Thursday’s reader article by Craig Johnson for Canes and Coffee’s “tap takeover” was entitled, “A Pair of 3’s”. The article named three veteran players (plus an honorable mention) who were critical to the Hurricanes’ success in 2017-18 and also three rookies (also with an honorable mention) who could make a difference.
The Thursday Coffee Shop today follows a similar theme identifying critical performers among the veterans and also rookies who could become an X factor.
Carolina Hurricanes polls
Please remember to click ‘vote’ after each individual poll response.
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Discussion questions
1) Borrowing a term from Tripp Tracy, which Carolina Hurricanes player will be the most pivotal in the team’s 2017-18 season? Is there an X-factor who would help push the team to a higher level by finding a higher gear himself?
2) No doubt, a handful of rookies will see NHL ice time either to start the season or as injuries make room, but among the promising group of young players, who do you think could be an X-factor for the 2017-18 season jumping into the top half of the roster and doing much more than learning on the job at the NHL level?
3) Two positions, two questions…If _____ has a great season at forward, it bodes incredibly well for the Hurricanes. If _____ has a great season on defense, it bodes incredibly well for the Hurricanes.
Go Canes!
1. Scott Darling and TVR (I know you said one player, but goaltending and 3rd pair defense are much improved).
2. Haydn Fleury.
3. If ‘Lindholm’ has a great season at forward, it bodes incredibly well for the Hurricanes. If ‘Faulk’ has a great season on defense, it bodes well for the Hurricanes.
In summary, an upgrade in goaltending was key #1 towards a playoff return. Without added veteran depth, it’s Fleury’s time and he could very well surprise. When it comes to forwards, Seabass and Skinny are special players and I don’t worry about their offense slipping. This is why I see Lindy as the key forward that needs to extend his 2nd half of last season and Faulk getting back to being stronger in his own end that will ultimately improve our chances.
1) This is a great question coming a day tafter he analytics article by Corey Sznajder. Because with the additions of Darling, Williams, and Kruger the Canes are greatly improved. So I think Bill Peters and Eric Tulsky must work together to get the most of the improved numbers that the new lineup provides. I hope to provide some depth around this soon.
2) As livefree said–Fleury. If used correctly, he could solve the D problems that were a major factor in the team’s struggles last year.
Also, Roy. He is a right shot, so he might actually get called up as RW instead of center. I thought I read that Roy was given award for best defensive forward in his league (might be confusing him with another prospect). In any event, Roy would add size plus he has been great on face-offs in juniors.
3) Offense–Rask because that would mean Williams and TT are having great seasons. That line should be special (again the advanced metrics indicate that both Williams and TT dominate Corsi).
Defense–TVR. If Peters gives him 18+ minutes a game, the overall numbers for the D should be excellent.
1. The most pivotal player has to be Scott Darling – the pivot being an improvement in the historically weak goaltending.
The X-factor player is Lindholm – can he add scoring to his impressive assists record.
2. Fleury is the obvious choice as the rookie most likely to start on the NHL team. I think Bean will remain in juniors and Necas in Europe. Of the remaining forwards I am the two most likely x-factors are Saarela and Zykov.
Saarela was a scoring machine when he joined the Checkers at the end of the season. He is prone to shoulder injuries, however, and that may limit his effectiveness and tenure.
I also like Zykov for how he played in Charlotte and his entirely too brief stint in Raleigh. He is a wide-body who can play in front of the net.
A number of Checkers may prove to be x-factors next season.
3. If Lindholm… He was outstanding with assists and if he can mold himself into a capable and consistent scorer then he offers the biggest upside.
If Hanifin… I think now that Hanifin is in a better position with a better pairing he has the opportunity to shock on his upside, moreso than any other Cane.
1. Ward… yes, I know Darling is the starter (allegedly), but as long as Wardo is HERE…HE WILL PLAY (probably too much)…his success (or lack thereof) could be VERY PIVOTAL…!!
2. Fleury is deemed to be a 3rd pairing Dman… his play (or his replacement’s play) is crucial!
3. Rask and TVR are in position to make a significant contribution by being steady and solid defensively, and chip in some scoring.
