The Hurricanes failed to start on time on Saturday night in Dallas, and it ultimately decided the game. To their credit, the team tried to mount a comeback instead of mailing it in at the end of a mileage-heavy road trip, but it was not enough. The trip finished up with a respectable 2-2 record and now sees the team back in Raleigh for a busier week with four games including three at home.
The Monday Coffee Shop is mostly an open forum to discuss the current state of the team now that we have seen six games and a mix of home and away.
Carolina Hurricanes poll questions
Please remember to click ‘vote’ after each poll response.
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Discussion questions
1) Scoring…A potentially big problem? A small problem? Not a problem at all? Go!
2) Thoughts on trying to work an AHL call up or two into the lineup for a short audition and possibly a spark? (The team has a handful of players including Lucas Wallmark, Valentin Zykov and Warren Foegele who have started red hot.)
3) What are you hoping for/expecting for this week’s set of games? The competition is tough with match ups against red hot Tampa Bay and Toronto, and two more against perennial playoff teams Anaheim and St. Louis?
4) As always, please say ‘hey’ and briefly introduce yourself if you are new to the Coffee Shop.
Go Canes!
1. I would submit that scoring is a concern but not really a problem (as of now). A related concern is the number of quality scoring chances (as opposed to the number of shots), and the inconsistency game-to-game for goals and quality shots.
2. I don’t see an immediate reason to bring any of them up right now – the team is still looking to establish it’s identity and moving players up and down could be disruptive to both teams (Canes and Checkers) and players. That said, I can see moving Zykov or Wallmark up later in the season to solve a problem – net-front presence (Zykov) or playmaking (Wallmark).
3. I think a .500 October is at risk, but we will learn a lot about the team’s character. We’re playing the hottest team in the league – can we cool them off. Toronto will be a major challenge to our defense (particularly on the road) but can we take advantage of a weak defense (Hainsey is on the first pairing)? I don’t know much about St. Louis or Anaheim this year, but holding serve on our home ice against two Western Conference teams in a row would be a huge way to end the month.
4. It is good to see the new commenters and the different opinions they post – plus the continuing quality discussions about the team by everyone. Keep rollin’…
Scoring is a problem, how big it is, I’m not sure…YET!
Other than Skins, we have a lot of inconsistency…
I tend to agree, it’s a little early to bring up guys, however I wouldn’t be surprised, or unhappy, if they brought up a CENTER!!
…Rask hasn’t been…much?? WTF?
I really don’t know what to expect, but I hope it’s better than what we have seen so far…
This team has the talent, and are capable of MUCH MORE, IMO…
1). Small problem. If my math is correct the pace is about 230 goals. Not great but not a disaster.
2) Not yet. Give Kuokkanen more time if looking for a spark. He was generating the most expected goals in his games. I still think by January Roy will look like best call up. Not sure if concussion set him back but he had first two point game Sunday.
3) Five points would be terrific. Four would be satisfactory. Looking for goals from one of Aho, TT, Lindholm or Kuokkanen if he plays
Anyone know what is up with Smallman? Not on Charlotte or Florida roster
Smallman was sent down by the Checkers to the Blades early in October. He was then recalled to the Checkers on 10/12. I don’t know his current status.
1. Scoring is definitely going to be a problem going ahead without any roster change. We have two top six forwards (scorers) and 10 3rd or 4th line forwards based upon their performances to date.
2. IMO Wallmark belongs on the team and would be more of an offensive threat than several of our current forwards.
3. This is going to be a real measuring stick of our team. Are we going to let Tampa Bay and/or Toronto run all over us like Edmonton and Dallas did? St Louis is a heavy team with excellent scorers mirroring Dallas in ability. They will beat us if we don’t control play. Anaheim is our best bet for victory as they have some key players out. In summary, the Canes better control the puck and spend a lot of time on offense (best defense) and our goaltending must be sharp or it’s going to be a rough week. I’m of the opinion that we can come out with 2 wins out of the 4 games. If we don’t, it won’t be the end of the world but it will leave everyone wondering whether we are really a playoff team.
RedRyder, I agree with Wallmark, and if scoring isn’t significantly improved, I’d bring up Foegele ASAP!
1) Not a problem yet but could become one. Expecting Aho to start scoring some goals.
2) I’m a big Foegle fan so wouldn’t mind seeing him get a look in place of Nordstom or Jooris. I know the 4th line has been playing great but think Foegle can play similar defensive game with more upside offensively. He can also play on PK.
