If you are just checking in after a weekend away from Canes hockey, Daily Cup of Joe has notes on Faulk, Hanifin, Slavin/Pesce and Skinner and also links to articles from the weekend at Canes and Coffee.
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As far as being a Hurricanes fan, the All-Star break seemed to be a well-timed diversion and chance recharge and reset after a tough couple weeks.
First a couple quick polls…(Remember to click ‘vote’ after each question.)
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Feel free to add more, but here are a couple ideas to bandy about in the coffee shop today.
1) What does it take for the Hurricanes to push above the massive fray trying to win the last wild card slot in the Eastern Conference? Is it a specific player or 2 who needs to step up? Is it Bill Peters finding a higher gear for his team? Does Francis need to shake things up and bolster the lineup with a trade? Or?
2) Which Hurricanes player will boost his play the most after the All-Star break?
3) What does Peters/the team need to do to solidify the defense?
Go Canes!
1. I think RF needs to make a move to help our offense. And this needs to be a youngish player who we can plan on for the future. Yeah, I’m thinking a certain center from Colorado…
2. I’m hoping it’s Aho. He seems on the brink of figuring it all out.
3. That’s a tough one. It feels like they just needed a break to recharge the batteries, both physically and mentally. Our upcoming bye week should help in that regard also. But what’s irritating is the falloff in play of our two vets – Faulk and Hainsey. They just need to be better. These two players, and really the entire defense, has got to turn things around, or we’ll be turning our attention to the draft, instead of the playoffs, in the very near future. And this year’s draft isn’t much to write home about…
As far as individual players go, I think Aho is 1 of 2 most intriguing players to watch in the 2nd half. He has settled in nicely and is playing well, but I think he has another gear. Do we see that in Feb-Apr? Or does it take a little bit longer to come out.
My 2nd individual player to watch is Faulk. I am on record regularly as downgrading his defensive play especially on the road where opposing coaches/top lines are preying on Hainsey/Faulk. He has been solid defensively in the past, so I think/hope it is just a matter of getting back to it.
I agree with you.
I agree with goaliedad. Would add that I hope Lack steps up and takes the goaltending job.
1. To make the playoffs this year, yes Ron needs to make a trade. To make the playoffs in multiple years and actually contend for Cups, Ron should hold on to his pieces, at least for this season, unless Joe Sakic gets desperate and offers Duchene for peanuts.
2.I think Justin Faulk. He’s been playing far better of late, had an awesome All-Star game, and should be a boost to the team. Aho, too, looks like he’s really ready to step into a higher gear.
3. Solidify might be a stretch here, but it’s time to get rid of Hainsey, Murphy and Dahlbeck and give Fleury, McKeown and Carrick a chance to play. Murphy didn’t pan out, Hainsey’s lost three steps and Dahlbeck….why? We can’t know what Ron really has for a future defense, not to mention trade possibilities, if they don’t get their shot at NHL minutes.
I wouldn’t drop Hainsey at this point, but your other ideas have some merit. I would also go after Duchene even if it meant giving up Faulk (although I wish it wouldn’t) because of all the talent we have at Charlotte to replace Faulk. This would help fill a big scoring deficiency and allow RF to focus on the goaltending situation which will REQUIRE either a trade or free agent signing for some big bucks to solve unless we are prepared for at least two more years of saying “wait until next year” as far as the playoffs are concerned.
In DCoJ today, I voted to try Hanifin/Faulk not because I am certain it will work but rather because I am increasingly convinced that Hainsey/Faulk just doesn’t this season.
If the Hurricanes do not push up the standings in February, I would expect March to look very similar to last season with an ongoing shuttle bus and try out in Raleigh.
1st it’s about time Ronnie makes a significant move to improve the goalie and forward positions! I suggest trading 1st Rnd pick(s) and almost anyone for an upgrade! We have very few untouchables…if any!
After a 5 game losing streak that has led to a free fall in the standings my depression leaves me convinced our future includes once again being a seller at the deadline. In that case, Hainsey is surely gone. And you heard it here first, JStaal and Faulk will be dangled for high quality prospects enhanced by salary dumps by cap space strapped teams for the cap space rich Canes.
Wow, reading the comments has my head spinning. Some things I agree with but a lot just seems reactionary. And this is coming from a guy who feels it is near critical that we make the playoffs this season. But we do have to balance that with the desire, Ron Francis’s desire to build a long term winner (5 year play, remember?).
