Gaborik to Flor...

I tease, I tease. But Mike Chen of Fox Sports presents his view on two possible trade destinations for the oft-injured (REALLY oft-injured) but supremely talented Wild forward, Marian Gaborik.

"First off, would I trade for Gaborik? I'd consider it if I was either the Florida Panthers or Atlanta Thrashers. Why?"

Hit the link above for his answer. Of course, the projected return to Minnesota is not laid out (but if I had to guess, a dude with the initials J.B. seems likely what Chen had in mind).

This is not a new proposal, of course. We've bandied it about right here several times in the recent past. But no matter what happens with a potential Gabby for Jay Bo deal, a so-called "sign-and-trade" transaction is almost unavoidable, given the contract status of each.

I like Gaborik; his stats are sterling - when he's in the lineup. Bear this in mind when considering shipping out Bouwmeester, he of the 82 games-played each of the past four years...and only getting better statistically.

A Study in Embarrassment: Panthers Surrender to Wild 6-2

If this is The Undiscovered Country, allow me to be the first to refute that description. The Panthers got stripped, cleaned, and filleted in a matter of less than two hours.

We have seen this before. New lineup, same result. The Litter Box hosted eight non-hockey fans, almost violently non-hockey fans, and long story short: got my rear end handed to me. Thanks, Cats, for keeping the newbs in mind. I guess there will always be another game. Until, of course, the Panthers pack up for Winnipeg, trade the contracts away, and start anew. Y'all think I'm kidding. Just wait. Remember my online handle.

Keep it up, Panthers. The NHL universe understands you've got a free ride with a new coaching philosophy, and that will buy you a bit more time. Yet another free ride.

Sorry new guys...nothing's free in SoFlo. On that note: can you imagine successive years of winning, followed by one losing record? We're a tough market. But it can work here.

We like the moves that have been made. Ballard, Boynton, McCabe, Welch, et al are solid additions to a club that needs - demands -a stronger commitment to defense. Yet the team GA is up. Way up.

Thomas Vokoun? At best? Shaky. Had little to work with, defensively. It's been All Him. The jury's convening after three games. Craig Anderson? Left out to dry like leather as well tonight, but showed up to play. Too bad his "D" was still banging home the nails in his predecessor. It's almost like Vokoun has been targeted for destruction by the defense.

I haven't followed the Western Conference closely since Barry Melrose was a coach in the NHL, so I'm a tad behind. But if I recall correctly, Minnesota is supposed to be devoid of offensive talent options when Marian Gaborik is absent.

GM Doug Risebrough has built a team designed for the long haul, capable, lacking further injuries - if that is possible - of taking their division. Kudos to them for taking the four points they earned in the Sunshine State (as expected by pundits from Toronto to Vancouver).

A complete letdown by the Sons of Sunrise. TLB is only one in a line of thousands who are beyond fatigued with this franchise collapsing when expected. "Low Expectations" will be the headline on all of our tombstones. And I've already got the Hartford Whalers battling for space on my grave...so let's get it settled.

Coach DeBoer: good luck; we are all behind you and your efforts to turn this sorry franchise around. All indications point to you being able to pull it off. The fanbase is on your side. The Litter Box is on your side. You never promised playoffs this year, and I commend you for not raising our hopes, or those of the players. They know, be it returnees or not, what the record of success is.

However, Coach...tonight flat-out sucked with a capital "S". Penalties, missed shots, and more penalties. Hard to construct a core of new fans - given free tickets, no less - when presented with a "game" such as the one we long-timers had to deal with tonight. The really sad part? Folks walking in with Cats jerseys knew the outcome before it began. At the end? We accepted it. That's insanely wrong. And unfortunately, again, our long-time fears were proven true. We can't compete with the big boys. Defensive stalwart Minnesota.

I mean, come on. It was a tease for the first ten minutes or so, which led to a shellacking of tremendous proportions. I, and many others, believe you, Coach D, will carry this club to the promised land. No matter how much I hope, it won't occur tomorrow. Nor will it happen under your watch the next day, or perhaps the following season.

But at some point, you will guide an NHL club to a championship; be it a division, conference, or league title. The kids, and vets, you shine a light for today will never forget your efforts at the very genesis of your professional coaching career. Nor will the fans.

That being said...let's get some.

Gameday Update: Gaborik Out!

The Minnesota star (pun intended) will miss tonight's game against the cats in Sunrise. Wonky groin, again?

