More on the New Guys

Floridapanthers.com just released these quotes about the trade...

Jacques Martin: "I really felt we needed to improve our defense... I feel Keith Ballard is a No. 2 defenseman. He’s a tough player to play against, a real shutdown defenseman who can move the puck. He has good speed, a lot of grittiness, and he’s physical. Nick Boynton is another who can play on our top four. He’s a first-round pick, and (head coach) Peter (DeBoer) coached him in the World Championships."

Darren Pang (analyst for the Coyotes and Versus): “Keith Ballard is a very competitive kid; incredibly passionate... He skates like every shift is his last shift... Keith came out of college (University of Minnesota) as an offensive defenseman. I think if you give him the green light, he can go. Boynton is defensive minded. He keeps the game simple, but you could have Ballard and Boynton as you’re two shutdown guys."

If there's one thing the Panthers have been accused of in the past, it's laziness. What Panger said sounds like something the Panthers need desperately. Bringing in Wade Belak towards the end of last season started the change in mindset. These two D-men coming in looks like another step in the right direction.

Later in the same interview, Martin went on to say that he expects big things from prospects Matthias and Frolik. He also hinted at going out to find "more production, as well as other people." Just how much are the Cats willing to spend for that production? Hmmm...

Now I know the "Killer B's" of the Houston Astros are gone, so can we bring it back? Bouwmeester, Boynton, and Ballard? The B's on D? B's on the blueline? Someone help me out with this.

A Calmer Look at Jokinen Trade

It's finally happened, and it appears that Florida Panthers captain Olli Jokinen is headed west, to play for the Great One himself and the Phoenix Coyotes. In return, the Panthers received defensemen Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton, as well as the Coyotes 2nd round pick, 49th overall.

Jokinen holds many franchise records, including most goals (188), assists (231), points (419), and is 2nd in games played (567) to Robert Svehla (573). Olli has also captained for the past four seasons. During those 4 seasons, the Panthers finished 11th, 12th, 11th, and 12th in the Eastern Conference, and never higher than 3rd in the division. Jokinen also holds the dubious distinction of playing in 723 regular season games and 0 playoff games. That's 2nd all time in games played with out a postseason appearance (to Panthers assistant coach Guy Charron, none-the-less).

While Olli led the Cats on the score sheet, he's failed to lead them anywhere past that. It's not as though the Panthers, who have missed the playoffs every year since 2000, are scratching and fighting their way to the end of the season, pushing through for every point and coming up just short. They haven't even finished higher than 11th in the conference since that last playoff year.

So Olli's out, let's look at the 2 new guys coming. There were rumors flying everywhere about who the Panthers would receive for their captain. In the end, it was Wayne Gretzky and his Phoenix Coyotes who made the trade. They send defensemen Nick Boynton and Keith Ballard to the Cats, plus a 2nd round pick in tonight's draft (49th overall). Both Boynton and Ballard are former first round draft picks, and should be an immediate improvement to the Panthers blueline. Boynton, 29, will be entering his 6th season in the NHL. In his 437 career NHL games, he has 180 points and is +8. Ballard, 25, is going into his 4th year in the NHL. He most recently represented Team USA in the IIHF World Championships.

These 2, plus the draft choice TBA, are clearly not meant to fill the scoring void that will be left by Olli. Instead, this looks like a move to change the unfortunate trend of giving up 40+ shots a game that has crept into the Panthers style of play over the last few seasons. It appears as though GM Jacques Martin and new coach Pete DeBoer are confident in handing the scoring over to the teams' young core of players, such as 20+ goal scorers, 23 year olds David Booth and Nathan Horton, as well as a good mesh of veteran talent that missed much of last year with injuries. Brett McLean, Richard Zednik, and Rostislav Olesz all missed at least 15 games last season on the DL.

One last thing to consider is the money this should free up for the Panthers. With the new, post-lockout NHL, there is a salary cap. There are unrestricted free agents out there, many of whom have lit the lamp frequently. Is there a big name to be signed come August? We'll just have to wait and see. The Panthers now have 5 picks in this year's draft, it will be interesting to see who they will be, and the impact they may have on this team in the coming season(s). Stay tuned for draft pick prognostication.

JOKINEN GONE, I HATE THIS TEAM HORRIBLE TRADE

JOKINEN TO PHOENIX FOR BUMS! AND A 49TH PICK


I GIVE UP WITH THIS ORGANIZATION


F THEM!

Keith Ballard D
Nick Boynton D

49th pick

Thats what the Panthers got for their captian. Niether are puck moving D men and they did not get a 1st round pick. This team is heading in no direction. It looks like they rushed this when they didnt have to do a thing with Jokinen. HORRIBLE TRADE, WORST TRADE IN TEAM HISTORY, I DIDNT THINK THAT WAS POSSIBLE AFTER THE LUONGO DEAL. F ALREADY IN THIS YEARS DRAFT.


MOVE THIS TEAM OUT OF SOUTH FLORIDA FIRE JM. THIS WAS A HORRIBLE MOVE. GOOD LUCK SCORING GOALS THIS YEAR! THERE WILL NOT BE MANY WITHOUT THE CAPTIAN!



BTW I CALLED IT! SEE DOOMSDAY THREAD!