Boom Boom Apathy
I am the Professor. Deal with it!
- Sep 6, 2006
- 48,538
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I know many will say "too early to worry about or discuss", but with a lot of things that have happened in this short season (Murphy playing a few games, Sanginuetti and Nash getting playing time, Boychuk gone, Corvo playing better, Semin's play and pending contract situation, Canes creeping closer to the Cap, etc...) I thought it would be fun to have a thread about next year's line-up.
To me there are some big questions:
1) Will the Canes be able to re-sign Semin? I think they will.
2) Will Nash be able to show consistency and take over a 3C role? Still a big unknown for me.
3) Will the Canes (JR/Muller) decide Murphy is ready for full time NHL duty?
4) Will Sanguinetti show that he is a capable 5-6 DMAN night in and night out?
5) How will the Canes handle the UFAs.
Other than maybe a defenseman, I don't see the Canes making many moves for next year and I could see a forward line-up that might look like this:
Tlusty-Staal-Semin
Skinner-J. Staal-Dwyer
Jokinen-Nash-Ruutu
Osala/Bowman-Welsh/Sutter-Wallace
Extras: Westgarth, Dalpe
This would give Muller 3 strong lines that are balanced and can score and a 4th line with some size and ability. There is also some flexibility. If Nash isn't capable of holding down that 3C spot, the Canes could always slide Ruutu in that slot and use Dalpe or Wallace on that line. If Dalpe can beat out Dwyer, he could be used on the 2nd line and Dwyer used in the bottom 6, etc...
On defense, I really don't think we'll see much change unless a trade is made since everyone but Corvo (UFA) and Sanguinetti (RFA that the team seems to like) is back. I also expect that the Canes will slot Murphy into the line-up (even though I'd like to see him get some AHL time first).
Pitkanen-McBain
Gleason-Faulk
Harrison-Murphy/Sanguinetti
As for Goalies, IMO, it will depend on Peters play for the rest of the season. If he shows he is capable, the team will likely part ways with Ellis.
thoughts?
To me there are some big questions:
1) Will the Canes be able to re-sign Semin? I think they will.
2) Will Nash be able to show consistency and take over a 3C role? Still a big unknown for me.
3) Will the Canes (JR/Muller) decide Murphy is ready for full time NHL duty?
4) Will Sanguinetti show that he is a capable 5-6 DMAN night in and night out?
5) How will the Canes handle the UFAs.
Other than maybe a defenseman, I don't see the Canes making many moves for next year and I could see a forward line-up that might look like this:
Tlusty-Staal-Semin
Skinner-J. Staal-Dwyer
Jokinen-Nash-Ruutu
Osala/Bowman-Welsh/Sutter-Wallace
Extras: Westgarth, Dalpe
This would give Muller 3 strong lines that are balanced and can score and a 4th line with some size and ability. There is also some flexibility. If Nash isn't capable of holding down that 3C spot, the Canes could always slide Ruutu in that slot and use Dalpe or Wallace on that line. If Dalpe can beat out Dwyer, he could be used on the 2nd line and Dwyer used in the bottom 6, etc...
On defense, I really don't think we'll see much change unless a trade is made since everyone but Corvo (UFA) and Sanguinetti (RFA that the team seems to like) is back. I also expect that the Canes will slot Murphy into the line-up (even though I'd like to see him get some AHL time first).
Pitkanen-McBain
Gleason-Faulk
Harrison-Murphy/Sanguinetti
As for Goalies, IMO, it will depend on Peters play for the rest of the season. If he shows he is capable, the team will likely part ways with Ellis.
thoughts?