On Thursday, the Carolina Hurricanes announced that the team had traded Marcus Kruger and a third-round draft pick to the Arizona Coyotes for Jordan Martinook and a fourth-round pick. I offered my thoughts on that trade HERE.
With the move, both Josh Jooris and Marcus Kruger who were added only 10 months ago to solidify the fourth line are both gone.
Jordan Martinook adds another young veteran player to compete for a depth forward slot along with Joakim Nordstrom and Phil Di Giuseppe if both are re-signed. But more so than a new round of veteran checking line forwards filling out the bottom of the lineup, the move could pave the way for a transition to stocking the fourth line with young players who are scoring-capable and in the process working toward a more balanced lineup. In a new NHL where teams no longer carry skating-lite enforcers, good teams with depth are moving quickly in this direction. Last season, when a Columbus fourth line with Scott Hartnell and Sam Gagner started scoring, Coach John Tortorella opted to leave the line intact and create lineup balance and match up challenges for opponents. The move flew in the face of old school NHL tactics that saw producing fourth-liners quickly promoted to a higher line. A key strength of the Vegas Knights is their depth and the fact that their fourth line is pretty close to on par with the team’s higher lines. And one can bet that the trend will continue.
The Hurricanes may not be quite where they need to be in terms of forward depth for the 2018-19 season, but at the same time, the team has a number of younger players who played well in the AHL in 2017-18 and deserve a chance to show if they can carry their success to the NHL level. Coupled with the potential for the team to wing it a bit with two young centers in 2018-19 (subject of Thursday’s Daily Cup of Joe) and the stage could be set for a fourth line that features young upstart forwards with the potential to score. If you consider the possibility of Necas and Aho at center, that means that Rask could get pushed to the fourth line and/or alternate with Necas a bit depending on situation. As a decent two-way center, Rask is a decent fit for young forwards who can attack offensively but maybe need a little support defensively.
So while veterans like Martinook, Nordstrom and Di Giuseppe will definitely be considered in training camp, I think the door is officially open for players like Warren Foegele, Aleksi Saarela, Valentin Zykov and others to play well and stake claim to fourth line roster slots that in the old NHL would have been reserved for safer, sounder veteran depth forwards. With exactly that variety of player not working in 2017-18, the team should be open to young players who might be marginally riskier but also have significantly greater upside offensively.
What say you Canes fans?
1) Are you ready for a youth movement on the fourth line that prioritizes young legs and upside over NHL experience?
2) Of the veteran holdovers (assuming those not under contract are re-signed) in Joakim Nordstrom, Phil Di Giuseppe, Derek Ryan and Jordan Martinook, which have the best chance to still be holding a spot in the lineup come October?
3) Which of the young guns from the AHL do you believe will start the 2018-19 season on the Hurricanes roster?
Go Canes!
1) I am ready for an innovative movement that doesn’t have a fourth line. I don’t mean to be redundant–but not sure if everyone reviewed yesterday’s late comments, so I will add my ideal lineup at the end of this comment. Many commenters here and elsewhere are buying into the modern front office the organization is trying. Well, if TD and Waddell are really doing things differently then it is important to change the way we think and even talk about Carolina Hurricanes hockey.
Yes it is time for the youth to arrive and play on either a scoring line or a balanced line (I won’t even demand that my favorite descriptive phrase–disruption line–is adopted).
2) My personal thought is that Nordstrom should be retained as the 13th forward. His tenacity and PK skills are valuable. He could be used to rest players on some back-to-back games. Because of the youth, I think he slots next to Staal and either Foegele or McGinn can fill in if one of the others is injured (again see the lineup at the end). Using Rask as a center or calling up Wallmark will work if the injured player is a center.
3) Zykov and Foegele. I greatly admire Wallmark and can see him in either the Rask or Lindholm role if one is traded for a goalie. Of course Necas and Svechnikov who aren’t in Charlotte will also be in the lineup. McKeown is up if Faulk is traded.
Scoring lines:
Zykov/Aho/Teravainen
Skinner/Necas/Svechnikov
Balanced lines:
Foegele/Staal/McGinn
Rask/Lindholm/Williams
No need to call any of these a fourth line (or a first, second, or third for that matter).
