Potvin Out, Lindsay In

In an unfortunate move, the Florida Panthers and TV color man Denis Potvin have parted ways.

The official release at the Panthers' site thanks Potvin for his time with the organization as Denis had been, until now, the only color commentator in the franchise's history.

Steve Goldstein retains his role as play-by-play, while former Panther Bill Lindsay will move from the radio booth and replace Potvin on FSN. Randy Moller will stay on to call the games on the radio.

In reality, while Lindsay might grow in to the role and eventually make it his own, filling Potvin's shoes is going to be difficult. Denis spoke his mind, and it wasn't always to defend the Panthers as the "brutal homer" he was often times made out to be on various internet forums.

Further still, it's a move that will undoubtedly upset a good amount of Cats fans (no, I'm sure not everyone appreciated the occasional story of Potvin's hockey days with the Islanders). That it's, in all likelihood, financially motivated makes it more of a disappointment.

Potvin told Steve Gorten of the Sun-Sentinel: "It's tough. It's very tough. You come to a point where you figure you're a lifer with a company or a group. That's not the case anymore. I was surprised. I was not expecting it."

Sunrise Sports and Entertainment has been in talks of a merger recently, they've had to lay off employees and now Denis Potvin is a former member of the broadcast team. With Phoenix's recent woes serving as a reminder that nothing lasts forever, it will undoubtedly raise questions about the Panthers' financial standing.

But for the time being, there is no reason to believe the Panthers are in danger. Struggling, quite possibly. But in danger? I doubt it.

As for the organization's take on the ordeal, Michael Yormark spoke to George Richards and defended the move as one with no financial motivation whatsoever. Rather, that they were simply seeking a new direction and that their financial relationship with FSN meant that it made no difference the number of broadcasters on board.

So if it didn't matter, why exactly has Denis been shown the door? We'll probably be hearing a little more about this as time goes by.