from slipping to the media that no one is offering fair market value for Bouwmeester. At this stage, there is NO market value for Bouwmeester. Yes, he's gonna be awesome. Yes, he'll be a winner somewhere. No, it won't be here. GET US SOME SUPPORT. Wanna deal Horton? Weiss? Olesz? No arguments from this nut in North Palm. It's the cat on the front, not the name on the back (cliche? Yeeees!) I grow fatigued preaching the hockey - nay, Panthers - gospel from the local rooftops and winding up embarrassed. Again. And again. Make your mark or prove us - those few thousand who have stuck by - wrong...quickly. There are a lot of things - like holidays - to rob the "momentum" from your club. DO. IT. NOW.

Cats win - barely - in Tampa Bay, 4-3 (SO)

I blew that one, alright. Don't know why I thought the Canadiens/Hurricanes game of last night was going to be on Versus, but I'd swear I saw it somewhere...Hmmm. Maybe it was the cheap Merlot.

On to happier thoughts. Bryan McCabe is beginning to make JM the GM look brilliant, garnering two goals in what appeared to be a game headed for blowout status. Vokoun's 49(!) saves stopped all three shots in the shootout frame, and Nathan Horton woke up just in time to score the winner.

Tampa kept it interesting, blasting home three unanswered goals late in the game, so they walk away with a point, but hey...statistically Ottawa is worse than the Panthers! Steve Stamkos obviously felt comfortable (9 shots) with his new linemates. The Lecavalier/St. Louis/Stamkos combo could be quite potent over time.

We've Heard A Lot Of This Lately

“...but not everybody’s on the same page, taking shifts off." - Nathan Horton, though it has been said time and again by nearly the entire organization.

I've got a novel idea: CALL 'EM OUT!

Nothing else has worked. We're far past the time for rank diplomacy in The Room. Might be ripe for a bit of shame. Let 'em answer for their lack of effort. They're not professionals anyway when they're dogging it. Trade 'em or screw 'em to the wall. We'll see how professional they are. Bunch of prima donnas, traipsing their way from game to game, collecting exorbitant paychecks.

Why do any of us bother selling our hearts and souls to this bunch when they can't be troubled to show up? We fans are being played as the losers for continuing to give these clowns the adulation they obviously desire at no cost to them. This is the pride of Sunrise, and all of South Florida? Give me a break.

Heads must roll. Now. I want names or I want rid of them. Horton's comment above is the last straw. I'm supposed to keep rooting for this mess when even fellow players are towing the ancient party line. SOMEONE LEAD THIS TEAM.

Recycled Articles? Find 'Em Here!

I'm certain the comments contained within this Sun-Sentinel article, taken from Craig Anderson and Nate Horton, have been printed previously, but some in Pantherland may not have seen them, so here ya go.

It's a fluff piece, so don't expect a Mike Wallace, Texas-style grilling. In fact, it reads a bit like the subjects were on Doggie Downers. Creepy.

Awesome Picture of the Day

"I've done this before, Henrik. That guy to your right, who looks an awful lot like you - Daniel's his name? - can glare at me until the ghost of Dave Babych rises from the ice; I'm not moving. Oh yeah, Davey B...not dead. Blink. C'mon...y'know you want to blink...just one blink? I'm signed through like 2056, so don't come into my house with your two-for-one deal. I wear red. Blood red. You're doused in Kelly Green, like yer lookin to rehab the Whale or somethin'. The puck remains under us. Hasn't moved. Don't be thinkin' your 33 is twice my 16, even though mathematically it is, and more. Ok, I've got it. I'll talk it over with your goalie. Captain, you say? Well that can't be! The 'C' is on his mask, for the love of Kirk McLean! Let's see it on artificial fabrics and then we'll talk..."

GAME DAY! Cats at Hurricanes

Another season of Panthers hockey - Pete DeBoer style - is born. Tough economy? Election-fatigue? BS. The world is a perfect place.

Seems like a year ago that I spent an entire day - July 1st, in fact - monitoring the web for what promised to be an exciting, action-packed start to unrestricted free agency. I was, needless to say, not amused by the lack of movement early on, but the Cory Stillman signing boosted my spirits toward nightfall. Once announced late in the day, Marian Hossa to Detroit, for one year, was the crescendo. That's stuff you just can't make up.

GM/coach Jacques Martin is "simply" the GM now, a move that brought a chorus of opinions from the fanbase. Love him or hate him, the Cats haven't been this solid in a decade, due to his diligence and steadfast decision to stay the course, partnered with an ownership group willing to commit.

We've been through the draft, said goodbye to longtime captain Olli Jokinen, hello to Keith Ballard and The Beach, and met Jacob Markstrom.

Peter DeBoer has installed a new offensive system, but more importantly, a confidence sorely lacking.

The Rochester Americans are now wholly ours, allowing new bench boss Ben Groulx the luxury of mirroring the strategies of the big club. Translation: kids called up can step right in, without wasting precious time getting acclimated to a foreign strategy.

