If I can find time to sort of outline the path forward and write an article with some depth, my usual “Building the 2018-19 Roster” series will kick off in earnest on Friday which is officially the beginning of June.
So that means, I have one more May Daily Cup of Joe with only fumes for fuel at this late hour and no concrete topic. So today’s Daily Cup of Joe will offer a few ‘Canes comments’ on a couple different matters being bandied around right now in the Canes and Coffee comments and elsewhere.
1) Bill Peters as a Jeff Skinner scapegoat
First, I do think that Rod Brind’Amour will be a better motivator of players than Bill Peters if for no other reason as I do not think this was a strength for Peters. So just like with any other player, the potential exists for Rod Brind’Amour to be a positive for Jeff Skinner’s 2018-19 season. That said, I do not get the regular party line right now that Bill Peters is to blame for Skinner’s sub-par 2017-18 season. Logic would seem to suggest then that Skinner’s much stronger 37-goal 2016-17 season and step up defensively in 2016-17 were also due to Peters. Instead, much of the fan base seems to give Skinner credit for his play in 2016-17 but then blame Peters in 2017-18. The two are inconsistent.
2) The possibility of trading the #2 overall pick
I continue to think that the probability of the #2 overall pick being traded is significantly overestimated. The current situation where the broad NHL community ponders and discusses the potential of a high draft pick being traded is simply a May and early June ritual. As the NHL playoffs shrink, fewer fans have a vested interest in what is happening on the ice, so attention shifts off the ice. And blockbuster trades on the draft floor are as exciting as speculation comes and hence a great way to fill up days of mostly nothing for news. But historically, the ratio of rumblings and rumors compared to actual top draft pick trades is incredibly high. That is to say that actual trades rarely materialize. Though anything is possible, the greatest probability by far is the status quo which is a bunch of speculation but ultimately the Carolina Hurricanes stepping up to the podium to use the #2 draft pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.
3) Hope for an opportunity for Trevor Carrick
Earlier this week, the Hurricanes announced that the team had re-signed Trevor Carrick to a one-year, two-way contract. Carrick has a going concern in the Charlotte Checkers’ strong 2017-18 campaign. Despite being passed on the way to the NHL depth chart by other young players three years in a row, Carrick has played well enough to earn an NHL audition. My scouting of him has him as a player who could possibly play a depth role at the NHL level but not too much more. But then, players can and do surprise when given a reasonable opportunity to prove themselves. Whether I am right or wrong, I always root for players like Carrick to get one decent audition to make a case for an NHL role. As such and be it with the Hurricanes or another team, I hope Trevor Carrick gets an NHL audition with enough time to state his case.
4) How many rookies is enough? Too many?
One of the debates that has made the rounds a couple times in the Coffee Shop is how many rookies the Hurricanes should plan for and ultimately have on their opening day roster. Many seem to be in favor of Valentin Zykov, Warren Foegele and Martin Necas. Then there are still other players like Lucas Wallmark and Roland McKeown. Depending on what the team does in terms of adding veterans, it is not inconceivable that the Hurricanes break camp with 4-5 rookies on their roster. Personally, I do not too much get bogged down on allocating a certain number of roster slots. Rather, I hope the Hurricanes get to a point where players earn NHL ice time with successful auditions (reference Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce) and are not thrust into NHL roles regardless of readiness or success in auditions (reference Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin). In this vein, ideal for me would be if the Hurricanes have some inexpensive veteran depth available to fill the last couple roster spots, but that they can easily become plan B if rookies rise above them. My wild guess is that the team adds a veteran or two, but does see 2-3 rookies on the opening day roster and that other players see NHL ice time when injuries open more slots.
What say you on these topics, Canes fans?
Go Canes!
1) I have wrote about Skinner many times before but here I go again. I have been watching hockey since I was a 4-year-old. That makes 35 years of hockey. Most of the games have been Finnish elite league but in the last two seasons I have watched over 130 games from the Hurricanes.
