The Architect
When Dale Tallon was hired in May of 2010, it was the start of something new in Sunrise, Florida. For years the Panthers toiled aimlessly. So hopeless and hapless were the Panthers that even Canuck fans thought they were justified in poking fun at the floundering Florida franchise. The Panthers have but four playoff appearances in total and one Stanley Cup Final appearance in their twenty seasons in the league. As they are a quarter of the way into their 21st season it is looking like the Panthers are primed to turn the corner.
The turnaround comes on the coattails of Dale Tallon. The same Dale Tallon that built the Hawks into a perennial contender. Here are some of the moves Dale Tallon made as GM of the Hawks.
-Karpovtsev for a 4th round pick that became Hjalmarsson
-Ryan White for Patrick Sharp
-Bochenski for Versteeg
-Vandermeer for Eager
-Ruutu for Ladd
While GM of the Hawks he drafted: Brouwer, Bickell, Bolland, Toews, Kane, Smith, Kruger, Pirri, and Olsen.
As director of player personnel and scout the Hawks selected: Keith, Wisniewski, Burish, Byfuglien, Seabrook, and Crawford.
That’s 20 players that either played for cup winning Hawk teams or were instrumental in helping the Hawks get to where they are today. Over half of the current Hawk roster and perennial powerhouse was put in place by Dale Tallon as Sharp, Hjalmarsson, Versteeg, Bickell, Toews, Kane, Smith, Kruger, Keith, Seabrook and Crawford are still playing with the Hawks.
So when Dale Tallon was brought into Florida many people said, “The eagle has landed” alluding to the fact that eagles have talons. (They however overlooked the fact that Tallon’s last name is not spelled the same. Those dimwits!) Other people called him ‘The Savior’ that would set the Panthers free from their affliction. One guy even called him ‘Art Core’ because of the masterpiece of a core he assembled in Chicago as well as his ability to import players with relative ease. (and export of course)
Personally, I think Dale Tallon can call himself whatever he wants. After all when Dale says, “Let me be the architect I can do it.” Who am I to say otherwise based on what he did in Chicago?
