Today’s Daily Cup of Joe looks at a group of players whose range of possibilities are, in my opinion, wide such that whether they land on the high end or low end of those ranges could decide the fate of the Carolina Hurricanes 2019-20 season.
Alex Nedeljkovic
Nedeljkovic did all he could do at the AHL level during the 2018-19 season being arguably the Checkers’ best player in the second half of the season and netminding his way to a Calder Cup championship. No doubt, Nedeljkovic is ready for a look at the NHL level. No doubt, he has the pedigree and potential to play a role at the NHL level. But predicting NHL success based on AHL play just does not generally work. There are any number of very good career AHL goalies who just do not have NHL stuff. And there are also goalies who do not seem to project to the NHL level who receive an opportunity, seize it and excel and then never look back. With James Reimer in the picture at least as of now, predicting Nedeljkovic’s impact on the Hurricanes 2019-20 season becomes even murkier. Could Nedeljkovic be one of those rookies like Jordan Binnington who gets a chance and runs with it? Or might he struggle a bit initially and take some time to adjust to the NHL level just like he did the AHL level a couple of years ago?
Warren Foegele
His season was an odd one production-wise. Foegele looked like he was shot out of a cannon in preseason and then proceeded to start the season with a quick scoring burst playing with Jordan Staal and Justin Williams. But he went quiet after that and endured some massing scoring droughts. Foegele had 4 points in 4 games to start the season. He had 3 points (all goals) in 6 games to finish the regular season. And he was the ignition key for the first round of the playoffs and finished with 9 points in 15 games in the playoffs. But the big middle of the regular season saw him score a meager 8 points in 67 games. Did Foegele find a higher gear as a difference-making, productive power forward that will carry over to the 2019-20 season? Or were the playoffs just another short burst of scoring that was well-timed such that he will be a low-scoring depth forward whose strength is that his skill set fits Brind’Amour’s system?
Andrei Svechnikov
As a much-heralded draft pick who was the first forward taken, Andrei Svechnikov’s 2018-19 season was underwhelming offensively with only 37 points. After entering the season as a front-runner to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie, he never really played his way into the running. But despite the ‘meh’ production, Svechnikov exited the 2018-19 season with his upside and future promise still intact. His 37 points did include 20 goals, and more significantly he did show flashes of the scoring ability that had many pegging him as a certain 30-goal scorer someday with upside from there. I think most would be surprised if Svechnikov does not take a step forward in 2019-20, but the burning question is how much. Does Svechnikov make modest step-wise progress offensively and otherwise in Elias Lindholm fashion? Or can Svechnikov quickly put things together and surge significantly higher in 2019-20? The difference between Svechnikov producing like a third line forward or having a breakout year as an offensive superstar would be a significant one in terms of deciding the Hurricanes’ fate.
There are a few other players who fit into this same category, but with the dog days of the NHL off-season officially here, we will save some for another day.
What say you Canes fans?
1) What do you predict for Alex Nedeljkovic at the NHL level for the 2019-20 season?
2) Was Warren Foegele’s breakout in the playoffs a sign of things to come? What do you predict for his 2019-20 season?
3) After a learning rookie season as an 18-year old, is Andrei Svechnikov ready for a breakout season in 2019-20?
Go Canes!
I never over-estimate goalies (they’re a strange breed of athlete), but Ned seems to be a decent GK with a lot of potential! He’s probably an average or better prospect. Thankfully Mrazek was re-signed, and Reimer has been pretty decent-to-good, so I’m not overly worried about goalies…YET! …this is not to be “SET-IN-STONE”!!!!
Foegele impressed me with his speed-skill-toughness! He is a keeper, and has a lot of upside IMO!
Svechnikov is already a good player, and the sky’s the limit!
More potential than any 2nd year player since E.Staal!
This could be a great year, with a little luck.
Ned will get his fair shot. Ultimately I think he starts the season in CLT and is a quick callup.
Svech will improve and I think has 55 points in him.
Foegs will play a key 4th line role (and shift up when needed). He will need the occasional game off to refresh, but his tenacious play will be key.
Biggest offseason move is to try to bring in another offensive weapon and perhaps another LHD. We have plenty of picks, goalie depth and prospects to potentially dangle to a team in cap purgatory. So I think this offseason still has another move or two waiting in the wings.
Hard to predict a 19 yr old’s performance, but Svetch should be at least be a top six performer.
Foegle has a chance to be a middle six winger, if he can produce consistent offense. Hopefully with experience he will be the 20-15 goal scorer that I think he can be. He is a late bloomer.
Barring injury or poor play by Riemer/Mrazek, it doesn’t look like Ned will get much of chance.
1. I am a huge fan of Ned. He has fire and competitiveness. He gets the mental perspective of being a goalie – he didn’t lose two games in a row last season. But his style of game – activeness around the net, playing the puck – is antithetical to the NHL game and, honestly, I am not sure is that effective at the NHL level. Time will tell – but I think he has to get the opportunity and when he gets it then he has to excel – like Binnington and like Murray.
2. My big joke last season was how many “mystery” items I got last season or signed items at Cool Bars at PNC were Foegele – to the point where I wanted nothing more from Foegele. He had an amazing goal that I can still see in my mind and an exceptional series against WSH. But I am from Missouri here – he has to show a consistent ability to be something other than a grinder (a role he is effective at, actually).
3. BY th end of the season you could see how things were clicking with Svech – he made great strides through the season. He was more fearless and confident moving the puck, charging the net, taking the shot. I expect a big step up this season.
Svech will produce more when he’s hopefully actually put in a position to do so this year. He spent a lot of time lugging around inferior players. I think he proved himself to RBA so he will have a top 6 role and should run with it this year.