Today’s version of Daily Cup of Joe offers an eclectic mix of Carolina Hurricanes thoughts that have piled up without making it into another article.
Andrei Svechnikov and the potential to trade the #2 overall pick
In some circles, I think too much is being made about the Hurricanes’ potential to either bypass Andrei Svechnikov or just trade the pick altogether. Who the Hurricanes like at #2 will not be revealed until draft day, but my checks from people who scout draft-eligible players leans heavily in favor of Svechnikov. If the experts are that overwhelmingly in favor of Svechnikov, I do not see the Hurricanes getting cute with this pick. In addition, I think the rumblings and rumors that will only intensify that say the Hurricanes will consider trading the #2 overall pick are overblown. Every team says this yet, these high picks are rarely actually traded simply because the asking price is exorbitant. I will be surprised if the Hurricanes are any different. The desperately needs another elite or at least near-elite forward to boost their scoring. Andrei Svechnikov offers a high probability of finding this in the form of an 18-year old player. Do we really think the team is going to trade that draft pick to add a #5/#6-ish forward who is 5-8 years older and already playing on an expensive contract?
My 2 cents on the odds: Odds that the Hurricanes draft #2 and take someone other than Svechnikov=> 10 percent. Odds that the Hurricanes trade the #2 overall pick=> 2 percent.
The Charlotte Checkers are off to a good start in the second round of the AHL playoffs
After dropping the series opener 2-1 to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Checkers rebounded in game two with a resounding 6-0 win. Alex Nedeljkovic earned the shutout, and Janne Kuokkanen led the way offensively with two goals. The Checkers return home for the middle part of the series with games in Charlotte on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. The Hurricanes ECHL affiliate, the Florida Everblades, are also still alive in the playoffs.
Sebastian Aho in the World Championships
Sebastian Aho and line mate Teuvo Teravainen are off to fast starts in the 2018 IIHF World Championships. Aho tallied two goals and two assists in Finland’s 8-1 drubbing of South Korea after two goals and four assists in another lopsided 8-1 win over Latvia. Teuvo Teravainen’s eight points in two games is only two behind Aho. Needless to say, the duo is off to a fast start, but the bigger tests await once Finland is matched against higher-end teams.
Go Canes!
I hope this image shows up–because it makes the case better than all the arguments I have read. Of course, there is a general consensus, but even if there were an even split among scouts, can anyone look at this and feel comfortable passing on Svechnikov?
[IMG]
I have been on the bandwagon for Zykov, Foegele, and Vellucci since early March. It is only in the last week that I am beginning to jump on for Ned. If he keeps this up, I would think he has earned at least a long look in training camp.
Everyone here knows that I think the future centers for the Canes are Aho and Necas. The world championships are a good proving ground. It will be interesting to see if Aho is one of the best players on the ice against Canada and US–I am confident. The organization apparently dodged a bullet in that Necas could have been severely injured, but is said to be only sore.
Here’s hoping the Canes learn some things from Vegas: all their forwards played at least 12:30 minutes; they don’t have a captain.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/16O1cmCU5Uoc5zFI76F2kNeqXQsS-C2Sgk7NhFKHt-Io/edit?usp=sharing
Try this
I love the fact that everyone on that list is a difference making player. That looks good to the potential of Svechnikov!
Thanks for sharing.
I agree that we should not trade the number two. Yet, if we do, I will find it to be telling as to what we get in return.
But if we use the pick, it will be telling to see which player we select. If we take one of the highly skilled undersized kids, I will know that we are going with same ole same ole. Lots of speed and lots of skill and no grit. We will get the shot beaten out of us and be doomed to mediocrity. On the rare occasion that we win a home game, the only noise in the stands will be the chirping of crickets.
If we select the big gritty, play-making kid, Tkatchuk, it will show me that management knows what we need, and is willing to go to any lengths to get it.
It might inspire me to renew my season tickets. Anything else and I will watch the games on TV.
From puckprose.com:
“Svechnikov is a very physical player. He’s a bit like Alex Ovechkin in that regard. I’m not saying he’ll be as good as him, but their playing styles are pretty similar. They love to hit people and they love to score goals. Svechnikov also has NHL size at 6-foot-3 and a nice frame. He’ll have to beef up a little bit to sustain his physical brand of hockey in the upper levels, though.”
Svechnikov is the same size as tkachuk.
Ugh..that is the worst thing I’ve heard about Svechnikov. If that’s the case I would consider a trade. Hope they are wrong and the guy plays a 200ft game.
