For the first time in franchise history -- yes, really -- the Florida Panthers finished last in the Southeast Division this season. Doesn't sound like a cause for celebration, does it?Well, the Panthers think differently. After Sunday's loss to Tampa Bay, which clinched the bottom position for Florida after a 2-6-2 finish, they threw a party befitting of a king, or at least a playoff team.
While some of it made sense -- defenseman Bryan Allen is pictured visiting with a fan who won his jersey in one of those "Shirt Off Their Back" promotions teams do -- it's clear someone in the Florida organization should have asked the players how to handle things.
After the game, confetti and streamers dropped down to the ice at BankAtlantic Center. It might have seemed like a good idea at the time, but doing it after the team just lost and clinched last place in their division was bound to irk someone.
That "someone" is Panthers forward Stephen Weiss, who was as candid as he felt he could be after the game.
"I don't know what to say. It got under my skin to see that. I've seen a lot here. I don't know where these things come from, who makes these decisions. It's certainly not the right way to do things. The jersey off your back is fine, that's good for the fans. But confetti and streamers?"Weiss didn't ask for a trade or anything like that, but he's clearly frustrated with what's been seemingly a directionless franchise. Since he's under contract for three more years, it seems reasonable to suggest that he will be a big part of whatever the plan is in South Florida.
... "For me, I've played in a lot of these kind of games (no playoffs on the line). And I've never seen confetti rain down on a team that finished in last place. Those are things that get under your skin a little bit. We need to change that next year, make sure we're inside the playoffs. It gets frustrating.''
Instead, the alarming point here is that someone who works in a hockey organization thought it was a good idea to drop confetti and streamers on a team that just finished in last place.
Who is this person, and why do they work in a hockey organization?
Can you imagine the 1992-93 Ottawa Senators partying like this after the last home game?
It doesn't matter your location, and it doesn't matter what the makeup of your team is. Missing the playoffs when over half the league qualifies is not a good thing. It is not a cause for celebration. It is not acceptable.
As evidenced by the quick turnarounds in Colorado and Phoenix this season, the situation with the Panthers can hardly be considered hopeless.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
I was at the game, and thought nothing of it. Just the last game of the season and thats all, but a side note there was alot of advertising from Party City in this game and a couple times a certain section would get a confetti and silly string thrown at them, so Im wondering if Party City had to do anything with this. But now that I think about it....its soo true and shows where this organization is at... a joke.
no
you don't celebrate being in last place. The point in playing is to win. If you can't win it is not something to celebrate. A banner unfurling from the rafters that said "Next year" would have made more sense.
Sorry, but I see things a bit differently. The point in playing is indeed to win, but when a team doesn't win, I do not see the point in moping off the ice looking like lost fools. To me, the real point in playing is to play one's best right thru to the end, and then be gracious about it all when the other team wins. I have no problem with the confetti and streamers. It seemed a tribute to a valiant effort and a bit of congrats to Tampa Bay.
PURCCIVAL,
Tribute to the Lightning? What are you talking about? They missed the playoffs too.
The Dallas Stars OFFICIAL Facebook Page posted after the last game of the season "We had a great season." I was thinking wtf...we finished in 11th place, one better than 2008-2009 when we finished in 12th place...I don't know what people think 'great' is or when it's time to celebrate but for me it's if we make the playoffs. I was beside myself reading "We had a great season." We sucked. Then when I commented and they wrote back "Were you excited when we made #1 teams look silly, when our young players grew up, when Modano scored in the final game?" I replied "I would definitely not call this a great season by any stretch. We were regularly owned by the Kings/Coyotes and missed the playoffs." Ridiculous. Some people just want to think any season is good b/c it was fun but for me losing is not fun. I hate losing so much. Not making the playoffs is unacceptable.
As a NY Ranger fan, I feel fortunate to have won one Stanley Cup (1994-- the one that will last a lifetime). Your Dallas Stars won a Cup in 1999. Perhaps you should feel fortunate for the Cup you HAVE WON, not the playoffs you have missed (and the Rangers almost regularly miss the playoffs, so New Yorkers like myself know the feeling, especially with our "why did we even bother since we lost in the last game" run towards ultimate frustration this year)....
I have to totally agree with both of your comments. My favorite team(N.J. Devils)just tied the league record(with the old Montreal Canadiens)of 13 straight seasons making the playoffs. BUT, they haven't won the Cup since 2003. As a professional, the idea is to win championships and not just to be competitive. You get paid TO WIN!!! The fans pay too much money to go to a game to deserve anything less !!!
mmdd477, how is the league record 13 straight seasons for the Devils? I think Detroit is at 19 straight right now.
for last place, no!! I would have snuck out the back door with a towel over my head from embarassment
Maybe management should worry about putting a better team on the ice
instead of celebrating their ineptness.
This is why we are in last place, BOZO is running the show.
With each new season we attend fewer games.
"The bottom line is that celebrating mediocrity can never be tolerated."
Really. As a 5 year resident of Sandy Eggo, I'd beg to differ. Mediocrity is celebrated twice a year in these parts. Once for the Madres and once for the Chargeless.
that was a party that the season was over if you a fan of the fla panthers you to had a party last night like i did the team will make u sick watching them play game after game lose after lose while i do remember the year of the rat that team and staduim and so on and so on is gone and long forgotten i cant bear another seanson as a hockey fan rooting for them and i have been a fan of this team from the begining
This shows the difference between the panthers and the REDWINGS who will win the cup this year!
right..... the panthers have a better shot than the red wings.... and theyre on the outside looking in.
good for them! they are just demonstrating that they are not SORE LOSERS. after all, they are also thanking their fans for their support throughout the season. what are they supposed to do? throw a fit and kick dirt as they head to their lockers? leave them alone as they are just having a little fun!
red wings? LOL. gimme a break! the BLACKHAWKS have a better shot at winning the stanley cup! go blackhawks!
I was there, and in my opinion (and take it for what it's worth), the celebration wasn't related to the team at all. It's a pretty common practice that when your team performance isn't the draw, you sell the experience. The point of the celebration seemed to be to thank the fans for their continued support even in a time when many (if not most) are frustrated with the performance on the ice. I felt it was a very nice way of saying "thanks for sticking it out until the end." I understand how this might irk some, but I think it was a nice fan experience.