PackPride17
Jun 10, 2009 Jun 01, 2012 63 5932
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Unrestricted Free Agents: The Northwest Division
by PackPride17 on May 27, 2012 8:00 PM EDT
on Canes Country
We're getting close to the end, next up is the UFA's from the Northwest Division. The Northwest Division was the only division to send only 1 team to the Playoffs this past season. The Canucks have been the class of the division over the past couple of seasons, but the Oilers & Avs are young teams that look like they are on their way up. The Northwest has a pretty big number of UFA's, but the quality players (top 6 & top 4) are few and far between. The majority of the available UFA's from this division will only see very limited NHL time or maybe not at all. You always have to look out for the Canucks as they seem willing to spend cash during the free agent frenzy. But you can't be too sure of the Flames & Wild, they could be players or they might go the trade route. The Avs are in a very interesting situation this summer with almost 2/3rds of their NHL roster in some form of free agency. They are either going to have quite a turnover or their salary cap number is going to be higher next season. Edmonton will probably be looking for 2 positions, but they will probably be more in the trade route than the free agent market.
Here it is again, here is what I have done. I broke down the UFA's by team with a small blurb on each player. If the UFA played in less than 20 games in 2011/2012, I simply listed them without a blurb. Again, there are not a lot of "quality" players here, but you never know if you could find a diamond in the rough. So take a look and let me know your thoughts on these potential free agents and whether you believe any could help the Canes out next season. I will have the last division, the Pacific Divison, and a brief overall summary up by the end of the week.
Sunday Speculation: Skinner's Next Contract
by PackPride17 on May 27, 2012 8:00 AM EDT
on Canes Country
So far this summer there has been plenty of speculation as to what the Canes should do regarding their roster for next season and beyond. We have heard from Jim Rutherford that the Canes might have some additional financial resources to use this summer to acquire a player that is deemed the "right fit". Certain hockey analysts have suggested that the Canes are looking at some top-tier UFA's and are expected to make pitches to Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. There have also been rumors abound that the Penguins could be looking at moving Jordan Staal and Carolina would be a likely destination. We have even read comments on Canes Country as to which players the Canes should look at acquiring and why. But all of these numbers revolve around one thing: money. And generally the Canes have been a pretty low budget team.
If the Hurricanes are looking to add a top level player or players, they are going to have to spend some money and how is that going to effect us from resigning one of our "stars"? Jeff Skinner will be entering the final year of his entry-level contract this season and it is pretty certain that he is in for a nice raise. A 30 goal season, an All-Star selection, and a Calder Memorial Trophy are all nice talking points when it come to signing a contract. But if the Canes spend $10 to $15 million on "new" players this summer, how much is going to be left for Jeff? So I'm asking you, what do you think Jeff Skinner's next contract is going to look like in regards to length and amount? Is it going to be a typical JR short-term contract or one that will take him into his prime? Is it going to be relatively affordable contract or is it going to be on the higher side? And when should JR get this deal done, this summer or wait until next offseason?
So what I have done is try to come up with some comparable players and what their contracts look like. I have broken them down into 3 different categories: Calder Trophy winners, PPG Comparable players, and players that I feel are somewhat comparable to Skinner's game. Please take a look at my comparisons and let me know what you think. If you disagree with a comparison or have one that I left out, let me know. Also try to determine what the terms of Skinner's next contract will be and why.
Unrestricted Free Agents: The Central Division
by PackPride17 on May 24, 2012 12:01 PM EDT
on Canes Country
After a little delay, we get back it with a look at the Central Division's UFA's. The Central Division could be considered one of the best in hockey, has some of the NHL's better players, and a couple of those players look like they might be hitting the free agent market this summer. All 5 teams look like they will have some money to spend this offseason, with a couple looking at possibly replacing some very important players. The Blue Jackets & Predators look like they are the 2 teams that are going to have the most interesting summers, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the Red Wings being huge players in the UFA market this year. The Preds have over half of their roster in some form of free agency and also have 2 of the biggest potentially available names currently on their roster. The Blues are also in a similar boat, having only a few UFA's, but they have some important pieces that are RFA's. But the team that could look completely different come the 12/13 NHL season is the Blue Jackets. They went wild in last summer and it sort of blew up in their face. They already traded away one of those coveted pieces and it now looks like the will be trading the face of the franchise. All-in-all, it looks to be a very intriguing offseason in the Central Divison.
