With it being a gift-giving time of year, today’s Daily Cup of Joe offers a list of Carolina Hurricanes gift wishes for the remainder of the 2017-18 season.
1) Steady goaltending
The version of the 2017-18 Carolina Hurricanes that gets inconsistent and on average sub-par goaltending looks to be a middle-ish team very likely to finish below the playoff cut line. This should be no surprise, as it was also the case in 2016-17 and to some degree 2015-16. I think it will be incredibly hard for the Hurricanes to push up the standings and into a playoff spot if the team does not receive at least average goaltending throughout the remainder of the season.
Ward has shown signs of finding a mid-season rhythm and having played only 11 of the first 35 games, he should be rested and capable of carrying the load short-term. Darling is better than what he has shown thus far, and I think it is reasonable to hope that a chance to reset will help him find another gear for the second half of the season.
2) Special teams improvement
In total, the Hurricanes’ special teams play has also been a detractor thus far in the 2017-18 season. With the power play scoring on 3 of 10 chances in the past two games, one can hope that the power play is finally ready to put things together. Except for a tough 0 for 3 in the Toronto debacle, the penalty kill has been perfect in the other seven games out of the last eight.
Is it possible that the special teams drag on the team through most of the first half of the season could reverse course and become wind at the team’s back in the second half of the season?
3) A couple scoring surges from the scoring leaders
Both Justin Faulk and Jeff Skinner are tracking behind their goal scoring paces from the 2016-17 season. Justin Faulk scored twice on Saturday. Jeff Skinner has been buzzing around of late. Here is hoping that the two players simultaneously find their scoring touches while the team is still a going concern in the playoff chase and help propel the team upward.
4) That Ron Francis is given reason and makes a single difference-making deal
At a general level, the vast majority of the fan base is at least 90 percent on board with Francis’ master plan to build from within and eventually win with a model that is sustainable. But at the same time, the core fan base could really use even a small reward for its dedication. By no means am I suggesting that Francis needs to become a high bidder in what is usually a pricey market at the trade deadline, but if the team does it part and stays in the hunt into February, I think Francis owes it to the team and the fan base to make a modest investment in success for 2017-18.
5) Help from below from the ranks of the Charlotte Checkers
Thus far, the organization has been incredibly patient in terms of reaching to the AHL hoping to find a spark. A number of players at the AHL level are playing well and seemingly on the cusp of being NHL-ready. If the team continues with its current winning ways, there is no need to shake things up drastically, but I still thing there could be room for one difference-maker to emerge from the AHL level. If such a player arrives soon enough, he could even preempt the need for #4.
6) Playoff hockey
As one of probably four or five teams that could challenge for the two wildcard slots in the Eastern Conference and being on the outside looking in nearing the midway point of the season, there are no guarantees of course. But this team is good enough to make the playoffs if it can collectively put it all together and find a higher gear. After eight years of playoff misses and with a team that is young and improving, it is not unreasonable to ask for the return of playoff hockey as a gift this time of year!
What gifts would you add to this list for the remainder of the 2017-18 season and hopefully on a path toward playoff hockey?
Go Canes!
When it comes to the trade deadline, we almost have to be a buyer – or just quiet. We don’t have much in the way of major UFAs – only Jooris, Ryan, Stempniak, and Ward are UFAs at the end of this season. The question will come the end of February do we trade assets (what draft picks are we holding?) or even prospects for a “difference maker”?
I would definitely like to see 1 or 2 Checkers come up. The better we do going forward, the less likely that is to happen. But if we do better, I think a few players in Charlotte represent substantive upgrades from the current roster.
Truly hoping that Darling shows a return to his high level of play (even from the CBJ game, nevermind Chicago) this weekend.
And the only thing that special teams can do is get better.
One other wish – fewer defensive breakdowns.
THE PLAYOFFS. That will mean the other things on anyone’s list ended up being “just right.” Though I am certain some will accuse GMRF of not doing enough if Carolina only wins a round or two.
On all your other points I mostly agree.
1) Ward will continue to play pretty much as he has the last month. C&Cers who read regularly last year will recall that one of my favorite things to do was point out that statistically Ward is a solid goalie. With the better play of the D, his GAA will continue to move toward 2.50 and his sv% to .915. His advanced stats will be even better, but let’s not get carried away.
2) The trend has been up for both PK and PP. Seriously it couldn’t be down much more. It is not likely either can recover to be top 10 in the league, but if both can make it to league average, then the Canes will continue their winning ways. The team remains the least penalized in the league and is in the top 5 in positive differential. So average results would mean above average benefits.