I realize the Skinner/Necas/Svechnikov line is vulnerable in the d-zone. That is why I have repeated that trying to trade Skinner for Pacioretty, Nugent-Hopkins, or a similar player is needed. I also understand why trading Skinner doesn’t make tons of sense. In that case, and at the risk of making some heads explode, Rask is an option as the LW with Necas and Svechnikov. He does add defensive stability and can take key face-offs. While his speed is an issue, his success at last year’s world championships on larger ice that favors speed does lessen that concern.
While the youngsters will make plenty of costly mistakes and occasionally be overmatched, can anyone argue that the four centers listed above are inferior to Staal/Rask/Ryan/Kruger? Or that Svechnikov/Foegele/Zykov are worse options than Jooris/Di Giuseppe/Nordstrom? The youth can make a difference–but it will help them and the team greatly if we don’t pigeonhole their roles as “limited minutes on the fourth line.”
1. Absolutely ready.
2. It depends on the rest of the training camp roster.
Phil Di Giuseppe and Skinner always had some chemistry, so if Skinner is not traded I give PDG 75% chance of staying, if not I give him 10%.
I give Nordstrom a 50% of staying, for his battle and penalty kill, though I don’t see the Canes keep both Nordstrom and Jordan Martinook. Since we just traded for Martinook and his salary that may be the direction the team decides to go.
The Doctor is a good story, hard working, a great 4th line center on a team like the Penguins, but I don’t see him fit into the picture in carolina, not unless one or both of Lindholm and Rask get traded. I think it will be a battle between Rask and Ryan, and Rask is signed on a long term deal.
3. Zykov and Fogele will get a shot, Necas and our 2018 #2 pick as well. One or two of the defenseman, and I think Ned may end up being a backup in Raleigh.
the Goat may be a dark horse, his play improved quite a bit towards the end of the season, so if he works hard over the summer and comes in with fire and fury he could surprise.
I?m also impressed with what our lower level guys have been doing and curious to see what they bring to training camp. OHL, QHL or college level play is pretty far from translating to any surity of NHL success, but some of these guys have played with the compete and winning mentality.
The trade yesterday was a positive sign going forward. Some may have thought the sky is falling in Raleigh. Who is in charge? Is the franchise in free fall?
Yesterday showed that there is a steady hand at the wheel. I am not sure who that is but it doesn’t matter. A player was traded who would probably not have been at the NHL level for a player who can help the Canes in a specific role. Season changing trade? No.
Grit and some secondary scoring added? Yes.
I don’t know what the team will look like in October, but it will be different. Excited about the way forward.
It was an inconsequential trade that was ok but nothing brilliant. For me it doesn’t prove anything one way or the other about the direction of the franchize.
Of course I like your optimism and I want to feel that way too, hopefully a few more pieces of good news will disperse any lingering doubts as to the legitimacy and hockey smarts of the new management.
1. It’s time to forget first, second, third, and fourth lines in the old traditional sense. All the lines now need to be designed to add their fair share of goals and offense. Any down grade of defense because of this switch in emphasis is made up of a) controlling the puck more, b) making it more difficult for opponents to just attack, attack without fear of making that mistake that leads to a goal the other way, and c) placing the opponent in a position of playing catch up hockey more often which leads to more opportunities for them to make mistakes that end up in the back of their net.
If a team sets a goal of needing to score 270-280 goals, which is about what all the playoff teams accomplished, then these goals need to come from somewhere. If you have 4 lines contributing to scoring enough to meet this level of scoring it is much easier to find the required players. For example look what it would take to get to 270 goals with four offensive capable lines:
Line 1: Two 30 goal scorers + One 20 goal scorer = 80 goals
Line 2: One 30 goal scorer + Two 20 goal scorers = 70 goals
Line 3: One 20 goal scorer + Two 15 goal scorers = 50 goals
Line 4: Three 10 goal scorers = 30 goals
Defense: Three 10 goal scorers + Three 5 goal scorers = 45 goals
Total Goals = 275 goals
Imagine what you need on you first and second lines if you have a 4th line grind line and/or a third line assigned as a shut down line. All I can say is you better have one heck of a goalie combo in this case. 82 games at a goals allowed per game of 2.50 goals = 205 goals given up. Assuming you need to win 45-50 games as all the playoff teams did this year, that means if you won all 45 of your wins by just one goal you would need 250-255 goals (205 +45 or 50). That just leaves about 25 goals for winning games by more than one goal and 35 losing games where the team scored more than 2 goals in the game.
