Throughout the summer, I have yammered on end about the need for more playmakers/puck distributors to boost the Canes offense. Most people who cover the Hurricanes are looking for a boost for the Canes 27th ranked offense from 2014-15 are focused on individual players who need to step up. While I agree that offensive leader like Eric Staal and Jeff Skinner need to produce more goals and that other depth scorers also need to step up, my path to how is a bit different than most of what I have read. Whereas most articles seem to focus on the individual scorers themselves, I actually think that it is not so much a matter of forwards finishing more but someone helping them get more chances to finish.
In this regard, Ron Francis has quietly transformed the lineup more drastically than it appears on the surface. The addition of 1 scoring forward (Kris Versteeg) does not sound like much, but he has already shown what his playmaking can do for the offense. The less obvious part of the transformation is not at forward at all. It is a fairly drastic revamping of the blue line. If you compare opening day rosters from last season and this one, out are Jay Harrison, Tim Gleason and Brett Bellemore. All are good players, but none of the three would rate higher than about 2 out of 10 in terms of being the type of defenseman who helps create offense and scoring chances. They are replaced by James Wisniewski, Noah Hanifin, more Ryan Murphy and Michal Jordan. The entire group leans much more offense than the group that they replaced. The group has the ability to score a few more goals itself but maybe more significantly to increase scoring across the board at the forward position.
Is it possible that improving the Canes scoring will come not from adding more scorers but instead from adding more players who can help the entire roster score more?
I think the answer to this question could determine the fate of the Hurricanes season. While it is possible for a number of forwards to “just play better,” it would take a large number of players suddenly finding a significantly higher level.
We will not know for sure how much of a boost the combined changes will make until we see some regular season hockey, but I think the blue line lifting scoring chances and therefore scoring across the board is what Ron Francis and his staff are counting on. I also think it is possible.
Hopefully starting mid-day Monday, I will roll out a short series of season preview blogs, so please check in regularly this week.
Go Canes!
I mostly agree with your premise, and said in a different way…mobile/ skilled dmen can move the puck to scoring areas better than slower, less-skilled D. The only thing that can make that a problem is the Corvo-affect, ie. All offense/ NO D!!
I think you have a good point and I would expect more good scoring opportunities because of the more offensive defensemen. Whether it is significant IMO will depend on whether we have forwards who will go to the front of the net and pick up loose pucks and rebounds, etc. A high percentage of goals in the league are shots from the point either going in or creating a rebound opportunity and off defensive misplays in and around the net. Otherwise, you have the goals scored by bonafide scorers like Ovechkin, Tarasenko, etc. We don’t have one of these unless E. Staal and/or Skinner step up.
When I watch the Canes it appears to me they play like a team overpasses to get the perfect shot at an open net. IMO they would be better served to get people to the net available to screen the goalie and pick up rebounds and loose change off shots.
Re: Puckgod’s comment, I don’t think this will be a problem as everyone of our d-men are much better than Corvo defensively. But it is worth keeping an eye on by the coaching staff in case bad habits develop, i.e.; like the Jamie McBain experience of jumping into the play almost every time down the ice and opponents getting breakaway after breakaway with opponent forwards getting behind him.