The league's worst kept secret - Bryan McCabe for Mike Van Ryn - came to fruition and both sides appear content or better. I know I'm happy.

What is certain to be the NHL's Feel Good Story of the Year - Richard Zednik - is ready to go, perhaps on the first line.

The surprise of training camp - Anthony Stewart - has earned a spot on the big club...at least to start the year. The kid has come a long way. I gave him up for dead at the start of camp. Awesome.

Let's do this thing.

The locals, yes the Palm Beach Post too (if the Cats make the playoffs, the bandwagon starts at the doorstep of the cheapskate Post) all come armed with articles ringing in the new season.

From the Miami Herald, GR gets down with coach DeBoer. Also, Richards breaks word that Shawn Matthias has been sent to Rochester, but Michael Frolik has not. Lastly, the changes in personnel, and in attitude, are highlighted.

At The Sun-Sentinel, a commentary by Dave Hyde profiles the potential impact of Jay Bouwmeester heading into a season which may or may not be his last with the organization. Steve Gorten details the pressure on Nathan Horton.

The Palm Beach Post's Greg Stoda offers up a preview of the team's goal scoring potential now that Jokinen is in the desert.

And from behind enemy lines, the (Raleigh) News-Observer sets the tone for a new season in Carolina, and once again, evidence that the Canes haven't forgotten the last time they hosted the Panthers.

The season must be here...we've got odds! And I have no idea what they mean, but here they are, courtesy of SBR Forum. A Q & A session with Nathan Horton is also provided, pushing the outer edge of the envelope with Mike Wallace-style hardball questions, such "Who's your favorite cartoon character?"





More to come, kids...

On the Glass - Wednesday: Beezer on Horton: "Lazy", and a Teamwide Change in Attitude

Lots of good stuff from Steve Gorten at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Defenseman Bryan Allen said he has noticed "a different dynamic" in the dressing room so far."The people they brought in have really complemented everyone and loosened things up a bit," Allen said.

Many more refreshing - and damning - quotes galore.

The Sentinel's Ethan Skolnick reports on another Beezer Eruption - it has been a while, after all - as former Cats' goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck lays on his typically unique brand of opinions on his old club. Audio from Horton responding. Not to be missed.

And even more, again from Gorten, shedding a bit more light on Coach DeBoer's decision to utilize three alternate captains...for now.

Panthers Name Captain...well, not yet...

Coach Peter DeBoer has this nugget via the Sun-Sentinel:

"We're definitely going to address (the captaincy situation) here in the next 24 hours (translation: Wednesday) and come up with something,"

TLB remains sided with Horton. But Stillman's not bad either. Notice my unapologetic waffling.

Renewed Interest in the "C"

"How to draw Olli Jokinen."

It wasn't me, folks. Go here...

Do the Panthers head into the season minus a captain? The talk of the league seems to be centering on captains.

It appears every member of the Cats has worn an "A" over the past two weeks. When asked my opinion, I honestly had no clue; the possiblities are varied and many. However, I've made up my mind.

Weiss has always been a favorite of the pundits. Stillman's got the hardware. McCabe's been a captain. I've seen it written that Ballard has the goods to make for a successful leader.

But it's Horton's ship. Now is the time to turn it over to him, the defacto head of the party, so to speak. A tremendous commitment has been made by the club to build a team around his presence, and anything less than handing him the keys would be a mistake.

Is there risk involved? Of course. He could revert. His mentor was, after all, the last captain of this club. Bad habits? Uninspired play? All a possibility. But I doubt it. Give the kid a chance.

So, The Litter Box officially endorses Nathan Horton for the captaincy (I'm gonna take a boatload of heat if this experiment doesn't work out...).

Awesome Picture of the Day

Still stinging from the lockout, players instinctively react to the sudden appearance of commissioner Gary Bettman in a luxury box at Prudential Center.

The Rigors of Travel

Following six games in six nights, and 14 billion miles, the Panthers returned home to Sunrise only to learn their charter had pierced a Langoliers-type wormhole, setting up a final preseason game against...themselves. Eight hours later, Horts and Weisser continue to battle for the puck in the opening faceoff.

Training Camp Day One: First (poor) Pictures

I was expecting a bit more, um, performance out of my Razr cameraphone, but I digress. LOTS of good shots from a much better platform are on their way.

A wonderful day had by all. Many thanks to the Florida Panthers organization for a fantastic event. Happy faces all around.

What was later estimated to be over 1,000 - in a facility built for FAR less - crowded into standing-room-only areas at IncredibleICE (you've already got the link, kids) to see Day One of the Peter DeBoer Era begin. Upon his arrival, a thunderous applause rang out. No, really.

Got a whole bunch to do - I just arrived at The Litter Box World Headquarters in breezy North Palm Beach - so I'll simply release the lousy teaser pictures from my phone. The good stuff will be here tomorrow after the standard vetting process is undertaken by loyal TLB staffers. BTW, staffers: no overtime. Yeah, again.

