Yesterday’s Daily Cup of Joe highlighted some potential roster battles for training camp in a look at players “on the spot.”
The goalie position had Scott Darling and Petr Mrazek on the spot but only because both will be battling for the starting role. And no other goalie entered the picture in yesterday’s article.
The blue line was similarly pretty tidy counting six NHLers plus Justin Faulk who makes seven if he is not traded. And though the article did acknowledge that there was room for a #7 if Faulk departs, the position is also pretty tidy.
But the forward position is a different story altogether. In that section, I highlighted 10 players battling for roster spots, higher line role and ice time in addition to 6 sure things. That makes for a sizable group of 16 players battling for 13 slots.
In writing this article, I included a number of players, especially at the forward position, who seem mostly likely to compete for an win 2018-19 NHL ice time. One thing that is encouraging is the number of players who were not included who might be longer shots but are not entirely out of the question.
Today’s Daily Cup of Joe looks at a few dark horses who were not included in yesterday’s article who could surprise.
Goalie
Alex Nedeljkovic
Nedeljkovic’s development path is an interesting one. He checked pretty much every box while playing at the junior level including steady play over the long haul and also big game success in both the playoffs and international play. Then he arrived at the AHL level for the 2016-17 season on an upward trajectory and with a good amount of fanfare only to crash upon entry into the AHL. His 2017-18 season was a nice rebound but was significantly aided by playing for a good team that scored goals in bunches. From my checks in Charlotte, I put him dead center in the middle having recovered from 2016-17 but maybe not been as good as his record might indicate. So Nedeljkovic has not played his way up to the point where he is clearly ready to give the NHL a try. But with two risky propositions in net, it is not unforeseeable that the reaches a point where giving Nedeljkovic a try is a smart, calculated gamble. Based on his ability to rise to the occasion at other levels, could he be the type of player who just steps in, gets better not worse with the pressure and is successful? The Hurricanes are due for a break at the goalie position, so just maybe Nedeljkovic will be exactly that and just maybe it will be sooner rather than later.
Defense
With the addition of Dougie Hamilton and Calvin de Haan, the blue line appears to be pretty set. But an injury or two could provide a chance for someone currently not expected to see much NHL ice time.
Roland McKeown
McKeown has always been an interesting case for me. He does not wow with skating ability like some of the other Canes prospects. He has a modest ceiling offensively. And I would not classify him as a surefire shutdown defender or physical force. But McKeown has outplayed his somewhat modest skill set every single time in game action. It will likely take an injury for him to get a chance, but if given the opportunity could McKeown be ready to seize an NHL roster spot for good and make someone like Trevor van Riemsdyk become either solid depth or even expendable?
Forwards
Just like yesterday, the forward position is again the most interesting. Despite already reaching #16 on the forward depth chart yesterday, I still think there are a couple players who maybe rate #17 or lower but are only a jump or two away from being top 12-capable.
Janne Kuokkanen
Kuokkanen is arguably the most interesting player on this list. He basically won a roster spot in training camp despite being overshadowed attention-wise by Martin Necas arrival in Raleigh. And though his overall numbers were not eye-popping, Kuokkanen picked up steam as the season wore on in his AHL rookie campaign. He won an AHL rookie of the month award during the second half of the season and exited the season having grown pretty steadily as a player throughout. His flexibility to play wing or center could also come into play as could his fairly broad skill set offensively. In terms of centers moving up, I think the likelihood order is clearly Martin Necas, Lucas Wallmark and then Janne Kuokkanen, but I do not think the gap is nearly as wide as most would think or that the odds are as impossible for Kuokkanen as many might think. Remember that he more or less made the team out of training camp last season competing against the same group.
Julien Gauthier
He struggled to adjust to the AHL early on to the point where he was way down the AHL depth chart and even a healthy scratch as Head Coach Mike Vellucci tried to spark him and get him pointed in the right direction. Based on that Gauthier legitimately tumbled down the prospect depth chart early in the 2017-18 campaign. But here’s the thing…Every bit of his high-end power forward skill set that includes size, skating ability and skill is still intact. And Gauthier did rebound and get his feet under him as the 2017-18 season wore on. Now maybe under the radar and possibly a bit more hungry, could Gauthier be the type who puts it together suddenly? Because of his natural skill set, that is not out of the question.
