Thursday’s Coffee Shop starts with a poll about another really tough loss on Tuesday in Colorado but then turns quickly to more lighthearted topics including Forslund-isms and predicting who will step up and lead to the finish.
If you have not yet seen it yet, the Forslund-ism theme is a companion to Thursday’s Daily Cup of Joe which includes a great collection of 32 Forslund-isms shared by Canes fans on Twitter during the day on Wednesday.
And for the regulars who are generous to chime in with their thoughts and opinions, there are also the usual couple discussion questions that also include a leadership theme.
Carolina Hurricanes polls
Remember to click ‘vote’ after each individual poll answer.
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Carolina Hurricanes discussion questions
On the captain theme from the last poll, do you think the last month of the season will have any impact on awarding a ‘C’ for the 2017-18 season? Is that role open to be won down the stretch if 1 of the 4 lettered players rises up? If so, who do you think it will be? Or is the team more likely to continue with 4 ‘A’s? If you were some combination of Bill Peters and Ron Francis what would you do?
What are you watching to stay engaged as we ride out another 18 games?
Please be so generous to share your favorite John Forslund or Chuck Kaiton story, moment, phrase or whatever.
Go Canes!
I think it says a lot about where we are as a team that we have no captain.
No one has really stepped up to take it either. To be the man you got to want to be the man.
So do you give out the ‘C’ hoping to spur someone to a higher level? Or do you hold it and make someone earn it before it goes on his jersey?
I think one of our top players need to walk in to coaches office and say I want the C. I want to lead this team!
Unless Sebastian Aho steps up with 30 points in the final 18 games, I’d be skeptical of any Captain moves this season. Granted, I don’t know the locker room leadership styles of our current ‘A’s (which is still a slightly more significant factor in determining captaincy than if you score in 75% of your games), but I haven’t seen Staal, Faulk or Skinner take that next step into leadership on the ice. I’d say Staal, over the other two, has the inside track for next season, but we’ll see how the offseason plays out.
As for what to watch for? This is the most exciting Hurricanes hockey time since we were legitimately in the playoff race. Now we get to see young NHLers come to Raleigh and Canadian juniors players come to Charlotte. I just hope that Zykov scores a goal in the first 30 seconds, so some people won’t suggest he’s an overrated failure for Ron Francis who should be traded ASAP.
To me Jordan Staal is the man for the job. He comes to play every night and is man enough to carry the extra burden. This is not meant to downgrade any of the others, but Jordan would get the buy in with all the players I believe. Also, I do not think the added burden would affect his play adversely whereas it might for the others. Otherwise, I would continue with the A’s with Jordan, Skinner, Rask and Faulk the candidates.
As to what to watch for, fogger 794 above has some good ideas.
I feel like your last question about which of the alternates would rise up and lead was missing an obvious fifth choice: None of them. I don’t think any of them become the next captain, or it would have happened already. I doubt Jordan wants it after seeing how hard it was on his brother. Rask seems too quiet and disappears for long stretches in the season, so I think he is out. Skinner freelances too much for the coaches to give him their endorsement, is my guess on him. And Faulk…I doubt he is here beyond his contract. Either by his choice or by managements. I think the next Captain is one of two players on the team: Slavin or Aho. Both will be wearing a letter within two years, the only question will be which one is an ‘A’ and which one is a ‘C’.
Very good point. Could be tricky to have 1 of the kids leapfrog the 4 players wearing letters but it is not impossible and maybe worth considering.
I’m still unsure, if I had to pick one it’d be Staal. W/o any knowledge of the room, no one stands out!
I’m not as trusting of mgmt now as a few years ago…which says a lot! At least Jr tried to give the team a chance to compete…this gm thinks enough 3rd round picks will create the ONE STAR WE NEED TO WIN… as if one star is enough! Do we have a star now? Does Peters have the final say on who is Captain if anybody?
…beats me…
We need more than one, but Sebastian Aho is a star in the making. Staal-Lindholm-Aho is a damn good 2nd line as it is right now, and could easily become a 1st line worthy of the name if Aho keeps progressing as he has. Given 11 picks in the next draft and the dozen plus prospects in the system, we’re either going to draft another one (statistical probability) or take that ridiculous bounty of assets and trade for one. In the summer. When it’s cheap. And we can exploit panicky cap-strapped and expansion-endangered teams for their assets. Like good big-picture rebuilders who want to build long-term contenders instead of selling out for a couple low seed playoff berths just to placate fans
I’m a huge fan of Chuck and the letter k, and just as huge a fan of johnie… I’ve listened to chuck in Thailand (on my laptop) at 7am their time…half way around the world. I’ve talked with John some and listened to away broadcasts, and sat in the 3rd level and returned salutes from him for many years… the two are the best tv / radio combination announcers in the business…chuck is in the HOF now, and JOHN IS A SHOO IN AT SOME POINT!
I suspect John could educate RF about goalies, if he was smart enough to ask him! But, like Sakic, and Roy…a great player does not a great GM make!
Blow dart from the upper deck – one of the all-time greats!
I don’t have an issue with not having a captain named. I do have an issue with nobody seemingly stepping up as a clear leader or leaders of the team. Skinner just isn’t ready for it, Slavin seems to introverted, and Faulk is just too erratic (not to mention it appears that he doesn’t want it). Jordan Staal feels much like Faulk with desire to play, but no real desire to lead. I’ve said it elsewhere, if Elias Lindholm keeps playing the way he has for the last 30 games, his confidence gets reinforced, then I wonder if he wouldn’t be a candidate.
I watching the youngsters and hoping for more to keep the interest level high. I’m also one of those eternal optimists who never says never until the fat lady has finished her solo.