Maybe Olli Jokinen wasn't the problem in Sunrise after all.
The Florida Panthers are busy choking their way out of the playoffs for the umpteenth straight year, and without Jokinen to blame this time. This time they've lost eight of 10, which is about par for March (although they're way behind pace in the "Carolina is a bunch of divers" category).
Each spring, as the Panthers faded their way out of the playoff chase, there were whispers that Jokinen's leadership was at fault. After all, he'd never played in a single playoff game. (Never mind that anyone who played for the Islanders, Kings and Panthers had an uphill climb in that category anyway.)
After the Panthers traded Jokinen to Phoenix at the draft, those whispers exploded into outright accusations when a team account executive sent an email to ticket-holders that said, in effect, don't blame us for this decade of lousy hockey: blame Olli.
The original Miami Herald story by our good friend (and fellow Caddyshack fan) George Richards is no longer online, but here's a quote from the email as relayed by the Puck Daddy blog:
Olli is a great player, but he has shown no leadership or improvement, and he never came through for us when we needed him the most. As a stat, Jokinen scored 5 goals in the last 24 games, this is not acceptable for a Captain of an NHL organization. He played with little heart or passion and never had the determination to reach the playoffs. This move was done for one reason only, to make the postseason and return the passion and energy into this arena.
As unintentional humor goes, that's about as good as it gets. (The Panthers are still searching for both "passion" and "energy," it should be noted.) And where's Jokinen? A valuable contributor on a Calgary Flames team that may have as good a chance as anyone to emerge from the Western Conference.
Luke has worked for The N&O since 2000. He covered the Carolina Hurricanes and the NHL before becoming a sports columnist in August 2008. A native of Evanston, Ill., he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He can be reached at (919) 829-8947, @LukeDeCock on Twitter or
Comments
No Surprise
Sun, 03/29/2009 - 20:38 — CanarseThe Panthers have always been a bunch of whiners. Every time the Canes go to Florida they have to hear about how many times they dive. Wah, wah, wah. Find a way to win, not excuses for why you lose!
Who do the Panthers blame now?
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 00:47 — Nico37I'm surprised you don't already know the answer to that question: they blame the Canes, of course! It's always the Canes' fault, Luke - ALWAYS.
FLA won't make it for one reason:
Fri, 03/27/2009 - 11:56 — MrKnockoffVokoun is a sieve. Soft as a pilllow.
They haven't had decent goaltending since Luongo, and got voukouin because he was playing well in goal for Nashville for a short time. Hell, everybody plays well in goal for nashville for a short time.
Now that they have a new coach and aren'y permanently parked in their own end, the goalie has had to work a little. That has seemed to offset their offensive gains somewhat. Which is fine, they still play fairly boring hockey and I'll be glad to see their season end.
I gotta disagree Luke
Fri, 03/27/2009 - 09:12 — wylde4canesOlli may be putting up points for Calgary, but it is hard to think that their struggles in the W-L category since acquiring him are sheer coincidence.
I think it is going to take another season or two to shake off "Joke"inen's lingering effect on the Florida clubhouse, before you see a turnaround. If they acquire a true leader to take over the locker room in this off season, they will turn things around ( they should have picked up Gary Roberts again of of waivers).
Don't count them out...
Fri, 03/27/2009 - 00:08 — James_Don't count them out... we're not in yet and they're not out. We can't forget our meltdown last year.
Olli is a beast. I hope
Thu, 03/26/2009 - 22:04 — ctillOlli is a beast. I hope Calgary wins the Campbell Trophy and he gets a picture raising it for everybody in south Florida to see.
Then, Carolina can do it again to Alberta in the finals!
signing
Thu, 03/26/2009 - 16:26 — louis12580The organization is now stockpiling d-men in the system. They are in the process of looking to the 2010-2011 season, when the cap is rumored to be coming down significantly. After next season, bot Kaberle and Wallin will be off the books and it will give the Babin's, Borer's, and Carson's of the world one more year to develop. This is how consistent winning teams are made. My question is what about Dalpe? Are they going to give him the chance to play another year of college, or try to sign him as well? My guess is one more year at the college level.
Dalpe
Thu, 03/26/2009 - 17:38 — ldecock (author)With a whole mess of forwards under contract and Zach Boychuk and possibly Drayson Bowman getting roster spots as well, I don't think there's any rush to get Dalpe out of Ohio State.
charlotte hockey
Thu, 03/26/2009 - 16:06 — jejohn8what do you think about the panthers moving to charlotte?
now then that would be a natural rivalry.
Charlotte already has a
Fri, 03/27/2009 - 09:49 — JohnHolderCharlotte already has a team called the Panthers :)
I think Charlotte could probably support an NHL team, and the in-state rivalry would be great. What would happen to the Checkers, though? And I'd still be a Caniac even if Charlotte got its own team.
JH in CLT
danny, are you for goodness
Thu, 03/26/2009 - 16:00 — jejohn8danny,
are you for goodness or badness?
how about a fresca?