Today’s Daily Cup of Joe again has a youthful theme in detailing what I think prospects/rookies would need to do to crack the opening day roster for the 2018-19 season.
Jake Bean
To make the roster out of training camp, Jake Bean would have to be lights out in training camp and preseason games. Even if that happens, it still likely requires an injury for him to see NHL ice time in October.
Trevor Carrick
If Faulk departs via trade, Carrick could benefit with the best chance he has ever had to seize a roster spot even if it is just the #7 role. Younger players like Bean and McKeown will benefit much more from playing regular minutes in Charlotte versus sitting in an NHL press box. As such, Carrick needs to hope Faulk gets traded and no other NHL depth defensemen are added. If that happens, Carrick will need to show that he is capable of being a serviceable third pairing NHL defenseman to keep the team from shopping the waiver wire instead.
Warren Foegele
To make the team out of training camp, Foegele will need to show that his disruptive forechecking game translates to the NHL level and also that he has some ability to score at the NHL level. Without both of those, he is really just a serviceable fourth line forward. But if his puck disrupting style of play translates to the NHL, he suddenly becomes a nice complementary forward with some offensive upside.
Julien Gauthier
To surprise and make the NHL squad out of training camp, Gauthier would need to do two things. First, he would need to show the ability to produce offensively as a power forward. He has done that sporadically. More significantly, Gauthier needs to do more and stand out more in the gaps between the offensive plays. Or put more directly, he needs to be a noticeable physical force even when he is not scoring. The negative with Gauthier’s past auditions is that he does invisible too well for a player of his size.
Janne Kuokkanen
Kuokkanen more or less won the preseason tryout last season but rather than sticking around and playing limited minutes, he was sent to Charlotte to continue his development. As such, he should again be in the mix for a roster spot despite the crowded field and the fact that he might have been at least temporarily surpassed by Zykov and Foegele in addition to 2018 draftee Svechnikov. To stay, he will need to outplay the group of young forwards trying to move up.
Saku Maenalanen
Best bet is that Maenalanen starts in Charlotte to spend at least a little bit of time adjusting to North America, the NHL game and the bigger rink. To make the lineup out of training camp, Maenalanen would have to outplay the group of players trying to push up from the AHL level and show that he is a superior option to fill out one of the four lines.
Roland McKeown
For McKeown to break training camp with the big team, it will take a right shot or two falling out of the lineup. A Justin Faulk trade would get McKeown a step closer and possibly give him a chance to compete for the #7 slot, but it likely also takes an injury on the right side of the blue line for McKeown to have a chance. That said, a strong training camp would likely put McKeown in position to be the first call up if a right shot defenseman is injured.
Martin Necas
To make the opening day roster, I think Necas needs to show the he is ready for the NHL. Unlike Svechnikov, Necas can play in Charlotte this season and also be recalled, so if he does not look NHL-ready, he could be sent to Charlotte to be recalled after at least a short AHL stint.
Alex Nedeljkovic
At least to start the season, only an injury to Scott Darling or Petr Mrazek would make that possible. If both are healthy, the team is certain to give Darling and Mrazek chances to seize the #1 role, so Nedeljkovic would not get a chance to be considered unless both flop early and leave the team searching for answers in net in November or later.
Nicolas Roy
Roy is in a bit the same situation as Wallmark. To surprise and make the NHL roster, Roy would need to beat out some combination of Necas, Rask and Wallmark to make a surprising move up the depth chart at the center position. That would take a lights out preseason.
Aleksi Saarela
For Saarela to crack the opening day lineup, I think he would have click/find chemistry in a certain slot in the lineup and demonstrate that he brings more offensively than some of the other options.
Andrei Svechnikov
He just needs to look capable. Because the only options for him are to stay at the NHL level or return to juniors, he is almost certain to stay where at a minimum he can continue his development against higher-end competition. Obviously, the hope is that he does much more, but I think that minimum is set pretty low for Svechnikov because of limitations with where he can play in 2018-19.
Lucas Wallmark
Despite having a strong 2017-18 season in Charlotte, Wallmark will enter training camp on the outside looking in. To make the NHL roster, he will need to outplay either Martin Necas or Victor Rask by a wide enough margin that he changes the current plan and forces his way into the lineup.
Valentin Zykov
The surest way for Zykov to be in uniform in Raleigh for opening night is to pick up where he left off with Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen. Zykov’s skill set as a crease crasher who can produce without playing much with the puck on his stick is a great complement to Aho/Teravainen. I view him as the incumbent with the Finnish duo, so if he can simply pick up where he left off as a productive third player for that line, I think he stays.