Most players don’t catch my eye in any special way. There are some players who just see the ice so brilliantly that even as a spectator you sometimes wonder how they can see and make certain plays. They can maximize their own time and space with the puck by accelerating, slowing down, turning in the right direction or stopping when they get the puck. They also seem to have the skill to pass the puck just at the right time to give the receiver as much time and space as possible. The Finns, Aho and Teräväinen both have most of these attributes and therefore their hockeyIQ is off the charts.
Then there are players that catch my eye in a bad way. Jeff Skinner is one of them. Way too often I find him doing very stupid decisions on the ice. He has absolutely no idea how to use his linemates. His first option is always trying to do something himself. If you never even consider passing the puck straight away, you automatically lose many opportunities as a team.
Players need brilliant hockeyIQ in modern hockey. The game is getting faster and faster. Unfortunately that means Skinner is getting more and more useless every season. It is not how fast you skate but how fast you think and make right decisions on the ice.
Sure Skinner can do better than he did last season. With Zykov on the same line crashing the net Skinner´s ‘always shoot’ style of play would create more goals. But I don’t think the Canes should build anything around Skinner because his skill set is certainly not the future of hockey.
Agreed that Skinner is his own worst enemy. I was about 90% for naming Skinner captain last season because of his fire after E Staal left. It’s probably not entirely the captaincy that turned this season towards the sour, but this was the first season where I really noticed him seeming like a singular player trying to succeed as opposed to an outstanding player on a team. Blame it on Peters or Aho and TT emerging as the future first line, but either way Skinner didn’t feel like a part of the team for much of this year and that’s on him. There’s a possibility that RBA can turn that around, but I’m fairly convinced that ship has sailed. Honestly, I’m hoping to be wrong and get 16-17 Skinner back again.
Trading the pick isn’t happening unless something akin to signing Tavares comes along.
Both Carrick and McKeown seem like they’ve earned a shot in the NHL. Side note: Maybe it’s ignorance, but it baffles me that people are so concerned with more offense from defensemen. The job is being responsible in your own end by preventing high danger shots and being able to distribute the puck well. Everything else just separates the good from the great. Am I just not seeing this correctly? If the Hurricanes had 6 Pesces on the back end I’d happily take that.
Made a few speculative lines and even without Necas I’ve got two rookies just in the forwards with Zykov and the 2nd. That already seems like a gamble. Could be a fun one, though.
1) Many forget that Skinner started 17-18 pretty much the same way he finished 16-17. Seven goals and nine points in the first 10 games. So I can’t say that Skinner wasn’t the same player the entire year. It does seem that Skinner’s goal scoring is high when Aho’s is low. Not sure what to make of that. In the end, trying to put together a roster that qualifies for the playoffs seems easier to me with Skinner being replaced by a decent scoring, defensibly responsible LW. Since LA keeps being mentioned in rumors, I think Pearson would be ideal on a line with Lindholm and Svechnikov. Finally, the more I think about it, the more I like McGinn on the power play almost as much as Skinner.
2) Ain’t happening–if I does, I might just quit paying attention.
3) Agree. Carrick deserves a call-up for 15-20 games. I think he will stick.
4) Three seem almost certain (Svech, Zykov, Foegele). Beyond that, more development time for some of the others is a good thing. Plus injuries will happen–then Wallmark and company will keep the Canes from missing much in the way of talent (unless the injury is Aho or Svech). Also, as tj has pointed out, several of the prospects might be part of offseason trades.
1. I don’t think Peter’s system helped Skinner by any means but he can clearly succeed when he’s doing the things he does well. I was completely against trading Skinner until when the team won the 2OA. I wasn’t confident his goals could be replaced by an FA signing or two and some rookies. Replacing him with a more two way, 20 goal scorer would mean the team had to find at least another 10 or 20 goals to replace his production on top of finding more goals to even become league average.
I’m more 50/50 on trading him now if the return can make an immediate impact, otherwise I’d prefer to collect futures at the deadline and let him play for most of his next contract with the Canes.
