Kicking Out the Crutch From Beneath PantherNation

Come revel with me in this thread SwedishBoltFan...

You know how a lot of Panther fans were trying to live vicariously through the Flyers in the sad bitter petty hopes that the Lightning would lose this series?

The reason is because now PantherNation is down to its last crutch. The one about "Yeah, well we made it to the SC Finals once half a decade ago and got swept, what have YOU done?" won't work anymore.

Know what else won't work? The bitter cheap shots on Jay Feaster about Ruslan Fedotenko. "Clarke ***** Feaster?" Oh no. After 6 goals and 7 points in the series from Rusty, its Bob Clarke who will be walking funny in the morning.

My moment of the night was told to me by another fan about how on the radio Phil Esposito started to praise Jay Feaster for the team he built... and then Jay stopped him and said it was really Espo's team. Beautiful. Tear jerking. Classy.

And devoid of Rick Dudley. BWUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

-Pete Choquette

Just go back 3-4 years ago and this moment felt further away than some obscure galaxy some 55 trillion light years away.



Tonight mark the day when the Southleast division have finally turned into the SOUTHBEAST. 4th team from this division making it to the stanley cup final in the last 8 years. Every other year there has been a SOUTHEAST team from the East. No other division have 4 different teams making it.

And best part just like you said it will finally mark the end of what have you ever done since now is the time for the lightning to have the dance with Lord Stanleys Cup. And unless we get swept ( which i am 100% sure on will not happen) I think we are the team that will bring the cup way way way way way way below the mason dixon line and give Lord Stanley a nice and healthy tan

My moment of the night was told to me by another fan about how on the radio Phil Esposito started to praise Jay Feaster for the team he built... and then Jay stopped him and said it was really Espo's team. Beautiful. Tear jerking. Classy.

And devoid of Rick Dudley. BWUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

As I pointed out on the other board, that's not exactly what was said. As I remember it, Phil began by congratulating Jay. And Jay said, something to the effect, that everyone says this is Dudley and Feaster's team and that they forget that Espo had a part in building this team. He then talked about the Vinny, Richards, Affy draft, (wasn't Cibby also in that one), Kubina and Cully.

He never said that this was Espo's team and he did recognize Dudley right up front. Sorry, I know how much that has to hurt.

As I pointed out on the other board, that's not exactly what was said. As I remember it, Phil began by congratulating Jay. And Jay said, something to the effect, that everyone says this is Dudley and Feaster's team and that they forget that Espo had a part in building this team. He then talked about the Vinny, Richards, Affy draft, (wasn't Cibby also in that one), Kubina and Cully.

He never said that this was Espo's team and he did recognize Dudley right up front. Sorry, I know how much that has to hurt.


We have never denied the fact that he got us Modin, Habby, St Louis but we also havnt forgotten how he turned Aucoin away for nutting Nylander, Barnaby etc away for nothing. But lets not focus on this on a wonderful night like this when we are

EASTERN CONF CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have never denied the fact that he got us Modin, Habby, St Louis but we also havnt forgotten how he turned Aucoin away for nutting Nylander, Barnaby etc away for nothing. But lets not focus on this on a wonderful night like this when we are

EASTERN CONF CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, there is no point on dwelling on that, because the fact is, the current squad got you this far, so obviously these players added up to the right combination... who cares about the ones who got away?

Not all panther fans are against Tampa. I for one like them and I am glad you guys beat Philly.

Anyways good luck in the finals and throw some water and put out the flames!

We are the Champions of the East! Now we go to the SC finals and have a better chance to win than most think. We were truly tested in this series by the Flyers and came out on top. Philyy's forecheck was exceptional, yet we played a great game in G7, and handled their forecheck and experience. Think about this... We are one of the youngest teams in the NHL and think to the future also, we will only get better. Wow this is just too much to handle in a way. maybe hitchcock got it right when he said that Tampa's way of playing may be a trend for the NHL- I know this it is exciting and has brought in a lot of fans here in Florida, and I think it will bring in more around the country. Lets bring the CUP To Tampa and then send pictures to growler nation.

