Welcome everyone! We here at the Panthers and
560 The Joe
have worked together to build a place where you'll be able to find highlights, interviews, written features, and all sorts of goodies pertaining to the
Panthers Radio Network
, and we're proud to launch it! And what better time could there be than now, with the Panthers in the midst of a red-hot start to the '20-21 season.
Each week, I'll provide some insight, and since this is week one, I wanted to open it up to you, the readers and listeners! I picked out some of the best tweets I received for the first installment of "Dear Doug," and if you don't see yours, it may show up in a future edition!
Without further ado, let's get to it…
Doug Plagens' Panthers Mailbag Volume One
@Zedey102: Who's been the most surprising addition in your opinion so far not including Verhaeghe or Hornqvist?
I'm not necessarily "surprised" at the contributions of any Panthers newcomers, but perhaps the most pleasant surprise is how quickly the returning players and new faces have meshed on the ice. General Manager Bill Zito and his staff deserve a ton of credit for finding pieces that fit together nicely, and Joel Quenneville has shown why he's one of the best coaches in the history of the sport; balancing a plan to get everyone involved early in the season with finding the optimal spots in the lineup for each player has been handled perfectly. Everywhere he's been, Coach Q has always had an unbelievable knack for putting players in the best position to succeed and maximize their abilities.
You bring up Carter Verhaeghe and Patric Hornqvist; both have been factors in every game this season, and bring big-game experience to the Panthers. They've been outstanding, plain and simple. Since you asked to name another new acquisition who has been a game-changer, I'm going to say Radko Gudas on the blue line. I saw Gudas play in-person for the first time in the American Hockey League in '12-13 when the team I was broadcasting for at the time, the Lake Erie Monsters, traveled to Syracuse to play Gudas and the Tampa Bay-affiliated Crunch. Before he was even an NHL regular, I remember thinking, "I wish we had that guy." Seeing him play for Philadelphia and Washington, same thing; I wished we had that guy!
Well, now we do. He's leading the Panthers in hits, has shown that he has a great shot from the point, and there's no doubt that opponents are always aware of when they're on the ice against Gudas because of his physical play. This Panthers team has shown a confidence and a swagger early in the season, and if you ask me, Gudas' presence on the ice plays a factor in developing those traits.
That said, every new Panther has had a hand in the early season success of the team. Alex Wennberg has goals in three straight games at the time I'm writing this! Eetu Luostarinen has fit very well on a line with Owen Tippett and Frank Vatrano. Ryan Lomberg brings an intensity to the game that's as noticeable as the hair flowing out of his helmet! And Markus Nutivaara looks like an all-situations defensemen that'll have a very long career. I didn't even get around to everyone, but there's a lot to be excited about.
@hlamp: If you were the goalie, what Panther player's slap shot would you fear the most?
As far as current Panthers go, I'd say there are two players' shots that really stick out, and I give tons of credit to goaltenders who willingly put themselves in front of 20, 30, 40 shots each night, and hundreds each day in practice! One shot that we've had a chance to see on display quite a bit over the last couple seasons is that of Frank Vatrano. He gets his shot off in a hurry, and there just always seems to be a lot of zip behind it! I've heard a number of people in the game- players, coaches, other broadcast folks- remark on Vatrano's shooting ability; a shot that once helped him score 36 goals in 36 games in the AHL! Radko Gudas, on the other hand, may possess the heaviest shot on the Panthers. It just looks like it would cause great pain to get hit by it. I've seen Gudas play a lot over the years and have always loved his game, but his shot is the part of his arsenal that has perhaps been the most eye-opening for me since getting to see him play and practice daily. Well, his shot, and his vast hat collection!
@fakejedega: My hockey related question is do you think any Panthers player will get to 50 points this season?
Yes, and I'll go one step further… I think two Panthers will get to the 50-point mark this season. Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau have made up the top two in Panthers scoring in each of the last two seasons, and as of press time (Even though this is a web-based piece), the top of the Panthers points list reads Huberdeau, followed by Barkov. Huberdeau, 15 points, and Barkov, 12 points, are both producing at a point-per-game pace on the season, and there's no reason to believe this production will taper off over the next 45 games. Furthermore, both are key components on the Panthers top power play unit, which has proven to be lethal. At the time I'm writing this, the Panthers power play is converting at a 36.7% clip; that's 11 goals on 30 power play chances, and good for second in the league. Even if that percentage drops a bit as the sample size grows larger, they're going to continue to rack up power play points in addition to their solid five-on-five numbers.
@fakejedega: Do you like cereal? Hot or cold?
Normally, we won't take two questions from the same person in one mailbag… But this week, I'm making an exception because, golly, do I love cereal! In a recent Twitter exchange, my well-documented disdain for soup became publicized. Naturally, the focus shifted to other foods that are rather incomplete without the involvement of liquids and spoons. While I don't like soup (Bad incident; Winter '96), cereal is indeed part of my complete breakfast! I especially enjoy cereals in which cinnamon is a key ingredient.
As for hot cereal: I'm not a Cream of Wheat guy in the least, but boy do I love oatmeal! It so versatile! You can tailor it to your desired thickness and consistency, and it pairs well with so many toppings! Anything from peanut butter to protein powder to honey to raisins (And I love raisins) mixes with oatmeal like Verhaeghe, Barkov, and Duclair mix on a forward line; a winning combination! I love raisins so much. One time, I was at the airport in Fresno, and there was a display dedicated to Sun-Maid Raisins, and it was incredibly exciting.
Thanks everyone!
Tweet your future questions to @DougPlagens and use #DearDoug.
