insanity_gallops Posted September 3, 2006 Share Posted September 3, 2006 http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=176329&hubname=nhl The Florida Panthers did not wait to see how the 2006-07 NHL season would unfold to determine its general manager's fate. Even after an offseason of major player transactions and renewed playoff hopes, the team fired Mike Keenan on Sunday after just one full NHL campaign. It is not clear what led to the announcement, made just days before the start of training camp. There is also no word on who will replace Keenan, though a source tells TSN that head coach Jacques Martin may consider occupying a duel role. Keenan had three years remaining on his contract with the Panthers and leaves after working parts of four seasons with the club. He was named head coach of the Panthers on December of 2001 and held the post until November of 2003. He returned to the team as general manager in May of 2004 and immediately made a flurry of changes to improve the club's fortunes. He hired former Ottawa bench boss and university teammate Jacques Martin as head coach and added veteran players such as forwards Joe Nieuwendyk, Gary Roberts and Chris Gratton. The team failed to make the playoffs for a fifth straight season in 2005-06, prompting Keenan to make more dramatic moves over the summer. He swung a blockbuster deal that saw superstar netminder Roberto Luongo go to Vancouver for a package that featured power forward Todd Bertuzzi, and also signed veteran goalie Ed Belfour. The Panthers were Keenan's seventh NHL team. He began his NHL career as head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers in 1984, and then led the Chicago Blackhawks behind the bench in 1988, guiding both teams to the Stanley Cup Final. In 1993-94, he was hired as head coach of New York Rangers and led the franchise to its first Stanley Cup win since 1940. Keenan also served as head coach and GM as the St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, and Boston Bruins. Keenan began his coaching career with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League. More to follow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundstrom Posted September 3, 2006 Share Posted September 3, 2006 while the devils may have a coaching carosel, these moves make you scratch your head and wonder what some of these owners are thinking that they can a guy one year after hiring him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammyk Posted September 3, 2006 Share Posted September 3, 2006 So they let him makes all these changes during the summer and then they fire him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony Posted September 3, 2006 Share Posted September 3, 2006 That's interesting... I don't know what he's done wrong though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Posted September 3, 2006 Share Posted September 3, 2006 (edited) BTW - TSN has confirmed that Jacques Martin *WILL* be the GM, so it won't be Belfour. Edited September 3, 2006 by Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammyk Posted September 3, 2006 Share Posted September 3, 2006 BTW - TSN has confirmed that Jacques Martin *WILL* be the GM, so it won't be Belfour. C'mon, you know Auld would have been the first choice. Anyways, FloridaPanthers.com says Keenan resigned and not fired. Wouldn't they say relieved of his duties or something if he was fired? SUNRISE, Fla. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRASHER Posted September 3, 2006 Share Posted September 3, 2006 now how ironic would it be if they hired neil smith ??? Man NHL Owners sure seem to have their wang's on this off-season!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruins4777 Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 thank god Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek21 Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 This makes no sense. But what else is new? Weird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MantaRay Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 Both Smith and Keenan have not had good careers since the ex-Oilers/Rangers Cup in 1994. Have these two inherited the Rangers curse? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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