Today’s Daily Cup of Joe offers a short collection of random Canes notes.
Teuvo Teravainen
Right now, Teuvo Teravainen has a pretty strong claim to being the team’s most underrated player. I think most engaged Canes appreciate Teravainen for the most part, but he still seems to rank a bit below the star level. Sebastian Aho established himself as the team’s young offensive leader at 20 years old in 2018-19. Andrei Svechnikov is in the process of doing the same at 19 years old in 2019-20. Dougie Hamilton is scoring at a scorching pace from the back end. And though still a work in progress, Martin Necas has a chance to become the next scorer to break through before being old enough to legally buy an alcoholic beverage.
Meanwhile, Teuvo Teravainen finished second on the team in scoring in 2018-19 and quietly sits in the same place so far for 2019-20. Per my evaluation, Teravainen has been the team’s best player on an improved power play. So many of the Hurricanes power play goals have been a direct result of pretty passes from Teravainen that made for easy finishes. In addition, Teravainen has evolved to become a complete two-way player such that I think his game is easily the most mature in that area for the group of players mentioned above.
Though I do think the younger players’ ceiling is a tiny bit higher than Teravainen’s offensively, he might actually be the best of the group so far in 2019-20 based on including his two-way play.
Brett Pesce
The defensive yin to Teuvo Teravainen’s yang is Brett Pesce. Again, I think the part of the Hurricanes fan base that tracks the team closely probably has the correct level of appreciation for Brett Pesce. But in broader circles of fans who track the team less closely, Brett Pesce is underrated. By virtue of never being a regular on the power play, his scoring totals have always been limited. Worth noting in that regard though is that if you look at even strength scoring Pesce stacks up favorably. And as a player whose core skill set is defending, Pesce is not one to regularly show up in the highlight reels. With Hamilton surging offensively and Slavin seeming to be a notch higher when outsiders discuss the Hurricanes blue line, Pesce seems to get recognition for being a good defensive defenseman but is still I think underappreciated.
Martin Necas
Increasingly, I think Martin Necas is the key to the Hurricanes finding the next level. Sebastian Aho has established himself as a top-tier NHL center. Jordan Staal is a completely different kind of player and is admittedly light on offense but is capable of logging ice time against the league’s best. But with Staal just not bringing much in terms of playmaking or finishing, the Hurricanes ideally need another offense-leaning center to be the catalyst for a third line that leans offense. The team has become deeper in terms of offensive ability on the wing with Svechnikov, Teravainen, Dzingel, Niederreiter and at least for now Necas. While it is possible to drive offense through the wing, ideal is to have centers who can generate scoring chances for their wings. Sheer volume of shots and good scoring chances for wings goes a long way toward boosting scoring and creating balance throughout the lineup.
Though a bit raw still in some areas of his game, Necas has the part of that skill set that you cannot teach. He skates well both in s straight line but more importantly laterally. That gives Necas the ability to drive the puck into the offensive zone with pace and also create space and passing lanes to generate scoring chances for his line mates. Obtaining a top 6 scoring center via trade or free agency is incredibly difficult. Such players rarely hit the open market and when they do the bidding war is usually fierce. And within the organization currently, only Ryan Suzuki likely has the skill set to be a higher-end offensive center (and he is farther out). So sure there are any number of different ways for the Hurricanes to boost scoring and improve overall, but I really think an eventual move to center by Necas is the most immediate path to becoming a deeper team offensively. Best best is that such a transition does not occur in 2019-20 while Necas acclimates to the NHL, but could he audition there next season?
What say you Canes fans?
1) Do you agree that Teuvo Teravainen and Brett Pesce are underrated at least outside the inner circle of fans who track the Canes closely?
2) What are your thoughts on Martin Necas eventually moving back to the center position and becoming an offensive catalyst for a second scoring line?
Go Canes!
1) Turbo and Pesce are indeed under rated. I would put Haula in that mix too. While not the passer that Turbo is or skater that Necas is, he works the dirty areas ( as well as bringing two way play) in a way that creates good chances. And he can finish. The Canes are much better with him on the ice than without him.
2) A healthy Haula or Necas both have two way potential as a top 6 scoring center. As we found out early this season they also make a very good team working together. Their complementary skill set works well, even with one on a new team and system and the other new to the NHL.
When a team is on national TV around once a season it’s players aren’t going to get the credit they often deserve. Teravainen and Pesce are two such players. I do think most hockey people know Teravainen and what he brings. Pesce is mostly unknown to fans outside of Carolina, but I’m pretty sure other teams know who he is. Kind of like Vlasic in SJ, the stay at home guys are overshadowed by the scorers on the blueline. Vlasic has gotten more credit as he has gotten older with several all-star invites. FYI….Pesce has been playing with the second PP unit lately.
Unless he puts on some pounds, I don’t see Necas moving back to center any time soon. He’s not built to handle the bigger stronger guys down low. Maybe he will fill out, but until then he is best on the wing, IMO. That doesn’t mean he can’t take some faceoffs, but I can’t see him at center at this point.
Regarding Necas, I don’t understand this…I keep hearing and reading he needs to add weight…he is 6’2″ and 189 lbs. Aho, for instance is 6′ 176 lbs…heck Svechnikov is only 6’2″ 195 lbs. Walmark is also only 6′ and 178 lbs. To me this is simply a hangover from when he was drafted as an undersized kid. He has really put in time in the weight room and added muscle. Maybe he would need to change his playing style but I don’t think he lacks for size…or strength to make the transition.
Good points IMO. I don ‘t think us fans really know what each player weighs. We have the published weights given with the rosters, etc., but most of those are never updated from the day the players enter the league as far as I can tell. The best test to determine if big enough to handle the center job is whether they are getting pushed around on the boards and in front of the net, etc. when not playing center. Necas certainly isn’t getting pushed around so far as I can see. IMO when he his going to center is going to occur when Rod feels he’s settled into his game and not right now which would be putting too much responsibility on Necas.
You have a point basing these things on height and weight. You really can’t tell based upon what it says on the roster sheet. You can by watching them play. Aho was always strong on his skates. It was noticeable even as a rookie. Necas goes down easily. I’ve noticed it many times. He’s not even close to ready, and I’m not sure he ever will be.
1. RBA calls Turbo the most important player on the team and that says pretty much all I need to hear. His ability to make plays from the wing is unparalleled.
ANd Pesce? – well ct has presented the fancy stats that show that not only is he outstanding but that he makes his pairing partner better as well.
2. I think Necas is several years from being an effective center – his 2-way game is still a work in progress.
But if we need an offensive-oriented center now then how about…Turbo??? He was a center now converted to wing. But I bet he could easily slide back into that role and he may well be the untried solution to a center for a second scoring line.
In some ways I agree on Necas. Reminds me of Thomas Hertl. Took him a while on the wing in SJ before hitting C this year.
Turbo would be a great Center option, but the question begs how well would Aho do without a Turbo on the wing. Could be an interesting option of there’s some wingers Aho could mesh with without Turbo.
1 – The cost to acquire TT (Bickel’s contract) and Pence (3rd round) is still an unreal return.
2 – Good timing on the article: Bishop down, Gauthier up; Necas lines up at center tomorrow?
With so many responsible/back-checking wings to choose from, Rod could shelter Necas for a period, find out what he’s working with.
I would be surprised to see Necas slot at center. I think that is more of a 2020-21 thing. He is on a positive path as an NHL player right now and contributing. Best not to mess with a good thing short-term.
I would expect maybe Martinook slots at center on the 4th line.