Svechnikov may be the same size as Tkachuk now, but they obviously play different games. Also, if you take his family into account you can bet on Tkachuk getting bigger.
I think the comparison to Ovi is just in regards to physicality. All of the comparisons I’ve seen of Svech to Ovechkin and Laine say that Svech is much more defensively responsible for his age.
I think Tkachuk is going to be a very, very good player but we can’t not go for a potential elite level player/scorer at #2.
We can find extra “grit” through FA and trades; elite level scoring not so much.
Svechnikov was deployed on Barrie’s top penalty kill unit last season.
I prefer Svechnikov because he is the best forward that will be available. Why select a lesser forward to get what? A few hits in a game at the cost of getting more goals, better playmaking skill, and as good defensive skills as anyone on the board. That’s pure silliness IMO. When I hear the major plaudits for a player is that he loves to hit people, that usually means at the expense of having an elite level of other skills. I want the elite level of the other skills and I will leave the needed “hitting skills in the hands of McGinn, Martinook, etc. level players.
For these reasons pass on Tkachuk. When I go to all the games using my season tickets I have had since the Canes came to town, I would prefer to see Svechnikov. For the team to go with a lesser player (tkachuk) so you “might” see fit to drop in for a game or so isn’t a good enough justification for drafting a lesser player IMO.
No one truly knows which of these prospects will become the better player. A player drafted later in the first or another round could become the best player in the draft. You are drafting talent. Talent doesn’t always become what you think it will. That involves work, coaching and luck.
You say you aren’t into hearing about a guy that likes to hit people, but that guy appears to be Svechnikov. Tkachuk is more of a playmaker that creates a lot of space down low by drawing a lot of attention. He doesn’t run around hitting people like Tom Wilson. Big difference.
We’ve got two very good playmakers in Aho and Necas; what we don’t have a lot of is guys that can consistently take advantage of their opportunities and put the puck in the back of the net.
Svechnikov puts the puck in the back of the net a lot! In addition he plays a 200ft physical game and doesn’t have any apparent weaknesses.
Tkatchuk is the guy we would normally be hoping falls to us… because we didn’t have the top 3 pick… He was the guy I was hoping for, until we got lucky and got the #2 pick…. I don’t think we can pass on svench!!
That’s the kind of crap that’ll keep this team in mediocrity forever. Svechnikov is 6’3 and plays a power forward game. He’ll be a top line player. But you want someone that has grit with the second pick in the draft? He’ll be a career middle sixer. You can’t pass on Laine or Malkin for Matt Tkachuk 2.0. That’s absolutely ridiculous. Svechnikov is nothing like Aho and Teravainen and those little skill players we have. He’s big, smart, goes to the dirty areas, and has elite talent as well. Tkachuk doesn’t have that. He’s just a little more of a pain to play against and will take a lot more penalties. But it doesn’t matter. Everyone in scouting and nationally knows Svechnikov will be the pick. Dundon and co. Will too. They’ll make the right decision.
And which of these guys are undersized? Zadina at 6’0 and 195? Or Svechnikov at 6’3 and a shade under 200 with room to fill out?
I was at game 2 in Allentown on Saturday. Here are some of my observations. The game was chippy from the drop of the puck. The Phantoms went at Zykov very early after the late injury to Sanheim in game 1. I watched the video of the “knee on knee” a few times and honestly I don’t see any intent there, it was just 2 guys that ran out of real estate and collided (although I was watching the Phantoms feed so the commentator made it sound like Sandheims leg was cut off, then his body was thrown into a dumpster and set on fire, haha).
The early hit to Didier WAS intentional and was very high and not pretty to watch. He got his bell rung from the hit and from falling backwards onto the ice. What I didn’t like seeing was the checkers just standing there and not policing that situation a little. When you stand around after your teammate gets his head knocked off it didn’t give the Phantoms any reason to stop playing hard and taking some liberties (which they did the rest of the game). It forced the Checkers down to 5 D early in the game and put Fleury on his offside for the game. I would expect Robertson will get back in the lineup before they look at Jake Bean. Speaking of, my wife and I went over and said hello to the games 2 scratches as they were in the box one section over from us during the 1st intermission.
Ned looks good, he’s playing with a lot of confidence right now. He seems comfortable handling the puck outside of the crease, his positioning looks solid and he is moving well from side to side.
