If you have not bumped into it elsewhere yet today, please check out Canes and Coffee’s effort to raise “coffee funds” to cover monthly expenses (boring) and also hopefully build a small budget for fun additions this summer (more exciting) in preparation for the 2017-18 season.
If you plan to help but are thinking “I’ll do it later,” please do it now. This fundraising thing is uncomfortable, so despite having more money for coffee, Canes and Coffee will sleep much better once the needle starts to move upward a bit.
I recognize (from being there awhile back) that there is a much bigger stage to be had, but it is still a glorious time to be a Hurricanes’ fan. In the name of appreciating what you have, we have a huge hockey game at PNC Arena on March 30. That is the latest that we have seen such a game in a long time and significantly better than anyone could have reasonably anticipated only a few weeks back.
Today’s Thursday Coffee Shop polls have a mix of considering the state of the 2016-17 season with a couple doses of the expansion draft for those are more future-inclined.
Carolina Hurricanes polls
Please remember to click ‘vote’ for each individual poll response.
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Today’s Daily Cup of Joe looked at the expansion draft. Below are a couple polls on the same topic.
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Carolina Hurricanes discussion questions
1) What are your thoughts on the Hurricanes remaining schedule? Which game(s) scare you the most?
2) Ward played well for an extended stretch earlier in the season. Lack has played very well of late, albeit for a fairly short run. What impact, if any, should this have on Francis’ goalie plans for 2017-18? Does it make sense to ride this duo forward into next season? Or is relying too much on short bursts of goodness fool’s gold that should be ignored?
3) What do you think Francis should do in terms of protecting players? Which goalie should be exposed? What do you think of the situation that sees all but 30 protected goalies theoretically available in a draft and trade deal with Las Vegas? Might Francis leverage this odd market situation to add another goalie?
Go Canes!
Thanks to the MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT of falling short over the years, just when you started to have hope, it’s hard to find the enthusiasm for optimism…NOW…??
All the games are scary, and up in the air.
RF has not ONCE done what I’ve hoped-for, so I’m not expecting much! I’d try to get TWO NEW GOALIES! …further, I’d look to trade some picks, prospects, and players to MAKE SURE THE TEAM HAD A MUCH BETTER CHANCE OF WINNING…NEXT YEAR!!!
Hey puckgod…I get your sentiment on the fear of optimism being crushed, but for me (and everyone is different in this regard), I have always felt that if I can’t be hopeful and mostly positive, then I should find a more enjoyable use of my time. Don’t get me wrong…I grumble as much as the next passionate fan, but I still enjoy Canes hockey much much more than I don’t
1. The games that I think are the most perilous for our chances are the two away games in PA: the Pens and the Flyers. We haven’t played well on the road and those two teams always play us hard, so they seem the most likely to derail our hopes. Columbus tonight is going to be tough as well, but with last change and no travel, I think the team can win it…especially if they hold Bob for their next game and we get a backup.
2. I think Lack’s recent run of good play when getting a string of starts should be factored into the decision…but ultimately, we need a new goalie for next year to be a 1A to either Cam’s or Eddie’s 1B. I would prefer to keep Lack over Ward due to his promising run of late and lower salary, but mostly because I think if Ward is kept, we will just fall into the habit of using him regardless of his performance. Until I see the organization do otherwise, I will operate under the assumption they will do as they always have done in the past.
3. I think I would protect: Lack, Faulk, Carrick, Staal, Lindholm, Skinner, TT, Rask, PDG, and McGinn. I do see an opportunity to use the expansion draft as leverage to acquire a goalie. I would go into it negotiating with both Vegas and the Caps to see if I could get Grubauer, while simultaneously trying to use our cap space to “help” Chicago by taking a contract off their hands (Kruger) in exchange for DeBrincat and Darling’s rights. Which ever of the options became available for the best deal (Grubauer via Caps, Grubauer via Vegas, Darling via Chicago) I’d go with and move one of the goalies we currently have. In interesting option would be to trade picks to get Grubauer from Vegas while getting them to select Ward as well. They may want a veteran goalie in addition to a less seasoned goalie they get from another club. That would be a double win for us, but might cost a bit more in picks than Francis may want to move. Another goalie option that may come up would be to get Crawford from Chicago. They may want to move more cap than Kruger would free up, so they may look to move Crawford and sign Darling themselves. His term is 3 more years at $6M per year, so the “payment” to us could be pretty high if we were willing to go that route.
Plenty of interesting options at goalie. Grubauer seems to be a good fit when you consider the options across age, volume/degree of proven NHL play and contract cost. I have not seen a ton of Korpisalo and he is more unproven, but he is is that maximum low age bracket with Vasilevskiy and Murray in terms of being (allegedly) NHL-ready but also incredibly young.
1) two away games in PA: the Pens and the Flyers and tonight. Agree with minjaben.
2) I think Lack can get to a better level then Cam. I think 10 years is enough to know that it will be a little below average for Cam. I hate saying that because I think he is a really good person. I do like the idea of Darling or Grubauer.
3) I would expose McGinn and Nordstrom. Not that I want to loose either one. I think sign Dahlback then expose. Expose Cam. Stempniak is very valuable and I would like Stalburg back as his speed is the reason the PK was so good.
