Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2017 17:24:54 GMT
Agree with this entirely. The season before last we struggled with getting bullied physically, probably what brought on McGratten's signing but in this league now you don't require an out and out enforcer. A couple of Lepine style players and you're fine. Just a deterrent is all that's needed, not a brawler. I enjoyed watching McGratten play, glad he put a few points up but in terms of value for money we have to do better. season before last we had Janssen smashing people all over the ice, and the crash, bang, wallop line with him Farmer and Lawrence, are you on about a different season or something? You're right. Season before that. Brain fart!
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Post by The Flying Shirt on Jun 2, 2017 18:58:43 GMT
Agree with this entirely. The season before last we struggled with getting bullied physically, probably what brought on McGratten's signing but in this league now you don't require an out and out enforcer. A couple of Lepine style players and you're fine. Just a deterrent is all that's needed, not a brawler. I enjoyed watching McGratten play, glad he put a few points up but in terms of value for money we have to do better. season before last we had Janssen smashing people all over the ice, and the crash, bang, wallop line with him Farmer and Lawrence, are you on about a different season or something? Cam saw the writing on the wall too and got himself out at the right time. You need ALL players to hit hard and finish thier checks but they have to be able to play too or you are going to be left in third or forth place every season.
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Post by Bagheera on Jun 2, 2017 18:58:54 GMT
Spent the first portion of last season questioning his place on the team. In one instance there was a scrum in front of opposition goal with Clarke getting roughed up. McGratton was just leant against the plexi not even looking. I then let people convince me his presence was enough. 😂 He did some good things last season lets br fair. The sequence including his goal in the play off QF was awesome. However the thing that stands out most to me was his tweet after the intentional high stick to the face in the NHL. Essentially saying it wouldnt have happened with real enforcers like him still around being allowed to do their jobs. This approxamatly a week after Dinmen getting his hand broken. Which he never did anything about. It appears he was disengaged by the likes of Neilson and Moran, that can't be easy. For me he was living off his reputation. Still talking the talk to the wider world whilst not really walking the walk whilst here.
Im sure he will go down as a great for many. As a Panther a big dissapointment.
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Post by pantherlee on Jun 2, 2017 19:14:37 GMT
Had a bit of a Kevin Westgarth attitude for me, although he still produced more than he did. He had his good moments when he showed a bit of desire but overall i think he came over for one more payday and a bit of a hockey holiday. Unlike Cam before him who came here wanting to win
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Ghost
Matt Myers
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Post by Ghost on Jun 2, 2017 19:47:31 GMT
Had a bit of a Kevin Westgarth attitude for me, although he still produced more than he did. He had his good moments when he showed a bit of desire but overall i think he came over for one more payday and a bit of a hockey holiday. Unlike Cam before him who came here wanting to win I honestly believe Janssen saw his year here as one of the best of his career. Not only judging by how committed he was but if you take a look at his twitter bio he lists New Jersey, St Louis (his home town) and alongside them, little old us!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2017 20:00:02 GMT
Cam was a true professional from his first game to his last. Loved interacting in interviews etc. He always seemed destined for a career in the media. Had he not got that offer I'm sure he would have seen our his 2 year deal with us.
He came to play make no mistake..
Mcgratton was the polar opposite to cam !!
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titch
Jade Galbraith
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Post by titch on Jun 3, 2017 5:16:58 GMT
It took him until the very last home game of the season (QF first leg) to really connect with the fans. It was the first time I heard the entire crowd singing his name properly. I hope he's back next season as it's nice to have an enforcer who can also put up points for the team.
Although, I've heard from a decent source that he doesn't like the way that the Panthers were ran (unprofessional behind the scenes) and certain players in the team who genuinely classed it as a free holiday and not a hockey team. Fortunately, the holiday drinking 'core' of players are not returning to the team next season!
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deke
Robert Lachowicz
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Post by deke on Jun 3, 2017 6:24:20 GMT
Cam was a gem he fired the fans right up and was great with them always smiling. I heard from the arena staff he was always friendly and that the lady in the penalty box often had a big box of jelly babies for cam as he pinched hers! That's what we need from an enforcer, scares opponent's but great with fans.
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Post by PantherB on Jun 3, 2017 6:30:19 GMT
It took him until the very last home game of the season (QF first leg) to really connect with the fans. It was the first time I heard the entire crowd singing his name properly. I hope he's back next season as it's nice to have an enforcer who can also put up points for the team. Although, I've heard from a decent source that he doesn't like the way that the Panthers were ran (unprofessional behind the scenes) and certain players in the team who genuinely classed it as a free holiday and not a hockey team. Fortunately, the holiday drinking 'core' of players are not returning to the team next season! He got on well with the 'drinkers'. Just the insufferable GM the GM and perhaps Corey in some aspect which he didn't like. The points made about him not getting between guys when there's roughing, I don't see a problem really. You've got to be able to stand up for yourself in this sport so why should enforcers continuously have to babysit our guys when they get involved in stuff? Cam was a one of a kind, we probably won't get a guy like him ever again. Same with Ling, you can get close, but never the same. McGrattan came for the experience, playing hockey along the way. He's 35, ready to retire and has a young family, fighting every night would be a poor move for him. McGrattan just does not have the personality to make him energetic or excited, he's very subdued most of the time. You tell him to do something, he'll try to do it but he isn't going to get the fireworks out to do what he's told to. He might not have been what we expected to get, but he had some good fights, scored a very good amount of points and didn't just pack up when things got difficult. People will never be happy until we get a clone of Cam, and that probably won't ever happen.