As mentioned before, here is what I have done. I broke down the UFA's by team with a small blurb on each player. If the UFA played in less than 20 games in 2011/2012, I simply listed them without a blurb. This is actually the first "less than 20 games played" list that I find a couple of interesting players. While theses players would be "projects", they could yield a nice "bang for your buck". So take a look and let me know your thoughts on these potential free agents and whether you believe any could help the Canes out next season. I should have the Northwest Division UFA's up by Sunday.
Sunday Speculation: Is He Worth an Offer Sheet?
by PackPride17 on May 20, 2012 8:00 AM EDT
on Canes Country
During every offseason there is always some discussion about a particular RFA receiving an offer sheet. While this rarely happens, it is always an option. And with this summer's UFA market so slim, it could be the time the offer sheet option becomes more of a reality. So if this is the offer sheet offseason, what RFA's should the Hurricanes look at extending offer sheets to? While there are several interesting RFA names out there right now, not all will be available July 1st and not all would really fill the holes the Canes have. Players like Jamie Benn, Erik Karlsson, and T.J. Oshie will likely be resigned by their current team before free agency opens. And while players like Mike Green, Ryan O'Reilly, and Erik Johnson are very good players, we have good players that play similar roles. There are even certain players like Alexander Radulov and P.K. Subban, while both could offer the Canes upgrades in talent, they also come with some baggage that might not fit well in the locker room.
So what I have done, or tried to do, is come up with a short list of 6 players (with compensation estimates) that I believe could help improve the Hurricanes and might be available for an offer sheet come July 1st. Remember that each offer sheet comes with the penalty of losing draft picks depending on the compensation amount. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe all draft pick compensation would start with this year's NHL Draft. Last year's draft pick compensation rates were: a 2nd for a contract between $1.56 million & $3.13 million, a 1st & 3rd for a contract between $3.13 million & $4.70 million, a 1st, 2nd, & 3rd for a contract between $4.70 million & $6.26 million, (2) 1st, 2nd, & 3rd for a contract between $6.26 million & $7.83 million, and (4) 1st for any contract higher than $7.83 million.
After the jump I will try to break down why I believe these players will be available for an offer sheet, how they can help the Canes next season, and what contract/cap hit it will take to get them. So please take a look at these options and let me know your thoughts. Would you extend an offer sheet to any of these players? Do you believe they could help the Hurricanes? Is the compensation estimate I came up with close or way off? And is there another RFA that you would consider using an offer sheet on? It's time for everyone to put their Armchair GM hat on!
Unrestricted Free Agents: The Southeast Division
by PackPride17 on May 17, 2012 10:13 PM EDT
on Canes Country
Now we come to the UFA's in our own division, the Southeast. There are a number of potential UFA's from Southeast Division teams and they range from some that are very intriguing to standard role players to your run-of-the-mill career AHLers. The Capitals and Lightning have a pretty large number of UFA's that they must address this offseason. And while the Capitals are one of the top salary cap teams in the league, the other four teams are in the bottom half, with three of them being in the bottom 10. So while the free agent market this summer might not be filled with high quality players, these Southeast Division teams look like they will have money to spend if they so desire.
You probably know the drill by now, but just to reiterate. I broke down the UFA's by team with a small blurb on each player. If the UFA played in less than 20 games in 2011/2012, I simply listed them without a blurb. This list will very slightly because we will be looking at player from our own team. So instead of going after a particular person on July 1st, we must determine if we should & can resign some of our own. Up next on the UFA docket will be the Western Conference. I will start off with the Central Division and should have something up by Monday. Please take a look and let me know your thoughts on these potential free agents.
Unrestricted Free Agents: The Northeast Division
by PackPride17 on May 14, 2012 9:01 PM EDT
on Canes Country
As promised, here is the second group of UFA's, guys from the Northeast Division. There are virtually no big names in this group, but there could still be a few good role players that might be able to help the Canes out next season. There are also a few "project" players that could interest JR, but most of these guys are bottom 6 or bottom pairing guys. Come July 1st, I don't expect to see many of these guys on the Canes radar, but surprises can happen. Especially if we have any trades this offseason and lose some role players, we might have to find a guy to play a certain role.