On Marian Gaborik and Jay Bouwmeester

From what we've seen out of Jay Bouwmeester the past two games, I'd be extraordinarily hesitant to do anything other than offer him the bank in January and be done with it. But knowing the realities of the unrestricted free agent battlezone, especially for the cream of the league, here's a prospect I'm sure we've all considered recently, made even more fascinating by who's squaring off this evening in Sunrise:

"The most intriguing possibility (as a destination for Gaborik) might be the Panthers, a team with plenty of cap room next season, pressure to break a long playoff slump this season, and the need for a positive PR move given the likely loss of impending free agent defenseman Jay Bouwmeester. Hmmm...wonder if one team would be willing to swap its problem for the other's?" - Allan Muir, SI.com

First off, both players are likely to receive similar money, IMO. Figure in the $8-9M range by the time the dust has settled.

Gaborik is a tremendous offense player. Witness his numbers: 487GP (all with Minnesota), 207G, 208A, 415P, +51, 57PPP. That's serious stuff, especially on a team playing a system which crushes offensive creativity. He's a franchise cornerstone, big-name forward, with Olli numbers, but generally considered the superior talent that's been shackled by a defense-first organizational mentality. A change will only improve his numbers.

Contrast Gabby's stats with those of Jay Bouwmeester: 391GP (all with Florida), 38G, 124A, 162P, -24. Decent numbers, yes, but no one in hockey will bet against those numbers arcing sharply upward, and soon, if not now. In the past, he had been shackled himself: in a lousy defensive system with very little support. He will thrive in Florida, and could be just as superb, though less offensively, in Minnesota. From a personal view, the guy has simply dominated the past two games. Forget that he averaged 32 minutes TOI in those matches; he was EVERYWHERE. A fourth forward. Like a lightswitch, he appears to have made the leap Just. Like. That.

No matter your opinion on a potential deal such as this, it will always - ALWAYS - be a far more difficult task replacing a great defenseman than a great forward. J-Bo is that great defenseman. We'll never see his like again.

A Closer Look: Fox Sports Power Rankings 10/16/08 (Your Cats: 17th)

Robert Picarello of Fox Sports chimes in with his weekly Power Rankings (and just in time for the Rangers' first loss...so you can prolly scratch that Number One spot).

The Panthers were listed at number 17, a rise of 3 spots from the last week before they had played.

Teams listed above: PHO (4th...here's the Jokinen effect - 2PPG), ATL (10th? At 1-1-1?), NYI (12th...and this is WITHOUT DiPietro), TOR (16th...guess Fox chose to ignore the 6-1 drubbing by the Habs).

Teams listed below: WAS (19th), PIT (22nd), DAL (23), PHI (27th), ANH (30th).

Waaaay early.

Gameday: Tonight the Cats host Minnesota at the BAC; our chance to see Gaborik up close. FSN broadcasting in HD as well. The Wild has owned Florida since their inception. Be interesting to witness the Cats' speed against Jacques Lemaire's patented defensive work. Skrastins is a game-time decision. McCabe is out.

Get that Stick in his Side, Let 'im Know Yer There...

Oh, wait...

Thanks, MYFO

FSN Cuts Games, Wild Need Furry Person, Underoos, and More

Happy Friday to all! (That may or may not include management-level employees of the franchise currently located in North Carolina). Let's get right to it:

- DUDE, WHERE'S MY TEAM? From the "We Proudly Support Our Local Franchise" department, Fox Sports Net Florida has decided to reduce the number of Panthers games it televises, from an already shaky 70 to an embarrassingly minor-league 65, as reported by On Frozen Pond's George Richards.

Must be a glut of B-list celebrity poker and Texas-style open-fist cage-fighting to occupy all that dead airtime. Their brethren at Sun Sports probably visibly cringed upon the Lightning capturing the Cup in '04, knowing they'd be obligated to cover the team for another two hours.

Beyond giving anti-Southeast Division bottle throwers even more ammunition, this is a serious blow to those of us waiting all summer for the return of Rap Cat.

- PAM DOESN'T LIKE IT WILD, BUT YOU MAY Ever been intrigued by the opportunity to get decked out in duds hotter than Peter Mayhew's when filming third unit pickup shots in Yuma, all the while tickling small children and sliding four-wheelers across a sheet of ice? The Wild are minus a mascot. Think you fill the bill?

Must possess "An acceptable driving record with a valid driver’s license."

Acceptable? Like less than two vehicular homicides? Thanks, Kukla's Korner.

- OH NO Kevin at BMR gives his always enjoyable take on the recent spate of "R" columns, as in "relocation", and the dreaded 11-letter "C" word. A good read.

"In fact, (Florida) sold 80% of their tickets last year, which is far and away better than the last place team for the NBA or MLB and is actually better than what they did in 2006-07."

- THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH The Pensblog continues to prove its genetically superior status first by setting the world on fire with the wildly popular WWGRD bracelet (would it work as well in blue, black, and silver?). Now they've got an even better product idea.

Can an official Litter Box underoos set be far behind? Guess I'd better finish that title bar that's taking longer to create than Brian writing his novel.