If you missed it yesterday, the Hurricanes annual media day on Tuesday yielded a declaration by Coach Bill Peters that the team would name a captain for the 2017-18 season. I wrote about the situation in yesterday’s Daily Cup of Joe, but the article is also a mini-Coffee Shop of sorts with two polls on the captain situation and also a bit of debate.
On the topic of Traverse City and Hurricanes prospects, check out also the latest ‘Back to School’ article featuring Matt Filipe and today’s Daily Cup of Joe which part 1 of 2 previewing the Traverse City tourney.
Per reader request in the Monday Coffee Shop, today’s Coffee Shop is dedicated to the Traverse City tourney which faces off at 7:30pm on Friday night for the future Hurricanes.
Carolina Hurricanes poll questions
Please remember to click ‘vote’ after each individual poll response.
See also the couple polls in the August 23, Traverse City-themed Coffee Shop.
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Discussion questions
1) What is at the top of your list of things that you will be watching closely in the Traverse City tourney?
2) Which player(s) have the most to gain from impressing in Traverse City in terms of winning an NHL spot, moving up the organizational depth chart, earning a contract, etc.?
3) Who do you want to see play with whom?
Go Canes!
First and foremost–stay safe everyone! My thoughts are with all of you–it is going to be a tough start to next week for the Carolinas.
1) Fleury. He is worthy of his draft position–7th overall. That equates to Hampus Lindolhm and Werenski. The organization has used a step-wise approach to his development. Yet the hope seems to be that he will be serviceable for 14 minutes a game. I truly expect him to be strong enough for 18-20 minutes of above average performance. Which means he should be best D-man among every teams prospects.
2) Necas, Kuokkanen, Gauthier will be given time even if they are adequate. I think Lorentz and Smallman have the most to gain. Both are fighting for spot in Charlotte. I am especially interested in Lorentz as he scored three goals in tournament last year and was strong in playoffs in May. He may have NHL potential– even as a 7th rounder.
3) Necas and Kuokkanen.
1. There are a few.
(a) Gauthier – does he consistently play his game and go hard to the net?, i.e., does he play more like he did in last season’s playoffs?, or is more like he was in regular season when he was less effective?
(b) Bean – how strong of a statement does he make that he deserves a spot? (I actually have him as my most impressive D-man in the poll – while I think Fleury will prove to be the best in a solid way; I think Bean can be more impressive with his plays).
(c) Does Necas play strong enough to make him and everyone else reconsider whether he should be back in Europe or in juniors next season or maybe he belongs in Raleigh or Charlotte.
2. I think there are two tiers of players – those who are expected to be back in Europe or juniors (Bean, Necas, who else?) who want to show they can play pro in the NHL or AHL and play to that level, and those who will be in the AHL in their first year and are considered top prospects who want to make the big impression.
If anyone, I think the pressure is on Fleury to show that the expectations for his elevation to the NHL are, indeed, warranted.
3. I think Kuokkanen and Gauthier – I believe 2/3 of the top or second line in Charlotte next season.
On a side note, I am disappointed that Zykov and Saarela will both miss Traverse City. They are being held out of the tourney, will be wearing yellow jerseys during training camp, and will be held out of the first few exhibition games because of their respective recent shoulder surgeries.
1. With a number of experienced players (AHL) and most of our top prospects involved, I’m looking to see if we can dominate the tournament. I’m looking for Koukkanen (scoring and overall game) and Fleury (good defense with some offense) to stand out.
2. Roland Mckeown. To gain 7th defenseman role.
3. Koukkanen centering Gauthier and any other wing.
Repeating my hunch. The roster spot most likely in play is RW on fourth line. Ryan performed well and I just don’t see BP replacing a known quantity with rookie. Kuokkanen will be good at NHL level soon. Just not to start season.
Jooris was signed for very little, doesn’t have history with BP, is only average at face offs. Roy could be an upgrade offensively and equally as effective on D given his size and dominance on draws. Roy is only one I give more than 10% chance of cracking opening roster. I think he is about 25%. Roy and Gauthier played in same league and Roy was significantly better point producer.
Or course any of Necas,Gauthier, Kuokkanen could score 5 goals in tournament and continue scoring at camp and in preseason games. But short of that top three lines are set.
The thing I’m going to be watching most is…The Teamwork!
Individual skills are great (and all these guys have a better- than-average skillset) BUT working together with new teammates, and shining, shows me that they can think on-the-fly! Those type players…I WANT ON MY TEAM!
A few of the other forwards (not named Necas, Gauthier, Kuokkanen) are interesting to me… Foegele, Roy, and Smallman seem to be somewhat ignored, and could have a great upside IMO!
I’m curious to see who McKeown is paired with, and how well they mesh… and secondly support the goalies (who I REALLY HOPE ARE… …AWESOME!!)
Great to see the usual buzz around the coffee shop from many of the regular visitors who deserve a ton of credit for keeping the shop open during even the slowest parts of the offseason.
One of my Canes predictions for 2017-18 is that The Coffee Shop will become the first and best stop at Canes and Coffee for the 2017-18 season because of the diversity of great viewpoints and conversation.