That's the starting point of where the Panthers have failed in scouting several of those who have come up terribly minute on the current roster. Panthers coach Duane Sutter said Dec. 28, the day Bryan Murray was fired as general manager and brother Terry Murray was fired as head coach. It was as unfair to Wilson as it was unwise of Murray. Wilson doesn't have the nastiness, and he was in the third defensive pairing by the end of training camp. Murray said he had acquired a needed power forward in Jokinen, a player who causes many other GMs to get bitter-beer face at the very mention of his name.
Good organizations recognize it and move on.
Injuries played a role in the Panthers' fall, clearly. In a league that has expanded 42.9 percent in 10 seasons without a significant increase in talent, health is sacrosanct for all but the deepest organizations. It cost the Panthers Radek Dvorak's scoring touch, Ferrari speed and sunny personality, and Mark Parrish's scoring touch and character. If Kidd wasn't injured and continued the shining season he was having, the Panthers wouldn't have traded Dvorak for goalie Mike Vernon. If Dvorak wasn't traded, best pal and defenseman Jaroslav Spacek wouldn't have gone into a deep funk the second half of last season, taking partner Robert Svehla with him.