Chronological Blog List
The two most critical slots in the 2020-21 Carolina Hurricanes lineup
Unlike other major sports where a portion of the roster plays a minimal role in teams' success, hockey is a sport where each and every player matters. Players at the very bottom of the roster still play regular minutes and often fill important roles on the penalty...
Considering the Hurricanes unique 2020-21 schedule and season format
Yesterday's Daily Cup of Joe had a brief, initial look at the Carolina Hurricanes 2020-21 season from a team perspective. The 2020-21 NHL schedule will feature four newly-minted divisions and a 56-game season played entirely within those divisions. Also unique will be...
Canes hockey returns! And Canes and Coffee returns from hiatus
Hello again friends Hopefully this finds everyone doing well physically, financially and emotionally. While enjoying a break after five years of covering Carolina Hurricanes hockey on nearly an every day basis for five years, I have very much missed the Canes...
Forgotten but not gone Canes prospects — Roland McKeown and Eetu Makiniemi
After the departure of multiple AHL veterans following the Charlotte Checkers' Calder Cup Championship, there is a sizable list of gone but not forgotten former Canes veteran AHLers. That list grew during the past season with a number of more prospect category players...
Detailing the Carolina Hurricanes salary cap situation for 2020-21
Not too long ago I wrote about the Hurricanes salary cap situation for 2020-21 and 2021-22. The upshot was that the Hurricanes had a bit of wiggle room for 2020-21 but needed to maintain some cushion for 2021-22 when Andrei Svechnikov's next contract will pressure the...
Random Canes thoughts — Alex Nedeljkovic and Ryan Dzingel/Nino Niederreiter
Today's Daily Cup of Joe offers a random set of unrelated Canes thoughts/notes. 1) The importance of Alex Nedeljkovic for 2021-22 Most of the Canes discussion around goaltending right now (including from me) is whether or not there could be a meaningful upgrade...
Where has all the forward depth gone?
Over the past few years, the Carolina Hurricanes have become a prospect pool darling for those who rate prospects and the NHL draft. The Hurricanes have young forwards Andrei Svechnikov and Martin Necas already at the NHL level. Sebastian Aho is still young in his own...
The case for Marc-Andre Fleury and more generally trying to creatively find a real difference-maker
Now four days into the NHL free agency period, the picture for teams' rosters is gradually becoming clearer. In addition, the list of available options who could yield a difference-maker is gradually shrinking. The past day and a half has seen high-end scoring forward...
Deals I would steal
The annual NHL free agent frenzy kicked off on Friday. Though the frenzy was slightly more subdued than some years, there were still a ton of free agent signings over the weekend. The Hurricanes made a small splash signing former Rangers right wing Jesper Fast. I...
Carolina Hurricanes sign free agent forward Jesper Fast
On Saturday, it was announced that the Hurricanes had signed right wing Jesper Fast to a three-year contract for $2 million per year. Below are my initial thoughts on the addition. At the top level At the most basic level, Jesper Fast is a good hockey player...
Open forum for discussion/debate on the start of free agency
At least until the Hurricanes make a move, this post can serve as The Coffee Shop for debate related to the start of free agency on Friday? 1) Who, if anyone, do you think the Hurricanes should pursue in the free agent market? 2) With limited cap space,...
Did the Carolina Hurricanes squander the team’s financial advantage?
With what could be a salary cap-limited and more subdued start to free agency starting at noon on Friday, I will at least put up placeholder in general and a more specific post for discussion if the Hurricanes do any deals. Pre-Dundon For much of a decade, the...
A deeper dive on slotting the Carolina Hurricanes’ forward group
After a busy day, my start writing for Thursday's Daily Cup of Joe was too late to do anything substantive on the draft. I will get to that in the days ahead. If anyone has comments or wants to discuss anything about the draft, feel free to also do that in the...
Carolina Hurricanes financials for 2020-21 and 2021-22
On Tuesday night with the #13 selection in the 2020 NHL Draft the Hurricanes drafted forward Seth Jarvis from the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League. Jarvis is a bit undersized but rates high for playmaking, creativity and hockey smarts. My intent is to...
Why Steven Stamkos to the Hurricanes makes sense
See also today's Daily Cup of Joe article today covers the draft and front part of the off-season (free agents and trades) more generally HERE. After writing a broader article about the draft and front part of the off-season including player additions, a quick check...