Today’s Daily Cup of Joe continues a series casting shade on the Carolina Hurricanes’ Metropolitan Division foes.
Same disclaimer as part 1:
First, let me be upfront in saying that I think the Metropolitan Division projects to again be the best in the NHL in 2019-20. So this first part of casting shade/doubt on the Canes divisional opponents is about seeking potential weaknesses in a generally good set of teams and to some degree just trying to find something fun to debate as we enter the dog days of the hockey summer.
Part 1 which you can find HERE covered the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Columbus Blue Jackets
More than any other team in the division, the Blue Jackets took steps backward this summer. The departure of regular Vezina candidate Sergei Bobrovsky, top scorer Artemi Panarin and rental Matt Duchene removes a significant amount of hockey talent from the lineup. With Gustav Nyquist as the team’s biggest off-season addition, the team downgraded. Losing Panarin takes away a catalyst for one line and a key power play contributor. The goaltending duo of Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins is far from proven in an NHL starting role. The blue line is still a strength. And John Tortorella has a knack for getting the most out of players. But the decrease in raw hockey talent seems too much to overcome.
New York Islanders
The Islanders were arguably the NHL’s biggest surprise early in the 2018-19 season. The team started fast and was at or near the top of the Metropolitan Division fairly deep into the season. Even with a modest decline late, the Isles impressively finished second in the division and then road that to an impressive and dominant win over the Penguins in the first round of the playoffs. The Isles’ 2018-19 success is a decent launching pad into the 2019-20 season. If one believes the 2018-19 success was largely a result of Barry Trotz’s system and coaching, 2018-19 looks repeatable. But I also think that team simply overachieved. The goalie position is an interesting one. Despite a strong 2018-19 season, Robin Lehner was not re-signed, but the team did add another capable veteran in Semyon Varlamov. Though I do expect the Islanders to be difficult to play against, I think the team overachieved in 2018-19 and figures to take a step back in 2019-20.
What say you Canes fans?
1) What are your thoughts on the Columbus Blue Jackets? Can Tortorella leverage a strong blue line and find a way to make the rest work? Or are the Blue Jackets set to fall in 2019-20?
2) What about the New York Islanders? Do you see them as a team that overachieved in 2018-19, or did Trotz effect a change that is more permanent?
Go Canes!
Well put.
The big if for Columbus is the goaltending. I think their D core is pretty good, I suspect their forwards could surprise but I do not expect them to be a top 3 metro team. But, then again, they could be this year’s expectation defying version of the Islanders, speaking of which.
I don’t know why the Islanders didn’t resign their magic goalie, but they are a well coached team with a system that has consistently given the Canes regular season headaches over the last 2 or 3 years, it seems that one team sweeps the other most years, recently it’s been the Islanders holding the broomsticks but the Canes used to beat them consistently back in the Eric Staal era.
This year I would be surprised if the Isles push for a the spot of a top 3 Metro dog. I expect the teams we have yet to cover to be the ones to watch in that regard.
1) There’s no expectations/pressure on the Blue Jackets. So they could be this year’s NYI. The D is strong enough to make the goalies better. Still I think they will not have enough scoring.
2) When the Canes finally figured out NYI the Islanders became what I expect they will be this season—a disciplined team that lacks the high end scoring to win most nights. I would be surprised if they end above 90-92 points.
The teams still to come are the biggest obstacles. Though I think some are underestimating Pittsburgh. Any team with Crosby, Malkin, Guentzel, and Murray in net can compete for a Cup.
This is a tale of two coaches.
Tortorella is going to get an opportunity to prove his coaching chops with this team (I am not sure he has ever really had a challenging coaching situation in the NHL to date). Unlike ct, I think the pressure on the team will be there and will be coming from the ever-volatile Tortorella. How he handles the situation and how he can get the most from the players he has will determine their success, or lack thereof.
On the other hand, when was the last time a Trotz-coached team did not make the playoffs. Other than the change in goalies I didn’t follow any other Isles roster changes. But I would not write off this team, short of injuries. Expect more of the same from last year, even if they don’t match their results.
By the way, Matt, both RBA and DW seemed to indicate that they thought the Canes “over-acheived” last season – I can’t remember if they actually used that word. But it was clear they felt that they got absolutely everything they could out of the team last season.
I think RBA said he “got everything out of that team there was to get” – or something like that. I don’t think he used the term “over-achieve.”
I recall that comment, but I thought I heard something else as well.
I do think the CBJ took a step backwards but they still have a very good team. Pierre-Luc Dubois has a very high ceiling: for all you analogy fans, I can imagine a scenario where PLD : Duchene :: Matt Barzal : Tavares. If that turns out to be true, they will be very competitive. Goaltending is the real question mark for me.
I wouldn’t undersell the NYI and Barry Trotz until they stumble. They really didn’t subtract much other than Lehner and their style is repeatable with player buy-in, which they should now have in spades. If Ladd comes back as a contributor, they are another veteran player deeper. Having said that, I think that style becomes a limiting factor in the playoffs without more scoring oomph.
As I said yesterday, I disagree with the opening premise – I think the Metro has taken a backseat to the East and the Central – but the NYI are certainly still in my mix for a Top 3 spot.
I’ve been watching the newest Cane, Max McCormick on Hockey Fights. I think I’m in love. Thanks Donny and Tom. Between Max and Ryan, I think we’re set.
It’s safe to come back Willy.