Think about this... We are one of the youngest teams in the NHL and think to the future also, we will only get better.

And that's why we're different than the other teams to make it this far out of the Southeast. NHL fans should not expect us to go away any time soon.

My moment of the night was told to me by another fan about how on the radio Phil Esposito started to praise Jay Feaster for the team he built... and then Jay stopped him and said it was really Espo's team. Beautiful. Tear jerking. Classy.

And devoid of Rick Dudley. BWUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

-Pete Choquette

Yes about as classy as this thread you made Pete, sounds like you are trying to once again convince the world that Dudley did "nothing" for the Lightning's success, geez give it up already!

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/hockey/panthers/sfl-russo23may23,0,5665275.column?coll=sfla-sports-panthers

Kudos for Dudley

Andreychuk told The Tampa Tribune, "Obviously, Duds pretty much built this team. I feel bad for him, but I know he's watching us. [General Manager Jay Feaster] has done a very good job fine-tuning this team, but Rick Dudley also deserves some credit."

Boyle added, "Duds got me away from the Panthers, and I believe he's pretty proud of us. You have to have a vision as a GM, you have to be able to fit the pieces into a puzzle, and Rick Dudley had a vision for what he wanted this team to look like."

As I pointed out on the other board, that's not exactly what was said. As I remember it, Phil began by congratulating Jay. And Jay said, something to the effect, that everyone says this is Dudley and Feaster's team and that they forget that Espo had a part in building this team. He then talked about the Vinny, Richards, Affy draft, (wasn't Cibby also in that one), Kubina and Cully.

He never said that this was Espo's team and he did recognize Dudley right up front. Sorry, I know how much that has to hurt.

The truth always does hurt thank you for being honest Donnie D that shows true class. As SwedishBoltfan said lets not get into this subject again because its really pointless (I know its not going to stop some from continuing it), anyways congrats on making it to the Finals Tampa and good luck the rest of the way!!! :clap: :handclap: :cheers:

Its been an exciting year of hockey and as opposed to what some of the media says about a Calgary/Tampa Finals being bad for ratings I couldn't be any happier to see none of the usual subjects (aka Det, Col, NJ) nor cash built teams in the Finals. :yo:

sorry to bust your bubble, but you all owe Rick Dudley big for what he's built tampa into. to say he has made no difference is sacreligious to hockey.

as much as you hate those darn panthers; If the Lightning win that cup, your team will be forever tainted with the name of what it seems to be your 'mortal enemy in hockey'

booooooo

Not to repeat myself from another thread. Dudley increased the talent level of the team. BUT, and this is a big but, Dudley is responsible for only 1/3 of the top 6 forwards and 1/3 of the top 6 defensemen. HOWEVER, he was going to trade Vinny and that move alone was going to set this team back years. Dudley created a culture of instability. He was constantly reshuffling the deck in hopes of improving his cards. At times he won, other times, such as the Nylander trade, he came up empty.

It took Feaster to calm the waters between Vinny and Torts; waters that were made rocky by Dudley and his inability to apparently talk to either party. Dudley's supposed strong point, drafting, turned out to be awful. How many players from the 1999 and 2000 drafts are on the team? ZERO. How many have a chance at ever being on the team? IMO ONE.

Dudley is owed a debt of gratitude for his small and I repeat small part in building this team, just as Espo, the scouting staff, trainers, doctors, etc are a part of the building of the Lightning. But Dudley's personality was also going to destroy what he was trying to build. There is more to being a GM than just scouting for talent and throwing a bunch of players against the wall to see if some will stick. There is the establishment of a stable organization, establishing trust with your bosses (his worst failing), working within a budget, fostering a belief in the talents of the players and the coaching staff, in other words building a team, not just a group of individuals. Dudley failed at all of the above. HE HAD TO GO.

