Denis Potvin: Florida Panthers will not renew contract of telev...

The Florida Panthers have decided not to renew the contract of their television analyst Denis Potvin for next season.

[Wait a Minute]

Not a surprising move by this organization. Lindsay is probably way cheaper than Potvin. Potvin is also way too honest about the team. Yormack made the call on this one and it's all about saving money and having a "company" guy who won't question or criticize anything the team does.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the next shoe drop - a low ball offer to Booth and he is gone, either in a trade or as a UFA (with some other team tendering an offer sheet that easily bests the Panthers offer).

I also won't be surprised to start seeing nasty stuff come out from the Panthers organization - just like they do with almost everyone else - putting down Potvin and trying to make him look bad. Potvin is too classy to stoop that kind of stuff, which is why he said nice things about Yormack and Goncalves.

Oh, and it's likely that there is a tie-in with this move and their potential deal to be acquired (or merge) with SPAC. This is probably part of a larger effort to trim costs and present a better projected bottom line for next year, making SSE more attractive. I hear that the trimming of staff and expenses also extends to other operations, including Incredible Ice.

[LOL]

it all comes down to $$$$$$$$$$$

[UFC Champion]

Should have moved Goldie to radio and brought Moller up, him and Potvin would have been all the entertainment needed no matter how bad the game was. Goldie needs to work on deepening the voice when he calls a goal.

[Jack Tupp]

Wait a Minute wrote:

Not a surprising move by this organization. Lindsay is probably way cheaper than Potvin. Potvin is also way too honest about the team. Yormack made the call on this one and it's all about saving money and having a "company" guy who won't question or criticize anything the team does.
I wouldn't be surprised to see the next shoe drop - a low ball offer to Booth and he is gone, either in a trade or as a UFA (with some other team tendering an offer sheet that easily bests the Panthers offer).
I also won't be surprised to start seeing nasty stuff come out from the Panthers organization - just like they do with almost everyone else - putting down Potvin and trying to make him look bad. Potvin is too classy to stoop that kind of stuff, which is why he said nice things about Yormack and Goncalves.
Oh, and it's likely that there is a tie-in with this move and their potential deal to be acquired (or merge) with SPAC. This is probably part of a larger effort to trim costs and present a better projected bottom line for next year, making SSE more attractive. I hear that the trimming of staff and expenses also extends to other operations, including Incredible Ice.

You're just sticking up for your old Islanders from the glory days.(sarcasm)

[SadPanther]

Another truly gutless move by this sorry organization. Love him or hate him, Potvin is a colorful guy and I for one will miss his honesty about this rat-infested group (and that's not the plastic variety)!

[NEAL]

WHAT A BULL CRAP MOVE TO SAVE MORE MONEY!! MR YORMARK WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A BIG PAY CUT ALONG WITH ALL YOUR VICE PRESIDENTS . YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOUR YOURSELF. YOU FIRE FRONT DESK GIRLS TO SAVE MONEY. YOU HAVE THE ONLY PRO TEAM IN SPORTS TO NOT HAVE SOMEONE GREET YOU WHEN YOU WALK INTO YOUR OFFICES. HOW MUCH LOWER CAN YOU GO. HEY MABYE YOU CAN FIRE ALL SECURITY AT THE GAMES AND EVENTS NEXT. OR MABYE YOURSELF. LETTING GO A HALL OF FAMER A FIRST CLASS GUY???? MABYE HE TOLD YOU THINGS YOU NEED TO HEAR. WAKE UP AND PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEE LEAVE THIS TEAM YOU ARE THE ROOT OF US BEING A DOORMAT. YOU COULD NEVER WOULD NEVER EVER EVER BE YOUR BROTHER!!!!!! HE IS A WINNER OUR TEAM IS NOT BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT THE LEADER FOR THIS TEAM!!

[Wait a Minute]

Jack Tupp wrote:

<quoted text>
You're just sticking up for your old Islanders from the glory days.(sarcasm)

Well, I do admit to really liking him. I've had the pleasure to meet and talk to him on a few occasions and he's genuinely a nice guy.(The only other NHL Hall of Fame guy I got to meet happens to be Robert Gordon Orr, and he was equally a nice guy - it must be something about HHOF defensemen!) I also had the pleasure of watching most of his career up close (live), including those 4 Cup wins.

[Wait a Minute]

SadPanther wrote:

Another truly gutless move by this sorry organization. Love him or hate him, Potvin is a colorful guy and I for one will miss his honesty about this rat-infested group (and that's not the plastic variety)!

This move says it all about the Panthers. Lindsay is a nice guy, but he's a lightweight compared to Potvin and his career was that of a journeyman. That's not unlike how the Panthers generally construct their roster - with cheaper lightweights and older journeymen instead of top flight talent. Goldie is one of the worst play-by-play guys in the NHL (and I hear all of them via NHL Center Ice) and now he has Lindsay as his 2nd banana.

[RED BARON]

The fact that this franchise has play-by-play announcer who sounds like a pre-pubescent teen and is nicknamed "Goldie" says it all. Instead of hiring an experienced polished professional hockey announcers like Strader they go on the cheap again and pick some local clown who doesn't even announce the right plays half the time. Reindeer Randy Moller is not much better, but in the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king I guess.

I'm sad to see Potvin go. As usual, the Panthers part with the winners and hold on to the losers. Before anyone criticizes Potvin let's review his accomplishments because this article didn't do him any justice. Potvin retired as the NHL career leader in playoff goals, assists, and points for defensemen in the NHL. He won the Norris three times and the Calder once. He is in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Currently he is 36th all-time in assists, and seventh among all defensemen. He was a 7 time All-Star and led the Islanders to 4 Stanley Cup. This guy has more hockey knowledge and expertise in his little pinky than the entire Panthers organization put together. The fact that they let him go signals yet again that they aren't interested in quality people. They'd rather find and hire cheap no talent a)s(s clowns that they can tout as being something they are not. This franchise has a long way to go towards respectability. There's a reason why every HOFer that has worked or played here has run (not walked) away from this pathetic excuse for an NHL farm team.