What say you Caniacs?
1) Do you have additions or different opinions on what it takes any of these 14 players to make the Carolina Hurricanes 2018-19 opening day lineup?
2) Which dark horse do you like most to surprise and crack the lineup? (not counting Svechnikov, Necas, Zykov or Foegele)
Go Canes!
Matt. Unbelievable.
There is almost an entire roster of rookies–and it doesn’t include Fora, Luostarinen, Pu, or Geekie–not that I think any of them except for Fora has a chance this season.
Charlotte is going to be a powerhouse the next few years. Eventually, I think it is likely that of the current forwards only Staal, Aho, Teravainen, and perhaps McGinn are with the team in 3 years. The Canes youth movement is fully operational.
1) Fora. He needs time in Charlotte to play on North American ice and test his style in a more physical game, but at some point he might be a better option for 7th D than Carrick.
2) Wallmark. I have a suspicion he might get the first month in Raleigh. That would allow Rask more time to heal. More importantly, it would give other NHL teams some insight into whether Wallmark is NHL material. He didn’t really get significant minutes last season. There are teams (Montreal especially) who really need a center. It would greatly boost trade value to have some proof of NHL ability. As much as all the above-mentioned players should excite caniacs, at some point the team in Raleigh needs one more veteran winger. Perhaps having a “proven” Wallmark to add to Faulk in November would return a player like RNH or Saad that seems out of reach now.
I don’t see any other rookies being on the first game roster. Though I will be fascinated to see which players get early call ups.
The organization has excelled at adding young talent–even with the lack of first round success. If 2-4 players outside of the four you mention (Svechnikov, Necas, Zykov, Foegele) become solid NHLers, the Canes will be in great shape to become the next NHL powerhouse.
If the plan is to go after RNH from Edm Julien Gauthier is a potential trade bate.
Edm is having problem on RW, so bad Ty Raddy was playing on their first line. A capable winger + Faulk could, possibly, maybe, be enough to pry RNH lose.
As such we may see some Gauthier in action in preseason games.
The depth is really impressive – still waiting for our ranking in The Athletic’s review of team’s prospects; we’re certain to be listed very highly – but how many are going to be top-of-the-roster? Still unclear.
I think 3 spots are available and given that many of these players have made a case for themselves even with limited NHL action, it’s really wide open. I have no idea who will earn the spots but we do seem to need “finishing” and “tough to play against” the most.
I still believe we’re going to have to package a few of them in a trade eventually to prevent some of these players from rotting on the vine in CLT. The RNH/Saad ideas mentioned above are the type of trade I see happening at some point. Maybe Rask goes to MTL if Wallmark impresses? I think there are more offseason moves coming.
I believe who has the chance of making the roster depends on how the “4th line” is needed. Do we use the Rask line as a 2nd possession / shutdown line to balance out the offensive heavy Aho and Necas’ lines? Or do we look to have another decent scoring line?
If we want defensive responsibility, Foegele on the right side of Rask and Martinook is a good option. If we look to have another scoring line, maybe we put Kuok or Wallmark on the left side of Rask and Foegele.
I dont see Bean, Gauthier, or Roy having a chance to make the roster. The way the roster is currently constructed, I dont see Kuok or Wallmark having a good chance either. Rask line will more than likely be used as a 2nd possession heavy line to take some burden off of Staal’s line. Foegele has the best shot at making the roster pushing PDG or Martinook to the 13th spot.
Gauthier, Wallmark, Roy, and Kuok’s best shot at making the roster is next year when Williams, PDG, and Martinook arent re-signed. The potential of Ferland not coming back and Rask being traded. Although I see Williams on a year to year deal until he retires. He did just build a very expensive house in Raleigh.
What I find interesting is many (most??) of the prospects we have been discussing with eagerness the past several years (Kuokk, Wallmark, Roy, Foegele, Gauthier, Saarela) have been passed by newer arrivals (both rookies – Svech, Necas – and vets – Ferland, Williams, de Haan. They, of course, remain in the pipeline and available for call-up. They also make for trade options – and their value as trade options should not be underestimated.
Does anybody recall a remark that Waddell said just before or after the Skinner trade where he remarked about the level of competition in training camp and suggested some players might be sent to Charlotte even if they have to pass waivers?
1) I think Wallmark could also make the opening day roster if RBA decides that Aho should start season at LW. Then either Necas or Staal are #1C (not ideal). This might happen if Aho looks uncomfortable at C in the preseason.