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Post by mattscold on Jun 5, 2017 9:10:59 GMT
Lost any shred of respect from me for not seeking any retribution for Miika's injury. That should not have gone unpunished imo. I get that he was sent off, but if you can't get at the perpetrator you go for their enforcer or even their skill guys. He should have bossed the rest of that game. What did you want to see? McGrattan leave the bench and chase Armstrong into the locker room?! Of course not, but I would have expected some kind of response from our enforcer. Knock into their keeper, no choice their enforcer etc.
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meadow
Jade Galbraith
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Post by meadow on Jun 9, 2017 11:31:54 GMT
Now confirmed via Panthers twitter
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2017 11:34:40 GMT
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Pies
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Post by Pies on Jun 9, 2017 11:42:38 GMT
Meh had his moments but I think we'll find someone with a bit more of a rounded game than him!
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shinobi
Randall Weber
Forum Dictator
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Post by shinobi on Jun 9, 2017 11:46:07 GMT
Meh had his moments but I think we'll find someone with a bit more of a rounded game than him! I can't say I'm overly disappointed in all honesty. Nothing against him mind you.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2017 11:50:48 GMT
Glad to have had the chance to have watched him for a season, glad it was just the one season. Better value for his kind of money out there.
Wish him well though and the fact he spoke highly of his time here may help us further down the line.
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Jun 9, 2017 12:17:45 GMT
Nobody wanted to fight him - Neilson regretted it, Bordeleau ran, Fitzy did all his talking on Twitter, Klotz put up a decent show but only once. You knew Brian would have had a fight most nights if he was offered.
Added a lot to our attack as well, had a calmness and composure in front of net that resulted in him nearly being our top goalscorer (not much competition though). No doubt he brought Farmer's game on leaps and bounds, giving him space to protection if needed.
He had passion which many said he didn't - just see what the Steelers games meant to him! Problem was that passion was out of place with so many passive Panthers last season... by the end of last season I bet even Cam would have been exasperated with many of our players!
Yes he wasn't a carbon copy of Cam which many fans expected but there was a reason McGrattan is regarded as one of the best NHL enforcers in this century.
Overall it was great to see a proper NHL great ply his trade here. I wish him well in whatever he does.
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Post by nytram89 on Jun 9, 2017 12:45:29 GMT
Not overly upset that he is not returning. He did a job to a certain degree and contributed reasonably well in what was a woeful team. I will echo the notion of spending his potentially very high wage package on a quality goalscorer / playmaker.
I wish him luck though in the future.
Move on haha 😂
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Post by PantherB on Jun 9, 2017 13:29:26 GMT
All to often the older enforcers are big family guys, hence why they keep leaving before their contract is up.
Cam, likes to be near his parents and cats.. got a hell of a job offer too.
McGrattan.. planning for a second baby, wants to enjoy seeing Gabe grow up and look to work with the substance abuse thing.
I'd never say no to either of them but we have to get younger. New enforcers year in year out gets boring, I want to see genuine rivalries between players over a couple years at least!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2017 13:45:17 GMT
Great! Best news of the day
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Yotes
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Post by Yotes on Jun 9, 2017 14:03:50 GMT
Much as I liked Cam, and could understand why they signed McGrattan to replace him, I hope this is now the end of the expensive ex-NHL enforcer/ticket seller signing. I think there's even a debate to be had about the need for an enforcer at all, tbh.
Best of luck to Big Ern for the future of course.
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iginla
Chick Zamick
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Post by iginla on Jun 9, 2017 14:48:06 GMT
To be honest i don't think enforcers sell tickets any more,McGrattan certainly didn't. We signed the biggest name out there and did our home crowds increase......very slightly maybe but not a lot.
That couple of grand in wages can be spent far far more wisely on somebody who would tear this league up if you get the right guy !
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Post by Sheetmaself on Jun 9, 2017 14:48:24 GMT
To my eyes i never saw him show much interest to be honest.
Even away leg of playoff quarter final, not only did he not take anyone to task for what happened there was no fire in his eyes.
In fact as the small crowd of us made a massive noise as they came back onto the ice there was no acknowledgement at all, just nothing. We may as well not of been there, and this in a situation where someone like him firing up the rest of the team combined with the fantastic away fans on that day could of made a difference.
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Yotes
Forum Admin
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Post by Yotes on Jun 9, 2017 15:04:10 GMT
To be honest i don't think enforcers sell tickets any more No, but does Gary know that?
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Post by jdizpt8 on Jun 9, 2017 15:12:59 GMT
Much as I liked Cam, and could understand why they signed McGrattan to replace him, I hope this is now the end of the expensive ex-NHL enforcer/ticket seller signing. I think there's even a debate to be had about the need for an enforcer at all, tbh. Best of luck to Big Ern for the future of course. we need an enforcer for sure. To not have one would be dumb in my opinion. A Leigh Salters type is what we should be looking for, can play and put up points but also drop them when needed.
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iginla
Chick Zamick
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Post by iginla on Jun 9, 2017 15:16:09 GMT
To be honest i don't think enforcers sell tickets any more No, but does Gary know that? I very much doubt it. We signed arguably the biggest name in enforcing and our average crowd went up on the previous year by,wait for it.....15 Haha 😂
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