Rigamarole - A Foot In The Crease - Episode 4.30

www.afootinthecrease.com

While there is still work to be done to settle the final two playoff positions in the Western Conference, the eight tickets to the big dance in the Eastern Conference have all been booked. The Canadiens and the Rangers are in and the Panthers and the Sabres are out. Though seeding in the fourth through eighth spots will be determined over the final weekend of the season with Philadelphia, Carolina and Pittsburgh all tied for fourth at ninety seven points and the New York Rangers and Montreal tied for seventh at ninety three points, the eight teams can rest assured that they’ll be able to take their shot at Lord Stanley’s Mug.

However the most intriguing situation to play out over the off season will likely be from a team that missed the playoffs every season since 2000.The Florida Panthers fought tooth and nail down the stretch with a less than impressive roster but eventually fell just short. The Panthers were in desperate need of making the playoffs to rekindle some interest in their team, especially after opting to retain one of the game’s better defensemen in Jay Bouwmeester at the trade deadline.

Bouwmeester, likely to walk as an unrestricted free agent this summer, would be a big asset for the Panthers to lose for nothing. It was a gamble for GM Jacques Martin to hang onto Bouwmeester at the trade deadline for a playoff push and now with the Panthers falling short, it is a gamble that has backfired and could cost Martin his job.

There will be many teams in the hunt for Bouwmeester and he certainly will not take a hometown discount. If the Panthers want to keep him they will have to open their checkbook and likely over pay since Bouwmeester seems intent on leaving – something they may not be prepared to do in uncertain economic times. One thing is for sure though: the Panthers gambled and lost but just how big of a loss it is remains to be seen. But hey, all that was just rigamarole.