3)Hoping for 5/8 points but will be ok with 4.
I am trying to tie together the two threads today (this one and Necas post). The interesting point of reference for both Necas and a call up from the AHL is Pastrnak. He scored significantly more than Necas (24 points in 36 games, whereas Necas had 15 points in 41 games) in his 17-year-old season in Czech league. Pastrnak was actually more of a playmaker as he had twice as many assists, Necas was 7/8. In fact, Pastrnak didn’t become a prolific goal scorer until last season. So it may take Necas 2-3 years to be a serious NHL point-producer, even then he may top out under 60.
As far as AHL numbers, Pastrnak had 28 points in 25 games. Through 7 games only Wallmark and Zykov are averaging more than a point a game. Give them another month to see if they can keep up the pace. Even after producing in the AHL, Pastrnak’s first two NHL seasons were about .55 points a game (53 points in 97 games). Of course, the Canes would take that, but it isn’t going to suddenly change the trajectory of the team’s offense. Kucherov is another example. He scored 24 points in 17 AHL games before being called up. Then he put up 18 points (9 goals and 9 assists) in 52 NHL games. The next season he caught fire and hasn’t looked back.
I think the bottom line is that the current AHL roster should be kept in place until at least the end of November, then if Wallmark or Zykov (or as I guess Roy) has been hot for 15-20 games, give them a shot. In the mean time, Carolina should get more goals simply because they won’t be facing top goalies as much (4 of first 6 games they faced a goalie who is currently in top half of league for GAA and sv%). Unfortunately, they face top 8 goalies in two of next four games (TB and Ana). If they can get 3 goals in one of those games, it is a sign things are improving.
1. While 6 games are not many to label our offensive prowess for this season, when you compare it to previous seasons I am getting more concerned. I believe we have the same offensive problem we had this offseason. It’s a fine line because when we win it can appear we have capable players…when we lose it can appear we need more. If you look at this realistically and are wondering if we have enough scoring, this may indicate we probably don’t. Does Tampa, Toronto, Pittsburgh or other playoff caliber teams ask themselves this question, probably not because they have more skill in their lineups? Do we have good players, yes. Do they fit together line-wise, some yes and some no. Which means we need to ship someone out (probably someone we like) and get one more offensive juggernaut playmaker that we needed this offseason to begin with. Then we can be like the other playoff caliber teams and not divulge so much on our offense because it should click enough consistently. When we get to the point we analyze our offense equally to our defense then we’ve hit gold.
2. Zykov call up, maybe. I think we need someone to be a catalyst from outside the organization. As Peters said this offseason, this is the year we need proven offense. I just hope we don’t wait too long.
3. I forecast a 1-3 record over the next 4 games. The lone win against Toronto.
1) I would put the goal scoring in the small problem category.
2) For call up, not sure we need to do that now, but I would want to see Zykov. The reason is his net front presence. He really creates a problem for the other teams. There is no doubt that Wallmark or Foegele would be on the list of potentials as well.
3) The next 3 games will tell us how good we are. 3 top teams. Will our D slow their offense? Will our offense do anything? We could loose to these teams and still do okay for the season but these 3 games are a good measuring stick for where we really are at.
I see the offense as a problem. We’ve already lost points to an O that doesn’t score on opposing starters. 9 goals against backups (2 games) 7 goals against starters (4 games). Could turn around today but it looks to be the same offense as last year. I would like to make an excuse that it is tough goaltending but we should be used to it with our division.
2. I say switch one checker for Kuokkanen (who needs to play in games). Either go Zykov or Wallmark on Ryan’s right side.
3. The outlook for the next stretch doesn’t look good. Unless Faulk decides to play defense again, Im expecting maybe a win against Anaheim. We would need a ridiculous goalie performance to beat any of the next 3 teams the way our D has played starting at the Edmonton game.
1/ if we were 1-4-1 after 6, I’d say problem, but we’re 3-2-1 and have produced our best start in years. It’s easy to lose sight of that when none of our players (other than #53) are really rolling.
2/ a little early, but Wallmark has consistently scored and might be a nice spark if BP is willing to move DRyan to the wing for a few games. Zykov is the other option. No one else is ready.
3/ the is a measuring-stick week, but it’s still early in the season. We went out and got Kruger for a game like tonight’s – to slow down a team at home – and given the play of his line, there is every reason to believe that we’ll hold serve. To me, the key is going to be Darling: he’ll have to steal one of these games for us. Having said that, if we get through Oct with at least 10 pts, that to me is a huge victory.