Panthers miss Playoffs, Martin calls out Olli.

[Die Radio Die]

*sorta*

Jim Matheson's Hockey World

Panthers GM/coach Jacques Martin threw his captain Olli Jokinen under the bus as they missed the playoffs for a seventh straight year, wondering where he'd been the last month. "No even-strength goals and a minus player in the last 19 games," said Martin. Any coach who would know that stat and toss it out to the media probably isn't a big fan, which leads to the next question: Which guy will outlast the other? The Owner Alan Cohen said weeks ago he'd be plum ticked-off if they missed the post-season, again, and he'd have to evaluate Martin. That's usually owner-speak for don't let the door hit your backside on the way out. But Jokinen may also have played his last game there. He might actually be relieved. They'll likely trade him, maybe at the draft.

So, who goes and who stays? I happen to think that Olli is going to take the fall for this one which is completely unfair but he is the Captain.

If the Kings don't get the opportunity to draft Stamkos and Jokinen is available, I'd be all for Lombardi making a play for Olli. OJ is a 35+ goal scorer and a point-per-game player who would fit nicely on a line with Frolov and Purcell/Cammalleri. Kopitar's workload could finally be throttled back to maximize his effectiveness. Also, Jokinen is signed for 2 more seasons at 5.25M so there's no need to worry about him walking away as a UFA anytime soon.

Florida has so many holes(including only 4 draft picks in 2008*) that I think the Kings and their abundance of picks/quality prospects make them an ideal trading partner.

How about something like this as a starting point

#21 overall pick '08
#58 overall pick '08
Michael Cammalleri
TJ Fast

for

Jokinen



*Florida's 2008 draft picks
No 1st round pick
2nd round pick
COL's 3rd round pick
4th round
No 5th round pick
No 6th round pick
7th round pick

[NastiMarvasti]

Would love to get OJ back but that is waaaaaay too much to give up for him. Especially when our priority should be D.

[Maverick]

Too expensive.

[Die Radio Die]

Originally Posted by NastiMarvasti

Would love to get OJ back but that is waaaaaay too much to give up for him. Especially when our priority should be D.

2 draft picks, 1 nhl player and 1 average prospect is too much to pay for a 29 year old 1st line Center?

That still leaves the Kings with 3 picks in the first 50-55 selections and it opens up a hole for Teddy Purcell to fill.

Fixing a D that already has 3 names inked in for next year and 2 names penciled in is nearly impossible to do unless you fill that one remaining starting spot with the name Lidstrom, Phaneuf or Chara.

Johnson/Visnovsky
Preissing

are all set in stone.

Harrold/Blake

are all but formalities.

That's 5 out of 7 slots potentially filled for next season. I'd be absolutely shocked if DL didn't fill that final starting spot with a dman under the age of 24 and not necessarily a big "name" player.

With the pieces already in place, I'm not sure how realistic it is to expect any significant changes on the blueline.

Make no mistake that there is a gaping hole in this team's Top 6 at the Center position. Lombardi has spoken about it before and not even the biggest of Armstrong fans can defend him as an adequate Center on an offensive line any longer. Ideally I'd love to see Stamkos come in and fill that role but we all have seen the odds about us retaining that 1st overall pick come Lottery time.

[Bandit]

Originally Posted by Die Radio Die

Harrold/Blake

are all but formalities.

I really hope the **** not... REALLY.

[Die Radio Die]

Originally Posted by Bandit

I really hope the **** not... REALLY.

I'm willing to give the kid one more season at the NHL level before washing my hands of him.

[Goallum]

If we draft SMFS, there's no roster spot for him on the Kings.

[Bandit]

Originally Posted by Die Radio Die

I'm willing to give the kid one more season at the NHL level before washing my hands of him.

I'm not, unless he, Preissing, or Visnovsky somehow manages to grow 6 inches this offseason.

[lithium]

Olli is a great player, but I hope we spend that kind of money on defense instead at this point..

[A-FROGIRL]

Panthers miss the playoffs....sniff.

[ASUcruz]

Originally Posted by Bandit

I really hope the **** not... REALLY.

If I remember right DRD was really high on Harrold going into last off-season.

With the dmen we have under contract, Harrold is probably "penciled in" as a top 6 guy next year. Barring a few acqusitions Harrold has a top 6 spot to lose.