The Panthers continue to move through the summer without a head coach, with general manager Jacques Martin saying on May 5 that he hasn't yet begun a search in earnest.

The next coach of the Panthers will be the 10th in the franchise's short history.

Martin has been very quiet about the candidates for the job, only saying that Florida assistants Guy Charron and Mike Kitchen have expressed an interest in the position. Those two will be interviewed for the job, Martin said.

Others who are expected to get a look from Martin include New York Rangers assistant Perry Pearn, Rochester Americans coach Randy Cunneyworth, former Atlanta and Colorado coach Bob Hartley as well as former coaches Pat Quinn and Pat Burns.

All of those coaches listed above have past ties with Martin, as does Pittsburgh assistant coach Andre Savard. Former coach of the Quebec Nordiques, Savard hired Martin as an assistant after Martin was fired from his first NHL job as coach of the St. Louis Blues in 1988.

Former Florida coach Doug MacLean (who led the Panthers to the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals) has also expressed an interest in the job. Former Toronto coach Paul Maurice could also be a candidate for the opening.

"I don't see a rush in the hiring of a coach because there are still people in the playoffs who could be a candidate," Martin said. "There are guys who could become available. Once the playoffs are done, we'll have a list of people we think will be excellent candidates. I want to take my time. It's very important for our club to hire the right person."

SEASON HIGHLIGHT
The Panthers' biggest moment might have come after they were eliminated -- they won at Carolina in the second-to-last game. Not only did Florida end its losing ways in Carolina (the victory snapped a 15-game winless streak at RBC Center); Florida gave itself a say in a division it had sights on winning just a few weeks earlier. By beating Carolina, Florida gave the Capitals a chance to win the division in the final game of the season.

TURNING POINT
On Feb. 10, a normal, hard-fought game in Buffalo turned ugly when Olli Jokinen and Clarke MacArthur got wrapped up along the sideboards. Jokinen's leg went up in the air, his skate catching teammate Richard Zednik in the neck.

Zednik instinctively clutched his neck and raced to the Panthers' bench, where he received emergency medical treatment. Zednik would be OK, but the Panthers' season would soon be lost.

The Panthers had won three of four heading into that game but quickly hit bottom, losing eight of their following 10. The Panthers went on a nice run and won seven straight, but it wasn't enough to get them into the playoffs. The damage had been done.

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