Aleksi Saarela
Saarela was not as lights out as his late 2016-17 AHL debut, but he still posted a solid 25 goals in Charlotte in 2017-18. Especially if Skinner departs via trade as seems possible, the Hurricanes could find the need for more finishing. As far as Canes prospects go, Saarela rates highly in that regard. Right now, Saarela probably slots somewhere around #18-20 on a Hurricanes forward depth chart, but he is skilled enough to move much higher if he gets an opportunity and gets hot when he does. He is one of many will need to do something to get attention early in training camp/preseason to garner more ice time and a longer look as the roster is being finalized, but he has the skill to do exactly that.
What say you Canes fans?
1) Of these dark horses, which do you think has the best chance to surprise and stay late into training camp and maybe even seize a roster spot?
2) Are there any other players who are a ways down the depth chart whom you think could make a move up the depth chart in training camp?
Go Canes!
We seem to have an embarrassment of riches at the forward position. I will enjoy watching things shake out there during training camp and beyond.
We have beaten the dead horse of our goalkeeper situation far longer than long enough. Saying that,I must also say that I am not pleased with the number and quality of goalie prospects we have in our system. I hope DW is addressing this matter. It makes me nervous.
Defensemen. Am I the only one who is less than sanguine about our #6 d-man? Haydn Fleury does not inspire confidence in me. I cannot begin to describe the number of ways in which his game-to-game play let the team down last season. I am definitely a guy you can describe as anti stats. I don’t trust them. But I do trust my eyes. He was consistently awful at the NHL level. I have heard some on this site say that he was great at the AHL level. Well good. Let’s put him at the AHL level and leave him there for a few years. More than a few. A lot of years.
Matt, you have mentioned Roland McKeown as next in line. I hope Roddy disagrees with you and gives Trevor Carrick a chance to show us that he is ready for prime time.
Carrick brings a style of play to the table that Canes fans haven’t seen in too long. Grit. Having lost Dahlbeck, we lost our only d-man who provided that. I am tired of hearing my fellow fans shouting, “Haydn! Hit him with your purse! Hit anybody! PLEASE!”
At first I thought that Dougie might provide grit. But I am told that he doesn’t provide a lot of grit, despite his size. Disappointing.
They say Fleury has offensive skills. How many goals did he score last season?
He is a gritty player, they say. Come on! Please!
Please Roddy! I can’t bear another season of watching Fleury wandering around the ice with that deer-in-the-headlights stare.
One fan who sits near my seat started calling him “good ole Red Light”.
Apt.
Carrick has been an interesting case. He has seemingly been sitting in about the #8 spot on the depth chart for 3 years and every year has seen another younger player or 2 march right past him and up into the NHL.
My read on him scouting-wise is that his ceiling is about where he is as a good AHL player and deep NHL depth. That said, sometimes you really don’t know what a player can do until he gets a shot. In that regard, like you I hope Carrick gets a chance at the NHL level after paying his dues.
1) I like all three forwards you mentioned. And I really like Roy who you didn’t mention. However, as discussed yesterday, there are already 4 or 5 rookies likely to start the season in Raleigh. I don’t see room for any more in October.
I could easily see one or more of the players mentioned seize a spot in January. If one of the other rookies struggles, or there is an injury, then my guess would be Saarela or Kuokkanen. When I saw the Checkers last season, Saarela appeared to be the fastest forward and he was also quite strong down low. Kuokkanen appears to be a player who does everything above average without having one “wow” skill.
Since we are talking about the future I will mention my favorite line: Foegele/Staal/Roy. At some point I think those three could be the best disruption line in the league. Roy would bring the added advantage of another strong face-off option on both special teams. My guess is Roy is one of the top two candidates in 2019.
2) Maenalanen has lots of professional experience and was a top-tier player in his league last season. I could see him putting together a really good training camp and first month in Charlotte then getting a chance in Raleigh. Fora would be a similar player on D. As powerless stated: “an embarrassment of riches.”
Yeah, it’s a fun time to be a Hurricanes fan, but legitimately the upcoming season sounds more exciting than it has in a long time.
We know many of the prospects don’t turn out, but with so many the chances are good.
I like Janne Kuokkanen and Roy positionally, because the team “is a bit short down the middle”.
The Canes also have a wealth of prospects as tradeline bate if they want to follow the Flyers model, even without trading skinner. Nothing against trading Skinner, but we might need him to get the team to stay in the playoff position by February.
still hoping for Skinner for Nylander and Sparks deal, as unlikely as it probably looks. 😉 We need another near-NHL ready goalie prospect.
On defense, I wouldn’t call McKeown a “dark horse”. He is pretty much locked out of the picture right now on the right side. He only moves up in case of an injury. As a good young RHD, he has value in a trade – maybe a deadline trade?, the same way we picked him up.