Again, what I did was break down the UFA's by team with a small blurb on each player. If the UFA played in less than 20 games in 2011/2012, I listed them without any blurb. The next Division on my list will be our own, the Southeast Division, which I will post on Thursday before starting on the Western Conference. Please take a look and let me know your thoughts on these potential free agents.
Sunday Speculation: Who Says Goodbye?
by PackPride17 on May 13, 2012 8:00 AM EDT
on Canes Country
So far this offseason, we Caniacs have been treated to a couple of juicy rumors. We have heard that the Canes are expected to make pitches to Zach Parise & Ryan Suter and we also have heard that the Canes could be interested in acquiring Jordan Staal. Even JR has publicly said that the Canes are in the market for a top-tier player and Peter Karmanos has given the ok to spend some money for the "right" player. But the Canes currently have 11 forwards, 6 defenseman, and 2 goalies under 1-way contracts for next season. We also have 2 or 3 forward and 2 or 3 defensive prospects that might be on the cusp of becoming full-time NHLers and this doesn't even include any draftee that may come in ready to compete for a roster spot. So given all of these things, it seems likely that 1 or more of our current players/prospects may have a new address next season.
So the question is; which current Cane player/prospect will be on the move this summer? And if they are moved, where do they end up and what do we get back in return? For all of the potential exciting news that comes with acquiring a new player, also comes the sad news that a player we have supported we will be wearing a different sweater next season. After the jump, I will list a couple of players that could be moved this offseason and why. Let me know who you think is the most likely to leave the organization and where they may end up..
Unrestricted Free Agents: The Atlantic Division
by PackPride17 on May 10, 2012 10:00 PM EDT
on Canes Country
I know it's still early, but I thought it might be fun for us to start looking at some of the UFA's that might be available come July 1st and discuss which one's might be right fit for the Canes next season. As you can guess, the sheer number of UFA's is huge, so I decided to break them down per Division. While there isn't a large amount of big names available this summer, there still could be some interesting targets. Even though JR has stated that he is looking for a top-tier player, he is known for getting second-tier or project players and there are plenty of those available this offseason.
What I did was break down the UFA's by team with a small blurb on each player. If the UFA played in less than 20 games in 2011/2012, I listed them without any blurb. I've started off with the Atlantic Division and will break down the other Divisions over the next couple of weeks. Please take a look and let me know your thoughts on these potential free agents.
Sunday Speculation: Who Would Have the Biggest Impact?
by PackPride17 on May 6, 2012 8:00 AM EDT
on Canes Country
While the offseason is still relatively new, we have already experienced plenty of rumors involving our Hurricanes. Jim Rutherford has pretty much stated that Canes are looking for a top line player and are willing to do whatever it takes to acquire this talent. Darren Dreger said via Twitter that he expects the Canes to be strong bidders for Zach Parise & Ryan Suter. Bob Mackenzie tweeted that he wouldn't be shocked seeing Jordan Staal ending up in Carolina. And even our own C-Leaguer has suggested a potential way for us to get the #3 overall pick & Scott Gomez. We also still have the #8 overall selection in this year's draft and depending on who we select, maybe they will turn into another Jeff Skinner.
So my question for you is: Which one scenario would positively impact the Canes the most, both short-term and long-term? Would signing Zach Parise to big money finally give us a legitimate 1st line and put us over the top? Would signing Ryan Suter improve what many consider is the weakest part of our game, defense? Would trading for Jordan Staal make us a Playoff team and serious contender? Would trading for the #3 pick & Scott Gomez set this team up for the future? Or should we just stay the course and select the best player available at #8? I'm not saying any one of these things will happen, but I'm asking which one would have the most impact to this organization if it did happen. I will give a few more details about each scenario after the jump.
How NHL Teams are Constructed: Is There a Best Way?
by PackPride17 on May 3, 2012 12:00 PM EDT
on Canes Country
A couple of weeks ago, I did a small post describing how a couple of Playoff teams acquired their players. I thought it was interesting and decided to expand on it to all NHL team. So when I started doing the research for this article, I was confident that I would be able to find some correlation between successful teams and how they were constructed. I was sure that one method of acquiring players would prove to be more successful than others, more often than not. While I did find some relationships regarding Conferences as a whole, I was unable to find any pattern regarding player acquisition that worked all the time. So take the information I collected and see if you can find any correlation to the way teams are built and their success.