[Ogie Ogilthorpe]

What do you expect from a 2nd class organization. Potvin probably got fired for being honest that the Kitties were lousy this year when it mattered. That and it saves $. Its certainly not the way you should treat someone who has been there since day one. Oh wait, I forgot that doesn't matter any more . . .

[Mike Richmond]

The Panthers have always been and will always be a 10th rate organization. I hope they choke on the $ they're saving

[NEAL]

I HAVE JUST DECIDED NOT TO RENEW MY TICKETS. IF I WANT TO GO I WILL PAY 80% OFF THE PRICE BY BUYING FROM A SCALPER.

[YORMARKS OBSERVER]

Michael Yormark..I will send you flowers when they blow you out..
Your only talent lies in BS, and thats been exposed and laughed about over and over..
alan Cohen, you continue to be stupid, and classless.
Denis as always..good fortune and health, to you and your family..
He is just a class act, who worked for garbage..

[EX PANTHER FAN]

I WAS JUST TOLD THAT YORMARK IS SO CHEAP WITH THE MONEY. AT SOME POINT IN THE SEASON THE PANTHERS RAN OUT OF GAME PUCKS AND HAD TO USE PUCKS FROM GAMES PAST. ARE YOU KIDDING ME RECYCLED GAME PUCKS. WOW THAT IS A NEW NHL LOW. CONGRATS YORMARK.
AND I AM YELLING IN CAP'S

[chris wells]

I am very saddened by this news. Potvin gave honest insight and commentary and is a class guy all the way.
This is a very bad, gutless move by Panther ownership.
My season tickets will not be renewed. I am tired of all the bad moves this team made. This season was another complete failure, yet they try to tell us it was a big success because we had more points than previous years. Big Woop.

[Jack Tupp]

Wait a Minute wrote:

<quoted text>
Well, I do admit to really liking him. I've had the pleasure to meet and talk to him on a few occasions and he's genuinely a nice guy.(The only other NHL Hall of Fame guy I got to meet happens to be Robert Gordon Orr, and he was equally a nice guy - it must be something about HHOF defensemen!) I also had the pleasure of watching most of his career up close (live), including those 4 Cup wins.

Those are two of the best ever.
Yes, I recall you previously mentioning being the Coliseum for that run, which is why I was joshing with you.
If it's any consolation, the Oilers have Louie DeBrusk. Now there is a journeyman. They have gone on a steady spiral downward from an unknown Don Cherry in the early 80s, John Davidson who went onto MSG, Craig Simpson who left for HNIC, Ray Ferraro who is now with TSN, and now Louie.

[Wait a Minute]

It gets even better. George Richards has some new quotes from Yormack about it and he really comes off as quite a fool. http://miamiherald.typepad.com/flapanthers/20...

Yormack said:

"We make decisions that are best for the franchise. I believe in time people will look at this as another good decision. And that's not a slap at Denis. He's a great analyst. We're looking for something different, something that's in the right direction of the franchise."

"We want our broadcasters here 12 months a year, be part of our marketing initiatives. We use Randy aggressively, Goldie, Billie. We're going to move forward. I like the feel of this."

In time people will see this as a good decision? You mean replacing a Hall of Fame guy with a journeyman who can flip burgers and slap fans on the back at summer cookouts? Why would anyone watching the broadcasts care about that? And any fan stupid enough to buy tickets because a former hockey player or play-by-play announcer served him a burger deserves what he/she gets.

And just wait for when they don't sign Booth and the quote goes something like: "We're looking for something different, something that's in the right direction of the franchise." Followed by that other great comment: "We're going to move forward. I like the feel of this."

Quite an amazing mix of arrogance and stupidity.

[Wait a Minute]

Jack Tupp wrote:

<quoted text>
Those are two of the best ever.
Yes, I recall you previously mentioning being the Coliseum for that run, which is why I was joshing with you.
If it's any consolation, the Oilers have Louie DeBrusk. Now there is a journeyman. They have gone on a steady spiral downward from an unknown Don Cherry in the early 80s, John Davidson who went onto MSG, Craig Simpson who left for HNIC, Ray Ferraro who is now with TSN, and now Louie.

The best part about meeting Orr was that it happened in a golf outing that we were both a part of. After the round he was sitting at the bar and we sat and talked for a while. No air of superiority about him. He was just a regular guy struggling with his golf game like the rest of us!

[Darth Daddy]

RED - once again you have hit the nail squarely on the head. Well done.

Denis - Happy Trails, and thanks for sticking around as long as you did. Your insight and intelligence were a credit to this team.

You will be sorely missed, like the few fans that are left who will bail after reading this news.

Yormark, you're an idiot. Please shake your head and see if there are 2 brain cells left to rub together. No, I thought not.

[Wait a Minute]

"We want our broadcasters here 12 months a year, be part of our marketing initiatives. We use Randy aggressively, Goldie, Billie. We're going to move forward. I like the feel of this."

The weirdest part of that quote and Yormack's comments in general is the total lack of logic. He claimed that it's not a financial decision insofar as saving money. And OK, so they want their broadcasters to help market in the offseason. But now they still have only those same 3 guys here year round (as Potvin likes to go home to Quebec in the offseason). If they kept Potvin, they'd still have only those same 3 guys here in the offseason. So what has really changed? Logic says that only the money is different!