With the playoffs over and summer well underway, the drive to the 2016-17 NHL season starts now. With a heavy helping of Hurricanes hockey news this week, the draft on Friday and Father’s Day freedom for some fans to sit and read hockey stuff all day, this edition of Canes Chronicle is the biggest yet.
So if you are a dad, grab a coffee or a beer if it is later in the day, budget an hour and enjoy some summer hockey reading. If you are not a dad, please point your father to this to keep him happy and occupied and then enjoy yourself too!
The NHL Draft
The Canes Chronicle from May 15 had profiles from a few of the players that might be in the Canes’ sights. Canes and Coffee will have more targeted Canes draft coverage both before and after the draft.
But as an early preview, here is a great collection of other experts’ rankings and views on the upcoming 2016 NHL draft.
Sportsnet’s top 30 by Damien Cox.
From NHL.com, Adam Kimelman’s mock draft after the draft combine.
Also from NHL.com, Mike G. Morreale’s mock draft after the draft combine.
Steve Kournianos at The Draft Analyst offers a mock draft of all 7 rounds.
Ryan Kennedy from The Hockey News chimes in with THN’s final top 30.
The Hockey Writer’s offers a mock draft with fairly detailed analysis/profiles of top players.
The Finnish are coming! The Finnish are coming!
Shortly after Alexi Saarela was signed which was on the same day that Sebastian Aho was officially inked to an NHL deal, I tweeted this. It only got better when the Canes obtained Teuvo Teravainen in a trade on Thursday. The last time the Canes had 3 Finnish players (Pitkanen, Ruutu, Jokinen) in prominent roles things were good!
Sebastian Aho
Teuvo Teravainen
Aleksi Saarela
Check out this highlight reel from Saarela’s 2015-16 season in Finland.
Cam Ward re-signing
I wrote 2 mini-books on my thoughts on the Cam Ward re-signing which you can easily find. At a basic level, my opinion was that hte team should have at least pursued other options (for much longer) first. There are also many other analytical opinions written on the deal elsewhere. If handled respectfully and fairly, I think those are legitimately part of being a fan. But for today, I wanted to come at the Cam Ward re-signing from the people side of it.
Michael Smith on the team’s web site wrote “Ward Thankful to Be Home.” I think every Canes fan should read this and pay attention to Ward’s quotes.
Happy Father’s Day to all dads!
Remember that today is the 10-year anniversary of the Carolina Hurricanes winning the Stanley Cup. Wear some Hurricanes today!
Finally, get ready for what should be a fun couple weeks adding to our stockpile of young talent and building the 2016-17 Carolina Hurricanes roster!
Go Canes!
Go get Matt Duchense (spelling)!!!!! 25 years old, great fit for our team
Ericsson is going to resign with Bruins
Backes not a goal scorer or playmaker, plus 32 years old
Nielsen will sign with Islanders.
Do not consider Yakupov from Oilers, not worth one 2nd or 3rd round draft pick.
If anyone is considered from Oilers, only these two: Hall or “Ted” Nugent-Hopkins
After Duchense, one more big playmaker for first line.
Duchense, Skinner and bigger body (Okposo) playmaker/scorer – that is a potentisl 1st line!