When you break things down to trying to meet an established criteria of 270 -280 goals for the year you can see the folly of a fourth line that cannot contribute a reasonable level of scoring. The new term is having scoring depth…all lines with an offensive responsibility while not being atrocious on defense. If your opponents that you have to beat to make the playoffs are scoring at a 270-280 goal level, odds are if you can’t score at that level you aren’t going to WIN enough games to make the playoffs. The new term for the above is analytics. I just call it plain old common sense and basic math.
So, for me to predict which players will be on each of our 4 lines and 3 defensive pairings means I would have to predict not just names, but predict how many goals each of the names would score. A better way would be to set up each line and pairing combination and determine whether it is reasonable for that combination as a group to score at the level required for that combination (1st line, 2nd line, etc.). For example, is a first line of Aho, Teravainen, plus ____________ capable of producing 80 goals or more and so forth for all lines and defensive pairings.
I felt like I was watching Moneyball reading that! I like it; great explanation and definitely a new way to look at it.
I think I like your way of looking at it better than my way, but it sure is daunting to see the production we need from each line, production we don’t have on the roster right now.
I love that the regulars make me rethink what I considered well-thought ideas. Great job RR.
Given that, I think Rask goes to LW with Necas/Svechnikov and Skinner plays with Lindholm and Williams.
To dmiller’s point the Staal line can neutralize other lines yet still chip in. In fact if Foegele’s scoring translates from the AHL, he McGinn and Staal could combine for 45 goals.
Given RR’s keen assessment, I would only move Sinner for Pacioretty or RNH— other players just don’t have the scoring needed to replace 53.
The one positive is that 270 goals represents the remaining teams who all are Cup worthy. The playoffs realistically take only 245. As Svechnikov and Necas grow the 270 number will be more reasonable.
ct, you were the one who first pointed out we needed to think of the lines not in the traditional sense and really got the ball rolling in my thinking of how to illustrate what you were advocating. You did that it seems like weeks ago, so many may have forgotten that you came up with the idea. Just proves once again, you’ve got to get up pretty early in the morning if you are going to beat ct to the punch. Usually I’m a couple of hours behind you and your 6:30 AM productions, but in this case I’m a couple of weeks behind you.
Can I also jump in with a kudos? Holy hell RR, this is everything I’ve been trying to argue for two years and you explained it all in one post. Damn you’re good sir.
fogger, I read everything everyone posts and I’m known to “steal” good ideas and your posts are a source of “fair game” good ideas for me to follow up on. Just keep writing.
That’s great analysis RR! A very rationale way to think about it and it takes some of the emotion out of our assessment of our players. Definitely need to add scoring help, because we don’t have that in house right now. Adding someone like Patches or JVR would help get to that needed level.
I enjoyed your post so don’t color my message with any tone…
8 of the 16 playoff teams didn’t score over 259 goals. Multiple teams got in without scoring over 239.
I did look at the top scoring teams (Very top being Tampa, and they didn’t meet your per person line requirements.) Granted you could move numbers from Kuch to Stamer to quantify it how you want… The fact is rarely you have a whole line that goes 30, 30, 20… if they have the bloated numbers as a whole line its because someone on that line put up a ton…
So to me that screams get the guy that puts up 40 plus.. but that’s every team’s wants. We have a great opportunity to get that guy this year at No. 2 in the draft.
Hockey has some great advanced stats.. but all in all skill is skill, bounces are bounces, it all comes together and makes for little pockets of successes and failures. The Canes just havnt had the roster talent, prospect pool, budget, or support.. couple that with some terrible drafts and you miss the playoffs for coming up on a decade.
