With the last of the Hurricanes prospects wrapping up play in the Memorial Cup last weekend, Ron Hainsey and maybe Jim Rutherford and Peter Laviolette are the last people with Hurricanes ties still standing in the Stanley Cup Finals.
For those ready to be done with the 2016-17 NHL season, it’s officially June which for me means it is time start building next season’s team in earnest. We have already bandied around various things pointed in this direction, but with the expansion draft now just under three weeks away and the regular draft and free agency right behind it, I think the speculation, debate and hopefully results should start to ramp up. And Part 1 (identifying needs and building a shopping list) and Part 2 (not being distracted by the shiny stuff) of what will be an extended run of “Building the 2017-18 Carolina Hurricanes” type articles are already up.
The work remaining to build the 2017-18 Hurricanes’ roster and the three NHL summer events should be regular coffee shop entries from here on out.
Carolina Hurricanes polls
Please remember to click ‘vote’ after each individual poll response.
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Discussion questions
1) In priority order, what is on your remaining checklist for Ron Francis this off-season?
2) Of the higher-end scoring forwards allegedly available for the right price this summer, who do you like most? What would be your maximum offer to get him?
3) Is adding a proven, serviceable #5/#6 defenseman enough to solidify the blue line? Or do you think Francis needs to find a way to add better? Who do you like?
Go Canes!
1. Top scoring forward… Better than avg. BU goalie… Top9 forward
2.MacKinnon – 1st round picks (2017,18) and Bean
2b. Druin – (same)
2c. Johnson – 1st round 2017 and Bean
3. Yes ??
1. MacKinnon. If Colorado is willing to trade Duchene and/or Landeskog, why wouldn’t they consider trading MacKinnon. Regardless, I’m with puckgod here. Some high draft picks and one or two defensive prospects or forget it.
2. Checklist. Top line scoring forward (center or wing) FIRST. Whatever cash resources we have available to do this should be allocated first to accomplishing this need BEFORE applying any money to any other lower priority.
3. Another defenseman if RF deems it necessary is okay with me although I wouldn’t spend any time on this until I got other needs taken care of. Personally, I’m willing to go with our defensemen in the system, If they are used to get a top line scoring forward, than I would consider looking for another defenseman.
There’s no way Colorado trades a player like Landeskog or MacKinnon for picks and prospects. High draft picks plus prospects are what you pay for a rental player to have him for a few months plus playoffs, not what you’d ask for a young player that is signed long-term like Landeskog and MacKinnon both are. If those guys are available, the Canes would have to be crazy to not at least consider dealing Hanifin, Slavin, or Pesce. If Colorado was somehow willing to do Landeskog for Slavin straight up, I’d do that deal in a heartbeat! (Colorado would definitely ask for more, in which case I’d go as high as a 2nd rounder or prospect (Fleury), maybe both.)
Regarding improving the defense, am I the only who thinks that it’d be silly (bordering on ridiculous) for the Canes to use 2 of their 3 D expansion protection slots on a 5/6 defenseman or AHL player? In my mind, that’s an absolute waste of expansion protection (no offense to Tennyson, Carrick, Murphy, etc.). That’s pretty much what the Canes are looking at unless they trade for a top 4 defenseman, which I really hope they do since this opportunity doesn’t arise every season. Ideally, the trade wouldn’t have to involve Hanifin/Slavin/Pesce (since I’d rather trade for a top forward) but that seems to make the most sense from the perspective of the other teams who’d be looking to deal.
1) Checklist: Goalies done. remaining – 1st a top line scoring forward (center or wing) but I would not trade any of our top 4 D to accomplish this. We have draft picks and other prospects to trade. We have guys growing. IMO we are not that far out of the race. No point in hurting the defense to gain in the scoring department. Both Aho or Lindholm could be moved to center, so winger could work as well as a center with center being the higher priority.
2nd, a 4-6 defense. Don’t break the bank for this.
2) I agree with Puckgod & RR. MacKinnon is top on my list. At the same time this is probably not reality. I would not give up any of our top 4 D to get a stud forward, too costly. Stud could be UFA before too long. I am of the belief that defense matters.
3) if we can get a 4-5 great. RF may be able to pull that off with our draft picks. If not, fine, 5-6 is good. I saw several good options mentioned.
We are not too far from things picking up. Should be interesting.