The Florida Panthers had their best season in franchise history in 2015-16, finishing atop the Atlantic Division with 103 points. Despite an upset first round loss to the New York Islanders, the Panthers’ successful year signaled a change from the consistently mediocre teams of the past. The organization is loaded with young talent like Aleksander Barkov, Aaron Ekblad, and Nick Bjugstad and have a roster that should keep them competitive for years to come. Considering the upward trend the team is on, you’d think Florida would like to keep its management structure intact. That’s not the case.
The Panthers announced the club has fired assistant coach John Madden and Director of Hockey Operations Mike Dixon, reports George Richards of the Miami Herald. Madden was responsible for Florida’s defensive efforts, including the penalty kill and working with defensemen. He joined the team under former coach Peter Horacek. Dixon, meanwhile, worked for the team for over a decade.
It’s not the only shakeup that occurred in recent weeks. The Panthers announced Dale Tallon was shifted from GM to run the team’s hockey ops, while Tom Rowe was named new general manager. Eric Joyce and Steve Werier were also promoted to assistant GM. As Richards notes, the moves were made as the Panthers were moving towards a more analytical based management structure.
Florida’s restructuring isn’t a killer to the team, but it’s bizarre given the Panthers’ success this season under the group. Clearly, Florida has a management structure in mind and by making the moves over the past few weeks, they’re accomplishing what they set out for.
Still, it’s a curious decision given the timing of it all.
