With Marco Sturm
After a teammate scored.
With Radek Dvorak.
With Erik Gudbranson, who is recovering from shoulder surgery.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Photos from 10/10/12 "Practice"
Thanks again to Nelly for sharing the photos she took at the informal practice on Wednesday, 10/10/12.
With Marco Sturm
After a teammate scored.
With Radek Dvorak.
With Erik Gudbranson, who is recovering from shoulder surgery.
With Marco Sturm
After a teammate scored.
With Radek Dvorak.
With Erik Gudbranson, who is recovering from shoulder surgery.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Photos from 10/3/12 Practice
Thanks to Angi for taking these photos at Wednesday's practice. Lu wasn't there...the 2 goalies were José and Tomas Vokoun.
This first photo is amazing...his smile! It's amazing! It's so great to see him smile.
This first photo is amazing...his smile! It's amazing! It's so great to see him smile.
Video of José (and Lu) from 10/1/12 Practice
Thanks so much to Nelly for taking some video at Monday's informal practice. After José's team won the mini-game (woot, woot!) you see him throw his hands in the air, and then he takes a knee and he and Lu talk quite a bit.
http://youtu.be/ZN17XPs2vBg
This is what I wrote on tumblr:
http://youtu.be/ZN17XPs2vBg
This is what I wrote on tumblr:
Today just showed why José is one of the classiest guys around
Let’s think about this. Today was the first time José and Lu came face-to-face since all the rumors that have flown around since the end of last season. (As far as we know, anyway, unless they’ve seen each other out and about.)
So it had to be a little awkward. No matter how nice of a guy Lu is, the fact is he’s not hidden the fact that he wants José’s job in Florida. He says he wants to leave Vancouver, and Florida is his first choice. So that means he wants José’s job. No matter how you say it, that’s the bottom line.
And José is aware of this, I’m sure. He can read just like the rest of us. I’m sure he doesn’t read as much as we do, because that would just be yucky for him, but I’m sure he’s seen some of the stuff that flew around all summer long.
So today they had to practice together. And of course José was the one that initiated the conversation. I’m sure Lu felt weird. Everyone says he’s a nice guy, so if you’re a nice guy, then you realize this is the guy whose job you want to take. So that has to make you feel a bit weird and uncomfortable.
But because José is so classy and professional and such a nice man, he was not just civil to Lu, but downright friendly. Nelly said they talked on and off all practice. So it wasn’t just a polite, hi, how are you, how was your summer kind of thing. It was real conversation.
José Theodore, you are a much better person than I am, and my admiration knows no bounds.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Photos from 10/1/12 Practice
Thanks to Nelly for the photos from Monday's practice!
Roberto Luongo is back in South Florida, since that's where his family lives, so he's been working out with the Panthers that are in Florida right now, along with a few ex-Panthers. The players that have been practicing are José, Clemmensen, Jovo, Flash, Kopecky, Weiss, Mueller, Weaver; and former Panthers Dvorak, Luongo, Vokoun, Sturm (there might be a few others I've forgotten.) Kris Versteeg works out before the rest of the guys, because he's not locked out since he underwent surgery before the lockout.
Nelly said that José was the one who approached Lu first, and then they talked a lot on and off throughout practice. José is always the ultimate professional and such a good guy.
Roberto Luongo is back in South Florida, since that's where his family lives, so he's been working out with the Panthers that are in Florida right now, along with a few ex-Panthers. The players that have been practicing are José, Clemmensen, Jovo, Flash, Kopecky, Weiss, Mueller, Weaver; and former Panthers Dvorak, Luongo, Vokoun, Sturm (there might be a few others I've forgotten.) Kris Versteeg works out before the rest of the guys, because he's not locked out since he underwent surgery before the lockout.
Nelly said that José was the one who approached Lu first, and then they talked a lot on and off throughout practice. José is always the ultimate professional and such a good guy.
A Few Florida Panthers Left in Coral Springs as Lockout Rolls On
By George Richards
On Frozen Pond
With the NHL's lockout in its third week, some players have moved on either to the North American minor leagues or other professional leagues in Europe.
A hardy group of about 10 have remained in South Florida.
And they don't appear to be going anywhere -- at least not just yet.
"Honestly, this group is having a good time together,'' goalie Jose Theodore said. "We're in Florida so that's pretty good. It's starting to get cold everywhere else. We're coming here and working hard -- and it's not the best scenario, I would rather be playing games -- but afterward we can play tennis or golf. We're making the best out of a bad situation.''
The 10 players who gather at the Panthers' training facility three times a week have been part of what was a larger group that's been skating since August.
Despite the monotonous pace -- center Stephen Weiss calls these sessions "brutal" -- this group of players show up to keep their bodies in shape for when the lockout ends.
And although it doesn't seem training camp will open any time soon, the work needs to be done.
"We come in here and know who will be here each day,'' Panthers forward Tomas Kopecky said. "It's actually good for us physically because you are used to getting rest between drills. Here, there aren't enough players for that. You just keep going and going. It's real good for our cardio.''
Kopecky and Tomas Fleischmann have resisted going to play in Europe so far, although Kopecky says he has offers.
With one child in the third grade and another in preschool, Kopecky says he would rather spend quality time with his family than move back to Europe until the lockout ends.
He's not alone, at least for now.
Ed Jovanovski, Tomas Vokoun, Roberto Luongo, Marco Sturm and Radek Dvorak all make their home in South Florida and are in familiar environs. The longer the lockout goes, however, playing anywhere becomes more attractive.
The players who take part in the informal workouts rent the ice from the Panthers -- the going rate is $350 per hour -- and pay their own equipment manager who keeps things running smoothly.