The PP looks well rehearsed. The puck movement is clean and crisp. I think this series will go at least 6 games as both teams are very well matched and both can put the puck in the net. I was telling the Phantoms STH sitting aside of me before the game started that this will go at least 6 games unless the Checkers can find there PP. I think the PP went 1-15 in the first round against the baby pens, and if game 2 is any indication of the rest of the series (and if Ned stays hot) it should be over before 6 games.
Go Checkers!
I want to follow up on your comments about Ned. Based upon what I have read written by you, ctcaniac and many others, I would like to see him and Booth get a full shot at nailing down a goalie job with the Canes. Taking up on an idea ctcaniac originally proposed about the forward lines, why can’t we get away from the idea of having a Number 1 and Number 2 goalie. Why not go with an idea of having two goalies who will share starting duties. Take the pressure off management trying to remedy the goalie situation trying to find an established starter.
I have researched the potential goalies out there who will be either a restricted or unrestricted free agent and available to acquire without needing to trade for a goalie. I limited consideration to only thos goalies who had significantly good statistics in a reasonable number of games played. In other words goalies who had played 25 or more games and had excellent goals against AND save percentages. Here’s what I have found:
RFA’s (requires giving up future draft picks with the picks being determined by how large a contract the goalie is offered by the Canes):
Phillip Grubauer (Washington) 35 games .923 save % 2.35 GPG
Juuse Saros (Nashville) 26 games .925 save % 2.45 GPG
Unrestricted Free Agents: Require no compensation)
Carter Hutton (St Louis) 32 games .931 save % 2.09 GPG
I found no other goalies worth considering other than goalies who were already under contract with other teams for next year or years beyond.
Seeing the limited number of options available my approach would be to go after Hutton (who was Allen’s backup in St Louis), Grubauer, or Saros with the expectation one of them would be paired with either Ned or Darling as our goalies sharing starting responsibilities. Just food for thought. I would be interested what others who have seen him play thought about Ned’s status. From what I read he has really blossomed this year.
Since AHL series are best of 5 games I doubt this one will go to 6, but it will likely go to 5. 😉
If the canes can trade their 2nd pick to Montreal for a third pick and Max, they may want to consider it. Anything less, they should tick with the #2 pick.
Round 1 is 5 game series. Round 2, 3 and Cup Finals are 7 game series.
https://theahl.com/qualification-rules
A trade with Montreal is intriguing. An asset Montreal has that could help the Canes a lot is Cayden Primeau. I would take the third pick and Primeau for the second pick. Maybe bargain for their second round pick too.
I don’t even care if it’s slightly better value for them, I’m totally down to give them Hanifin and a couple picks for Zadina. We have defensive prospects to backfill and that gives us two high-potential scoring lines for years (while still keeping the Jordan Staal shutdown line). I wants.
If the canes trade the pick for anything less than an under 23 #1 center(They won’t get that return) or for some reason don’t take svetch, I’m probably done with the canes.
I worry some of the fellow fans are conflating “being hard to play against” and throwing checks. These are pro athletes, being body checked legally isn’t going to throw them off their game. Tom Wilson doesn’t care if you try to fight him after he throws a dirty hit.
Know what’s really hard to play against? A 40+ goal scorer that is a threat anywhere inside the opposing blue line.
The consensus among scouts seems to be that the top of the draft is 3 tiers that go:Dahlin then Svetch then zadina, tchuck and everybody else. I’ve seen some sources report that the difference between Dahlin and Svetch is less than the difference between Svetch and everybody else when you look at their resumes outside the world juniors.
These are the same scouts that said Nail Yakopov was the #1 player in the draft. Scouts tend to develop a herd mentality as they spend so much time with each other. I’m not saying they are wrong on Svechnikov, but it shouldn’t be taken without critical examination either.
Of course the scouts are wrong sometimes but when you look at the list of second overall picks. They boom far far more often than they bust.
Laine, eichel, Barkov, landeskog, Seguin, Murray, hedman, doughty, JVR, Ryan, J Staal, Malkin, E Staal. I’ll take my chances, keep the pick and use it on the guy who almost matched mcdavids primary points per game in juniors.
Not sure everyone’s aware of this but Svetch started the season hurt and missed time. If he had a full season he may have extended the gap between him and zadina even further.
ericiversen21, you have it right IMO. Most scouting reports say the defenseman is the elite. They rate Svetchnikov and Zdina as elite slightly below him but in a tier above all the rest in the draft. In other words they rate the top three in one tier and then you drop down in the quality of players. Tkacxhuck is NOT rated at the same level as Svethnikov nor Zdina, You are correct in your understanding of the ratings of each of the players as far as I am concerned.