As far as the line names goes.. I’m surprised we keep having the same conversation about it.. End of the day call them what you want. Each line on each team has a role, 3rd lines are different depending on the team and personnel. I call them 1-2-3-4 because that’s essentially what they are and I don’t see the need to complicate it… But please keep at it.. I enjoy the read!
Is TD doing the right or wrong thing? Good Question… Everybody in my hockey world has been making comments how the canes are a dumpster fire… My response is GMRF did what he intended to do.. and that was set the franchise up for long term success. Aho is the shining star.. the prospect pool is one of the tops in the league. Don’t be surprised if it gets worse before it gets better.. Terry Pegula coming in knew way more about hockey than TD, Id much rather be us than a Sabers fan 😉
d-rob, I tend to agree with you and appreciate your assessment. It’s one thing to enjoy reasonable speculation, opinions and banter … but I feel it’s premature to speculate lines or number them right now. How much youth will comprise those lines nobody knows, especially when a potential core shake-up is pending. So I tune out the line opinions until July 4th when we have a clearer sense of what this team will look like.
RedRyder, great analysis. When the conclusions qualify as common sense, but like common sense are “not so common”, you are on to something special. Moneyball indeed. Whether the right target is 270 goals or 260 goals, the fact is that you are not going to make the playoffs if you don’t have a plan for achieving the target.
On a personal level, it helps to explain what happened in Vegas this year. With a minimum of 7 forwards protected on each team, how in the heck did VGK pick from the bottom half of rosters and assemble one of the best teams in the league? Using the “RedRyder Method”, assembling a set of 12 forwards who are 20 goal scorers, that is 240 goals from the forwards, 10 more than your example above. Of course matchups, etc, come into play, but it explains it. A balanced team of 20 goal scorers can be just as successful as an unbalanced team with a couple superstars and a couple defensive forwards thrown in.
But with young players getting excellent coaching, nutrition, and workouts now, there may be no reason for any team ever again to go with defensive, experienced NHLers in what used to be called the “bottom” of the lineup. Now young players on ELCs can come in and create more balanced lines at a very reasonable cost.
1/ Two years ago, the Nordstrom/McClement/Stalberg line didn’t score much, but they did a great job shutting down the opposition and on the PK. At even strength, that turned each game into a Top 3 vs Top 3 line battle that we usually lost given our lack of scoring depth. If we had a line that was that effective next year, it might not be a bad trade to concentrate the game into a 3 line battle – we might have a decent chance of being even better.
Having said that, I’m not sure our chances aren’t better if we skated a more offensive-leaning 4th line against a more defensive-leaning opposition 4th line (still the norm in the league). If all our lines had at least one player who was defensively responsible and we had a way of covering the PK, it may be the best way to break young players into the league. I’m ready.
2/ I think PDG does. His game showed a great deal of growth in the last 20 games and he has far more offensive upside AND physicality to his game than do either Nordstrom or Ryan – both known commodities at this point. I don’t know anything about Martinook so I can’t comment other than to say if the Canes were willing to send Kruger and his salary to CLT, they’d be willing to do the same thing with Martinook, so I’m not sure where he winds up.
3/ Zykov and Foegele clearly have an “inside track” given the success of their late-season auditions. Given that Dahlbeck is gone, I could see Carrick taking his role and McKeown replacing whichever defenseman is traded – and I think at least one defenseman will be traded. Saarela, Kuokkanen, Roy, Wallmark, and even maybe Gauthier are all lurking too. It’s going to be a wide open training camp. When you look at the depth and how ready many of them seem to be, there is a real logjam and it’s possible that one or more of them ripen too much on the vine; I could see one or more of them packaged in a trade, too.
Simple, but brilliant analysis, RedRyder. And training camp this year is going to be intense for the young forwards. Some tough decisions will have to be made.
There is nothing new about having a fourth line that is a scoring threat. It’s about having a deep group of forwards. In ’05-’06 Kevyn and Craig Adams scored 25 goals between them. That was a deep group of forwards. Pretty sure the Canes aren’t there yet.
