News and Notes XXII: Now With More Finnish!

[Stickpucker]

A decade ago it was just the opposite. We were the model non-traditional franchise with a frenzied fanbase, and Nashville was relocation fodder.

I'll give you one guess as to what made the difference between the franchises over the subsequent 9 years.

Pimp juice?

 

[Joe McGrath]

Jordan Staal is the Canes leading center scorer. Only 5th overall on the team. That’s has to be some kind of record absent trade situations. No top 4 scorers from the center position? That’s almost impossible.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Exactly this. This is one of the many things that drives me ****ing nuts. As if Francis went to New York or Chicago he wouldn’t start spending to the cap because he’s a frugal GM. See: Rutherford, Jim

Frugal isn't the word for Francis. More like HIGHLY risk averse.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Jordan Staal is the Canes leading center scorer. Only 5th overall on the team. That’s has to be some kind of record absent trade situations. No top 4 scorers from the center position? That’s almost impossible.

It makes no sense in terms of how a hockey team is supposed to operate, in the abstract. Particularly when the top-4 are all wingers, so it's not like there's some Erik Karlsson type throwing things off.

 

[NotOpie]

You want culture change? Change the branding....how about a play off the "Triangle"....we could become the Carolina Pyramid Schemes....oh wait, Peter Karmanos already took that path....man, and I so wanted "Walk Like an Egyptian" to be our new theme song...

On a more serious note, one more proven scorer of the Top 6 variety changes a good deal....can't promise miracles given our goaltending, but more offensive firepower changes the slotting of our forwards and that would help immensely.

 

[ikani87]

With the addition of top line talent of the natural scoring variety along with proper schemes, that in effect would help goaltending. The pressures of a goalie to go out each night to pitch a shut out because the offense is challenged is a tall task for each game and is not sustainable over a long season. Coach Peters while a decent X's and O's guy is not displaying he is capable of putting his young players in a position to be successful each night and that goes beyond scheme. Knowing personnel and allowing them to be successful is key just as it is important in running a business.

 

[Unsustainable]

Pimp juice?

 

[Hulkacaniac]

I would say eject Nordstrom, Ryan, PDG, and Stempniak out the airlock and replace with 2 AHLers and 2 UFAs. Say Wallmark and Foegele or Zykov. My biggest priority would be get a top 6 center. There's not much in UFA outside of you know who. Maybe Paul Stastny? Outside of that, there's a lot of big wingers out there, Perron, JVR, Neal, Maroon, Grabner, etc.. it would be nice to actually get some secondary scoring. I still might look to trade for a top 6 center even if we've got Necas coming up and Aho/Lindholm moving to center at some undefined time. You can never have too much center depth and we have none. If we end up trading a defenseman I would look to sign a Hainsey type veteran D. It seemed like for one reason or another he stabilized the defense a bit.

 

[Hulkacaniac]

Missed this from last night.. yeah we might need more center depth.

 

[NotOpie]

Assuming Peters is still in place, I can almost guarantee that we'll be limited to no more than 2 full time rookies making the squad unless they "show" like Slavin, Pesce, and/or Aho. We all know that most rookies just don't "play the right way".

 

[My Special Purpose]

We have no idea if we have a frugal GM or not. What we do know, is that we had (past tense) a frugal owner, who has shown this both under Rutherford and Francis. Let's see how Francis does under Dundon before declaring him a "frugal GM".

Exactly this. This is one of the many things that drives me ****ing nuts. As if Francis went to New York or Chicago he wouldn’t start spending to the cap because he’s a frugal GM. See: Rutherford, Jim

Does anyone think Ronnie may be regretting not doing anything -- even something as small as claiming Chris Stewart -- at the deadline, now that we've won two straight? Maybe he prematurely pulled the plug this season? It would have been nice inject some confidence into the room when maybe 1 or 2 points in the standings could end up being huge.

 

[A Star is Burns]

Does anyone think Ronnie may be regretting not doing anything -- even something as small as claiming Chris Stewart -- at the deadline, now that we've won two straight? Maybe he prematurely pulled the plug this season? It would have been nice inject some confidence into the room when maybe 1 or 2 points in the standings could end up being huge.

I'm guessing he thinks that we're just finding the chemistry and luck he thought was due to come all alone, while most of the teams around us lost the chemistry they had by adding so many pieces.

 

[MinJaBen]

Does anyone think Ronnie may be regretting not doing anything -- even something as small as claiming Chris Stewart -- at the deadline, now that we've won two straight? Maybe he prematurely pulled the plug this season? It would have been nice inject some confidence into the room when maybe 1 or 2 points in the standings could end up being huge.

I'm guessing he thinks that we're just finding the chemistry and luck he thought was due to come all alone, while most of the teams around us lost the chemistry they had by adding so many pieces.