The players are banned from using the Panthers locker room or weight room -- and can't even borrow the team's stick room if alterations need to be made as was the case Monday.
"This isn't ideal but what is right now,'' Theodore said. "Being able to spend time with your friends and family is worthwhile though.''
In some more traditional markets -- like Toronto and Minneapolis -- NHL players have little problem getting large groups together.
This, obviously, is not the case in South Florida where there seem to be more ex-Panthers (Vokoun, Luongo, Dvorak, Sturm) working out in Coral Springs than current ones.
"We have had the same group, pretty much, for a while,'' said Dvorak, who played for Dallas last season but is a free agent and hopes to sign on soon after the lockout ends. "I think it's been good. This is hard work and that is what we need. Having 10 guys isn't a lot but it is what it is until the big boys settle this thing.''
There is little doubt these hockey players would much rather be playing hockey than doing what they are doing.
Florida defenseman Mike Weaver and instructor Gus Dumoulin run the hour-long practices each week although both are running out of drills to keep everyone sharp.
And even though the numbers have dwindled, Kopecky says as long as there are a handful of players still around, the informal workouts will continue.
Based on how talks have gone between the players and owners, well, they could be out here for some time. On Tuesday, the Panthers postponed their kickoff dinner to benefit charity and the opening week of games are expected to be cancelled any time.
Florida is scheduled to open its season against the Lightning on Oct. 13. Training camp and all seven preseason games have been wiped out. The Panthers would have played their sixth exhibition game Thursday in Tampa with the preseason finale held Saturday night in Sunrise.
"When this thing does get done, training camp probably isn't going to be two weeks long,'' Jovanovski said. "It's going to be a pretty quick turnaround into the games. As older players, training camp can be long anyway. Getting all the games in during a shortened time frame can be tough on the body. We have to be ready.'' And here are photos from GR of José chatting with Lu.
On Frozen Pond
With the NHL's lockout in its third week, some players have moved on either to the North American minor leagues or other professional leagues in Europe.
A hardy group of about 10 have remained in South Florida.
And they don't appear to be going anywhere -- at least not just yet.
"Honestly, this group is having a good time together,'' goalie Jose Theodore said. "We're in Florida so that's pretty good. It's starting to get cold everywhere else. We're coming here and working hard -- and it's not the best scenario, I would rather be playing games -- but afterward we can play tennis or golf. We're making the best out of a bad situation.''
The 10 players who gather at the Panthers' training facility three times a week have been part of what was a larger group that's been skating since August.
Despite the monotonous pace -- center Stephen Weiss calls these sessions "brutal" -- this group of players show up to keep their bodies in shape for when the lockout ends.
And although it doesn't seem training camp will open any time soon, the work needs to be done.
"We come in here and know who will be here each day,'' Panthers forward Tomas Kopecky said. "It's actually good for us physically because you are used to getting rest between drills. Here, there aren't enough players for that. You just keep going and going. It's real good for our cardio.''
Kopecky and Tomas Fleischmann have resisted going to play in Europe so far, although Kopecky says he has offers.
With one child in the third grade and another in preschool, Kopecky says he would rather spend quality time with his family than move back to Europe until the lockout ends.
He's not alone, at least for now.
Ed Jovanovski, Tomas Vokoun, Roberto Luongo, Marco Sturm and Radek Dvorak all make their home in South Florida and are in familiar environs. The longer the lockout goes, however, playing anywhere becomes more attractive.
The players who take part in the informal workouts rent the ice from the Panthers -- the going rate is $350 per hour -- and pay their own equipment manager who keeps things running smoothly.
The players are banned from using the Panthers locker room or weight room -- and can't even borrow the team's stick room if alterations need to be made as was the case Monday.
"This isn't ideal but what is right now,'' Theodore said. "Being able to spend time with your friends and family is worthwhile though.''
In some more traditional markets -- like Toronto and Minneapolis -- NHL players have little problem getting large groups together.
This, obviously, is not the case in South Florida where there seem to be more ex-Panthers (Vokoun, Luongo, Dvorak, Sturm) working out in Coral Springs than current ones.
"We have had the same group, pretty much, for a while,'' said Dvorak, who played for Dallas last season but is a free agent and hopes to sign on soon after the lockout ends. "I think it's been good. This is hard work and that is what we need. Having 10 guys isn't a lot but it is what it is until the big boys settle this thing.''
There is little doubt these hockey players would much rather be playing hockey than doing what they are doing.
Florida defenseman Mike Weaver and instructor Gus Dumoulin run the hour-long practices each week although both are running out of drills to keep everyone sharp.
And even though the numbers have dwindled, Kopecky says as long as there are a handful of players still around, the informal workouts will continue.
Based on how talks have gone between the players and owners, well, they could be out here for some time. On Tuesday, the Panthers postponed their kickoff dinner to benefit charity and the opening week of games are expected to be cancelled any time.
Florida is scheduled to open its season against the Lightning on Oct. 13. Training camp and all seven preseason games have been wiped out. The Panthers would have played their sixth exhibition game Thursday in Tampa with the preseason finale held Saturday night in Sunrise.
"When this thing does get done, training camp probably isn't going to be two weeks long,'' Jovanovski said. "It's going to be a pretty quick turnaround into the games. As older players, training camp can be long anyway. Getting all the games in during a shortened time frame can be tough on the body. We have to be ready.'' And here are photos from GR of José chatting with Lu.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Fan-Taken Photos from Informal Practice on 9/26/12
Thanks again to fellow Panthers' fans, Angi and Nelly, for taking photos at the informal practice/skate some of the Panthers and other NHL'ers participated in on Wednesday, 9/26/12. (He wasn't at the practice on Monday and Friday of that week.)
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