Coming out of the trade deadline with the potential for a dramatic plunge at the end of the season with an undermanned roster, the Carolina Hurricanes did the opposite, surprised everyone and surged. It took overtime in 3 of the games, but the canes went 2-0-1 immediately following the trade deadline. The next stretch of 5 road games saw the Canes still pushing to overtime and earning points but unable to convert overtime into the second point. Over a tough 5-game road trip against strong competition, the team was a respectable 1-1-3. That set the stage for the final 10 games of which 6 are at home.
The challenges are multiple. Will the team lose the fire as the 2015-16 playoff hopes fade? Will young players, especially the 3 on D who played college hockey last season, hit a wall playing a season nearly double what they played last season? And will the undermanned roster that is heavy on depth players and AHL players trying to make an impression struggle.
Especially if the Canes can get Justin Faulk back in the lineup (he is back on the ice so maybe close), I think this last stretch of games could be instrumental of setting a tone for next season. With the 2 inherent leaders in the lineup, the final stretch could become a useful foundation for training camp next fall before the players go their separate ways for summer break.
Here is what I will be watching for Thursday’s game in Columbus:
1) Fire or fade
Tuesday’s game between 2 teams mostly playing out the string turned out to be incredibly heavy on chippiness and fire. I posted a deeper analysis of Jeff Skinner’s involvement and actions in my DCoJ post for today. The Blue Jackets and Hurricanes have some 2015-16 history with Brad Malone’s concussion-inducing hit on Jackets’ captain Nick Foligno earlier this season. Malone fought that night and again when the teams saw each other a week later, so that situation is likely to be history not fuel for more, but who knows.
2) Brody Sutter
From the shuttle bus between Charlotte and Raleigh that is trying to stock a full set of players at the NHL level and also empower the Checkers to compete for an AHL playoff spot, Brody Sutter is the latest in with Derek Ryan out after playing for the Canes on Saturday. Sutter is 1 of a few players who could theoretically compete for a fourth line/#13 depth forward position next season and bring some size and physical play. The question for him and most of the players competing for this slot is whether they can match the NHL pace and bang bodies in a way that disrupts the other team’s effort to move the puck versus just finishing checks after the play is cleanly behind them.
3) Jeff Skinner
At a basic level, he has had a good 2015-16 season. Ideally, his scoring would be a bit higher, but the degree to which he has rounded out his game has been a good offset. But in regressing to his younger days when provoked on Tuesday, it was not a good game for him. He spent 14 minutes in the penalty box when the team could have used him. He spent more time agitated or irritated than dangerous scoring-wise. And he had the bad turnover that led directly to the Sabres game-winning goal late in the game. This game is an important bounce back game for him. Can he channel a bit of extra energy and frustration into a great hockey game? Or might a Columbus player or 2 who saw Tuesday’s events try and be able to lure him off track again? Also per my post this morning, the team around him needs to do a better job if someone on Columbus starts down this path with Jeff Skinner.
4) The ongoing try out
—Chris Terry is surging right now. He has 2 goals in 2 games and points in his last 3. His line of Terry/Ryan/Nash was the Canes best on Tuesday night. Ryan is back in Charlotte, but I would expect Terry and Nash to play together again probably on a third line with Nash centering it.
—Riley Nash is also making the most of his bigger opportunity and has been doing it for a longer stretch. If I could pick only 1 player to keep from the depth forwards (Brad Malone, Nathan Gerbe, Chris Terry and Riley Nash), Nash would be my choice (per my post last week that has more details) because of his versatility and strong play.
—Ryan Murphy was better on Tuesday after sitting out 1 with an injury and a couple rough games prior to that. With 3 players passing him on the depth chart this season and a few other options on the way from juniors next fall, he needs to make a statement down the stretch and carve out a role or at least a projected role.
—Michal Jordan is in a similar situation to Murphy. He struggled the first half of this season but has been better in the role of a serviceable third pairing defenseman in the second half of the season. I still see him only as deep depth in a #8/#9 type role who plays most of the season at the AHL level on a 2-way contract.
—Brad Malone has actually had a decent season if you grade him in the role of a #13 forward who can handle the rough stuff when needed and bring energy/physical play when in the lineup. The issue is that I do not think the Canes will dedicate a roster spot solely to this for 2016-17. If I am right, Malone needs to position himself for a different role that brings more offense. To make a case for that, I think he needs to score or at least help generate offense down the stretch.
The puck drops at about 7pm on Fox Sports with John, Tripp and Michelle.
Go Canes!
