POLL: MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN FLORIDA PANTHER HISTORY

[yave1964]

Okay, one of the toughies, the team has been around since 1993-94 and in two decades they have not really done much to establish themselves as an organization. But without further adieu here are the Florida Panthers greatest moments

 

 THE TRADE; PAVEL BURE COMES TO FLORIDA FOR JOVANOVSKI

 

On January 17th, 2009 Jovo and a package was sent to the Canucks for Pavel bure, who won consecutive Richard trophies in his two full seasons in Florida, scoring 58 and 59 goals and leading the team to a rare playoff appearance before being dealt to the Rangers midway thru the season in 2001-02. To date, he is the franchise 3rd leading goal scorer in spite of playing only two full seasons and parts of two others down in Sunrise.

 

2011-12 PANTHERS WIN SOUTHEAST DIVISION TITLE

 

The Panthers under GM Dave Tallon blew up the roster before the season, and to reach the cap floor and field a team essentially brought in veterans from other organizations to fill slots, hired Kevin Dineen to manage this moribund and motley assortment of alleged talent, and something clicked. Challenged, many of these guys simply could not get a job elsewhere, nobody wanted them, they put a chip on their shoulder and the Panthers led by the likes of Brian Campbell, Scottiie Upshall, Sean Bergenheim, Thomas Fleischmann, Kris Versteeg, Tomas Kopecky, Jason Garrison and Mikael Samuelsson and Jose Theordore in net, they surprised everyone including themselves by winning the Southeast division title, before being knocked out in  surprisingly tough 7 game series by eventual conference winner New Jersey. They fell to earth the following year, but they held the interest long enough for Tallon to draft well and put a very nice collection of young talent moving forward in place.

 

BILL LINDSAY: THE GOAL! LINDSAY CHANNELS HIS INNER BOBBY ORR TOTO SEND BRUINS HOME EARLY

Game 5 vs Boston Bruins, 4/27/96.  The fact that it’s referred to as ‘The Goal’ in Panthers lore makes this a no brainer.  His mid-air effort (ironic considering it was against a franchise whose most iconic moment is a leaping Bobby Orr) gave the franchise its first playoff series victory and kick-started the most improbable of playoff runs.

 

 THE RAT PATROL: 1996 FLORIDA PANTHERS UPSET THE LEAGUE, MAKE THE CUP FINALS

 

Scott Mellanby was left unprotected by the Oilers and was a key pickup by the Panthers in the expansion draft, he scored 30 goals twice in his first three years and was a fan favorite, the story of him killing a rat with his hockey stick in the clubhouse became legend and the 'Rat Patrol' was born, when first he, and then later when any Panther would score a goal the ice would be littered with toy and plastic rats which would have to be shoveled off.

  The Rat Patrol made the playoffs in year three of the organization, led by Mellanby (32-38-70) and Rob Niedermayer (26-35-61) and Ranger castoff John Vanbiesbrouck in net, they finished 3rd in the division and 7th overall. Damn cheeky for a 3rd year team led by coach Ron MacLean, not much was expected but they upset first a very tough Bruins squad in the first round and then took Lindros and the Flyers out in six games and then earned the right to advance to the conference finals by defeating Mario and Jagr in a tough seven game series before moving on and being swept by the Avalanche. No momentum was built off of this, but this one year, this wild and completely unexpected run with Svehla on the point, Stu Barnes and Garplenov chipping them in, Dave Lowry having the postseason of his life, Ray Sheppard coming over late in the season and chipping in 8 goals in the postseason, every one bigger than the last and Beezer knocking off half a goala game in the postseason, this was a fun team that deserves to be remembered.

 

BOBBY LU COMES ABOARD, AND THEN HE GOES, AND THE HE COMES BACK......

 

  Luongo seems a perfect fit for this franchise in so many ways.

 

 Flaky and a bit strange, kind of weird looking, afraid of winning, intimidated by Tim Thomas. Known for his phobia's. Just a perfect Panther.

 Drafted with the 4th pick in the draft by the Islanders in 1997, he broke in and was rotten in his first year with the Isles (7-14-1) and in the Panthers best trade ever, he was dealt to the Panthers along with the guy who would be the teams all time goal scoring leader (Olli Jokinen) for Mark Parrish in what was one of the Panthers best ever trades.