1) I would say that Darling is really the key. If he can continue with his great performances as a starter it will probably be the biggest difference in the team this year. We are all about making the goals for/against average better and we are doing it with defense. If he is not able to continue his great play then we will find difficulty making it to the playoffs.
2) I think Valentin Zykov could be the X-factor for the 2017-18. His play at the front of the net could really make a difference. I am assuming he gets called up some time during the season. There are some other really good players we have coming but I believe Zykov is the one who could really surprise. Fleury could be the X-factor also.
3) For forward I am going top go with Lindholm. If he follows up this year growing from last year, IMO it would bode incredibly well for the Hurricanes. Rask is a close second. For defense, Faulk is great offensively but if it could be combined that with better defense then that would bode well for the Hurricanes.
1/ Scott Darling. To me, there isn’t even a close 2nd. Yes, if Lindholm kicks it up a notch from here, we become much tougher to defend.
2/ The obvious answer seems to be Fleury, since he will likely be the one rookie that makes the team out of camp, but I’m also hopping on the Zykov train. His game is unlike any other Forward prospect; maybe Gauthier gets there in another year or two, but he seems to be a man’s man. We’ll need that in the Playoffs 🙂
3/ On offense, since I already mentioned Lindholm, I’ll say Teravainen. He seems to be the one established player with a much higher upside that we don’t really talk much about. If he lights it up … On defense, I’d say Hanifin. He can take an enormous amount of pressure off everyone else by taking a major step forward from here.
Thanks Matt as this is a great follow on discussion. And I pretty much made my feelings known in the article. That said, when I just voted, I substituted Scott Darling for Skinner for two reasons. First, I feel like Skinner is likely to get his 30 goals, especially given the improved lineup. Even if he plays on the “projected 3rd line”, he’ll still get his ice time (PP and I think BP evens out playing time across the lines a bit). Darling just has to be league average (and I think he’ll be better than that). But he does have that bar to clear. Otherwise we’re back to 55+ games of Cam Ward.
Obviously I think that both Hanifin and Rask have key roles to play. If Teravainen and Williams line up next to Victor, that line has to come to play early on. I think this could easily be a situation where Rask regains his confidence. That alone will lead to increased scoring from him.
As far as rookies are concerned I think most of the usual suspects (Gauthier, Roy, Saarela, Kuokkanen) are spending most, if not all of the season, in Charlotte. And that’s the right move in my opinion. Fleury has already been pencilled in for the 3rd pairing and I think he’ll be fine in that role. The other “easy” options to consider are Wallmark and Zykov. The former would have to beat our Ryan (a real poteniality) and Kruger (highly unlikely). The latter might fight for a role on 4th line, but, again, I think the guy who’s going to see some of this competition. Zykov, who currently plays more LW, is a right shot and has played RW in the past. His size alone could make something of a difference on a line w/Skinner.
X factor – I think this is fairly easy to identify….it’s one or more of the guys on the proposed Aho/Staal/Lindholm line. In my mind it remains Elias Lindholm. If he can continue to progress, put up 50+ points while playing the responsible game he’s developed, that goes a long way to filling a number of the Hurricanes needs. Similarly and to a lesser extent, Jordan Staal is in the same position. Aho is gonna Aho.
Rookies on the NHL squad – It sounded as if GMRF wanted Gauthier to make the team as both he and Peters gushed about him. That said, I feel he’s still a year away. The previously mentioned Wallmark and Zykov (outside of Fleury) have the best shots in my opinion. My guess is that, once he’s fully healthy, we’ll see a few games of Aleksi Saarela. One of the reasons he gets hurt so often is that he’s not afraid to bang bodies and play hard down low. Hopefully he’s gaining some muscle to protect him from that, but he’ll have to recover from shoulder surgery and that always takes longer than anticipated. And while I think Foegele could be a wild card, I think he too ends up all year in Charlotte.
If Jordan Staal puts up 50 points, it bodes well for the Hurricanes and if Noah Hanifin, continues to take the next step and cracks 40 points while manning the point on the 2nd PP squad, the Canes will do quite well.
*Zykov might compete w/Stempniak….that’s what I meant when I said he’s going to be the guy seeing some of this competition.