Today’s Daily Cup of Joe offers a short burst of random Canes notes that have not made it into other articles yet or deserve a bit more attention.
Brett Pesce
The team really misses him in games like Saturday’s where they are under attack more so than attacking. In my opinion, he is the steadiest of the defensemen and usually offers some stability when things get ‘scrambly’ defensively.
Scott Darling
Increasingly, the team seems to trot out its worst efforts when Darling is in net. I do not think that was the case last season when quite often the team played well and Darling just did not. By no means is this a defense of Darling’s play. As I noted in my recap from Saturday’s loss, poor play is not necessarily and either/or for goaltending or defense. In some cases, both are bad.
I think the team plays differently in front of Darling in trying to do too much which actually makes things worse in three different ways. First, it takes the team away from the attacking style that is its strength. Second, the team goes overboard trying to suppress shots when I think Darling actually looks better when he is seeing the puck a decent amount and can find a rhythm. Third is that in trying to hard to stop scoring, the Hurricanes actually tend to be worse defensively.
The question is what can be done to rectify the situation. I think it is a bit of a chicken and egg situation. Can the Hurricanes skaters dial up their level of trust for Darling such that they are better in front of him? Or can Darling put up a couple of consecutive starts that generate the trust needed? For Darling to regain his status as a going concern for the Hurricanes, I think one of those two things must happen.
Jake Bean
In case you missed it, Brandon Stanley wrote what is now a well-time short profile for Jake Bean. For those who were busy wrapping up the holiday weekend, the Hurricanes returned Trevor Carrick to the AHL and recalled Jake Bean (along with Valentin Zykov). Bean now seems on track to make his NHL debut on Tuesday in Montreal.
The key for Bean is to play to his strength as an offensive defenseman who an generate offense. The Hurricanes could use another offensive catalyst right now, so the opportunity is there for Bean. At the same time, he needs to be adequate (not necessarily great) defensively. That is the part of his game/development that has lagged a bit and is why I have historically not been as high on him as the consensus.
Recent step-wise progress
Because both weeks were imperfect and featured an ugly loss during it, the past couple weeks have a ‘meh’ feeling to them. But the Hurricanes were a positive 2-1 in both of the past two weeks. At some point, the team will need to find a higher gear for at least a stretch if it intends to make the playoffs. But chugging forward and making even small strides in the climb above .500 is valuable. In years past, the Hurricanes were always looking for that one big winning streak just to climb out of the hole dug. If the team can keep pushing gradually up above .500, the situation will be set up such that if the Hurricanes can find that one big winning streak, they will be in position to have it vault them up the standings.
What say you Canes fans?
1) Do you similarly think Brett Pesce could help on some of the tough nights defensively? Or do you think those nights are mostly just bad regardless of who is in the lineup?
2) What do you make of the odd interplay between the skaters and Scott Darling?
3) What are your hopes for Jake Bean as he possibly makes his debut on Tuesday in Montreal?
4) What do you make of the Hurricanes consecutive 2-1 weeks? Are they a positive or just more treading water in a bad way?
Go Canes!
I’ve been wrong many times before, so I’m hoping my track record is INTACT after the move, BUT, BEAN, PLEASE?? WTF… I just don’t know how this is gonna help…? Since when did he learn to play D ?
What is the basis for this move? …desperation??
Checkers seem to be pretty good, sooooo maybe it’s addition by subtraction for the CHECKERS! Can’t see how it works out for the Canes?
I guess JB is being rewarded for good play with the Checkers, pretty nice pay upgrade, even for a single game. I would’ve liked to see Kuak or Necas recalled, (Necas is improving by the game).
I don’t know what else to say about Darling, other than I hope he can find it. The team plays timid and scared in front of him and that is not going to win games.
The Blackhawks pulled of the trade I wanted to make, getting Dylan Strone from Az.
An under rated center with high ceiling and some NHL experience is something the Canes need. Now it’s down to Nylander, which I give 10%.
1. I don’t think there is any way that the presence/absence of a single player would have made a difference in the dumpster fire that was either CBJ or NYI. It was a team breakdown with full participation of each player – one playing well (Svech against NYI) would not make a difference.
2. I, thankfully, did not see the NYI game – I was in Charlotte at the Checkers game (scored a cool Geekie-signed cap as a side story). But I saw a video clip of the first goal and the Isles player skating around and through 4 statues, uh I mean Canes players, on his way to a virtual shootout goal. I am not sure how the immobility of 4 players in the d-zone is related to confidence of a lack thereof in Darling.
But if the team does not play well in front of Darling and that lead to high-danger chances it still falls on Darling.