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Sunday Speculation: Who is the 1st to be Moved?
by PackPride17 on Apr 29, 2012 4:56 PM EDT
on Canes Country
It's always tough to put much faith in rumors, but this offseason looks to be shaping up to be an interesting one. With the very shallow free agent pool, ways to improve your NHL team are limited to the draft and trades. There is a lot of speculation that a few "big names" will be on the move this offseason. But many GM's are reactionary and will be waiting for that first domino to fall. Once that happens, it could turn into circus with teams trying to keep up with other teams in the Division or Conference.
Some of the big names that are rumored to be available are Rick Nash, Roberto Luongo, Jarome Iginla, Tim Thomas, Patrick Marleau, and Joffrey Lupul. But which one is the first to be moved?
NHL Playoff Game Thread: Game 7 Action times 2!
by PackPride17 on Apr 26, 2012 5:00 PM EDT
on Canes Country
Two big Game 7's tonight. It's win or go home! The Western Conference's 2nd Round is set, all that is left is the East. So far the Eastern Conference lower seeds have all advanced, can the Senators & Devils make it a clean sweep? There's nothing like a Game 7, so it should be an entertaining night.
* Ottawa Senators @ New York Rangers, 7:00 pm, NBC SN.
So far the road team has had the advantage in this series, each team going 2 & 1 away from their friendly confines. The Rangers were the superior team in the regular season, but it has looked pretty even between the 2 teams through the first 6 games. Craig Anderson has pretty much matched Henrik Lundqvist, so this game could really go either way. If New York loses, this will be only the second time since going to the 8 team seedings that both Conference #1's have failed to make it to the 2nd Round.
* New Jersey Devils @ Florida Panthers, 8:30 pm, NHLN.
The "other" series has also come down to a pivotal Game 7. While probably not considered the most exciting 1st Round series, this has been a good matchup. Each team has scored 15 goals and it might all come down to who is in goal for Florida. Jose Theodore participated in practice on Wednesday, so he might be ready for action. Jason Garrison also took part in practice, but I guess we'll have to wait and see on the lineups. The strange thing is this series has been the Devils PK. For the regular season, they were #1 in PK% and shorthanded goals, but are under 70% so far in the Playoffs. Florida can capitalize if they can get on the man-advantage.
So buckle up, things might get a little testy, because it's Game 7 time!
NHL Playoff Game Thread, Tuesday 4/24: NJ n Trouble?
by PackPride17 on Apr 24, 2012 5:00 PM EDT
on Canes Country
With 5 of the 8 1st Round Series already decided, there is only 1 game on the Playoff calendar tonight. But this series & this game could potentially impact the Carolina Hurricanes more than any other.
* Florida Panthers @ New Jersey Devils, Game 6 (Panthers lead the series 3-2), 7:30 pm, NBC SN.
This back & forth series returns to Newark in a do or die situation for the Devils. New Jersey has their backs against the wall and might be fighting for more than just their Playoff lives. If they lose tonight, it will be the 4th time in 5 seasons that they have failed to get out of the 1st Round (the 5th was the 2010/2011 season, when the missed the Playoffs). Could this factor in to Zach Parise's decision to stay or leave? Could he go looking for greener pastures or a team with more playoff success? Could not getting out of the 1st round effect the Devils' financial situation even more? I guess we'll just have to wait and see, but expect the Devils to come out swinging tonight.
Stop on by and comment on tonight's game, Jiri Tlusty's resigning, or any other NHL topic.
Wednesday 4/18 Playoff Game Thread: Could it be Elimination Night?
by PackPride17 on Apr 18, 2012 6:00 PM EDT
on Canes Country
There are three games on the Playoff schedule tonight and two could mean the end for a couple of Stanley Cup Finals favorites.
* New York Rangers @ Ottawa Senators, Game 4, 7:30 pm, CNBC. The Rangers look to take a commanding series lead home with them after tonight. Henrik Lunqvist has been superb and is coming off a shutout in Game 3.
