Carolina Hurricanes are going to surprise many people

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Does any other team in the NHL have a worse combination of centers and goaltending? My honest answer to that is probably, but I still think Carolina is comfortably in the bottom-3. And I don’t think that a team who is bottom-3 in the NHL in those important categories can make the playoffs.

Yep. No doubt goalies and center is their weakness.

 

[Tryamw]

Does any other team in the NHL have a worse combination of centers and goaltending? My honest answer to that is probably, but I still think Carolina is comfortably in the bottom-3. And I don’t think that a team who is bottom-3 in the NHL in those important categories can make the playoffs.

I'll concur. It's why I don't have them in the playoffs even with the last 2 season having them be on the low WC side.
There are too many questions to think they'll be in the playoffs. But that doesn't make it that they won't but I doubt any would expect it.
Even so I do feel more excited to watch the games then I have based on what I did see in preseason but I expect a roller coaster. More downs then highs but fun never the less.

 

[Roboturner913]

Unless Aho wrecks the learning curve

so far, so good

This is a different team than the last few years. They've added some grit and size with Ferland, Zykov and Martinook and De Haan has stabilized the second D pair significantly. More than that, they play with more tenacity/intensity. I said in a game thread last night, they play like a team of cloned Rod Brind'Amours. You can really see he's already made a huge impact as the coach especially in terms of effort and conditioning. Center hasn't been a huge issue, although Aho is not proficient in the faceoff circle which cost them a goal Friday night. If you're looking at 1-2 centers around the league, Aho and Staal is not too shabby.

Goaltending will be this team's top weakness by far, so far it's been reasonably good (Mrazek Thursday) to holy crap good (McBackup Friday). Can't really expect that to hold up over the long haul though. Darling, when he comes back, will have to be able to carry the starting load and so far he hasn't shown he's capable of doing that.

 

[Scott Stevens]

so far, so good

This is a different team than the last few years. They've added some grit and size with Ferland, Zykov and Martinook and De Haan has stabilized the second D pair significantly. More than that, they play with more tenacity/intensity. I said in a game thread last night, they play like a team of cloned Rod Brind'Amours. You can really see he's already made a huge impact as the coach especially in terms of effort and conditioning. Center hasn't been a huge issue, although Aho is not proficient in the faceoff circle which cost them a goal Friday night. If you're looking at 1-2 centers around the league, Aho and Staal is not too shabby.

Goaltending will be this team's top weakness by far, so far it's been reasonably good (Mrazek Thursday) to holy crap good (McBackup Friday). Can't really expect that to hold up over the long haul though. Darling, when he comes back, will have to be able to carry the starting load and so far he hasn't shown he's capable of doing that.

Has darling been so bad for the canes that even the vilified ward was preferred?

 

[BB88]

Been hoping playoffs for them.

Just deal with the Darling contract somehow.

 

[Taswell]

I have to say, they are annoying as all hell to play against. Watching them against my Isles, they are relentless, and shoot from everywhere. They followed that up with the exact same game plan the next night, so it wasn't just my team's ineptitude. Wish them luck, they should do well this year.

 

[beowulf]

They've been bad for years because of goaltending.

They added Petr Mrazek.

Not sure how people think they're going to somehow become good this year.

Pretty much what I was thinking. I don't see how they can ride their current goaltending into a successful season unless one of them totally overachieves.

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

Has darling been so bad for the canes that even the vilified ward was preferred?

Ward was never vilified - not sure where that’s coming from.

He had to go because we couldn’t get rid of Darling. We know that tandem doesn’t work and that Ward breaks down as he plays more and more games. Mrazek and Darling might not work either but at least it’s something different

 

[Scott Stevens]

Ward was never vilified - not sure where that’s coming from.

He had to go because we couldn’t get rid of Darling. We know that tandem doesn’t work and that Ward breaks down as he plays more and more games. Mrazek and Darling might not work either but at least it’s something different

I’m just a bit ward fan from afar is all

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

I’m just a bit ward fan from afar is all

I think I responded to you on the trade board in regards to Ward once before.

We love the guy, we’re super thankful for the part he played in winning the cup but he was never able to replicate that level of play. Management never helped him out very much by providing him with a competent backup either. It was just time to move on. I was honestly really surprised he chose to move to another team as opposed to retiring.

 

[Scott Stevens]

I think I responded to you on the trade board in regards to Ward once before.

We love the guy, we’re super thankful for the part he played in winning the cup but he was never able to replicate that level of play. Management never helped him out very much by providing him with a competent backup either. It was just time to move on. I was honestly really surprised he chose to move to another team as opposed to retiring.

I’ll forever be grateful he kept Edmonton from winning the cup. Ward in maybe the best jersey in hockey kinda sorta makes me just slightly consider buying a ward hawks uni.

 

[SabresSharks]

I was surprised at the intensity and speed they played with against Columbus last night. Brindy's up-tempo approach is refreshingly different from Peters teams.

Goaltending is obviously a big question mark, but they're going to be a fun team to watch, whether they reach the playoffs or not.

 

[struckbyaparkedcar]

Yep. No doubt goalies and center is their weakness.

I'm less concerned by their center position because they can easily pick that slack up between wings and defense. The Canes have so much pure, creative offensive talent at those positions that their centers can just stay focused on supporting play and fitting in around that skill.

 

[Mr Positive]

If they make the playoffs, it shouldn't be that surprising. They were a bubble team for much of last season, and had a lot of challenges. They are upgraded now with Hamilton and Ferland. More "win-now" than before.

They also probably don't have the goaltending or forwards to be a top team in the Metro. So, no surprise that way either.

 

[LakeLivin]

My take. By the end of the season:

• there won't be any doubts about Aho playing center
  
• Svech will be legitimate top 6
  
• Necas will get there, but it may take him longer
• The off season pickups are pretty well recognized, but I'm predicting that Foegele will surprise most here by making a noticeable positive contribution this season. The kid just makes good things happen.
• Goalies: ???

 

[tarheelhockey]

McElhinney might be just good enough of a goalie to get it done behind that group. All we’ve been asking for is something like a .910 back there. If he can do that, it could change the whole conversation around this team.

Also, Aho has looked more than fine at C, which is huge. Aho-Staal-Necas down the middle with Rask coming back later in the season is a do-able group.

 

[tictactoe]

I agree, Canes should not be underestimated.

 

[LeafShark]

If they start Mcbackup for 50 games, they will make the playoffs.

 

[Tryamw]

If they start Mcbackup for 50 games, they will make the playoffs.

Or kill McBackup... Darling or Mrazek need to steal a few.

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

Kinda laughed at the box score from last night. Just about every forward played 15 minutes and all the dmen played 20.

 

[Ainec]

this season's Colorado

 

[izzy]

8 f***in goals

 

[BB88]

8 ****in goals

The kids are bringing speed and life into that team.

Aho, Svec, TT, Necas on offense will make Carolina fun team to watch for a long time.

 

[Chloraflora]

Calvin DeHaan was an underrated pickup too, I felt.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Please don’t tell me that dumpster fire of a hockey team is the one that “convinces” people.