The Panthers' side

Missing from all the mainstream coverage of the entire Amerks hoopla has been the Florida Panthers. A lot of the coverage I have seen has seemed to imply that the Panthers are still on board with the Amerks no matter what happens with the Sabres, Latona's lawsuit, the city's audit, etc.

For example, here's what the D&C's Kevin Oklobzija wrote in today's paper: "The Amerks preference is very likely to stay with the other partner in their affiliation, the Florida Panthers. The Sabres and Panthers both say they want their own full farm team next season."

But the article doesn't quote any Amerks officials directly. However, even if Donner at some point goes on the record and says everything is peachy with the Panthers, would you believe him at this point? (And if anyone knows of any RECENT published or broadcasted interview in which Donner DOES say that, or even addresses the affiliation with the Panthers directly, fill me in.)

Plus, remember that Panthers coach and GM Jacques Martin is on the record saying the Panthers want their own affiliate, perhaps outside of Rochester. Granted, Martin made the comment a month ago to a Florida newspaper.

However, in TODAY'S (Nov. 29) Miami Herald, writer George Richards addresses the issue. Noting first that the Sabres might back out of Rochester, he writes:

"That could clear the way for the Panthers to take control of the organization. The Panthers share Rochester with the Sabres, yet plan on having their own AHL team next season. The Panthers have said they are happy with Rochester, but various reports of the team's financial problems might have to be cleared up before the Panthers commit to full partnership."

For the record, the Panthers' current affiliation with Rochester ends after this season. So what do the Panthers want to do? That's a question that apparently hasn't been asked.

So I asked it. I talked to an official with Florida today, and he said that as far as he knows, "as of right now, we are still affiliated with (the Amerks). We are going forward with ther affiliation with the Amerks."

But when I asked him directly if that meant the Panthers are definitely on board for 2008-09, he hedged and really didn't answer the question. "I don't want to comment on that," he said.

The official also said the Panthers have no comment on the Amerks' issues with the Sabres, the city of Rochester or Randall Latona.

So, again, where the heck does that leave things? In his recent interview with John DiTullio on WHTK, Donner said that if the Sabres do leave, the Amerks "would most definitely have a deal with an NHL team."

However, he didn't really directly mention the Panthers at all.

At this point, I'm hoping that someone with more clout than me — i.e., someone from a large news organization like a daily newspaper who could land an interview with an NHL GM much easier than a goofy blogger — will, in fact, talk to Jacques Martin or someone else with the Panthers and get that team's intentions clearly on the record.