2) I think there may be a spot on the 4th line RW for another rookie. I’d guess Martinook has LW locked down and guessing that Rask or Necas is 4th line starter. But RW is more of question mark – probably PDG at the moment. Perhaps that’s a spot for Foegle, but I wonder if Maenalanen might make a case as an older rookie.
It’s August. Not much happening. So this discussion has me thinking of The Hockey News article last year called 20/20 vision.
Here is one possible way I see the Canes lining up in two more seasons.
1st scoring line— scoring based on utilizing Aho’s talent. I know it was only 10 games, but play with the SKATR tool that Canescountry referenced yesterday. Zykov’s chart looks almost as good as Jamie Benn.
Zykov/Aho/Teravainen
2nd scoring line— use speed to maximize Svechnikov’s scoring.
Saarela/Necas/Svechnikov
1st disruption line
Foegele/Staal/Mattheos
1st kitchen sink line
Kuokkanen/Roy/McGinn
That was kinda fun. Interested in what others come up with.
I have been a big fan of Mattheos and think he could make the roster. I really hate he has to spend another year in Juniors. Ridiculous.
I think a kitchen sink line of McGinn/Roy or Wallmark/Geekie is fairly solid.
I know they were looking at rosters with no trades or acquisitions but…
I hope we do get a top line forward to play on the left side of Necasnichov. I dont see Saarela as that guy.
The roster battles over the next 2 years will be:
for the last center spot- Roy, Kuokkanen, and Wallmark. Drury will be nipping on their heals.
for a LW roster spot- Kuok, Saarela, Mäenalanen, and Wallmark
For two RW roster spots- Pu, Geekie, Mattheos, and Smallman (dont forget about him)
I see one making it for each roster spot over the next 2 years.
ZAT
?-Necasnichov
McGinn-Staal-RW
LW-C-RW all battles mentioned above
The various ideas about who can win a roster spot…show me how little topnotch talent this team has. Yes there are several guys with GOOD, but not great talent, returning from last year. Now, some may have “worked hard in the off season”, and forced their way into the mix, but rookies have a tremendous opportunity this year IMO!
Of course the new acquisitions will be given an edge, based on the concept of “we don’t want to look like we’re really dummies for getting this group /guy”…!
…I’m not saying that we have ZERO STARS, but after AHO…even TD says the rest are replaceable.
Oh well, training camp should be competitive, and we can dream, eh?
The rookies are an embarrassment of riches. And we haven”t mentioned two of the Checkers top five scorers, Andrew Miller and Andrew Poturalski. Or one of their top shut down guys Patrick Brown, or a guy who lit it up in the playoffs, Greg Mckegg.
Or two guys tickling the nets in juniors, Stelio Mattheos and Morgan Geekie.
These are all players who in other years would be in the conversation (in fact some were called up in past years).
There are a great number of dark horses who could come to camp in great shape and surprise.
And, after reading the Canes Country article today about Maenalanen, he sounds like he should be considered as well!
A power forward Finn who probably would fit on Aho’s line, eh?
The more competition for spots, the better!
All these kids are the reason I don’t really want to trade for a top 6 guy right now. I think we need to see what we have. Especially to start the season. If svecnch and necas take off and the goalies are looking strong and it looks like a top 6 guy would get us the cup, then I say do it then. I’d rather see what we have in some of these guys than bring in a big money top 6 guy when we have people to pay soon and we may be just as good with the kids…. We need to find out rather than close the door on them.
Let’s just remember that, though promising, the Checkers, which comprise a lot of the promising forwards, did not make it past the second round of the AHL playoffs. They are promising, exciting, but we’re not the only team with a good prospect pool.
That being said, if we’re not going to go all in for playoffs this year, and I think the ownership is not headed all in, it’s time to go all out and throw what we have at the season to see who sticks.
It’ll be another season of ups and downs and a highly likelyhood of a playoff miss, but at least is not doing it with a bunch of overpaid and under performing NHLers, which makes it a more exciting, because these players have a chance at getting better.
To be honest, I’m not sure what you think, but…doing less than 100% in order to make this team a winner IS UNACCEPTABLE!
Too many years have passed where the FRICKIN MGMT has done “next-to-nothing” to-try-to-be-great…ENOUGH WITH THE HALF-ASSED attempts to get a little bit better…!
GTR-DONE…!!! NOW…….
Well, honestly I am just trying to drum up some enthusiasm for the season in my head, not founded on evidence.
The team has traded away 2 key forwards, including the top scorer (and, yes, he was bad defensively and did not make his line mates better and he was lazy and he didn’t brush his teeth twice a day and he only scored 24 goals last year and did I mention he did not make his team mates better, and Pu is a top 10 prospect for the Sabres and we could pick Aho’s secret clone twin with the 6th round pick we got).
