A SERIOUS DISCUSSION - Chris Terry

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I know Terry still fits into that "fringe" category, but given that the Canes gave him a $300,000 salary at the AHL level, it seems to me that he, along with Boychuk, are going to be given every chance to be on the NHL squad this season so I'm including him.

Chris Terry
Age: 25
5'10", 195 lbs
NHL Career: 13GP, 1G, 2A, -4, 7.1% SH%
AHL Last Year: 70GP, 25G, 35A, +1, 13.4% SH %

At 25 years old, it really is now or never for Terry. He's known to be able to play the point on the PP as well as be a decent shootout guy. He trained this method at the "Barwis Methods" training facility (Same as the reality show American Muscle). What are your expectations? Will he stick with the squad, even in a 13th forward role? or will he again spend the lion share of the season in the AHL?

DISCUSS!

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[What the Faulk]

I really don't see him playing much this year unless there's a run of injuries. Larose/Malone/Boychuk are your 11,12,13 guys in some order, then maybe a younger guy like Rash gets the opportunity if he has a hot start to the season. Terry just doesn't have NHL skating ability, and is at best a specialist like he was last season. I doubt he'll get more than 10 games and maybe a point or three.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I really don't see him playing much this year unless there's a run of injuries. Larose/Malone/Boychuk are your 11,12,13 guys in some order, then maybe a younger guy like Rash gets the opportunity if he has a hot start to the season. Terry just doesn't have NHL skating ability, and is at best a specialist like he was last season. I doubt he'll get more than 10 games and maybe a point or three.

Is that a mutant mix of Riley Nash and Victor Rask?

I do agree though, I just don't see a spot for Terry. Peters and Francis both stated they want to put guys in roles they are suited for, not put a scorer on the 4th line. The 4 line will likely (or maybe I should say hopefully) be some combination of Malone, McClement (for sure), Dwyer, LaRose to start the season.

That basically leaves 1 top 9 spot for Boychuk, Terry, Rask, McGinn (optimistic, but based on some comments at the prospects camp that he'll challenge for a spot), etc......and those guys still have to beat out LaRose and Dwyer, which they haven't been able to in past seasons. I'm guessing maybe a dozen games (barring a lot of injuries) and less than 10 points.

I think that last top 9 spot is Boychuk's to lose. I will be surprised if any prospects (Rask, McGinn, PDG, etc..) step up and take it so if Boychuk fails, it's more likely to be Dwyer or LaRose than Terry.

 

[AD Skinner]

Obviously it's this guy

 

[A Star is Burns]

Now that's an awesome trip down memory lane.

 

[What the Faulk]

Whoops. Autocorrect failed me again. I can't wait until I get my laptop back. But yeah, it was Rask.

Terry I can't see being a good fit on the 4th line. Between Dwyer and Malone, they've got some good speed, and I don't think McClement is a slouch either. It's a shame because Terry does seem to be able to do a lot of other things right.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

I put 10-20 because he'll be first up for injuries and we usually have injuries.

 

[Novacane]

I don't see him getting much time. I expect LaRose to be in his spot in the lineup.

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

I think he'll be a good utility guy we can slide around the lineup.

 

[Unsustainable]

Let's see what Barwis did to him.

 

[bleedgreen]

I think boychuk has the edge on the starting spot and he'll be fighting with rask and McGinn to be the first injury callup. We will have those injuries though and I expect him to get 20+ games this season. We'll say 10pts.

 

[Vagrant]

What I like about his contract, for him, is that it doesn't make a lot of sense to keep him in the AHL from a financial standpoint. Which means that he might be a player that we keep on the roster even if he doesn't make the team out of camp just as a 13th forward option. It seems like we have been precious short on healthy players traveling with the team in recent years. Which means that when somebody gets hurt it's a scramble to recall them from Charlotte and totally upset their routine. I would like to see whoever wins the spot between Boychuk and Terry to stay with the big club on an emergency basis considering the season long savings is pretty minimal to have them in the AHL.

