Over the weekend, the Hurricanes announced that goalies Jeremy Helvig and Callum Booth had been returned to the Charlotte Checkers.
With the Checkers training camp set to open on Tuesday, I was expecting a sizable round of cuts on Sunday, but I guess they will happen on Monday morning shortly after I write this late on Sunday night.
Today’s Daily Cup of Joe takes a quick look at what should be a fairly predictable round of cuts. It would be a big surprise if any of the Canes players on one-way contracts were sent to Charlotte at this early juncture, and a number of other players have certainly played their way into an early audition. As such, this first round of cuts would be primarily players who entered training camp as near certain AHLers.
In goal
With Booth and Helvig gone, I would expect the Hurricanes to keep the remaining four goalies though timing could be interesting to try to sneak Anton Forsberg through waivers before an injury or two has a team looking for goalie depth on the waiver wire.
At forward
Likely to head to Charlotte on Monday: Colin Markison, Hunter Shinkaruk, Spencer Smallman, Steven Lorentz, Jacob Pritchard. This group likely to be joined by 1-3 more forwards will be the initial group in Charlotte.
On the fence: Brian Gibbons, Max McCormick, Eetu Luostarinen, Ryan Suzuki (would return to juniors not go to the AHL). By my estimation Ryan Suzuki will not push for an NHL roster spot on a Canes team that is deep at forward, so the question is how long the team will keep him in camp for development purposes. Gibbons and McCormick will almost certainly start the season the AHL level, but because they represent depth with NHL experience and the speed and tenacity that Brind’Amour wants on his wings, one or both could stay a bit longer for the coaching staff to see how they might later fit if needed.
Likely to get a longer NHL audition: Julien Gauthier, Martin Necas, Janne Kuokkanen, Clark Bishop, Morgan Geekie. Gauthier and Bishop have been among the team’s best players so far, so each obviously stays. I think Kuokkanen is still on the outside looking in but will get a longer look anyway. And though I think Geekie is also destined for Charlotte, I think he has played well enough to survive the first round of cuts. With Gauthier’s rise, Necas is likely on the outside looking in right now on the NHL lineup, but he will be given opportunities until the end of training camp to climb back into the top 12 or 13.
Stelio Mattheos no doubt has some catching up to do after missing the front part of training camp for treatment for testicular cancer. He could stay a little bit longer to give him a fair preseason look, but ultimately will head to Charlotte to continue his development.
My wild guess for cuts: Markison, Shinkaruk, Smallman, Lorentz, Mattheos, Luostarinen, Pritchard.
On defense
Likely to head to Charlotte on Monday: Alex Lintuniemi, Cavan Fitzgerald, Fredrik Claesson, Kyle Wood, Derek Sheppard. With the exception of Claesson, this group was destined for Charlotte from the outset. The Canes are deep at the bottom of their blue line, so there is plenty of extra help remaining in training camp even without keeping any extras.
On the fence: Jesper Sellgren, Roland McKeown, Gustav Forsling. As a newcomer to Raleigh, the coaching staff might or might not want a longer look at Sellgren, but I think he is ultimately destined for Charlotte. McKeown and Forsling would figure to still be in the tryout for one of the last spots, but might the team try to get one or both of them through waivers to Charlotte at this early juncture of training camp while other teams are still busy slotting the players they already have?
Likely to get a longer NHL audition: Jake Bean, Haydn Fleury. Because he does not need to clear waivers this year but must do so next year, I think the team will want to see as much of Jake Bean as possible in NHL-ish preseason games to evaluate him and continue his development. He is almost certain to start the season in Charlotte, but I would not be surprised to see him stay in Raleigh until the end. Fleury is almost certain to stay at the NHL level, but I list him here because he is waiver-exempt and on a two-way contract.
Chase Priskie is a wild card since he is out with injury. He ultimately seems destined for Charlotte, but when exactly is uncertain.
My wild guess for cuts: Lintuniemi, Fitzgerald, Claesson, Wood, Sheppard, Sellgren.
If my math is right, these cuts would give the Checkers a decent group of seven forwards, six defensemen and two goalies to begin practices.
What say you Canes fans?
1) If you see this before cuts are announced, what are your predictions?
2) For after cuts are announced, did any of the players remaining or cut in this first big round of cuts surprise you?
Go Canes!
1. I think you guesses are about right – sort of the obvious choices; they represent the real cut between definite AHLers and those with NHL potential this year. I would like to think (or hope) that will give Mattheos more time in camp – maybe even gametime? – so he is not penalized for his cancer. If there are two you have slated to go down who I think may stay until the next round of cuts, I would have Sellgren and Luostarinen. But it is time to winnow out the AHLers and focus on the players who will make the team – either out of camp or on callups.
I would agree with giving Mattheos a game, but that would depend on if he is physically ready. I do not know what his training has been over the past few months, but it is possible that he is a week or 2 from being ready for game action same as if he was injured. If that is the case, it probably makes sense for him to just start up with the initial group in Charlotte.
Regardless, it is great news to see him back, and he is even more so a player that Canes fans will be rooting for.