2. Waddell said they believe there is a potential superstar available at 2. Singular. You don’t trade the chance to take someone like Svechnikov unless young, elite talent is coming back and teams don’t trade that away.
3. Don’t know a ton about Carrick, seems like a fine 6/7 d.
4. I’m not worried about too many or not enough rookies as long as they earn their spots.
All the on-ice evaluations with Skinner aside, the real question for me is whether he is part of the problem or part of the solution inside the locker room. The core must change for the vibe to change and Skinner is a long-standing member of the core, as is Faulk, as is Staal, too, for that matter. Somethings got to give. I give it a 1/3 chance that both Skinner and Faulk are on the roster next season, and a 1/3 chance that both are not on the roster.
As for Carrick, and I would say the same thing for Wallmark, I’m rooting for them both to earn NHL spots somewhere, but I want it to be on the Canes only if they are our best options. Like others have said, a logjam is forming so I expect a few players to get traded to rebalance the prospect pool, especially away from Center and towards wings and defenders.
As for other rookies, may the best players playing the hardest play. Period. The effort level in the Finals is amazing to watch. Obviously, these are the two best teams but I’m sitting there trying to project our team into those games and it’s hard to do right now.
There are reasonable limits to the number of rookies when you consider the NHL players on the team. Expect Lindholm and TVR to be re-signed, which means:
Forwards: Aho-TT-Lindholm-Staal-Williams-McGinn-Martinook-Rask-Skinner.
Dmen: Slavin-Pesce-Faulk-Hanifin-TVR-Fleury
Could Martinook be bumped down to the 13th forward? Maybe, but he fits really well as important PK and 4th liner (where I’d rather not use rookies).Could Skinner-Faulk be traded? Sure, but they likely bring back NHL ready players. Fleury could get passed over by another rookie – and feel like maybe he should be.
Write in the #2 pick as one of the rookies who makes the team. Zykov makes incredible sense as well, I’d pencil him in. That might leave 1 more spot for Foegle, Necas, Wallmark, KK, Saarela, etc. And that’s with no UFA signings. I think Necas might be pushed down to AHL because of spot taken by Svechnikov.
Trades could change the numbers certainly and I’m all for letting the best players play. But there are maybe 4 rookies at most that will start for this team in October. Injuries will allow others to be called up and make their case during the season.
1. Skinner was able to score almost 40 goals and improve his two-way play in 16/17 but regressed significantly last year. The key is to understandwhy and if Skinner’s play can be restored with a new lok team and coach. BP is a tempting explanation for Skinner’s lack of effort, because BP is gone so the problem has been fixed, right? Well, I suspect it isn’t true, other than the team dynamic was somehow off. But it’s amazing how much influence a new manager, a new voice and a new direction can have on people. I hope Skinner rediscover his touch with the Canes but suspect his time in Carolina is done and I wish hium success elsewhere and the Canes a fair return. That being said, if management can promise to trade him to a cup contender at the deadline if he is unable to find his playin Carlina it may be the best of both worlds as teams tend to get anxious and overpay for available UFA eligible talent in preparation for a cup run.
2. Don’t mess with the pick, pick second!
3. Give the man a chance, he’s earned it. I hope he can be the equivalent of a habanero burrito, i.e. provides some serious thrust and fire on the backend.
4. The problem with signing expensive NHL depth is “inexpensive” will still cost you a couple of million dollars. Ten you are tempted not to give that money away by sitting those veterans when you discover what you needed was tucked away In your AHL garage the whole time. We saw the damage that “cheap” veteran depth did to the team last year. I think the team must go youthwards, we have enough players to spread the workload and test multiple callups rather than relying on a single player to be the cup catalyst.
Also, Forslund recently mentioned his sources indicate the team plans on taking Svechnikov.
Michael Smith recently stated he prefers Svechnikov. Didn’t seem to be anything other than his opinion but it’s encouraging none the less.