Squint hard folks...no HD here.

Guys ready for the pass during practice.

Hey look! That's Nathan Horton in the red! I promise.

Stanley C. just before he shut off my phone. Forcibly. Apparently he's not a fan of speaking without Teleprompters. Hmmm.

Zeds is back! And yes, his speed is there as well.

More guys looking for work.

This guy's not looking for work. Tomas Vo-something was his name...

No support here. Off to Hamilton.

PeDe lays it down during Day One.


Much more to follow tomorrow, including commentary and (really good) pictures.

As for TLB's pick for Panther-of-the-Day-Camp-Edition (excluding veterans), hands-down today's winner is a no-brainer...ask anyone in attendance: Kenndal McArdle. Bar-none, the hardest worker - among VERY hard workers, just ask Horton while he was doubled-over on the far end - was the Panthers' 20th pick in '05. BAR. NONE. Nice freaking job, KM. Most impressive.

Again, lots more to sort out come tomorrow. While the TLB newshole rapidly condenses stories from around the globe regarding today's event, we'd like to send a special hello to Phillip(sp?) and Stephanie from South Miami. Loyal members of TeamLitterBox and a pleasure to talk - intelligent - puck with. Totally agree with their comments on Anthony Stewart.

Tune in tomorrow...Same Cat time, same Cat station.

Friday Primer II: More Local Circus Fun, and a - HUGE - Admission By #16

The media frenzy surrounding the Cats continues to build momentum in anticipation of tomorrow's training camp opener (for details and directions, look below this post).

With a big tip of the hat to Old Dave at the (original...and uber-superior) fan-operated Florida Panthers Bulletin Board, who beat the pants off me to it all, we'll take a peek at what The Big Three did on their last day of summer. How 'bout beginning with the stunner of the day?

Steve Gorten at the Sentinel passes along this land mine which should warm the blackest of Panther hearts:

"And (Horton) said repeatedly Friday that he knows he needs to stop taking games off (his words) this year."

Kapow! We've been waiting for this since, um, wow. Speechless. Might he have grown up since the departure of his playground buddy, Olli? Godspeed, John Glenn. I sure hope he means it, cuz the rest of the league has been waiting for those words a long time. Maybe JM, too. Good stuff from Steve-O.

Jay Bouwmeester has a contract. And his potential departure should distract his team in what fashion? None, writes the Herald's George Richards in On Frozen Pond.

"[Contract] stuff doesn't concern us. That stuff will work itself out. Winning cures everything."

Quote attributed to new Panther and eventual Bouwmeester replacement Bryan McCabe. Richards includes a bit of news from around the league as well.

GR also reports that parking will be a concern at tomorrow's camp kickoff, but otherwise you'll be happy with a wide smile and fat wallet. For the used equipment sale, of course.

"Picked up some sweet skates (thanks Peter Worrell) for like $50 at the last one."

Worrell. He was cool. Saw him in New Haven like a billion years ago with The Beast. Big dude, killed everyone to death in under three rounds. If his blades are fetching 50 balloons, I'm holding out hope that the $4.20 at the bottom of my laundry bag will snag me a dog-eared photocopy of a John Torchetti-signed lineup card. Doesn't hurt to wish.

Anyway, completely stoked for tomorrow, and hope to see lots of folks there, walking across the construction zone awaiting south Florida hockey bliss.

Captain Stillman? Weiss? Horton? Kirk? Crunch?

We are still seven weeks from the start of the new season, but inevitable speculation on the Cats' vacant captaincy role can't be helped.

The drama of the Jokinen deal has subsided (is it me or was the outcry in the aftermath pretty mellow? What does that say about Olli?) and the time is rapidly approaching when a new leader must(?) be named. There's always the possibility of Coach DeBoer going the rotation route a la Buffalo, or stick with a trio of alternates. I don't believe this will be case. The club needs a figurehead of strength, one man to turn to when the chips are down. Duh.

Jokinen was many things, but he left an aftertaste of, um, less than a full-blown, respected leader. His friendship with Nathan Horton is a not going to help Horton's cause in gaining the captaincy, if he indeed wants it. Several voices in the blogosphere have spoken about giving Nate the "C" in the thought that the team would be "his" and he would expand his role as scorer and all-around bad-ass. I don't agree that he's quite there yet. After following Olli's lead for so long, he's going to need a complete attitude change under a fresh new authority figure.

We'll obviously cover this subject in greater depth as the season draws closer. As for my take on who should be "The Man", I'm kinda warming up about McCabe's potential arrival. Could be an interesting choice for the "C". "A"s to Weiss, Horton, and Stillman, with all due respect to Bryan Allen. Just a thought.

In any case, James Mirtle had great post this morning featuring polls asking who should be captain of each team with the position open. A lot more vacancies than I imagined.