There are other factors to consider as well. It sounds great to balance lines, but other teams defenses aren’t balanced. You often need a stacked #1 line to be able to score against the other team’s top defensive pairing/checking line. This balanced line theory doesn’t take into account what the other team is doing. Often the game is about matchups and that is one area where a head coach earns his money.
None the less, it was a very good trade to acquire a player that can add something the Canes need in exchange for one that was already deemed of no use.
1. As part of my “reboot” thesis I am ready for a youth movement and I am ready for a more offensive-minded 4th line. But I don’t think that correlates to putting younger players on the 4th line and challenge them to move up. I think 4 lines better balanced spreads young and veteran players across all 4 lines.
RR’s goal requirements per line mesh well with ct’s redefinition of of 4-line functionality. But will the new coach view things something like this?
I will repeat myself that Rask makes a good selection for a 4th line center, even if way overpaid for that role, but providing improved offensive steady 2-way play, and superior FO%. File this under the question, “Does’balanced lines’ mean what we think it means?”
2. Martinook only – I like Nordy a lot but Martinook takes over his style of play and there are upgrades available offensively. Ryan’s time with the Canes has come to an end. There is a new coach in Calgary who really likes him – let’s give BP and Tre a chance to sign up (and ask the question “why not?” if they don’t. But if they don’t want him neither should we. There are too many players who represent an upgrade to PDG that I don’t see him staying with the Canes.
3. Something is seriously wrong if Foegele, Necas, and Svechnikov aren’t on the roster. I also think Zykov is a clear choice as well. These are prospects I don’t think will be traded. I think other prospects can certainly be considered trade chips – if you want to get value (with term) for Faulk or Skinner, if the intentions are to trade, then you will probably need to include a top-end prospect and/or picks. Wallmark is so well thought of across the league he would be one I expect to see moved. If not him, expect changes in our prospects as much as our core – making roster hard to predict.
I agree that we needn’t go with conventional line classifications. In my crystal ball I can see;
Zykov-Aho-TT
Skinner-Martinook-Gauthier
McGinn-Staal-Williams
Digiuseppe-Roy-Lindholm
Dahlbeck-Faulk
Slavin-Pesce
Hanifin-TVR
Fleury-Carrick
And, if they are ready for prime time, we will find room for Necas and Tkatchuk.
I don’t think we can create any lines or guess how much youth we have in the lineup until we see what transpires with our existing core (Skinner, Faulk, Staal, Rask, Ward, Darling, etc.). I think we’re going to see a few trades that change our core, and with that, bring some veteran oomph in desperately changing the culture. The culture change needs to be on offense, defense and goaltending (to accomplish this we have to send out a few core/young guys to obtain).
Right now everything is speculation but it is nice to know we have maybe 4 or 5 guys in Charlotte and/or draftees that can play key minutes for us next season.
Yeah dude, speculation is fun.
For some, perhaps.
Speaking of young guys, Morgan Geekie and Jake Bean are joining the Checkers for the nex phase of their playoff run, it’s not guaranteed that they will play but they have been added on tryout contracts.
Both players have played extremely well in juniors, Morgan Geekie led his team in scoring, both regular season and playoffs.
I secretly suspect him of being another dark horse for training camp.
Jake seems to be a promising offensive defenseman, though how that translates to the pro game has yet to be seen.
Especially if Faulk gets traded. Bean had an up and down year this year, starting off really slow, and then ending the season on fire, so I would not be shocked to see Bean actually get some game action, while I doubt Helvig and Geekie would see much if any, given the depth there.
Gonna be a great series, go Baby Canes!
I understand that the years of frustration take a toll. But it is funny how many (at other sites of course) were furious that Zykov and Foegele were not brought up to help the Canes make the playoffs. Now some of those same people are saying they probably won’t make the starting roster. What is ironic is that they could be correct. I was on the play Saarela in Raleigh bandwagon at the end of 16-17. Now he is not in my top five prospects. That is a good problem to have though.