If you all in Panther land are happy that Dudley is down there - great. I'm happy he is there too, because he cannot produce a winner. His personality and ego just won't let it happen.

I forgot one thing. When I promote someone the biggest issue is to get the employee to stop doing their old job. Dudley has a huge problem with that. He wants to keep being the head scout instead of being a general manager. That means his scouts can't do their job because he's in their way and he doesn't do his job, which is running the organization. He tries to do too many things and does none of them well. The Vinny / Torts problem would not have developed had he kept his Butt in Tampa and done his job instead of running off to Russia to look at some 17 year old left winger. Delegate Dudley and you'll be far better off.

And this is from one of Dudley's biggest defenders in Tampa.

sorry to bust your bubble, but you all owe Rick Dudley big for what he's built tampa into. to say he has made no difference is sacreligious to hockey.

as much as you hate those darn panthers; If the Lightning win that cup, your team will be forever tainted with the name of what it seems to be your 'mortal enemy in hockey'

booooooo
You're jumping into this WAY too late and are uninformed. Donnie's post under yours should make it a bit clearer.

Foolish Panther fans, welcome to my spider's web.

-Pete Choquette

Found on another message board:

Chaos2k:
(5/11/04 12:17:39 pm)

BTW, only one team wins per year, even you should know that. You got a small taste of what is to come. Welcome to Philly. :lol

And goodbye to Philly.

RichPanther:
(5/10/04 10:48:51 pm)

You know what you saw tonite...what rolling 4 lines can do for you! Apparently Marty St. Louis can't make the entire roster of TB better, huh? My prediction is that if TB had Iginla instead of St. Louis that they would be up 2-0 instead of being tied 1-1.

Oh and BTW, the winner of Game 2 in the Eastern Conference finals have a better percentage of going to the Stanley Cup than the Game 1 winner so :p:

"Oh we weren't rooting against the Lightning."

Liars.

:joker:

-Pete Choquette

Dudley has done such a good job in both Florida cities. I hope he runs for President!

Dudley in 2008!!!

Yes he's done a great job of never having either the Lightning or Panthers pick outside of the lottery. But hey, buck up. At least your team will be drafting on the second row this year.

:joker:

-Pete Choquette

Dudley in 2008!!!

Dan Rather in 2009: "Today President Dudley traded California and Texas to Canada for Nunavut, Victoria Island and a province to be named later. The move highlighted a busy week for the President, who re-instituted the draft on Monday. During his press briefing, the President also outlined his plan to add red to the U.S. flag because it's a 'power color.' When told that the U.S. flag already included the color red, the President wandered off mumbling something about 'dimensional speed.' By early afternoon, the flag outside the white house had been replaced with one of Vice President Ludzik's leisure vests."

Hehe.

:joker:

Good stuff.

-Pete Choquette

There are more than a few in this country who would make that trade. :lol

Excellent post Donnie. Unfortunately Dudley does like to make trades and he got fired for the trade he did not, thankfully, get to make. We lost Aucoin and almost lost Vinny, not to mention he took weekes instead of luongo, if he had taken luongo then the trade for khabby would never have happened. all very interesting to conjecture but the fact is that he did upgrade some of our talent but never allowed anyone to bloom under his command. he wanted the quick fix and did not want to let the team develop. When you are in charge you not only have to delegate, but you also have to let your work simmer and cook until it is ready. Jay has let this team grow up together and they have learned as they have gone along- it is the strong yet gentle hand at the tiller- or like being a parent and letting your kids move on as they are ready and not trying to hold them back when it is time for them to grow up. I think dudley may be incapable of that or maybe our winning will teach him that and make him a better GM. Whatever happens this will be an interesting year coming up for the panthers after the CBA is finished.

Hehe, it does make PantherNation's blood boil doesn't it?

Ahhhh the good old smoking gun. Panther Fan has no defense for it.

-Pete Choquette

Alright, you poked them with a stick enough for now, I think. Don't need them coming over here using more personal insults. :shakehead