1. If we are looking at the Canes as truly contending for a wild card, then none of these games should be viewed as scary. These are the type of games that the Canes need to win in order to be true contenders. I prefer to look at all of them with nervous excitement.
2. Moves have to be made to upgrade the goalie position. Having said that, I agree with minjaben, that if Ward is still here then it probably won’t matter who else is brought in as the net will be Ward’s regardless of performance. And if Marcoux is still here, then there seems to be a good chance that whoever is brought in will be coached out of whatever style has brought them success and will be turned in to a below average back-up based on recent history.
3. I think that both Dahlback and Tennyson should be re-signed then exposed. If one is taken, then the other has inside track on the 6/7D position. I don’t think either would resist re-signing as that would be guaranteed NHL salary for the upcoming season regardless of where they play. If neither is taken, then one gets included in a draft day deal. I would also want to try to protect Stempniak, but that means that one of PDG or McGinn would have to be exposed (probably expose McGinn, but PDG needs to start putting up some points). Stempniak’s value as a veteran would go a long way in helping to mentor some of the up and coming prospects and he provides stable 3rd line scoring. For goalie, I would expose Ward and /or look to make a trade as minjaben outlined above. Whoever is brought in should be capable of being a true 1G instead of needing to rely on a 1A/1B system.
1. Remaining schedule: I think we have to change our way of looking at the Canes to answer this question. Up until about a month ago we were looking at the Canes as a work in process, holes to fill, poor goaltending team and thus more or less as team not to be considered in the playoff contender class. Then the current streak of successes on the ice occurred. At this point I think it is fair to look at the Canes as now a viable playoff team as many teams that are currently in playoff slots, but facing the need to win a very high percentage of their remaining games. A percentage that teams like Washington, Montreal, Pittsburgh, etc. would have trouble playing at. In summary, I think the time has come for us to assume the Canes are currently a playoff quality team based upon their improvement over the season. Accepting this means we should not use the word “scary” in the sense that we are so much deficient in talent versus an opponent, but the game is “scary” because we can’t afford to lose any games. In this sense “scary” means every game we have left.
2. Goaltending: My feeling is we bring in a new number 1 caliber goalie. This is hard to say because I do appreciate all that Cam and Eddie have brought to the team. But the environment is such that the fan base is just so down on our current situation that a change must be made. I would just make this one caution. I remember when Toronto fans ran Phaneuf out of town because he was considered the face of all their team’s ills and failures. Phaneuf would provide defensive skill that Toronto needs if he were there now as he has been outstanding in Ottawa as a 1st pairing defenseman. Keeping this in mind, I hope Francis and his staff are on top of this issue and, even though I believe their should be a change, they make the right decision based on an accurate appraisal of the abilities of Ward, Lack, and any other goalies they are or would consider.
3. I sure would think that if Francis is thinking of making some change in the goaltending situation, he would look at Vegas. I have every reason to believe RF will improve this team in the offseason. Look at his track record. Nordstrom, Teravainen, Stempniak, Dalback, Tennyson, Lack and Bickell all brought in and have all contributed to improving the Canes. Improving means they are all better than the players they replaced and represents 25% of our current roster. Add on top of this the drafting of Hanifin, the development of Slavin, Aho and Pesce. This is outstanding general managership IMO. So, if there is any way RF can improve the goalie situation, he will make it happen. If it doesn’t happen, I have to trust that there was no way to do so. Yes, I would be disappointed, even mad, but believe me when I say you are better off with RF making the decision on this matter than having me make it. If you doubt this, I can reference you to several hockey friends of mine and they will testify against me I am sure.
1. Agree with Charlestoncane–these are the games we all hoped for. No real trepidation. If the Canes play up to their abilities, they can compete in all the games left of the schedule. As DMiller mentioned under game 76 notes, a little luck will help too.
2. I am one of the few ok with Lack and Ward–especially if Marcoux leaves. I think Lack has found his mojo again–as I mentioned in an earlier comment, I believe it is due to his work with a sports psychologist. His talent level is pretty close to what we can get on the market. I won’t defend Ward, but think he can also find his mojo. As a 1A and 1B, Lack and Ward can be perfectly serviceable. Though I wouldn’t be surprised if Las Vegas drafts Ward. So I would protect Lack. The reason I most approve of this is that it allows more money to be devoted to making other moves–including extending contracts (correct me if I am mistaken, but I thought I read somewhere else that Pesce and Slavin are eligible for new contracts this year even though it is not required).
3. Sign both Dahlbeck and Tennyson. If we lose a forward, then we have some 6 depth. Definitely protect Stempniak. He has shown all year that he is valuable–maybe more so than his salary indicates. I like McGinn, but would take the chance of losing him. The prospects who might be able to make the big team at some point next year make me feel fine with losing one younger player up front. Obviously, this means keep DiG, or maybe even resign and protect Ryan knowing that only one of the youngsters can be expansion drafted. Because honestly, Ryan has shown he can be a solid 12 minute-per-game center with some scoring skills.
Yes, Ryan is a keeper. Re-sign and protect him. I would also like to see Marcoux go.