I think a few things have to be considered before sending down waiver-eligible players. RBA has probably seen enough to determine who can play in the NHL (not sure he thinks most the younger guys are ready this year). The other scenarios are potential trades to alleviate the logjam on defense and goaltending, and the October schedule (including early west coast trip).
If trades are not part of the plan or on the horizon, I agree with Matt that now is the time to send more players down sooner while other teams are still busy slotting the players they already have. But we also have to keep in mind the October travel and potential need to carry a 22 man roster. It’s a fine line DW and company have to walk.
There is another reason to “keep” additional “soon to be” AHLers around. To allow the inevitable NHLers to play less pre-season minutes and games. There is no down side to keeping those destined for Charlotte around until the last minute, unless you want to try to sneak a player through waivers on a really busy waiver day.
The other side of that coin is these AHL guys are in the way during practice when they are trying to install and perfect systems.
Both sides of coin have merit, but I tend to think rustiness occurs when you sit players, while injuries occur when you play ‘not’ to get injured.
3 pre-season games in the coaches know who the surprises are, so I agree cut the roster down and get as much of the regulars in synch. The team needs to get off to a better, faster start.
First, the best way to avoid a pre-season injury is stay of the ice during pre-season games. Second, the 2 squads can be organized internally so that NHL bound players skate as a unit in practice and AHL players do likewise. Both goals are not exclusive.
For me the relatively high probability of a trade in the next 10 days keeps this team roster in limbo a bit longer. Will Justin Faulk be here opening day? Keeping him after this season will require a new contract. A new multi year contract w/ an NMC will mean Faulk will have to be protected in the Seattle draft. There is an unintended consequences to making him part of the team’s core going forward. It means exposing/losing a young, good player that otherwise would be protected just 2 seasons into that contract. The alternative, keeping him unsigned, is basically treating him as a “self trade” at the deadline ala Ferland. Imagine this team w/o Faulk. Imagine being a buyer at the deadline. Would Faulk be the difference maker you need to get this team to the Cup Finals? For me, either scenario suggests Faulk is not a “core” member of the Canes. He is icing on the cake, but the long term cost for that extra layer of icing is too high and avoidable.
The most interesting battles are at right wing (Necas and Le Taureau Franco-Canadienne aka Chevre) and 6D (Fleury Bean et al).
The French Canadian Bull aka Goat has the edge right now, and should he continue to lead. Calling him Le Taureau (the bull) or Chèvre (Goat) has the extra advantage of poking at Montreal. This is now a rivalry that could last a generation, or at least the remainder of Aho’s career.
Necas has less than one week to step up or this one is decided.
Fleury is playing his best ever at the NHL level and has the edge there.
Beyond that, this first round of cuts makes a lot of sense.
I like the idea of a French nickname if he makes the club.
Is their French idiom for “bull in a china shop”?
“Dans un magasin de porcelaine” (in a china shop) doesn’t translate very well, it sounds a bit like a toilet shop! Lol.
The cuts have come – I haven’t seen the complete list but waivers include Wood, Lintuniemi, Gibbons, Claesson (don’t let two goals in next game), and McKeown (who has got to be disappointed – I am rooting for him to be picked up; but he is the surprise cut for me so far).
Maybe they knew McKeown wasn’t in their plans and wanted to give him some time to make another team? Hope he gets a shot.
I too like the idea of poking at Montreal. Our Julien would be a huge and prickly burr under their saddle. Back in the days of the original six, there was a time when there was no draft. Scouts were all over Canada looking for talent in pee wee games.
The Boston Bruins paid Bobby Orr’s father $10,000 for the rights to sign him to a contract when he turned 18. When they paid his Dad, Bobby Orr was 8 years old.
Montreal was and is the most politically powerful franchise in the NHL. Prior to the implementation of the draft, Montreal enjoyed the rights to sign the best French named player in Canada each year. There are many fans as well as media types who resent the loss of that right, even today.
Maybe we could double the fun and have our Haydn on the team. Montreal had a player named Guy Lafleur, fans affectionately called the “flower”. Maybe our Haydn could be “Flower II”.
Ha! Indeed LaFleur literally translates to “the flower” (feminine). Sounds like a beast.
Giving a French version of an English nickname gives it to them in reverse, in a way, The Spanish version of “the bull” is easier to spell (el toro) than the French version (le taureau) but it is the thought that counts.
There is an historical belief that the Americans won the race to the moon because, at the end of WW2, we captured better German scientists than the Russians captured.
It would be fun to beat Montreal because our “Franco Canadiennes” are better than theirs.
Le taureau, go break some “porcelaine”.
I may be a step behind you powerless. Calling Fleury “La Fleur Deux” would give it to them in reverse. Making flower masculine or getting the grammar incorrect on translation (e.g. “Le Deux Fleur” ) would make them crazy for multiple reasons.
They would be like the visiting coaches in “Air Bud”, waving a rule book in the air, while they are getting dunked on by a dog.
It’s one thing to poke fun of Montreal, but to disrespect Guy LaFleur? No way.