After another dismal start to the season, Florida Panthers GM Dale Tallon fired head coach Kevin Dineen and his assistant coaches Gord Murphy and Craig Ramsay. This marks the latest in a long line of bad luck, bad playing, and just bad news for the hapless hockey team from South Florida. But I'm positive that coaching changes aren't the only things that need fixed.
The Panthers are 1-6-4 in 11 games so far and haven't won in the last seven. They are also among the bottom feeders in the league in both scoring and being scored on. The fact of the matter is, Tallon had about enough and could do no more thinking on the subject. It was time for him to act and a change was necessary. Peter Horachek was named the new interim coach as Dale begins the long process of trying to find a replacement for Dineen. Brian Skrudland and John Madden were brought in as assistants.
I'm not convinced that their issues can all be blamed on the coaching staff though. Florida's players haven't helped the cause of the team and key guys just aren't performing as they should. Tallon even said, "It's easier to fire a coach than to fire 23 players." This is a very true statement and Tallon is no-nonsense when it comes to effort. If he sees you aren't giving it night in and night out, he will send you packing and find someone that will. He has a history of it and he will do it no matter where he goes.
So what does everyone think on this? Are the players to blame? Management? The city? Is Florida big enough to support two teams? Is it time to for the Quebec City Panthers? Leave a comment.
