First they were convinced they could do better with the equipment staff.
And then they were sure Dale Tallon, Scott Luce, and the assistant coaches couldn't do the job, either. So Tallon was reassigned, and the others let go, too. All of this coming on the heels of the most successful regular season in Florida Panthers history.
Sudden radicals, Florida believes wholeheartedly in a greater alternative. And its strategist ownership has put full support behind the pursuit of progressiveness, eager to enfeeble, or cut loose, those who don't share the mindset, or possess those certain skills.
The Panthers trust innovative tactics, believing they can build a championship team with emphasis on predictive data.
And yet, they failed to appropriately evaluate their own leader.
They are fixated on the process, not the immediate results.
And still, it was the events of one period that were said to have precipitated the change.
The Panthers put a stop to the internal tug-of-war Sunday, after a come-from-behind defeat at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes, firing head coach Gerard Gallant with an announcement that cut the long-standing hockey fraternity deep.
On one hand, there's something sort of admirable about it. A franchise forever victimized decided that it wouldn't pat itself on the back after eclipsing the 100-point threshold for the first time, and winning just its second division title.
Instead it introduced change, believing it was capable of more.
But what belies the idealistic efficiency was sitting tight, waiting to discover if Gallant, a coach that possesses a philosophical and stylistic viewpoint that directly clashes with theirs, was willing to conform. Or even have the ability to do so.
If the outcry from certain factions didn't make it obvious enough, Gallant is old school at the core. He's the type that sees the value in someone like Derek MacKenzie not only serving as captain, but also being sent over the boards more often than a high-skilled forward like Denis Malgin, whose even-strength points rate is better than double. He still covets size, strength, and the straight line over purely speed and creativity, and employed a pace far too slow for what the Panthers were trying to accomplish.
Given that, following their first loss after the quarter point of the season (which provides an indication of the precise time frame he had to assimilate into stats culture), inevitable action was taken.
Why wait?
The easy answer is, you simply cannot sell firing a coach coming off the best regular season in club history, where in which he earned a two-year extension on his contract and a Jack Adams Award nomination.
However, setting a six-week timer doesn't make the inevitable justifiable. Damning data exists when examining game-to-game shots and scoring chance trends. But with greater than 50 percent turnover on defense and absences that affected all three scoring lines up front, the fact of the matter is that the Panthers were still in better standing through 22 games this season than they were on their way to the Atlantic Division crown last season. The writing was on the wall, here. In plain sight.
Instruction will now match the data-driven intention, but as Tom Rowe steps in, running an NHL bench for the first time, the immediate expectation should not be that the Panthers return to the Atlantic summit.
They're pressing restart while ranking relatively compact with the remaining 15 teams in the East, with each having sights set on a postseason appearance. And in addition to having to make up a slight deficit over 60 games, as well as maintaining his role as general manager, it's Rowe's job to convince existing factions in the Panthers room that this was the right call.
Given their long-game ambition, it was the correct move to sever ties with a leader that didn't share the same initiative. This is as important now as its ever been.
But while Gallant's presence challenged the process, so too did the circumstances surrounding his dismissal.
The Ten
10) Anthony Stolarz - In his first career start after backing up 26 times for the Flyers, Stolarz made 29 saves, anchoring a victory over the Flames.
9) Columbus Blue Jackets - Two wins over the Lightning and five points from three games to conclude the best November in Jackets history.
8) Craig Anderson - Allowed four goals on a four-game winning streak before allowing five in a loss to the Sabres on Tuesday night.
7) Michael Leighton - The Hurricanes' emergency recall won an NHL game for the first time in almost six years, making 31 saves versus the Hurricanes on Sunday.
6) Brent Burns - In the week that followed signing a max contract with an $8-million annual salary, Burns scored twice (including an overtime winner that gave him the second-most among defensemen in NHL history), and racked up five points.
5) Jack Eichel - A much-need jolt. Eichel collected two quick points in his first game of the season, leading the Sabres to their most productive outing in six weeks.
4) Pekka Rinne - The Predators goalie won his ninth game in November, finishing the month with a .949 save clip and 1.50 goals-against average.
3) Ryan Johansen - Four goals (including three game winners) and seven points in four games. Decent way to break out of an early-season funk.
2) Alex Ovechkin - The greatest goal scorer of this generation collected the 16th hat trick of his career, passing Jaromir Jagr for most among active players.
1) Mike Cammalleri - The Devils forward scored four goals and eight points in his first three games back after missing six to be with his daughter, who required surgery with a severe case of pneumonia.
More Takes
1) Perhaps we've transitioned from William Nylander, Rookie of the Month, to William Nylander, can't play with Auston Matthews, too soon.
2) There's reason to gush about the Canadiens' offseason. There's reason to fear Andrew Shaw and that $23-million contract.
3) Muting "Russell" will change your life forever.
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