Hearing that from Forslund is comforting.
1. I totally agree with your assessment of the Skinner/Peters dynamic. You cannot both praise and condemn. That said, I do think a level of frustration set in both individually and between the two of them. Skinner reverted to the worst aspects of his play – how many times did he cross the blueline with the puck on his stick going 1-on-N (where N>1). Inevitably he would be knocked off the puck and stripped of it. How many times did he exit the D-zone before the puck was in our possession leaving opposing players unguarded. Those are frustration mistakes and trying to do too much – he should have known better and everyone around him (coaches and players) knew better and should have worked with him.
Skinner is a sniper – he plays his best when the puck is on his stick for no more than 2 or 3 strides. He is not a puckmover or a playmaker at this level.
There is a rumor that he became toxic in the locker room this season. And there was a post that quoted an associate of TD as saying that TD wants him moved – move for culture than for talent. We have all seen what happens when TD wants someone gone.
2. The thought of trading away the pick (or taking anyone other than Svech) makes me ill – it would be a real tell that the Canes are about to become a reboot of the Thrashers from an operational and decision-making standpoint.
3. I met Trevor last season after a Checkers game in the concourse. He was doing a meet-and-greet with a young handicapped fan. I chatted with him briefly afterwards – a super nice guy. In watching him he has the skillset to be right on the edge. He works hard and he plays hard – there is a Dahlbeck-like edge to him on the ice. He has paid his dues and needs a legit chance to show what he can do at this level – something he never got with BP.
4. RBA now hold the hammer of ice time and I doubt he will be granting it without it being earned. I think we exit with 3-4 rookies (some combination of Svech, Z, Necas, Wallmark, Foegele, McKeown) with several knocking on the door in Charlotte. But I think (hope?) we pick up one or two top-6 forward talent. We will if the Faulk/Skinner/Hanifin/Rask/others trade stories prove real – and I expect we will also thin the prospect logjam to help make that happen.
Good call! Let me rephrase my response to #4.
I hope the team adds some veteran help, but not the safe and sound variety. Add high end help that pushes our current players down to 4th line duties, make the4th line an all purpose potent threat and make it clear to those players that they are not “4th line”, rather they have an important role to play.
If we can push players like Rask, Lidholm, Mcginn etc. down to a 4th line, the team has a much improved depth up front. Not saying these players specificall deserve a 4th line duty, only that they rae not top 3 or top 6 players on a scoring line and better suited for other duties, such as disruption and opportunistic scoring.
1. Skinner/Peters. Everyone has their opinion on this one. My only comment is let’s not cloud the issue. No one that I know said anything about Skinner’s 2016-17 season that would reflect negatively on Peters. The comments on the Skinner/Peters relationship have centered on the 2017-18 season as that is the season just completed. As is usual on this site, most of us contributors have expressed various opinions about Skinner and/or Peters. The bottom line is we all have nothing but opinions based upon no empirical evidence one way or the other. The issue makes good fodder for discussion, but who knows who is correct? If anyone wanted to laud Peters for his handling of Skinner in 2016-17, they sure had plenty of time on this and other sites to do so and still can do so.
2. Trading the Number 2 pick. IMO only a fool would trade that pick unless the Russian was not available or the scouting reports on him were such that he probably wouldn’t live up to his hype. Understand that is my opinion given all the facts I know about the situation (which you could put in a thimble and have room for other things.
3. Carrick. Let’s hope we had him at Charlotte hoping he would develop into a NHL level defenseman. Again, based on what I think I know about this, he has grit, he has an excellent shot from the point, and he has done all he can do at the AHL level to get a bonafide shot at making the team.
4. How many rookies are enough or too many is a question of the roles to be played by them. In the old days it was easy to say Joe fits the mold for a third or 4th line player and all Joe had to do was perform well according to the mold. Now all forwards for example, other than any 1st line superstars, pretty much have the same requirements. They must be able to score at a reasonable level and play reasonably well defensively. Any other attributes they may have are just gravy. This being the case, in the case of forwards the answer is as many you can fit on the team because they beat out their competition by demonstrating they can score (put the puck in the net) and play defense at a higher level than other players vying for the same positions.