I agree with other comments above that Nordstrom will not be signed partly due to the Martinook deal. To RR’s point we need more offense and Nordstrom is lacking. Maybe the 4th line should be balanced with a rookie (Foegele?), a gritty veteran (Martinook) and an effective center with good face-off %. Derek Ryan and Lucas Wallmark both had FO win percentage of 55/56%. But there may not be room on the roster for both of these players.
PDG may be the 13th forward. He is seasoned, low-cost, and brings grit and physicality. IMO we need to keep the salaries reasonable for the 10 – 13 forwards so we have more to spend on true impact players.
I see at least 3 new young forwards, maybe 4: Svechnikov, Foegele, Zykov and Wallmark/Roy.
Great post by RR and others who propose a different way of looking at traditional lines. Scoring really needs to come from across the spectrum. Great players have off nights and the other team can adjust to a loaded up scoring line.
I will remain optimistic. In my nine years of following the canes, I can’t remember a team with true top six forwards in all the top six spots. I think we may have that next year. Aho, TT, Staal, the Russian No. 2 pick, Lindholm, Necas, and I would offer Zykov. Are some of these players young and need time to grow? Probably.
We have players like Rask, McGinn, Foegele, Martinook, Walmark, and Williams who can be interwoven with the young players to make four lines better than the team has had in a while.
I look forward to the summer to see the continued transition of the team. Who knows who may come or go but things are looking better for talent and depth across four lines.
To directly answer the questions…
1) I am ready for a youth movement, but agree with CT not piled into a “fourth line”. Sprinkle them throughout the lineup with veteran mentors and the veterans will play better too. Every player is different, with slightly different skill sets, so grouping a set with a specific purpose that fits their unique characteristics is best. CT has suggested a couple different flavors of lines (which I like as a general direction) with the caveat that a particular group of 12 men may call for a unique set of line roles. The selection of coach is so important to the idea of innovating at the professional level.
2) Jordan Martinook has the edge going into camp. I loved his comments about how fast the canes are and their potential. I believe the canes were held back by Peters system and underperformed as a group in it, and this powder keg has a chance to explode.
Of the remaining 3, the Doc has the best chance. His face off acumen, work ethic, and offensive upside make him a favorite. I don’t think we need Nordstrom or PDG with the skill we have in the system, although they both may land important roles on other teams.
3) barring injury, Foegele and Zykov are locks. Zykov’s game may be difficult to sustain at the top level, but he earned the chance. If we get Svechnikov he’s in, and if Necas body has filled out he’ll be ready. McKeown is definitely ready and Carrick could fill a bottom paring role. Look for Bean to compete with Carrick, and it may come down to offensive upside vs defensive acumen.
While I love Wallmark’s game at the AHL level, he looks a half-step slow in the big show. His best value may be as a trade, combined with Skinner or Faulk in a big deal.
Andrew Miller, Andrew Poturalski, and Greg McKegg all had great seasons too, but like Wallmark I wonder if they have the quickness and speed at the top level.
The next wave are Roy, Kuokkonen, and Saraala. Goat needs more time to mature mentally, he is wildly inconsistent.
Just my opinions, Ihope they all come into camp next year at the top of their games and compete for slots.
I find it to be frustrating that people who call themselves fans can talk so matter-of-factly about the men who play for our beloved team. Trade Faulk.
Trade Faulk? Are you guys crazy? He is a great offensive defenseman. Oh? He hasn’t played up to form in a couple of years. He is finished.
Is he now?
The last year he played up to his still-developing capabilities was when he was paired with Ron Hainsey. I know. I know. There I go again with the human element. But he is human.
For the last couple of years he has been saddled with an entire defense corps of newbies who have little or no NHL experience.
If we trade him, we will get nothing of value for him and then see him take off like a bird of prey, ravaging enemy goalkeepers.
And my fellow fans will all wonder how that could have happened, again. Again?
Remember Eric Staal? When Eric Cole got away from us, Staal went into a spiral. We couldn’t seem to find a good replacement. Of course, it was Eric’s fault for being human. Well, look how he is doing with the Wild.
Wow! That human element is some element. Isn’t it?
