This 15-game stretch to end the regular season is going to be a sprint, and it'll be more important than ever to stay in the moment. I know it's a cliché, but "taking it day-by-day" will be important for all of us! After back-to-back tough games against Carolina didn't go the Panthers way, the Panthers still find themselves just a point behind the division-leading Hurricanes in the Central race.
Between now and the end of the regular season, we may see the 1-2-3 sequencing of the Panthers, Hurricanes, and Lightning atop the Central Division change every single day games are played. Enjoy the playoff race, enjoy the great seasons that are taking place for the team and the individual players, and enjoy the fact that after a loss or two, the Panthers are still right there! This is all part of the preparation for that first playoff series, and it'll be here before we know it.
Doug Plagens' Panthers Mailbag Volume Nine
I always like to point out milestones. Since the last mailbag, we've seen Matt Kiersted make his NHL debut, and look very confident through his first four games. Congratulations are certainly in order for Matt on a solid kickoff to his professional career! Additionally, even though his 500th game was played last season, we saw a great ceremony honoring Sergei Bobrovsky last Saturday. Next for Sergei: 300 wins. He's only seven away, and just 36 goalies have reached 300 wins. Fun fact: the 36th on that list, with exactly 300 wins… former Panther Tomas Vokoun! If you're looking for a fun listen,
Jameson Olive and I were joined by Bobrovsky on this week's Territory Talk podcast; it's definitely worth a listen!
Now, your questions…
@hlamp #AskDoug what rule changes would you like to see added or removed from the NHL? For example, would you be in favor of removing the offside call.
I'm not a big rule tinkerer; never have been! If it were up to me, goalies would still be able to handle the puck in the corner. However, I think the game is great as it is! The speed and skill levels have never been collectively higher, and the current rules of the game allow the highest skill levels to shine. I would not want to remove the offside call. I don't like playing NHL video games with offside turned off; I definitely don't want the offside call removed from the game.
Off the top of my head, I do have one rule I'd love to propose. I doubt I'm the first to bring this up, but I've never heard anyone else pitch this, and I've heard just about every potential rule amendment under the sun pitched at some point. Here it is: if a team scores a shorthanded goal during a minor penalty, that team should get its player out of the penalty box (I put in the minor penalty stipulation because major penalties should be treated differently). During the last full 82-game season, 2018-19, just eight teams had double-digit shorthanded goals, and Calgary led the league with 18. It's not something that would affect every game. However, this could force teams to take more chances when they're down a man, depending on the situation in a game. It's something that could add a fun element to the game without altering too much of the game's overall dynamic and feel. As I said, I think the game is outstanding as it is, but this could be a fun addition.
@fakejedega #askdoug. What sports have you done play-by-play for? Would you ever consider doing pro wrestling commentary like @CraigMinervini ? Lastly my son Jackson ask are you gonna watch Wrestlemania?
I have always had a great appreciation for professional wrestling. I'll be the first to admit that my knowledge of what's going on currently is lacking, but there are eras of my life when I couldn't get enough wrestling. If anyone goes back in the archives and watches WCW Monday Nitro from November 22, 1999 live at the Palace of Auburn Hills, you'll see 13-year old Doug Plagens in the fifth row along the entrance way with a bright orange sign that said "DOUG" with an arrow pointing downward. I've attended multiple house shows, Monday Night RAW shows, and a couple pay-per-views. John Cena-Kevin Owens at Money in the Bank 2015 in Columbus was an amazing match; it sticks out among the best matches I've seen in-person. As a matter of fact, a Wrestlemania might be the top event on my must-attend list at some point in my life. I've been seeing the Wrestlemania advertisements, and I think I may tune in this weekend!
I think it would be a ton of fun and very interesting to call wrestling matches. I have such an appreciation for the work the athletes do in the ring, and I've always admired the way the great wrestling announcers have been able to promote and push great performers and matches. Fun fact: I actually auditioned for an in-ring host position with WWE about seven years ago. My heart was always in hockey and sports play-by-play, but an opportunity arose to audition, and I had to give it a go and see what it was all about. Nothing came of it, but it was an unbelievable experience; almost like a fantasy camp for a lifelong wrestling fan like me. I met Michael Cole, Ric Flair, Goldust, Natalya, and a few other familiar WWE names. The whole audition took place at the performance center in Orlando, which is a truly awesome place, and I sat ringside for an NXT Takeover show. It was awesome. And yes, Craig Minervini is a WWE alum! How cool is that?
As for the other sports I've called: I called Cleveland Gladiators Arena Football League games for four seasons from 2012-2015 alongside an awesome color analyst in Dustin Fox (You may know him for his recent ESPN College Football analysis work), and I called two seasons of football in college. I actually love calling football play-by-play. I've also done a handful of baseball games on a freelance basis; most notably a couple Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs games in 2008.
@RhinoYT12 #askdoug what is your favorite moment while broadcasting a game?
Generally speaking, I love overtime. Overtime is just a rush, plain and simple. Three-on-three overtime might be the best rule the NHL has adopted this century. I was still calling games in the AHL in 2014-15, the first year three-on-three overtime was used there, and it was wild. The NHL implemented it the following year, and everyone I've ever talked to enjoys it. I also love seeing players score their first NHL goals; it's so special every single time.
For me, personally: every game behind the mic is a gift. I've been very fortunate to work with so many great players and coaches, see great games, and work with so many talented people on the broadcast and business sides. So many of the games stand out, but again, for me: I can vividly recall my first games at each level:
To me, those are some of the big milestone games that I'll always remember!
@katie_gaus #DearDoug - Do you like hot tea or is that too close to soup?
Great question from within the broadcast department! For those just joining the program here, I don't like soup. I don't like any kinds of soups, stews, chowders, or anything of the sort. I don't want my food floating in liquids, and that's all there is to it. There was a bad incident in the Winter of '96 that brings a negative association with soup, but I must say… I've never once thought to myself, "I really wish I liked soup!" I won't consume it.
All that said, I love oatmeal. I love cereal. I enjoy hot coffee, and yes, Katie… I enjoy hot tea! When we travel to cold climates, or we're working games inside cold buildings, a hot tea can be delightful! I prefer iced coffee and iced tea, generally speaking, but I do enjoy the occasional hot beverages. I had a cup of hot coffee between the first and second periods of last night's game! Since Jameson Olive showed me how to work the coffee/tea machine at the office, I've been known to make myself a mean Chai Tea Latte; a specialty drink!
Thanks everyone for the questions! I've been saving a lot of them for later, so if you don't see yours, it may show up next time!