* Pittsburgh Penguins @ Philadelphia Flyers, Game 4, 7:30 pm, NBC SN. The battle continues, but the Pens are minus two combatants for this one. The Flyers are playing well and the Marc Andre-Fleury has not looked good. This could be an ugly end for Pittsburgh.
* Vancouver Canucks @ Los Angeles Kings, Game 4, 10:00 pm, NBC SN. The Canucks hope to get Daniel Sedin back tonight and hope to send the series back to Vancouver. Special teams have been the key for LA so far, 5 of their 9 goals have come on the PP or PK.
Please feel free to comment on any of these games, the numerous suspensions, or any other hot topic of the day.
Physically Tough or Excessively Rough?
by PackPride17 on Apr 17, 2012 7:46 AM EDT
on Canes Country
Note: This article is related to the piece Brian LeBlanc (Commentary: Time for the NHLPA to step up) did yesterday, maybe just a different perspective on the subject.
We're only 1 week into the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs and already we have been treated to a variety of games that show what makes the NHL Playoffs so exciting to watch. We've seen everything from games full of offensive flair to goaltenders standing on their head, shutting down the opposition. Most of the games have been tightly contested battles that come down to the final minute of play. Even the series that look almost decided could have swung the other direction on a play or two. But what seems to be the defining issues of these Playoffs so far are the unusually high amount of excessive physicality and the punishment that the league office is handing out.
Through these first 22 Playoff games, we have seen both a significant increase in the number of recorded hits and the number of questionable hits as compared to the regular season. While it is commonplace for the intensity to reach higher levels with more on the line, when does the physical play become too physical? When do players cross that line from playing with an edge to headhunting or goonery? When do officials need to step in and change the course of a particular game? What is the NHL's stance on the subject? Are these the types of games the NHL wants to showcase? Are these the types of games we want to watch?
Another Offseason of Questions
by PackPride17 on Apr 9, 2012 12:02 PM EDT
on Canes Country
(editor's note: We will start moving some of the top Fan Posts to the front page like we have done in the past. This is a good one by PackPride17. In other news, I attended the exit interviews today and got some good quotes. I will have an article or two about those later tonight.)
Well, the regular season is over and yet again the Carolina Hurricanes will not be participating the postseason. A few good things did occur this season, but the bad was just too much to overcome. With the Masters occuring this past weekend, I remember a golf quote; "you can't win the tournament on the first day, but you sure can lose it". This is pretty much the pattern for the Hurricanes. They dig themselves into a hole at the beginning of the season and while they try, it's just too deep for them to get out of before the season is over. What I am going to do is share my ideas of this season and what needs to be done to have a successful 12/13 season.
In my opinion, the success and failure of the 12/13 season will really sit on the shoulders of 2 men; Jim Rutherford & Peter Karmanos. While money always helps to bring in the most talented players, the "construction" of the team is what determines the success. 5 of the 10 lowest payroll teams made the playoffs this season, while 2 of the top 5 highest payroll teams did not. You are much more likely to make the playoffs spending close to the cap, but it is no guarantee.
I look at the make-up of this team and see a limited number of top 6 forwards & top 4 defensemen. I also see an abundance of bottom six players, offensive defensemen, and prospects that are on the edge of being NHL ready. Say whatever you want to about Chad LaRose, but when 2 vastly different coaches determine that he is the best bet to play on the team's top line; then we obviously have a talent issue and that falls to JR.
(Click the jump for a review of the Canes' highly paid players, what to make of the Skinns and Finns line, and much, much more.)
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The fight for Draft Position
by PackPride17 on Mar 28, 2012 1:55 PM EDT
on Canes Country
Well, we down to the final 5 or 6 games in the NHL regular season and while the playoff picture is starting to clear up, where everyone will finish & their draft position is still up in the air. The Canes currently sit in 23rd in the league or the #8 draft pick (depending on how the lottery goes). They have 5 games remaining; 3 against likely playoff teams and 2 against teams that are likely to miss the postseason. Below is how I think the rest of the season might play out and what draft position we are likely to end up with.