I would consider Jake Bean a dark horse – he would need to beat out Fleury for 3L-L, and that is a tall order but it is certainly possible.
On goalie – Ned is streaky. He will pitch two shutouts in a row then turn around and give up 5 or 6. He is small for a NHL goalie and I have talked with people in Charlotte who think he may not get a shot at the NHL because of his size.
On offense, DW has said that 4 or 5 forwards from Charlotte will be in the mix come training camp. Kuokk and Saarela represent reasonable possibilities. Kuokk was on the roster coming out of training camp last season. Saarela is an interesting case – I am not sure his AHL sniping strength is going to translate well to the NHL. The true dark horse is Roy.
As for Gauthier, Vellucci has said when he skates he is good – he wasn’t skating early. I don’t see a chance of him on the roster at the beginning of the season – but there is a chance later in the season if he keeps skating the way he was in Charlotte by the end of last season.
Perhaps Steve Smith did have a motivation to leave Raleigh.
https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/buffalo-sabres-hire-assistant-coach-steve-smith/c-299460270
Lateral move. Very odd. There was some kind of broken relationship there.
$$$$$$$
His reputation must be spotless. They are paying him more and giving him access to a generational talent.
As good as the Canes’ D is, Buffalo just drafted a potential superstar and a potential big shutdown defender. Makes me wonder if Sabres were pursing Smith
Not so odd at all.
I am not aware of another situation where an assistant coach left while under contract for a lateral move. Can you give me some examples?
My comment about it not being odd was more about fogger’s comment of dollar signs.
I can’t imagine that if Smith was still under contract with us that he could get away without suffering legal problems. Buffalo would also suffer legal problems. The league would almost certainly step into it.
So if he was still under contract and he left to go to Buffalo, he did so with our permission. Maybe that is why we brought in Tim Gleason. In Gleason’s announcement it occurred to me that his responsibility was stepping all over Smith’s.
I am certain that this has happened before. The problem with showing you where and who is that when these things happen people are quiet about it.
Odd to me was when JR retired as Canes GM and the next day took the job with the Penguins.
I mean, maybe the team didn’t want to fire him after Rod came in, but he just felt like he wanted to move in his own direction. Assistant coaches leaving after head coaches leave is cliche. Usually its the team axing the assistant coach, so having the reverse happen is a little unusual, but remember coaches have agents too. There is nothing illegal about asking your agent, hey how much do you think this team would pay me if I suddenly become available?
Gauthier is my bet as a dark horse for making the team out of camp. He was a number 1 pick and played well during the last half of last year. Of his goals only one was on the power play so he has shown he is a capable 5 on 5 scorer which we need.
Forwards – promising 16 Deep +1,2 …Skins?
Dmen – promising 6 Deep (if Faulk is gone)
GK 000… UGH!!
Ned may be ready (I hope),
…the other ones are not what you call (anything near) PROMISING
…somehow guys that were TERRIBLE LAST YEAR, are going to “RISE FROM THE ASHES?”…this year, ever?
Really?
I know Darling is likely to be in much better shape, but was being out of shape his biggest problem? I don’t have a clue, but when you get beat 5-hole, blocker-side (high /low), and “pop-ups”…often, and yield 8 goals IN ONE GAME…I THINK THE PROBLEM IS BETWEEN HIS EARS! Eh?
Yeah, that’s been well-documented.
Jared Clinton of the Hockey News online has written a column entitled, “Hurricanes Goaltending Woes Are Not Darlings’ Problem”. It’s a good read.
Thank you for referencing this article. It provides the fancy-stats basis for my observation-based thesis that in spite of our much-praised young defensive corps, a significant portion of the Canes’ issues last year came from poor play – by both forwards and d-men – in the defensive zone, with the goalies being exposed to too many high-danger opportunities and our results suffering.
“…Not Darling’s Problem Alone”. Sorry.
Yeah man, raleightj. What you said!
The argument that it isn’t all the goalie’s fault is valid, but points out WHY the position IS SO F’ing IMPORTANT!
He has to make up for EVERYONE’S MISTAKES!
Whether that’s fair, or not…HE IS THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE.
THIS TEAM’S MGMT has never really got that, which is a little surprising when you realize JR WAS A GOALIE!
It wasn’t just last year. Cam was slightly above average (so was Lack) in 16-17. My guess is that by the break, folks will be wondering why Cam suddenly got so much better in Chicago.
Let’s see how well Scotty looks with a team in front of him.
Petr had to play behind two not-very-good teams last season (Flyers and Red Wings). He will derive great benefit from having a team in front of him as well.
I am very optimistic.