The team has no superstar on offense, in fact they are going all AHL on offense hoping for the best, and neither goaltender should be playing in the NHL this year based on their performance last year, (trading Skinner and not trading Darling, goodness, the ownership could have bought out Darling and signed Steve Mason for peanuts, but they saved some money getting rid of Kaitetn).
We are pinning all our hopes on two sub 20 year old guys neither of which has ever played an NHL game.
So it’s either drinking the cool aid and hope for miracles and look for positives in the future. or looking for something else to do with the hockey time. The cool aid is getting stail.
On dark horses, I couldn’t venture a guess until we see how the blue line shakes out. If Faulk is still here at season’s beginning, it’s up to training camp.
If he’s gone – Carrick for #7! – it could change wildly depending on what comes back and what’s added to that trade if it’s for a legit top six. We’ve got 11 NHL forwards on the roster with just Zykov, Necas and Svechnikov.
If it’s something like RNH or Pacioretty then I’d rule out any other Checkers unless Rask or PDG are a part of the trade. Necnikov+full seasons of Zykov and possibly Aho at center + two goalies looking to rebound = way too many question marks to plug in more unknowns.
As much as I like playing the off-season guessing games, this year has been a shoe dropping in absurdly slow motion. You know it’s hit, but you’re still not sure it’s done.
Note: I didn’t include Martinook in the count of 11 NHL forwards and probably should have.
I thought it would be interesting to see how independent sources rate Canes’ prospects so I went looking for every sort of rating I could find. I went back to August 2016. I did not consider ratings of prospects for each year’s draft. These are overall ratings of one sort or another of all NHL prospects. The focus of the ratings varies. For example, I included Dobber’s ratings of prospects for fantasy hockey. I decided to include that because it’s based on scoring potential and scoring is what the Canes’ need most.
I found no fewer than 14 Canes’ prospects rated in the top 100 prospects by somebody and two others rated in a way that I find interesting even if not in somebody’s top 50 or top 100. Here’s a list of the prospects I found rated and their highest one or two ratings by source:
Svechnikov 2 ESPN, 3 The Athletic
Necas 3 TSN, 4 The Athletic
Fox 16 The Athletic and ESPN
Bean 21 ESPN
Fleury 31 Hockey Writers
Nedeljkovic 35 SN (The Sporting News)
Kuokkanen 45 The Athletic
Foegele 51 Dobber
Gauthier 53 ESPN
Roy 57 Dobber, 68 ESPN
Saarela 68 ESPN
Zykov 68 Dobber
McKeown 74 Hockey Writers
Pu 82 Dobber, 98 ESPN
Mattheos 48th forward, Hockey Prophets
Wallmark 118 Dobber
I find it impressive that various NHL observers who are not Canes’ fans rated 14 current Canes’ prospects in their top 50 or top 100 at some time in the last two years. If you use 60 as the cutoff, 10 current Canes prospects have been rated within that range.
Necas has been rated the 3rd best prospect by Button of TSN and the 4th best by Pronman of The Athletic. Svechnikov has been rated the 2nd best prospect by Kournianos of The Sporting News and the 3rd best by Wheeler of The Athletic.
As a reference point, Pronman of ESPN rated Aho as the 10th best prospect in August 2016. That worked out well for the Canes.
It’s getting harder to wait for preseason to start but signs are the wait will be worth it.
svechnech. It is also impressive that there are possible players who fill every role a successful organization needs.
Franchise player–Svechnikov
Elite center–Necas
Offensive D-man–Bean and Fox
Middle-six winger–Kuokkanen, Foegele, Gauthier, Mattheos, Saarela
Middle-six center–Wallmark, Pu
Face-off and PK specialist–Roy
Defensive D-man–Fleury, McKeown (not to mention my favorite, Martin, who didn’t make any rankings)
Starting goalie–Ned, Booth, Helvig (any of the three might get there, who really knows)
Bull down low–Zykov
Of course, any or all of the prospects could not develop into NHL talent. I am the first to admit that the most likely outcome is that only 3-4 of these players (other than Svechnikov and Necas) will help the Canes as much as we hope.
But it is also likely than one or two do reach the potential some of us see. Having 14 quality prospects is reason for optimism–at least hear at C&C.
Ctcaniac, thanks for fitting the prospects into slots, especially the ones like Pu that I know even less about than the others. Your observations will make training camp and preseason even more interesting for me.