I don’t know when I have heard a more ridiculous comment than, “These are pro athletes, being body checked legally isn’t going to throw them off their game.”
Whoever said that has never played the game at any level.
Why does anyone at the NHL level throw body checks (legal and illegal), if not to throw enemy players off their game? If pain and viciousness do not have an impact on you, then you are not human.
Tom Wilson’s recent hit breaking his target’s jaw and causing a concussion was “legal”. That is, the refs called no penalty. I must say, Wilson’s target was thrown off his game. When Wilson is on the ice, enemy players are distracted and intimidated. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be human. Also, Wilson’s teammates are inspired when he paints the boards with enemy players.
I would love to see the man who made that statement get on skates and figure out which end of the stick to hold. Then, I would double over with laughter when he gets hit at mid-ice.
Pro athletes are not immune to pain and injury. They experience fear like the rest of us humans. Why must you analytics people dehumanize these players?
Trading a No. 2 pick that will, if the player selected is Svech, be an impact player from Day 1, will be a huge tell on what the team owner and management are thinking. There is nothing worth that trade. And if the pick is traded I will be thinking that maybe, indeed, it is “Thrasher time”! – not that the team will be moved soon but that we are facing the same extended period (in ATL’s case it was 10 years) of mediocre management leading to mediocre results. And it will be intentional on the part of TD, Waddell, and Dudley (Dudley, of course, having a history of trading (and badly at that) top draft picks while he was (mis)managing the Panthers. Trade the pick and I will start to lose faith in the organization.
Drafting anyone by Svech at No. 2 would be a hugely big mistake. Tkachuk will make a nice pick at 5-9 but he is not a Top-2 player – he simply doesn’t have the same skill as either Zadina or Svech. And between those two I have seen two visuals that tell the difference: (1) Svech is far and away superior when it comes to fancy stats (and Zadina plays in a weaker league); and (2) shot charts are telling; Zadina is a classic sniper and all of his goals came from either dot with 3 in the slot; Svech scores from all over – from the blue line to the crease. There is just no comparison between the two. And the Draft Report has rated Svech above Dahlin the entire season.
My wife asked me when the draft occurs. When I told her the end of June, he response was: “ are you and your nerdy online friends going to obsess for seven more weeks?”
I sure am! Having a top pick has made the offseason much better.
Take the Russian and count our blessings! He is clear cut #2 by most major assessments, and would be #1 if not for Dahlin. Doesn’t mean I place 100% stock in assessments, but Svechnikov can be a game changer…having the size, skill and speed most teams covet.
As for comments on the Canes relating to the Thrashers, those connections are on the surface because of Waddell and Dudley. Just remember that Atlanta ownership group was a mess and wasn’t as invested on the hockey side (Waddell and Dudley know this). Whereas Dundon just bought the Canes, and by many accounts is very invested in making this team marketable both on and off the ice, so give him time). Highly doubt a new owner buys a team to not be successful or relocate.
My comments on the Thrashers were about a history of management miscues and poor decisions (draft selections, trades, etc.) made by Waddell and Dudley that had nothing to do with the flawed ownership of that franchise. TD is driven for success but I need more time (and some more made decisions) before I feel assured that W&D are the right choices for management.
I hear ya! Part of me feels ownership was so bad with that team that some decisions were influenced…but here’s to learning from any mistakes of the past and a clean slate with these two.
I had no idea, I just assumed all AHL series were 5 games.
I am happy I am forced to learn otherwise, thanks Checkers for forcing me to learn and fellow Caniacs for the enlightenment!
I think there is an overwhelmingly convincing argument for holding on to our #2 pick.
I remain open to ideas about trading him for a #3 or #4 pick and an asset the team urgently needs, such as a goalie, center or Max, but only as a secondary option.
Anything other than that, such as trading down significantly for NHL players is just dumb in my highly educated armchair GM opinion.
I’m normally on the no trade bandwagon, but I’d totally give up a nice package to get the #2 AND #3 picks. Both Svetch and Zadina seem like great fits for the Canes. Future building for the win.
I like that idea, as unlikely as it is to actually happen. Also,no “T” in Svechnikov! 😀 I am hoping we all get plenty of practice spelling his name!
I tried to reply to ericiverson’s ridiculous comment, “These are pro athletes, being body checked legally is not going to throw them off their game.” But my reply got moved down a few notches by the time I finished.
If you are interested, it’s there. But I would like only here to say that the writer of that comment has never played the game (or any contact sport for that matter). Why do you analytics people insist upon dehumanizing the players?