I think it is pretty safe to say that Columbus will likely end up with the #1 pick, they are so many points behind that they cannot pass anyone. Edmonton is also likely to end up with a top 4 pick. They have 3 games remaining against teams fighting for a playoff spot plus 2 against the Ducks and 1 in Vancouver. Montreal is also likely to end up with a top 4 pick. They have a tough road back-to-back against the Rangers & Caps and also have to play us in Raleigh. The last team that I believe will be with a top 4 pick is the Wild. They have 6 games remaining; all against teams that are fighting for a playoff spot or positioning. IMO, it will be very tough for any of these teams to escape the bottom 4.
So now we turn our attention to the group that will most likely miss the playoffs, but is still shuffling around the draft pick order.
Carolina (77) - 5 games remaining
Winnipeg, New Jersey, @ Ottawa, Montreal, @ Florida
I kind of expect that the Canes get wins over Winnipeg & Montreal, lose to New Jersey, and lose in OT to either Florida or Ottawa. So the Canes get 5 additional points and finish the season with 82 and 33 regulation wins.
Winnipeg (78) - 6 games remaining
NY Rangers, @ Carolina, @ Tampa Bay, @ Florida, @ NY Islanders, Tampa Bay
Winnipeg ends the season with 4 of 6 on the road and they aren't as good away from the MTS. Couple that with home games against the Rangers and Lighnting, it looks to be a tough finale for the Jets. I expect them to win the last game against Tampa, but lose the rest. I think they might get to OT in one of the road games, but that's about it. They finish the season with 81 points and 32 regulation wins.
Tampa Bay (77) - 6 games remaining
@ New Jersey, Winnipeg, Washington, @ Montreal, @ Toronto, @ Winnipeg
The Lightning also finish the season with a bunch of road games, but I like their schedule a little more. I expect them to win at home against Winnipeg, in Montreal, and in Toronto. I think they do lose to New Jersey, Washington and the finale in Winnipeg. So they end the season with 83 points and 35 regulation wins.
Anaheim (75) - 6 games remaining
San Jose, @ Phoenix, Edmonton, @ Vancouver, @ Edmonton, @ Calgary
Anaheim is a funny team; they look bad, then look real good, and now their sort of ho-hum. I would imagine them beating Edmonton twice and getting a point against the Yotes & Flames. The finish the season with 81 points and 31 regulation victories.
New York Islanders (75) - 6 games remaining
Pittsburgh, Boston, Ottawa, @ New Jersey, Winnipeg, @ Columbus
The Isles have some difficult teams in there, but they have 4 home games and 1 on the road in Columbus. I even think they are playing pretty well lately, but teams will be fighting for playoff position and they mostly overmatch the Isles. I think Pittsburgh gets a little payback and Boston tries to find it's groove for the playoffs, so 2 losses there. I think NY gets at least 1 point against the Sens & Devils, then goes out and finishes the season strong with 2 wins. They end up collecting 6 more points to finish with 81 and 27 regulation wins.
Toronto (75) - 5 games remaining
Philadelphia, Buffalo, @ Buffalo, Tampa, @ Montreal
I think the Leafs are done for the year. They havent won at home since February and they don't seem to be playing with much energy. I have them losing to Philly, Buffalo twice, and Tampa. I do have them giving it their all and beating Montreal to end the season, but the Leafs end up with only 77 points and 30 regulation wins.
So in the end, here is my project draft order (not counting the lottery).
1. Columbus
2. Montreal
3. Minnesota
4. Edmonton
5. Toronto
6. NY Islanders
7. Anaheim
8. Winnipeg
9. Carolina
10. Tampa Bay
Of course anything can happen and any team can win or lose game, but I think this is a likely scenario. What do you guys/gals think?
Couple of Questions
by PackPride17 on Mar 12, 2012 10:51 AM EDT
on Canes Country
A little Mo/Kirk Comparison
by PackPride17 on Feb 14, 2012 5:27 PM EST
on Canes Country
We're now 32 games into the Captain Kirk Era of Hurricanes hockey, so I thought I'd take a look back on how this season's team compares under the 2 coaches. Obviously there are a few personnel changes, but nothing really major (except for getting rid of Kaberle). It also appears that there will not be many personnel changes heading into next season, so lets see what we might expect based on Kirk's current tenure.
