Today’s Daily Cup of Joe offers a quick comparison to three of the eight teams currently slotted go from playoff miss in 2017 to playoff participant in 2018. The fact that more than half of the teams that have missed the playoffs during the past two years suggests it is possible. But yet, the transition continues to be a big hump to push over for the Carolina Hurricanes who are currently on the outside looking in and will need a huge push to change their fate for the current season.
The Thursday Coffee Shop considers what the Hurricanes need to push over the playoff cut line.
Carolina Hurricanes polls
Please remember to click ‘vote’ after each individual poll response.
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Discussion questions
1) Along the lines of the first poll question, is there a missing ingredient for the Hurricanes in terms of making the playoffs or is it just a matter of finding a way to push above the cut line?
2) Still in the thick of things in terms of the standings, what does it take record-wise and otherwise to make a big March push and finish ahead of Columbus and Florida for the final playoff spot?
Go Canes!
1. GMRF identified the missing ingredient last offseason (the need for more scoring). Unfortunately for probably good reason, he was unable to obtain this type of player (offensive catalyst/scorer).
2. I think 10-3 over next 13 games (20 of 26 possible points) in March will give us a good shot in April.
1) The missing ingredient needed to be added long ago – scoring. I truly believe with more scoring the Canes could have overcome their defensive and goaltending issues. Especially when you look at the first few months of the season where I’d argue the defense and goaltending was better than the latter months – if they could have won some more of those low scoring games early in the season… When you net it out over the long run there are issue everywhere. However purely from a contractual position i’d say the organizations hands are tied at the defense and goaltending positions. Defense in a positive way because nobody is on a bad contract – so I say patience is worth it with young developing defenseman. Goaltending in a more negative sense but they are basically stuck with Darling gotta try and make it work. Offensively they have flexibility to add so I’m looking to see if they can get a Paul Stastny/Rick Nash (or both) type free agent this summer and somehow subtract Victor Rask from the equation up front.
2. For me the stretch run is less stressful because I had pretty much given up hope they could make the playoffs much earlier in the season… maybe as a coping mechanism to avoid the stress too. They just gotta keep playing but 10-3 is a little unrealistic I think so i’m not getting my hopes up.
Overspending on older players in decline isn’t the way to build a winner. Nash and Stastny are definitely in decline. Better to make a trade to move up in the draft and try to secure a difference maker for a long time. There are some in the top 5.
While more offensive punch is needed, the goaltending situation is critical. They will not win with Ward or Darling in net next season unless Darling makes a dramatic turnaround.
By firing Francis, starting Darling more often, and bringing up Zykov the Canes are saying “uncle.” Sure, they would love to go on a run, but the moves they have made in the last week are more based on the future than today. Making the playoffs would be a minor miracle.
1. Fix coaching and captaincy to affect a culture change.
2. Bring in a veteran defenseman to help the young guys along, preferably one good enough to handle a top 4 responsibility, or at least step into that role as needed. I wonder if we could trade darling, holding some salary, and a prospect to Chicago for a certain defenseman, who was great but is definitely not as good as he used to be.
3. I think ward should not be resigned. Nothing personal, but I think this team clearly needs to go in a fresh direction now, and it is time to part with the guys that have been part of the past especially when they are fre agents. Keep Ward onboard as a coach or instructor, because he is a great person and we don’t want to see him in another team’s uniform, but it’s time to free up the crease. I don’t know what to do with darling, but bring up one of the young guys, even rotate our goalie prospects, I think between Ned, Booth and Helvig we have a future goalie, but we need to give them a chance to prove it.
4. Add either RNH or a decent center for the first line, or bring Aho to center and try to get Max from Montreal. Do our best to go after Kane. I can imagine him playing on a line with Jordan Staal, maybe lihdholm. That could be a big scary line that is good defensively and can also be a threat on the ice.
Have Necas start his role on a third line with Williams, maybe Williams and Mcginn.
Trade skinner for some help, defensively or for the 4th line. He is a valuable piece but I don’t see where he fits into the team.
If we can’t trade Rask we could try him on a third line giving Necas some time with the Checkers.
Bring up some checkers to form a scoring capable puck cycling 4th line.