We’ve had way, WAY too many Florida-Panthers-oriented posts on this blog lately. What can I say? I sincerely apologize. But they keep busting out comedy for us, from Don King, to this movie-quoting announcer:

I guess that’s what you have to do when your “hockey audience” is too focused on Daytona 500 betting to care about “ice hawkey” at all. Wow. I guess this is cool…hard to argue with “Come with me if you want to live” after a goal.

Hey, maybe it’s working. The Panthers are hot in NHL betting right now…you can even consider tossing a sportsbook picktheir way if you bet on hockey.

Last night brought some exciting news to Richard Zednik and hockey betting fans and some sad news to Daytona 500 betting fans. Yes, “Richard Zednik cut by skate” is no longer the first video that pops up when you type his name into YouTube. Obviously, that’s disappointing news for those who bet on NASCAR, as seeing competitors cheat death is more important to them than the sport itself.

But NHL betting fans are happy…why? Because Zednik may have scored the goal of the year last night. What do you think, online betting fans? If you bet sports, this is a must-see. Don King — yes, that Don King — was at the game and made his own crazy call of the goal (I think he also called the Panthers the “Tigers”), but I can’t find that version yet. Until then, enjoy this blood-free Richard Zednik goodness:

Is March Madness betting overhyped? Not sure, but I know what’s definitely overhyped in NHL betting circles: the trade deadline. Few sporting universes, if any, go crazy over that annual date like the hockey one does.

As the deadline approaches, I’ll periodically pick a focal point of trade rumors and discuss what I’d do in the GM’s shoes. We may as well start with the name occupying the thoughts of contending teams and online sports betting players alike these days: Jay Bouwmeester.

Who wouldn’t want him? Big, fast, 25, able to move the puck…it doesn’t get any better. Anyone who likes to bet on hockey probably wants to see Bouwmeester on his or her favorite team. But what should Jacques Martin do?

This is a complicated dilemma, considering the Panthers are fighting for a playoff spot and want to “win now” despite also having an emerging youth movement. If they’re thinking of themselves as “buyers” who want to “rent” a player, they should keep Bouwmeester, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Under that logic, what rental would be better than Bouwmeester?

If they’re looking to keep slowly building for the future, they have to trade him. It’s too dangerous to risk losing him for nothing, and NHL betting fans know Florida could get a glorious package of picks and prospects in exchange for the big rearguard.

In a perfect world, Martin could re-sign Bouwmeester before the deadline…but I’d bet at the sportsbook that Bouwmeester wants to test the waters this summer.