 Lu went on, over the next 5 years to win 108 games, brilliant at times, frustratingly bad at others, he passed Beezer as the teems all time winner in net, like many teams both loved and hated by the fans, he was dealt to Vancouver where he finished as a Vezina candidate for seven straight years, the return was boring stay at home d-man Bryan Allen, wretched goalie Alex Auld and Todd Bertuzzi who was battling back woes in his time in Florida. so Panther fans watched their son struggle at times, brilliant at times, rumors began several years back that he was the scapegoat for the Canucks postseason woes and wanted desperately to be dealt back to Sunrise. Florida fans were not used to that, they were used to retreads like Jose Theodore and Tim Thomas and Scott Clemmenson, but a true star wanting to come to Florida? Yeah, sure.

 Instead Luongo's backup Cory Schneider was dealt to the Devils and Luongo sulked and was ruined by new coach John tortorella, finally returning home on March 4th of this year for aging prospect Jacob Markstrom and Shawn Matthias.

  Bobby looked relaxed and comfortable and happy in his new/old surroundings and the hope is that he will man the net while the stable of kid forwards, the best collection of young talent in the 20 year history of the team along with Ekblad and the boys on defense will change the culture in Florida. He seems happy and the fans are thrilled to have him back.

[Irishjim]

beezer doing his best marty impersonation in 96

[TropicalFruitGirl26]

I went with the Rat Patrol.

 

Hey, if Wings fans can throw smelly squid and octopi on the ice, then Panther fans can throw fake vermin...hehe.

 

Really, that whole rat incident (or alleged incident) within the Panther locker room has simply become lore to a degree.

Too bad Florida ownership even way back then, couldn't see the value of a good gimmick, and continued to foster it, WHILE icing a pretty good product.

 

Panthers could very well be far ahead of the Lightning in terms entertaining ice product in the state of Florida had they been more forward thinking.

 

Miami fans can be a fickle bunch, however, a good gimmick and a good sports product can still go a long way with them.

Oh, sure, the league eventually banned ANYTHING from being thrown on the ice, but that whole rat patrol thing could have lived on in other ways...the possibilities, quite frankly, are pretty endless.

 

PA Announcer (after the Cats score) "Paaaantherrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr................"

Crowd:  "........GOOOOOOAAALLLLLL......"

 

Man, the Panther FO have to be dumb and blind....just latch onto a gimmick, put some decent players on the ice...and the fans will stick around, for crying out loud.

 

But Cats n Mice will always be associated when someone talks about the Florida Panthers as far as I am concerned.

If they make it that long, maybe when they win a Stanley Cup, people can remember them for more than just Mickey, Mighty, and Jerry Mouse...haha.

[yave1964]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=wQQHx7sz67Y#t=0

 

Lindsay has said that if everyone who told him that they were there that night when he scored the goal to knock out the big and bads were really there, the arena would have to have seated a hundred thousand or so.

[Yorick]

Rat trick.

[jammer2]

  Trip to the finals.

[yave1964]

@jammer2

I still find it difficult to believe that 20 years has produced only 4 post season appearances, that so little has gone right for this club over so long. I went with the trip to the finals as well, with Bure coming over in a close second. that 1996 squad is still remembered even today, the whole rat trick thing, third year in the league, the whole deal.

I really think Tallon has done it right. He essentially took over an expansion team, brought in retreads for a few years and is now putting the kids in the lineup. Ekblad, Barkov, Huberdeau, Bjugstad, in my opinion this is the best bunch of young talent ever in the history of the franchise. Hopefully in a few years we can change this poll and have some new stuff to put up with it.

[jammer2]

@yave1964  For sure, this will be the best team the Panthers have ever iced. I look for Bujustad to break out, finally living up to the potential and netting 20+ goals for the first time. I still think Barkov is better than Huberdeau, I think he's smarter and has a nicer nose for the net, skates a bit better also.

[radoran]

Poll: MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN PANTHER HISTORY

Who?

[OccamsRazor]

Time to find a place in Canada for this club this is embarrassing.

 

 

There is nobody at the Panthers-Senators game

 

http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2014/10/13/6972237/panthers-attendance-senators

 

If a hockey game takes place and nobody shows up to see it, does it really happen?

 

 

Just sad. Give them to some fans that will appreciate them. Even Seattle maybe.