Power. I didn’t take Eric’s comment to be ridiculous. For me he was saying that a hard check will hurt and slow a player down—temporarily. But playing against a player who is faster, better handling the puck, and a world-class scorer is still more daunting than getting checked even by the most physical player. Svechnikov is that elite player.
A hard check will hurt and slow a player down. I believe that is what is called taking him off his game. Then there is the fear factor. That too will take a player off his game.
Then we have what is called taking a team off its game. How many games have you watched where we dump the puck in the enemy zone and let the enemy d-men clear the zone? How many of our shots on goal this year were from the slot or the circles? How many of our players stand in front of the enemy net, screening the keeper?
As fast as we are, the enemy has no trouble keeping our fast and highly skilled players from penetrating to shoot from a high percentage area. They are not afraid of our speed and skill. They have plenty of their own.
What they have, that we don’t have are players who are very big, strong and mean. Players who are capable and willing to inflict pain and injury and fear.
We lack that kind of player. Lacking that kind of player doubtless has our name on every player’s “no trade” list. Remember, there have been elite draft picks who have refused to go to the teams that selected them. Jack Johnson was our number two pick and refused to come to us.
Correction. Jack Johnson was our number three pick in 2005. Florida’s second round pick in 2016, Adam Mascherin, has publicly said that he will go back into the draft rather than sign with Florida.
Perhaps I overstated things when I said it doesn’t throw them off their game. A better way to phrase this would have been, Ovechkin and Laine type players are going to score goals whether they are checked or not. They do it every year. People who project to score lots of goals are special types of players that you dont pass on.
Goal scoring is the most valuable skill set in the league, it’s why they get paid the most. Grit and physicality can be found much easier than using a 2nd overall pick to get it.
And to answer your question, yes I’ve played hockey.
I seriously doubt we will trade the #2 pick, but having the news out there that we are entertaining offers sure does open the line of communication with some other teams as to who may or may not be available. Smart.
RR, I have also been advocating for a while about the shared goalie responsibilities. We know what we have in Ward, and the safe play is to get another experienced tender that can take about half of the starts. I tend to take a longer view when looking at goalie stats since they can fluctuate drastically from year to year. I think Kari Lehtonen (UFA) might be a good option if we could sign him for about $2.5M. He is the same age as Ward and interestingly the two have almost identical career statistics. Yeah, we may not hit a home run, but I’d settle for a double rather than another strikeout.
Wow! You have played hockey? Have you played in leagues where they are allowed to hit you? I find it difficult to believe that anyone who has ever been hit would make such a ridiculous comment.
It interesting that you chose Ovi and Laine to make your point. If anyone were to dare to hit either player, they would be swarmed and beaten within an inch of their life. This retaliation is almost always immediate.
Of course, with the Canes, they take swipes at our guys with impunity. Who is going to challenge them?
And please tell me this. How does speed and skill help you win the puck in battles along the boards? How much does speed and skill help when you are being crosschecked and elbowed and butt-ended and slashed while you are establishing a net-front presence?
“be swarmed and beaten within an inch of their life. This retaliation is almost always immediate.”
Sorry if you found my statement to be ridiculous. I must not have caught any of the games where the above happened… but if this is what you want to spend the 2nd overall pick on, I’d be worried he may end spending a lot of time in the penalty box and/or a maximum security prison.
Only twice in the last ten drafts has the first forward selected not provided their team with elite offensive talent.
Speed and skill help along the boards because you can quickly move or retrieve the puck instead of taking yourself out of the play to pin someone. It’s a completely situational call though. The Russian kid is reported to be good along the boards by the way.
The guy with speed and skill isn’t the one in front of the net usually. That’s usually a bigger player with less finesse that can be found in free agency or taken with a later draft pick. I’m not somehow bashing these players… I’m simply saying you don’t take them when there is potential elite talent on the board.
Players like Ovi are really special. There are a few others in the NHL who are big and like to go on it up while they are gifted scorers.
That’s what this kid Tkatchuk is. He can score and make plays. He also likes to hit and stand in front of the enemy net.
I know that analytics people like you don’t understand. I know that all of the evidence in the world will not dissuade you from dehumanizing the players and making ridiculous assumptions.
I am not talking to a fan here. Are you watching the playoffs at all?
Hey all…Different opinions in a respectful way are the best thing going at Canes and Coffee. And by no means is the aim for everyone to agree on everything. But important is that we all stay on the right side of disagreeing on hockey opinions and not squaring off in one on one or one on many disagreements that start to become personal battles or attacks.
