Dale Tallon Named Panthers GM, Is Confident Florida Can Contend for Stanley Cup

The Florida Panthers named Dale Tallon their next general manager Monday, and he will immediately lead a search for the club's next head coach.

"We have the talent to get back on track in a hurry," Tallon said in a statement. "This was a difficult year for us, but I think we learned some tough lessons about what it takes to win consistently in the NHL. With a few tweaks to our roster and the right leadership, I'm confident we can get back to contending for the Stanley Cup next season."

Tallon, 66, will replace Tom Rowe. Rowe previously served as the Panthers' general manager and interim head coach, taking the latter post after firing Gerard Gallant in November.

Florida went 35-36-11 in the 2016-17 season, dropping to sixth in the Atlantic a year after winning the division. It's the fourth time in five seasons the Panthers have missed the playoffs.

"I am confident that we have the necessary talent throughout our organization to win the Stanley Cup," Panthers chairman Vincent Viola said. "Dale will continue to be our principal leader as we pursue this single goal."

Tallon has been in the Panthers organization in some capacity since 2010. He served as their general manager from 2010 to 2016 before being reassigned to an executive position before last season. The move was made as part of an organizational push to spotlight analytics.

That commitment apparently lasted less than a full season, as Tallon will return to his previous post while Rowe is on the outs.

Tallon previously served as an executive in the Chicago Blackhawks organization, including a stint as their general manager.

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