So now we think we should trade Faulk and move up Jake Bean to replace him? Wow!
These are the same guys who want to blame our goalkeepers for the complete ineptitude of our clueless defenseman? Good thinking, guys.
But now we have those who think that Skinny is finished. Over the hill. Put a fork in him, he’s done. Right?
I am very glad that Tom has given us Rick and Don. These guys are proven recognizers of good hockey flesh. They will recognize what we have on the big team as well as in the system. They will see what we need and get it.
And, I suppose my fellow fans will go on de-humanizing the players. And, as the players they regarded as worthless come back to life, they will be wondering what happened.
Wow! There is none so blind as he who will not see.
There is room for fans who look at the team analytically and thus aren’t emotionally tied to the players. They aren’t our friends. I think calling it dehumanizing is a bit strong.
Sure, some players that have left have become re-energized. I think Eric Staal needed the change of scenery. He had a ton of responsibility here and little help. He has the opposite in Minnesota. Good for him. I’m very happy for him, but that wasn’t going to happen for him here.
You can’t keep everyone. There needs to be room for younger players and with the salary cap older players can be too expensive. I’m with you on Faulk. I think he will still be a top player, but needs a vet by his side. I am not with you on Skinner. He has too many weaknesses and seems to play hockey in a bubble. Doesn’t use his teammates and stinks defensively. He needs a wakeup call like Khadri got in Toronto.
Finally, did you ever consider some of these guys may want to leave Carolina? It’s not like they all live here. The only player I know of that is a full time resident is Slavin. They all leave in the summer. Hockey is business for the owners AND players.
You have a point about fans who look at things analytically. And of course, I am not friends with most players. But it has been my experience that most fans who look at things from an analytical perspective completely ignore the human factor.
For example, why do we assume that Kruger was keeping his injury a secret from management? BP was maniacal about keeping the roster intact. Maybe Kruger played injured because he was told to do so. Maybe we demoted him when the injury hurt so badly he could no longer play.
Maybe Skinny has reasons for playing like he does. Maybe he is playing injured. Maybe he is tired of playing while being a target without protection. Maybe the team isn’t playing as a team. Maybe he is taking a bad rap when it is the team that won’t play together.
I do consider the possibility that our players want to leave here. Of course, that sword cuts both ways. Maybe nobody wants to come here either. So how do we trade for players who have us on their “no trade” list? How do we convince free agents to come to us rather than anyone else?
The fish starts to stink from the head down. I am glad to see that upper management is experiencing a long needed housecleaning. All we need to acquire is a good coach (Roddy will do), a mean and strong and nasty forward or two, and an experienced, strong and nasty stay-at-home defenseman and we have a playoff team.
You guys can have all the fun analyzing players that you want. I will have fun watching us win.
Win-win. Isn’t that nice?
At no point did I suggest that Kruger was keeping his injury a secret. There is no way that a team can force someone to play injured. The union would have them for lunch. A sports hernia can be anything from an annoyance to disabling. I don’t think Kruger had surgery, so it doesn’t sound that horrible. He should have taken the time off to let it heal instead of playing bad hockey. That is usually 4-6 weeks. The team and Kruger are responsible here.
I do not like the way Jeff Skinner plays the game, and I’m not alone. It’s not like this is something new. He has always played this way, but it is forgiven when he lights it up. I don’t care why he plays this way. He can blame someone else, but it remains he has always played a selfish, Joe Solo brand of hockey and the Hurricanes will be better off with him doing it somewhere else.
I’m with you on the housecleaning that is currently in process. It won’t be pretty, but hopefully it will result in a team with more character and an infusion of talent in a few key places.
Oh! By the way!
Remember that worthless Marcus Kruger?
In an interview recently he stated that he played all of last season with a sports hernia.
Oops! There goes that human element again.
That’s as much on Kruger as the team. If you can’t play you say so. He went out there and hurt his team trying to be tough. It’s also obvious there was way more going on with this guy. Getting sent to the A and not playing there either suggests a broken relationship with the organization. He needed to go. That’s the human thing to do as well.