3. I am excited to see him play and hoping he does well. He has been playing at another level the past couple of weeks. You notice whenever he is on the ice – he gets to the puck quickly, moves it smoothly and quickly, great on his skates, makes plays, and has a wicked shot. I didn’t see a single defensive breakdown of note in either game this weekend (Brandon or anyone else who saw either or both games can correct me if I missed any).
4. I wouldn’t mind a series of 2-1 weeks – it is just that those losses are so dang ugly. There is no excuse for those types of games occurring on a regular basis.
The Canes certainly miss Pesce, but they have to play who they can. I have a feeling whatever is wrong with Pesce is the same thing that delayed his participation in training camp. I expect that he will need some kind of surgery in the off season or sooner.
It will be interesting to get a look at Bean. I hope he has progressed and is ready for some NHL action. I thought it was interesting that Carrick was getting more ice time than Van Reimsdyk on Saturday.
Big winning streaks are fun, but winning 2/3 or more of your games works. The last few weeks the Canes have had a couple awful performances, no matter the goalie. That is the more concerning thing to me. They need to find a way to play at a high level every night and avoid the big letdowns.
Teams report as little as possible, so who knows for sure, but the preseason issue was some odd upper/body respiratory issue. This injury as announced and also per video is a lower body injury as a result of sort of getting his legs taken out awkwardly.
So the two injuries seem to be completely unrelated.
Good to hear. The Canes need him back.
First, Darling. Scott started with 2 whiffs on the Islanders first 2 shots. As I sat in my seat sensing doom and gloom, 18 players on the bench felt the same. Not again. We’ve seen this movie before. I never want to see it again. There is no way the team doesn’t feel doomed with Darling in the cage.
Second, Coaching. Skill and cunning trumped youth and zeal once again. My sense is any team coached by Barry Trotz will outperform any team coached by a coach as green as RBA. Sunday’s bad night was caused by coaching. Example, while Lehner was due to start, Greiss was given his chance to continue his streak against the Canes. RBA did the customary, going from the hot hand in goal, to the back up due a start.
Third, Bean. A cup of coffee and a taste of the NHL would be good for Bean’s overall development regardless of his TOI. While it seems he has been around longer, he has only played 22 games of professional hockey. Montreal’s offense is likely as any to be a good place to give Bean protected minutes and a taste of the big time.
Fourth, Treading water? Even a quick look at the standings shows how big a win would have been. Just the difference of being in the hunt and being on the outside looking in. That’s now twice the opportunity to creak the glass ceiling has been squandered. Losses are never treading water in the Metro.
Pesce wasn’t going to turn the NYI game around – I’m with tj on that.
I’ve been hoping for Darling to show some kind of spark since he got off to a decent start in the preseason but it hasn’t happened. We’re getting to the point in the season and he probably doesn’t have that many more starts left before real decisions have to be made. Why teams seem to play better in front of certain goalies is a mystery to me.
As for Bean, he looked completely overwhelmed in his last preseason game before being sent down so I was very surprised to he him called up. Maybe it’s another trial on the PP if we’re close to a trade and need to backfill? I’m hoping he doesn’t show nerves and plays the game he’s played in CLT. That would give us a lot of flexibility over the next year or so.
It’s a long season and being over .500 each week is a recipe for success. Just keep accumulating points boys – luckily, we only see the NYI once more this season.
Thinking more about Bean….The Canes could use a spark on the left point of the PP. Since Bean is 20 the Canes are burning a year of his rookie contract, so I doubt this isn’t a serious look.
lts – I am pretty that age limit is based on the year of signing the ELC not his age when he first sees NHL action. Bean was 18 when he signed his ELC, so the entry level slide is still in effect for him.
less than. I read the ELC the same as tj–because Bean signed at 18 his contract can slide one more year. That is why I think the Canes don’t use Necas again or Kuokkanen for more than a few games; unless either of them go from having a good year to completely dominating the AHL.
Hmm…which would be one reason why Adam Fox would want to play another year of college hockey. The Canes would probably have to offer to let him play a game or two in the NHL this year to entice him away from Harvard.
We couldn’t play him without signing him. If we sign him he loses his academic eligibility. If he waits until after his senior year he can become an unrestricted free agent and command a much bigger salary than if he was to come out early and sign an ELC. Quite honestly I believe that is the path he is going to take. He would be sacrificing millions if he left before his senior year.
Understand that. Vesey signed for a little over $2M per year for four years. So, about $1.2-1.3M more per year than an ELC. On the other hand if Fox came out and signed an ELC for three years, burned one immediately, the difference wouldn’t be that much. Fox would basically get a $925K signing bonus and only have two years left on his ELC.
If Fox wants to play in the NHL next year it isn’t that big of a hit. If Fox wants the degree from Harvard, and who could blame him, he will stay.
Speaking of Fox…He’s off to a blazing start. 17 points in 8 games. Putting in a bid to be a Hobey Baker candidate.