If you disagree with someone, feel free to say so and say why. Stay clear of personal attacks and battles, so we can maintain the Coffee Shop atmosphere that is the best part of this site.
Thanks all!
I was going to say we could trade Skinner for Calgary’s first round pick. Reunion with Coach Peters and all that. Then I remembered Calgary doesn’t have a first round pick.?
It’s May and we are in the same situation as 25 other teams. No chance at a Stanley Cup this year. The canes have a chance to get better at the draft. Good days ahead.
The playoff team that was the biggest and meanest are the ducks . They’re no longer in the playoffs, in fact they got embarrassed.
Yes, we do need more grit, physicality, but we don’t need players like Tom Wilson (well, correction, the league needs to take itself seriously and ban guys like Tom Wilson from the game for a season, or for life, if they don’t want hockey to turn into stick wielding rugby, if the game develops into that, count me out as a fan, I’d rather watch UFC or boxing, I like hockey for the skill and speed).
WE can get guys like Kane or Maroon to provide more grit in the lineup with some skill, while using our draft pick on a difference making scorer.
The trick is to have a team that can be configured to do what it ttakes to win, whether it be to outskill, outsmart or outhit the copponent.
Vegas is a shining example of that. They’ve made small but impactful changes in their lineup to counter their opponent’s strategy, they play 4 lines deep, they play hard, they play for each other, they never quit. Their success is no magic, other than the magic used to pick the players and the bonding. This team plays hard, snart, relentless.
With the right players the Canes ban be that team.
Absolutely. And I think it almost has to start with a reboot, and a shedding of a number of players who have forgotten what it takes to play winning hockey as opposed to just playing hockey.
I think you will find that the biggest meanest teams in the playoffs are still in the playoffs; Jets and the Caps. Of course, Vegas, Nashville, and Tampa have their share of goons. You don’t win in the regular season or go deep into the playoffs without them.
Sorry guys. I hate to ruin your dreams. But teams without grit don’t win. Look at the teams that didn’t make the playoffs. Look at us!
My new friend Eric questioned my contention that taking cheap shots at Ovi or Laine would be retaliated swiftly and harshly.
Ovi skates on the same line as Ovi. Every player in the NHL knows that if you hit Ovi, you deal with Wilson. If fans don’t know this, they are not paying attention. If Wilson is suspended or injured, the Caps have a half dozen other goons who will step up.
Laine plays on a team loaded with goons. He doesn’t have to worry about being cheap shot. It is this protection that allows a scorer to score.
Our scorers don’t have anyone to protect them. Except maybe Justin Williams.
One contributor was honest enough to say out loud that he wanted to banish all of the gritty players, leaving roon for only scorers. A pure game of skill. No hitting. No fighting.
No fans.
Oops! I meant to say that Ovi skates on the same line with Wilson. Sorry.
The Caps were 2 and 2 against Pit with Wilson in the lineup, 2 and 0 without.
We could try to pry Wilson from the caps, Alexiac from the Pens, and get Matt Cook and Rafi Torres out of retirement. I am not convinced the Canes would be a better team.
The Caps win because they have a scoring threat like Ovi ; no Ovi, no one for Wilson to stand up for.
Guys like Ovi and crossby are hard to find, it takes the draft or a fleecing of a deal to land them. You can find strong and mean guys with some skil in the 4th round. sure, the canes can do with more of that, I think we all agree.
Those can be added or developed and do not need to command 8 million dollar annua salary.
But they have to have someone to protect.
We all want this tea to win.
Like the majority here I am all in for Svechnikov. How can you pass up on this sniper. Isn’t that what we all have said we needed. I have witnessed improvements in Ned’s game this year. His positioning and puck handling is much better. I agree with ctcaniac we may have a hidden gem here. Z and Foggs are a given but I also have been impressed with Saarela. He is another sniper like the Russian and has been more physical in the playoff. Then there is McKegg he averaged over a point per game since we got him for Jooris. Lastly I think the sleepers are Gauthier or Roy. Along with Z they are our future net front presence. The list goes on Bean, Geekie, Elynuik, Necas, Kuokkanen, Smallman etc. We are stacked and now we get to add to the cupboard in the upcoming draft. We can thank RF for this. I think in a couple of years we will realize that he was a better GM than some have opined. The future looks bright finally. Lastly I would be happy as a lark if Vellucci is named the head coach. Makes sense and he wants it.