Probably thinking he could have gotten a good return for Ryan if he had just scored that greasy goal last week.

 

[Unsustainable]

Offseason:

1C and top 6 winger.

Wallmark replaces Ryan, Foegle replaces Nordstrom, and Zykov replaces Stempniak

 

[MinJaBen]

Offseason:

1C and top 6 winger.

Wallmark replaces Ryan, Foegle replaces Nordstrom, and Zykov replaces Stempniak

Goalie.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Does anyone think Ronnie may be regretting not doing anything -- even something as small as claiming Chris Stewart -- at the deadline, now that we've won two straight? Maybe he prematurely pulled the plug this season? It would have been nice inject some confidence into the room when maybe 1 or 2 points in the standings could end up being huge.

Probably too early to tell. I don't think making a waiver claim or acquiring a bottom six player for a later round pick would inject any confidence into the room. Acquiring a top 6 player or goalie? Sure, I could see players viewing that as a confidence booster, but don't see it for a waiver wire / bottom six player.

At the end of the day though, it all will come down to how they finish. Finish 6 points back, then no, he won't regret not adding. Finish in a playoff spot, then no, he won't regret it. Finish 1-2 points back then yes, he'll probably have regrets.

 

[Buenos Necas]

Goalie.

That's gotta be top of the list. Not sure how much other moves will matter if we don't find a solution in goal

 

[Hulkacaniac]

If we're looking for buy low guys, we could also look at Alex "Perennial Tradebait" Galchenyuk.

 

[Breakdowns]

I have a bad feeling that they will give another year for Darling to prove himself, because Francis don't wanna give up on his big signing. I really hope that doesn't happen, but you know, Canes.

 

[MinJaBen]

I have a bad feeling that they will give another year for Darling to prove himself, because Francis don't wanna give up on his big signing. I really hope that doesn't happen, but you know, Canes.

Feeling? That implies there is some uncertainty behind the discomfort. I'll be shocked if we don't have both Ward and Darling for next year. I'll be happy to have Ward back, but the only uncertainty there is will be how much Francis overpays in salary or term to get him to resign.

 

[Breakdowns]

Feeling? That implies there is some uncertainty behind the discomfort. I'll be shocked if we don't have both Ward and Darling for next year. I'll be happy to have Ward back, but the only uncertainty there is will be how much Francis overpays in salary or term to get him to resign.

I have a feeling Ward will get another ~3$ million per year contract for 2 years. He wants to play here, he is loyal, if needed he could take discount too IMO. And if Darling stays we really need him.

 

[MinJaBen]

I have a feeling Ward will get another ~3$ million per year contract for 2 years. He wants to play here, he is loyal, if needed he could take discount too IMO. And if Darling stays we really need him.

He resigned for the current contract when he knew the team had options. I doubt we get the same discount again if we keep Darling due to the fact that he and his agent will know that he is the #1 goalie between the two of them. My guess is the minimum would be $4.25M for three years so that he has the same or slightly more money and term as Darling. And I wouldn't be surprised if he gets more. He has a GAA of 2.6, a Sv% of 0.910, and a record of 19-9-4...some of his best numbers in a while. He'll take a bit of a haircut to stay here where he calls home, but it won't be backup money if Darling is the other guy on the roster.

 

[Breakdowns]

He resigned for the current contract when he knew the team had options. I doubt we get the same discount again if we keep Darling due to the fact that he and his agent will know that he is the #1 goalie between the two of them. My guess is the minimum would be $4.25M for three years so that he has the same or slightly more money and term as Darling. And I wouldn't be surprised if he gets more. He has a GAA of 2.6, a Sv% of 0.910, and a record of 19-9-4...some of his best numbers in a while. He'll take a bit of a haircut to stay here where he calls home, but it won't be backup money if Darling is the other guy on the roster.

That is a lot. I hope that he takes a bit above backup money, or we will have almost 9 million between two goalies and both are not true #1.. But to be fair, there are not many teams in the league who would take him now, so maybe we can get him for less than 4 million?

 

[MinJaBen]

That is a lot. I hope that he takes a bit above backup money, or we will have almost 9 million between two goalies and both are not true #1.. But to be fair, there are not many teams in the league who would take him now, so maybe we can get him for less than 4 million?

I guess we will see.

 

[My Special Purpose]

At the end of the day though, it all will come down to how they finish. Finish 6 points back, then no, he won't regret not adding. Finish in a playoff spot, then no, he won't regret it. Finish 1-2 points back then yes, he'll probably have regrets.

Well, yeah. It's going to be easy in retrospect. I was thinking right now, though. I realize GMs can't predict the future, but projecting is definitely part of the job description.