Denis Potvin, the former Islanders great who had been a Florida Panthers TV analyst since their inaugural season in 1993-94, will not be back with the Panthers. His contract was not renewed. Radio analyst Bill Lindsay will switch to TV and join play-by-play man Steve Goldstein. Radio announcer Randy Moller will now call games by himself. Some are blaming the tough economic times for Potvin's departure, but Panthers president Michael Yormark said it had more to do with Potvin spending the summer in Canada instead of staying in South Florida to help promote the team.

"The only broadcaster not here in the summer months was Denny,'' Yormark told the Palm Beach Post. "And that was a factor.''

If that's true, then Potvin got a raw deal. He's one of the better analysts in the game. And if the Panthers truly want to promote their franchise? Well, this is a crazy idea: Stop being one of the league's worst franchises, win a few games and make the playoffs. That will get people excited about buying tickets instead of a bunch of announcers telling old-time hockey stories about Gump Worsley on the rubber-chicken luncheon circuit.