Just saying, I put a lot of my basis on this specific issue based on this article: https://www.wralsportsfan.com/two-months-after-band-aid-fix-canes-finally-fire-former-gm-ron-francis/17521843/
Adam Gold, who has had probably the most locker room access of any non-Canes employee, has been months of the opinion that BP lost the locker room from the outset of the season. Yes the Skinner/Peters rift is much more media-fueled rumor than any sort of fact, but the truth is if you don’t like your boss, you might not perform as well. And it may have just been that BP got old. That happens to pro coaches all the time.
Bill Peters is not a bad coach. Jeff Skinner is not a bad player. Their styles never really meshed, to the point where they struggled to overcome adversity as well a year ago as they may have a year before that. Here’s hoping master motivator Rod Brind’Amour can find Jeff’s higher scoring gear again.
Gold was on record back in December that BP had to go – that he had lost the locker room. Indeed, that was the time – or again in January or February (per Gold) to fire BP. And RBA would have been the right choice for the interim coach – particularly later in the season as the team. The season could have ended very differently, perhaps.
Interestingly enough, I say in front of Adam a couple of games – his seats were in 108. His comments to whoever he was sitting with – perhaps even just himself – were audible and very critical of what he saw on the ice.
Well put, RedRyder. I would add that it will be abundantly clear whether Skinny is the one with the attitude problem.
Half the NHL covets our prodigiously talented winger. But he is not going anywhere unless he wants to go. His contract says so.We will see.
So, if we see TD buying out Skinny’s contract, we can safely assume there is an attitude problem with Skinny. If, on the other hand, he returns to his 30 plus scoring pace (or 40 or more as I see his potential being) then maybe we can put the blame for the entire team’s underperformance last year where it rightfully belongs.
Food for thought. A straight up trade; Justin Faulk for Justin Falk. Both sides win with that one.
I still contend that we would be foolish to use our No. 2 pick on anyone else but Brady Tkatchuk.
Can you provide more reasoning on why you think Tkachuk is the right choice here? Most of the scouting reports that I see show Svech and Zadina clearly in a tier above Brady; with the difference between Dahlin and Svech smaller than the difference between Svech and Zadina. Svech would be a clear 1OA in most other drafts. That is talent that is hard to come by any other way than lucking into a high draft slot. If the Canes think-tank really think that Tkachuk is our best choice then we need to be trading down to somewhere in the 4-7 range.
I think Tkachuk will be a damn good hockey player but we don’t need damn good, we need elite. I just don’t see what he brings to the table that Svech wouldn’t, except maybe pedigree. I think Svech is going to be special; and he’s got size on him as well.
I consider it an issue of availability. I have no doubt that all of Svechnikov, Zadina and Tkachkuk will be serviceable NHLers. I would not be in the least bit shocked if all three turned out to be All-Stars eventually.
That said, someone relatively comparable to Tkachuk’s skillset and grit pops up in the top 10 every draft. It is also a play style, that can be emulated, albeit maybe not as effectively.
Zadina, same story, lesser degree. It’s slightly harder to find elite scorers, than sizeable players with skill and grit. But there again, most top 10s in any draft will find some elite scoring ability.
Svechnikov, on the other hand, seemingly has the blend of size, scoring and skating ability blended into one package that you DON’T see every draft. It’s arguable whether any of last years draft brings a comparable blend. 2016 did and it was one of the players that Svech has drawn comparisons to the most. Patrick Laine. And they don’t pop up every draft and you really can’t emulate what they do with lesser talent.
I think that is why Svechnikov is the popular pick, just the unique blend of talent that comes along far more rarely than the elite scoring of Zadina or the power presence of Tkachuk, though I think all three would be great Hurricanes.