What I will do is a basic statisical analysis of the team's primary stats between the 2 coaches, then a player breakdown when Mo was coach, then a player breakdown with Muller (so far), and I will finish it up with a side-by-side player breakdown based on a full 82 games under each coach. I believe all of my numbers are fairly accurate, but don't kill me if something is slightly off. Also, some of the "full 82 game" numbers might be a little skewed due to some players having a very limited number of games under a particular coach. No stats are perfect, but they may give us some insight on the performance of the team or certain players.
Staal & the Supporting Cast Point Production
by PackPride17 on Jan 5, 2012 1:13 PM EST
on Canes Country
Yesterday there was a short discussion in another thread regarding the possibility of moving Staal to wing if the Canes drafted another top-level center. Then a comment came up about his point production and although Eric had a 100 point season, he has not consistently been around that mark. One comment was;
Maybe we just have unrealisitic expectations of Staal based on Stanley Cup year memories..
Then it was said that he doesn't have the supporting cast to get him back to that level. So I decided to go back and look at the Stanley Cup year and the years leading up to this one. What I found is that the top 6 support during the Stanley Cup year was pretty damn good and the supporting cast production has basically dropped every year since. After the jump, I will have a few statistics showing what I am talking about and some of my thoughts.
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Steps Toward Increasing the Talent Level
by PackPride17 on Dec 6, 2011 12:55 PM EST
on Canes Country
The Canes are 3 games into the Captain Kirk era and have yet to record any points. While I think we can all agree that effort level/entertainment value has improved, we are still struggling getting the puck in the net and also preventing the puck from entering our net. It seems pretty obvious that this Canes squad just does not have the talent level to consistently win in the NHL. To get to that level, the organization is going to have to make some significant changes in both personnel and the organization’s acceptance of mediocrity. But because of the salary cap floor, we are not able to just jettison players for pick & prospects. We have to make calculated moves that will keep us cap compliant. So here are my ideas of steps the Canes might consider to improve the team while staying cap compliant. All of this is hypothetical, there are definitely different directions to take; but this is what I believe would help the Canes become more competitive. Again, let me stress that this is just hypothetical and isn’t what the Canes will do, just a blueprint of things to do and examples of how "I" would do it. These trades and signings are obviously my dream scenario, but it is fun to dream. (I also apologize beforehand for the length of this FanPost, but I tried to be somewhat detailed)
A Trade Idea
by PackPride17 on Nov 25, 2011 10:33 AM EST
on Canes Country
While the Canes have played better over the past 4 games and have 5 points to show for it, I still believe that changes are needed for the long-term success of the franchise. I still believe the #1 change or first priority should be a coaching change. Management needs to bring in a coach with a different system and approach toward the players. If we are to be a consistent playoff team, changes have to start at the top. But while I believe that is the most important change needed, I also feel that a "reorganization of the talent" would be helpful. This means trading a few players, getting a few back in return, and giving prospects some more time/responsiblity. So while watching some other NHL games, I think I might have found an interesting trade option. I'm not saying this should definitely happen or even if the two organizations would make such a trade, but I thought is would be a fair deal and I would like to know what others on this board think of my hypothetical proposal. Now be prepared, because this suggested trade involves 2 fan favorites; but to get something of value, you have to give up something of value.
The Staal Balanced Line
by PackPride17 on Nov 7, 2011 9:33 PM EST
on Canes Country
Staal has received much criticism, and deservedly so, for his lack of production and play this season. And I just couldn't figure out what was/is going on with him. This is a guy that has scored 100 points in a season, I'm sure he hasn't forgotten how to produce. Is it really all Erik Cole or is it something else. So I went back to randomly watch previous seasons games to examine what has worked for Staal and what hasn't. What I determined is that Staal doesn't necessarily miss Cole, but missing a certain forward line balance that works best for him.
Potential C/W Targets for the Canes
by PackPride17 on Oct 28, 2011 3:46 PM EDT
on Canes Country
There has been a lot of talk recently about the Canes offensive struggles and trying to figure out the right line combinations. We also have seen talk about the possible trade of one of our defensemen to make room for Faulk, both now and in the future. I believe the general consensus is the Canes need help in the top 6; either a RW for Staal or a C for Skinner. So, I thought I would come up with a list of possible/potential targets that JR might look toward to fill these needs. This obviously isn’t everyone and there are also players on this list that might not be available. I’m just throwing these names out there, seeing which one might be the most popular or unpopular choice.
