Today’s Daily Cup of Joe features a random set of notes that have not made it into other articles recently.
Dougie Hamilton
After a slow start in a Carolina Hurricanes uniform, I really like Hamilton’s game right now. He is a bit of a rover with a risk component to his game, but he participates as a fourth forward on offense as well as any defenseman the Canes have had. What jumps out at me is that Hamilton is not so much the type who only generates offense with the puck on his stick. Much of what Hamilton does is more exploiting open areas on the ice off the rush or in the offensive zone. Though there is some risk in his style of play, his ability to pick spots is generally pretty good.
Andrei Svechnikov
It has been in an understated way, but I like the way Andrei Svechnikov has been playing the past couple games. He has regularly been trying to beat defenders at the offensive blue line and has had decent success doing so. He also seems to be making necessary adjustments in terms of not lazily using his stick to defend. Svechnikov had 8 minor penalties in 12 games in January. Through 10 games in Febuary, he has only two minor penalties. Throw in an assist in each of the past two games, and one can hope that he is catching his second wind just in time.
Justin Williams
Williams’ play early in the season was hit or miss. He made plays, but he also seemed to struggle with pace in transition to defense, and he also had a tendency to turn the puck over too much in bad places when he did not get his feet moving soon enough. Fast forward to the second half of the season, and Williams is playing well on an Aho-centered first line. To be honest, I would not have expected that Williams could match pace enough to play well o Aho’s line, but he has looked good thus far.
Jordan Staal
After a long layoff with a concussion, Jordan Staal is on the mend. He figures to return in one of the next few games. With the team generally winning, there is no need to upset the apple cart when he returns. I would simply slot Staal in McKegg’s slot and then let him play his way up from there. I actually think that landing place with Warren Foegele and Saku Maenalanen could provide a comfortable starting point for Staal. The downside as I see it swapping center for center is that such a move would leave Martinook at center. While I appreciate the flexibility of Martinook being able to play center, I think he is better was a wing.
What say you Canes fans?
1) Which Carolina Hurricanes players do you think are rising up at the right time?
2) Where in the lineup would you start Jordan Staal when he returns?
Go Canes!
1. 3rd and 4th line tenacity and scoring chances have allowed RBA to roll 4 lines with confidence and without hesitation. We need a quick turnaround on Thursday to keep momentum.
2. The fact Staal’s return poses questions of who to pull out of the lineup is a good thing. I don’t think there is any one player who deserves to be pulled, and if we were better at faceoffs this would be an even harder decision. Staal does a lot of things right, the unnoticeable things every team craves. But he is a step slower and his hands can oftentimes be stone. This is where McKegg has been a pleasant spark and others have fed off this. That said, another jolt to the lines is a good thing for this next stretch and who knows what happens towards the deadline. For now, I agree McKegg will likely be pulled from the lineup, or you may see a rotation of some of the 4th liners. Change is good.
1. I agree with lfd that the 3rd and 4th lines (as units, not necessarily indvidual players) have really upped their games – they completely dominated some shifts last night (particularly early).
Rising individuals? – both Turbo and Martinook since they signed their respective contracts.
2. I understand Staal has been skating between Ferland and Turbo during the 2 or 3 practices he has been in. I don’t remember who he was centering when he went down with his concussion but I think that is the right spot for him, provided he can handle the ice time. Wallmark slides to the third line moving Martinook to wing – that line started the season and Wallmark and Svech are both much improved. And then it is a matter of which winger goes to the press box (or CLT) – Saku, Foegele, or McGinn.
Off topic. I’d love to know what Aho thinks off his being reunited with Puljujarvi. Edmonton and the player are not giving each other what they want/need. Would a Necas for Puljujarvi deal help both teams?
It would help EDM and hurt CAR. Necas is one of the big reasons for the Checkers’ success this season. I wouuldn’t mind PoolParty on the team but, as breezy said below – too steep a price.
I think, given that Mr. P. has been in the Oilers’ dog igglu for most of the year that Necas is too steep a price to pay for him. I’m concerned that we haven’t seen much from our Czech wonder kid yet, but I still think he may come around.
That being said, the Oilers are all but out by now (having won one out of their last 10 games, oddly enough still 6 points out of the playoffs in the west). They may be desperate to do whatever they can to turn it around in a hurry.
I think the team is wrongly constructed, around 3 superstar players in Macdavid draisaitl and RNH, with not enough support cast, especially on d and the wings, and they are soft in goal.
I wonder if some combination of Faulk, a D prospect, Ferland, one of our bottom 6 tough guys, Mac and 2 second round picks to Edm for draisaitl and Puljajarvi would be possible.
A first second punch of Aho and Draisaitl does not sound too terrible.
I’d miss ferland, I’d rather get a deal done without him, but Edm probably demands a solid high end tough to play against winger.
I’m not super serious on this deal but it does sound interesting.
I think trying to pry Puljajarvi from Edm for some picks and prospects would not be a bad idea. He has not played anywhere close to his draft pedigree, but Edmunton has a unique talent for ruining players. AS reclamation projects go, reuniting him with his country men in North Carolina sounds like a potential winner.
A second round, third round and 6th round picks + Cliff Pu sounds about right.
Do you follow the Checkers?
I only read the game recaps and glance at the scores, so only superficially.
I dont see the name Necas pop up much in either.
If he is quietly performing in ways that do not pop out on the scoresheet that would be fantastic news.
He is 5th in scoring on the team, for starters, having played 7-9 fewer AHL games than others on the team – so he is definitely showing up on the scoresheet. Vellucci is grooming him nicely for play in all situations – PP/PK, center/wing and he is meeting the challenge.
Draisaitl is making a name for himself in not making the extra effort expected for a high-paid superstar – a nice article on sportsnet.ca on the bad culture in EDM highlighted that and Hitchcock’s frustration with him.
Sweet! I like the sound of that. If Necas is further along than I thought I am super psyched to see him strutt is stuff with the canes.
Draisaitl could eclipse the 50 goal mark this season, I think he has already broken 40, so for all the talk of not contributing to the culture that kid is a constant threat on the scoresheet. Doesn’t take much more than that to convince me if he were available.
There is a lot to be said for hard working good guys, but at the end of the day the difference between winners and losers is often the extra skilled guy making the seemingly impossible play.
Aho has got that on some nights, so does TT and JW, but I think we could do with another guy that can perform such magic.