Does anyone here cover an NHL team?

"Winter in Miami, and you're pretty much guaranteed your season will end in April.'' -- Jacques Martins' main selling points to playing for the Panthers.

 

Sam,

Glass houses, my friend. Glass houses. Your Hurricanes haven't been to the playoffs in two season and this year will make three.

 

I think their Stanley Cup would make up for that.

 

Appgrad,

The Whalercanes have been really shaky. The Panthers have been really bad. The trade of Olli Jokinen for a used puck bag and a broken-down Zamboni didn't help Florida's situation.

The only team to get in Carolina's way to recapturing the SouthLeast is Washington, and it's possible that both could make the playoffs, especially given how bad the other three could be. Tampa hasn't done much to give too many people hope, and both Atlanta and Florida are sliding further into the abyss.

Understandably, the Whalercanes have been far from a powerhouse. But Florida, by comparison, is a serious mess.

 

Tampa is at least taking some chances. Getting rid of Tortella will mean at least 10 points.
Florida had to get rid of Jokinen. It had been rumored for so long, it needed to be done. Ballard is a good player, better than a used Zamboni.
Atlanta - well, they have Kovalchuk.

I think Carolina is the second-best team in that division. I just don't think it's that far of a drop down to the other three.

 

With Melrose at the helm, I think anything is possible.

Now where is that blue font, damnit!

 

Pun intended?