Also, well put, fogger. Thanks for the link. I found the article to be very interesting.
Skinner: He’s the Carmelo Anthony of the NHL. He’s always going to get his goals but not much else. When you watch a game like last night’s playoff tilt it’s hard for me to see how he’d be successful in that environment. Guys who play his style tend to disappear or worse yet, get beaten in tough playoff battles. He can be successful in the perfect situation but I’m not clear exactly where that would be. I’m confident Peters lost Skinner and Skinner lost Peters and the rest of the team. That happens when you’re young and things aren’t going your way. That shouldn’t scar him for life and if he comes back for 2018-19 we’ll find out soon enough and hope for a positive change. I wouldn’t bet on it though. I wonder how Peter’s non-aggressive style will go down in Calgary? Do you think they’ll like leading the league in fewest penalties and aggressive play? Should be interesting.
2. No, No, No. And no chance it is going to happen. Just something to talk about for the part time fan.
3. Carrick….check him out in training camp. You have to think one or more of Faulk, Hanafin, Slavin or Pence is outta here and more than likely a more veteran d man coming back (this or another trade) and there will be a spot to be had. Trevor had a decent year but he’s not anyone’s idea of anything above a #6 guy.
4. I’m on record as not thinking Necas is going to make Raleigh this season. I also hope there is no more than a couple of rookies on the squad. If there is, then we’re no better talent-wise than this season since it takes all players a year or two to aclimate to the best league in the world. Even talented vunderkinds. There are exceptions…..but they are exceptions to the general rule.
Virtus,
We have what I consider to be “elite” scorers on the Canes now; Skinner and Aho. Both are wingers; some would like to see Aho at center. But I think we will find that Aho is a bit small for a center. We need a center with all of the qualities offered by Tkatchuk; great vision and hockey IQ, a playmaker, wins in the wood as well as the faceoff circle. He loves to mix it up in the goal crease. He will come quickly to the aid of his teammates when he is needed. We don’t have that. We haven’t had that since Keith Primeau. We need it now.
Yes. The Russian kid is roughly the same size. But he is not the same. Tkatchuk has d-men looking over their shoulders. He is a playmaking center. We need him. If we are to get into the playoffs anytime soon.
Simple, Skinner to Edm for their #4 pick, use that pick to draft this kid. Pitch for JVR or MP to fill Skinner’s slot,with slightly reduced scoring but more two-way acumin.
I’m not convinced this is the way to go, but a better approach than gambling with the #2 pick.
Doesn’t Edmonton have the 10th pick?
Yeah, Ottawa has the 4th pick.
Oh shoot, I confused them and Az for some reason, don’t know why.
Skinner to Az then.
I dont see what this kid has to bring though, size, speed, we got kids with size and speed, we have too many centers in the pipeline and need to load up on wingers.
I am sure he will be a great hockey player and I sure wouldn’t say no to acquiring him in a trade with players who want out or that don’t fit in the Canes system, but I would not use the #2 pick on him.
Why is everybody so ready to trade one of our proven elite scorers? Why does anybody think that Skinny will be willing to go anywhere? Why does anybody think that we will be offered adequate value for him?
Why is everybody so certain that these draft picks will live up to expectations?
Nothing’s certain, but if Svechnikov does live up to expectations, and we didn’t take him, that’s a true disaster.
Let me add, I like Tkachuk a lot too, and I think the Cane’s do need a player like him. If we could do a deal to get him I’m all for it. I’m not that eager to trade Skinner, but if we could get 4th pick for him I’d do it.
That said, Svechnikov is exactly the type of player the Canes have needed and not had, pretty much since they moved here, so how could we pass him up now that we have the chance?
The canes would only trade Skinner if a. he doesn’t want to stay with the team and b. we got adequate value for him.
And you are the one who has been saying Tkatchuk is the best player in the draft and exactly what the Canes need.
I don’t agree based on what little I know, but I was suggesting a way in which the Canes could draft him along with the concensus favorite.