Apology
by PackPride17 on Oct 19, 2011 12:09 PM EDT
on Canes Country
On last night’s game thread, I made the comment that “Staal is pretty worthless right now.” That was obviously a negative exaggeration on my part and for that I apologize. I have just been very frustrated in the way my favorite player has performed so far this year. I don’t believe Eric has played up to Eric Staal’s level and I voiced my frustration. I knew I would receive some comments that didn’t agree with me and that is fine, but one really got to me. The person said they are tired of the negative comments and implied I was trolling. I was not trying to stir things up, I was expressing an observation that I felt was true. I’m sorry, but I generally just call it how I see it. There are a lot of crazy comments, some completely off-topic, that are posted and I believe everyone has the right to post them as long as they are not taking personal shots at another poster. I thought this was a place to discuss Carolina Hurricanes hockey; both the positives and negatives. I don’t have a problem with people disagreeing with me; me and C-Leaguer go back and forth all the time and I enjoy it. I just don’t understand why you can’t say anything negative about the team. I know some would respond to that by saying; it’s the reiterating of negative things that drives them crazy. But if people perceive something that is wrong and not corrected, are you just suppose to accept it? I just feel this is a forum to discuss the team’s strengths, weaknesses, and what we would like to see; maybe I’m wrong. Maybe this is a place to just show support for the team; but even the Canes Country Editors post debatable topics.
Sorry, maybe I am completely off-base here. I will try to limit the negative comments I make, but I will still try to call things as they appear to me. Be that both positive and negative. If this doesn’t work for the majority of my fellow poster, just let me know. I will gladly stop making comments.
So who's surprising so far?
by PackPride17 on Oct 18, 2011 10:14 AM EDT
on Canes Country
I know it's still very early in the NHL season, but there are a few teams that have surprised me so far. I know it doesn't necessarily mean anything, because Toronto started last season 4-0 before reverting back to form. But here are a few teams that have surprised me, both good and bad.
Best Lines & Pairings?
by PackPride17 on Sep 27, 2011 4:58 PM EDT
on Canes Country
I know there has been much debate this offseason on which prospects will make the team? Which new acquistion will work best with Staal? Who is Kaberle going to play with? Pretty much what are the lines and pairings going to look like? We all have our ideas as what is going to happen and what we would like to see. This FanPost is about what we think would be the best lines and defensive pairings will be. I'll share my thoughts and would love to see your ideas. Based on previous seasons, the preseason so far, and potential; here is what I think the lines should look like.
2010/2011 Canes Predictions Revisited
by PackPride17 on Apr 6, 2011 4:31 PM EDT
on Canes Country
Below are some of the off-the-wall predictions that I made about the Canes before the season started. The bolded type are updated remarks about my predictions. These are absolutely worth nothing, but I thought it might be a little fun to see how I did.
Eastern Conference Predictions Revisited
by PackPride17 on Apr 4, 2011 10:16 AM EDT
on Canes Country
Before the season started, I gave my predictions for how the Eastern Conference would play out. All things have not gone the way I expected, but it does appear that I predicted 7 of the 8 playoff teams. Below is my original predictions with original comments and some new comments about my predictions.
If you were GM for a week?
by PackPride17 on Feb 7, 2011 4:48 PM EST
on Canes Country
With the trade deadline right around the corner, it's time that GM's usually make some personnel moves. We all like to be armchair GM's, so here's another chance. If you were the Carolina Hurricanes GM for the week leading up to the trade deadline; what personnel moves would you make? You could do anything from trading/acquiring players, moving coaches/front office personnel, marketing, etc. But there are certain guidelines!
Guidelines
1. PK will allow you to increase the team's payroll $1 million dollars to help ensure the team makes the playoffs and brings in the additional playoff revenue.
2. You can only carry 20 players on the roster, the organization does not want to waste money by paying players to sit.
3. You cannot fire the coaches because they have another year left on their contracts. The organization does not want to pay 2 coaches for the rest of the year and next. But you could move them around within the organization.
4. You must lay out any trades. No, trade Joni for a bag of pucks; a team and a return need to be identified.
5. Any marketing ideas should not be obscene. They should be things that actually could be done to increase ticket sales or community involvement.
Good luck and have fun. I know I will be very interested in seeing what you guys/gals propose.
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