But down to your key points Matt:
1. I would love to see an upgrade in our top 6. As I’ve said elsewhere, Derek Ryan and Lee Stempniak are “nice” players, but they aren’t real difference makers. We will either need to draft and develop those guys, mostly from the early rounds, or we’ll have to pay the price for those guys. What this team lacks the most is a good dose of size with a bit of grit, followed closely by more skill. I’m sorry, but Matt Duchene, especially what we’d have to pay for him, is a mistake. He only has 2 more years on his contract (after this season) and at 5’11” and 200 lbs., isn’t really a banger. Sure he’s got a fair bit of skill, but if we’re looking at the Avs alleged trade bait, Gabriel Landeskog is the guy we should be targeting. We are not necessarily weak at center, we’re just not strong. But we are missing guys who play effectively down low and go to the front of the net. Add in a fair amount of skill and you’ve got Gabriel Landeskog. Plus he’s got 4 years left on his contract and is a year younger.
But frankly, I think the price for those guys will be incredibly high (doubtful we’ll get either of those guys for picks and prospects). I’m reluctant, not totally opposed, but reluctant to sell off our young defensive depth before it has time to prove that it is indeed depth. Keep in mind there are other names floated (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ name still surfaces from time to time) that would be equally attractive….and equally expensive. No, I think that if we do make a move we look for true secondary scoring, back up goal-tending, or a veteran defender to pair with Hanifin. Guys like PA Parenteau, Ondrej Palat, or Tomas Tartar, if we’re targeting skill. Or maybe Martin Hanzal or Nick Bonino if you want somebody with a little more size. While those might not be the sexiest or most exciting moves, they are more Ron Francis types of moves. Add to that perhaps a play to snag Jaroslav Halak in case Eddie doesn’t step up and Cam continues to falter. Those are things that I see as more realistic IF we’re going to make any move to make a push.
2. The one guy that seems to be overlooked and who has stepped up his game recently is Jordan Staal. I could see him looking out over this team and the games remaining horizon and decide to put some things on his broad shoulders. His line tonight has the potential to be very exciting and I’m very interested to see what it can do. I also think he’ll be forced into being more of a pure net front presence. He’s really the only true big body we currently have.
3. I alluded to this earlier…Matt I think you’re on to something by putting Faulk and Hanifin together, if for not other reason than to give Noah a more veteran partner. My problem is that Justin has an equal amount of the risk-taking gene. Noah needs a steadying veteran presence, much like Liles was to Pesce last year. He taught him patience, stick work, and effective positioning. Hanifin needs somebody who he can depend on, who will counsel him on the right time to take a risk, and will be able to cover for his inevitable youngster errors. That’s why, it wouldn’t surprise me to see a move for somebody like a Michael Stone or Tom Gilbert or even Dennis Seidenberg. Hopefully these more experienced guys would help Hanifin to smooth out his transition.
As much as I want the playoffs this season for this market, if we show improvement and remain competitive until the end, keeping the assets might mean more long term.
Hey notopie…Thanks for sharing detailed thoughts.
Good call on Jordan Staal. He is a player who gets stronger this time of year.
I don’t get the Landeskog thing. He lacks the “dynamic”, “drives scoring”, etc. that top 6 is short on. He is a higher-end version of the complementary type player that team has enough of (Lindholm, Stempniak, even to some degree Staal offensively) who are top 6/9-capable but not the kind who creates offense.
I’m sick of hearing something like we can’t afford xxxxx!!!
Of all the teams in the NHL The Canes have more available moolah than ANYBODY!!! We are talking CAPSPACE!
No team belongs in the NHL, IF THEY CAN’T AFFORD TO PLAY…
That said, it takes money to make money!
There’s no owner who doesn’t have the ability to spend what it takes. Excuses for losing…are total BS!
Skill wins… Ya got it or ya dont!
Well, in my case, when I say “we can’t afford” something, it is more, “do we want to pay what they’re asking”. That what I said and meant above. Without a doubt, if we were to get into serious discussions with Colorado about Duchene or Landeskog, the starting point is Hanifin. We can want to maybe use futures, and CO should probably be in the business of stockpiling those types of assets (like us 2 years ago). But reports out of Denver are they want a 1st rounder, a young player, and a prospect. While they may not get that, it is the ask. And, the Avs don’t have to be in a hurry. More teams will come to the table over the Summer when cap issues diminish somewhat.
Puckgod…I love your passion, but we need to find you a day of the week (how about Thursday?) where you look at the bright side. 🙂