That way, if you are right, the Canes sure will have at least one future hall of famer. If everyone is right they will have two.
And, yes, Ottawa has the forth pick, though I do not expect them to be willing to trade that pick away for anybody short of Tavares.
Your best guess is that the Russian kid is what you hope he is and will be what you desperately hope he will be. NHL history is strewn with disappointment and dashed hopes like you have here.
You’re absolutely right on that powerless. Svechnikov does carry a slightly higher flop risk than Tkachuk, though not as much as a typical Russian prospect as he has been living and playing here for three years. I believe his whole family is here now.
Tkachuk is the safer prospect, I agree, but in terms of ceiling, Svechnikovs unique abilities give him a potential level Tkachuk probably does not have on skating ability alone. We can’t guarantee he’ll live up to the billing, but I sure want a chance at someone I can watch melt my hockey mind for 82 games next year. Something I can’t see anywhere else. I mean just looking at those clips of his coming out, it’s incredible.
And while I want to see more scrap and fights too, that’s what cheap veteran free agents are for. Also Svech is on record as saying he likes the physical North American game better.
I respect your opinion on Tkachuk, though I must say at this point my heart is so enamored with Svech through all the clips and scout love that I might cry if we take Brady instead.
All of that hope and guessing you are investing in the Russian, I have in Tkachuk.
There are interesting Canes-related iscussions and guesses over on Hockeybuzz.
The Chicago blogger woneers if the Canes would be willing to take on Hossa’s 3 remaining years (5 mill cap hit only 1 mill actual salary) for a sweetener, like the 27th first-round pick and a player, maybe in return for Roy.
Both the Devils and Canucks bloggers have suggested pitching an offer for Hannafin,using their first round picks, for CAnucks they might offer their defense prospect, drafted #5 the year after Noah was drafted.
The Oilers blogger had some suggestions on trades for Faulk or Williams, but both suggestions were ludicrously cheap.
And Mr. Eklund himself has suggested Faulk to the Leafs for Capinen is being actively discussed.
These are entertaining speculations, don’t know what to make of them.
1. From what I hear, BP lost the locker room, not just Skinner. And on a team that needs to add 20+ goals to it’s season total to help make the playoffs, I wouldn’t trade Skinner’s 25+ ,unless we get a great return. Plus, NMC,
2. If we trade the #2 for anyone other than Conner McDavid or Auston Matthews, or take someone other than Svechnikov, we are doomed to eternal mediocrity in the Waddell era(and today is the anniversary of the Thrashers being sold to True North. :/)
3. I think Carrick ends up being this year’s edition of Klas Dahlbeck. A good #7, that we can put in the pressbox if necessary.
4. Between Williams, HCRBA, and any Checkers who have Calder Cup experience ,I think we can handle a rookie influx. Beats the usual veteran adds that did not help(Yelle, McClemment, Kruger)
My 2 cents on Svech v. Tkachuk.
With the 2nd pick–who as some have correctly pointed out would be the top pick in any draft without Dahlin–any organization must consider upside.
Tkachuk has the upside of being like but slightly better than his brother or much like Gabe Landeskog. So a 70-point scorer.
Svechnikov has the upside of being like Taylor Hall–a winger who is as good as a winger can be short or Ovechkin or perhaps Laine. So a 85-90 point scorer.
It is probably 50/50 that Tkachuk will be as good or slightly better than Svechnikov. But there is at least 25% chance that Svechnikov is better than Tkachuk and all but a two or three wingers by quite a bit.
I am busy at work and late to the party. Thank you Matt for the insightful article and thank you commenters for your insights, I read and enjoyed them all.
Fogger, the link is spot on, and in my imagination, I wrote the exact article on here a few times. GMRF greatest failure was was inability to manage HCBP.
Now I am going to enjoy a habenero burrito with Breezy, join us if you dare.