There are a few factors that give Terry an edge on Boychuk. I think Terry is a more natural fit for the powerplay considering his ability to pass the puck is just as strong as his scoring ability. Skating becomes a bit less important on the man advantage where defenders play a bit more passive and give you more room. Not that Terry is a horrible skater, which I don't believe he is, but it's not a strength. Another factor being his shootout proficiency which is an area we've struggled with for quite some time. He thinks the game better than Boychuk as well and is a more heady player. Seems incredibly mature and from all accounts is a guy that really goes above and beyond with charity and humanitarian aspects which has endeared him to the fans everywhere he has played. Yes, that's a departure from his on ice contributions but we'd be silly to dismiss the fact that maturity and likeability are factors for coaches. From a pure opportunity standpoint, I would wager that Terry is a guy that has more endeared himself to the decision makers with his underdog story and his battle. I would imagine guys like Francis and Stillman see a bit of themselves in him. Plays more with his brain than his brawn.

It'll be interesting to see how Peters handles these two players and it could be an indicator of what he values in a hockey player depending upon the decision he makes. Boychuk is more the pure skill player while Terry is the more cerebral scorer. Boychuk has a higher ceiling for production while Terry seems like a better bet to give you all he has with consistency. I couldn't make an estimation on who has the inside edge right now, but I would suspect that Boychuk walks in the odds on favorite. Terry could change that abruptly.

 

[bleedgreen]

I don't disagree with any of that. I think boychuk has a default starting position above terry, but that could easily change. I've always been a boychuk supporter but I don't think I'm unrealistic about him. He's a quick skating shooter more than anything else at this point, and terry definitely seems to have the more well rounded offensive game. He has more poise and playmaking for sure, and I agree he'll likely be a pp player at some point for us. In the big scheme he's another talented smurf, and it seems francis realizes this is a problem with the team. Wouldn't surprise me if we limit our smurf quota over the next couple of seasons which will put the squeeze on both these two and others.

If boychuk doesn't produce actual numbers terry could get his spot just due to being more effective without numbers, and it would make sense to keep him as the 13th guy as long as he isn't sitting a month straight.

 

[TheBigKahuna]

And, 2nd on the team in goals with 4 now.

Top prospect?

 

[TheOllieC]

He's still under 10pts

 

[TheBigKahuna]

True.

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

Some of our prospects are actually turning into stuff. With the likes of Gerbe//Rask//Terry//etc we might actually be able to build a 3rd line.

 

[urho]

Some of our prospects are actually turning into stuff. With the likes of Gerbe//Rask//Terry//etc we might actually be able to build a 3rd line.

I have liked Boychuk too this season. I think he's really improved.

 

[Vagrant]

I have liked Boychuk too this season. I think he's really improved.

I agree with that. His offensive is still incredibly hit or miss but his chemistry with Terry is undeniable. Those two could account for the wings on a third line especially if they had a strong center between them. Nash wouldn't be totally out of the question there once everybody gets healthy. But the thing that's impressing me most about Boychuk is how physical he's being. He seems really engaged and isn't going away after he takes contact. A lot of jump in his game like he wants to stay elevated.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

. But the thing that's impressing me most about Boychuk is how physical he's being. He seems really engaged and isn't going away after he takes contact. A lot of jump in his game like he wants to stay elevated.

I agree Vagrant. He'll never be a "bruiser", but like that he is finishing checks, staying active and keeping with it even after contact. There was one play last game where he was carrying the puck along the boards just inside the offensive zone and a defenseman came over and put a nice check on him. I fully expected him to go down and/or be stopped in his tracks, but he fought through it and kept right on going.

I realize these are baby steps and one problem in the past has been inconsistency, but these last two games have looked like a different Boychuk to me, and it is at least a bit encouraging. I'm not convinced he's turned the corner or anything, just commenting on how he's played these past couple of games.