3)Especially Faulk.
4)I struggle with this. My profession is all about analyzing risk and reward. Even the best I know at what they do are only marginally successful (when you deal with large enough numbers, being correct 50.5% of the time leads to sufficient profits). I will again point to Washington last year getting Shattenkirk or the Rangers acquiring Eric Staal in 2016. Were either truly a “difference-maker?”
5)On this I totally agree. For example, if Zykov can be 80% as effective on power plays in the NHL, it would be a big bonus. Likewise with Foegele on the PK. My only hesitancy is who gets replaced. The team’s “lesser” talents (Nordstrom, McGinn, Ryan) are contributing in quite a few ways. I continue to think being a seller and making call-ups might make sense. I understand that conventional wisdom is that a team in contention must be a buyer. But Carolina’s experience in 16-17 should at least make folks question that. The late-season surge corresponded with Stalberg and Hainsey leaving. I hope Tulsky is analyzing the various scenarios.
6) See above.
7) I wish for the new ownership to be invisible. There were several comments over at Canes Country about how great it is that the new owner is personally hyper-competitive. Well, from what I can tell so are Jerry Jones, Daniel Snyder, and James Dolan. I don’t even know who is the owner of the Spurs–arguably the most successful and best-run of pro sports teams. This should be Ron Francis’s team. Being successful at getting poor people to take out loans doesn’t give the new owner insights into winning hockey–nor does my own experience. Seriously, would you want me instructing Ron Francis what to do next?
Very well said. Great points about Staal and Shattenkirk. Hanzal was another ‘rental’ who didn’t really end up helping too much. I just think – how can you pay such a high price for like 20-ish games when they have to gain new chemistry, learn a new system, new teammates, etc. I don’t mind trades that occur earlier in the year, I figure the MORE games you get out of a rental the better chance they can have a positive impact when it matters (in the playoffs).
1/ Ward was very good last year until he was overworked. Darling will settle in, eventually.
2/ The PP and PK don’t need to become “the reason we win,” they just need to stop being “the reason we lose.”
3/ Agree with ct, especially Faulk. Maybe the BUF was the launchpad.
4-5/ Again, I’m sceptical of the major trade-deadline rental deals (though the Hainsey deal was fantastic for PIT last year) and major trades generally; I’d much prefer to see exceptional play in CLT rewarded with a battlefield promotion.
The other side of this coin is PIT: if I’m a fan I’m nervous. They clearly aren’t the same team this year but GMJR may mortgage their future for a possible three-peat. It would be nice to be on the other end of that trade.
6/ This will be the year.
I don’t think anyone will complain if the Canes do not advance past the first round of the playoffs. If the canes make it to the playoffs, that’s the goal and a huge milestone on the road to perannual greatness.
All of the gift ideas are great.
If the first 3 work out we don’t have to worry so much about the rest, though I strongly feel that one or more of our outstanding Checkers prospects gets rewarded and pumps some adrenaline and enthusiasm into the squad. This will be needed during the dog days of January and February, which are also the make or break of the season.
I think trying to pick up someone like Kane from Buffalo (assuming we only give up modest futures) and instead placing one of our skilled outside playrs to a team like Pit (say RAsk for a modest collection of futures) would be a smart move. Even if the player was of marginal help this year (worst case scenario) it would give the canes a chance to evaluate him and have first bidding rights on his contract.
This team still needs a pure scorer and wil for another year or two (assuming our prospects blossom).
If we can use the trade deadline to fill that need, even if the player might not come into his own right away, that is an opportunity.
The sooner we make such a trade, the better chances it will work out this year and propel the team into the playoffs.
The reason the team started doing so well last year might be that the pressure was off and players like Skinner stopped squeezing the stick and started playing to their potential.
Young kids still need to learn how to perform under pressure and I think the team’s lack of experience leadership played a part.
But who knows, who cares, as long as we make the playoffs this year.
Rentals are never a sure thing, but neither are signing your own homegrown talent either.
Bottom line is we are not a playoff team just yet, but we are certainly close. While the best deals can be those you do not make, I would bring in a different type of talent up front (grit) to infuse better offensive chemistry. We have a surplus of puck possession guys that teams will value, along with solid picks/prospects. I think any one of Kane, Landeskog, O’Reilly would be game breakers.
For the remainder of this year I would re-sign Hanifin if possible. I also wouldn’t mind ridding the co-captains and naming one.