As confident as I am that Skinner will not be on the Canes roster on Opening Day, I will pay for a round of (well) drinks at Backyard Bistro for everyone who has posted in this blog (including Matt, of course!) if, indeed, Skinner is on the Opening Day Canes roster.
Seriously.
Now does anybody who thinks he will/should be on the roster want to take the other side of that offering?
🙂
I will take the other side – here is a young scoring line winger much who can be a driver of a 3rd scoring line playing sheltered minutes. There is certainly a role in the league for a player like that. While Skinner’s game is rife with ‘holes’ the one area he excels in is GOAL SCORING – something this team honestly SUCKS at and has SUCKED at ever since Skinner has come here. Really since Skinner’s rookie season he has had to develop his game but at the same time he has ALWAYS been this teams most dangerous offensive player. That isn’t saying much about the quality of players this team has had during that time but it’s hard for me to imagine a team that CURRENTLY needs more goal scoring being better off without their most consistent 20+ goal scorer on their entire roster.
We might have just seen back to back seasons of Skinner at his best followed by at his ‘healthy worst’ and my god what a bunch of complainers we are here when our offensive starved team is nitpicking one of the ONLY 20 goal scorers we have on this club. Furthermore there were times last season where I thought Jeff was FORCED to gamble on the offensive side (cherry picking a little bit) because the team was so offensively inept. To me his terrible plus-minus is not a reflection of his defensive play but actually a reflection of how DESPERATE this team needed goals last year.
To me Skinner is an “ELITE” middle 6 winger who can score 40-65 points any given year with 20+ goals. Sure he is inconsistent as many scorers are – scoring in bunches – but to me he is like a young version of Phil Kessel and Phil is a major asset in the league despite his many critics as well. In a world where the Canes are a perfect team and have AMPLE goal scoring I could see relevence for moving Skinner based on his style of play but LOL the Canes are far from a team with ‘ample’ scoring they will need every bit of what Skinner brings them next year.
This team will need ‘elite’ role players to win the stanley cup someday. If Lindholm is a passable role player then Skinner is an elite one and the Canes shouldn’t be subtracting from that stockpile until they feel comfortable they are brimming over the edges with those options.
McGinn had what many people would consider a GREAT season and he barely squeeked out 30 points. Let’s not glorify our Chad Laroses and send our Ray Whitney’s away like this franchise always does. To me Mcginn is much closer on the list of replaceable than Skinner.
I don’t think there is some magic number of rookies that is too many/too few as it ALL depends on the guys that will be there to bring along the rookies. The reason I truly don’t believe the Canes can take the approach Boston did this year is that the Canes don’t have Bergeron, Marchand, Pastranak, Krejci, and Chara to mentor a massive group of rookies. Other than Jordan Staal and Justin Williams I don’t see a lot of players I’d feel highly comfortable serving as mentors to new rookies, especially considering some of our vets have ONLY losing experience.
I’ve said it before and will continue to advocate that the Canes need 5 new players in their top 12 forward group next year (at the subtraction of Rask, Diguiseppe, Stempniak, Ryan and Nordstrom) and I believe that having 2-3 rookies along with 2-3 outside veteran free agents (see James Neal, David Perron, Stastny, Bozak, Nash etc.) will be the perfect blend for THIS team. I do think that Williams and Staal need HELP in the form of 40+ pt veterans who play the game consistently night after night in helping develop some of these key rookies.
Come to think of it, Skinner did amazing in his first year on a line with the Fins, Ruutu and the Juice.
In the last two years Sinner has bounced around the lineup and has not really had chemistry or the right line mates to replicate his first year.
But the team has options like that now, with e.g. Rask or Walmark at center and Zykov or the new player the team just signed as a power type forward. If we can bury a scorer like Skinner on a third line with defensively responsible center and a power forward to create spaces we might see the return of the Skinny we know is buried in there somewhere.
Siinner is not a top line winger, his game is a bit too one dimensional for that, but he is a unique scoring out of nowhere threat, when he plays his game, that is pretty rare.