Carolina looking very good so far this season

[NjDevsRR]

Won’t last giving up that many goals. Offense looks solid though.

 

[Nithoniniel]

Carolina does look good. It would be fun if they did take that next step. I doubt a lot of people would have predicted that it would come off the back of great offense though.

Team still needs a goaltender though. Unless McElhinney is the second coming of Tim Thomas, he's going to revert back to being an average backup sooner or later. Imagine that team if they had landed Raanta instead of Darling. They'd pretty much be Nashville.

 

[Roboturner913]

Unless McElhinney is the second coming of Tim Thomas, he's going to revert back to being an average backup sooner or later.

Which would still be an upgrade over the general goaltending situation of the last few years tbh.

 

[Chips]

I

He wouldn’t survive on this team.

In what way do you mean that? I hadn’t followed the Canes in years, what’s wrong with Skinner being on that team?

 

[Negan4Coach]

Crazy how having a goaltender that can block some pucks helps win games, eh? Good for Carolina fans, they deserve it.

I'm however far from being impressed by the new management moves... Hope I'll be wrong, but just to say they got their "#1" goaltender on the waver wire is saying something.

... and I don't want to be that guy, but let's not forget they played against NYI, CLB, NYR and VAN... The only decent team of the bunch IMO is CLB, and even there they are missing their #1 defenseman and areplaying Ryan Murray 25 mins a night, which does not look good.

Let's just say I would not plan the parade yet, but still it is a good start.

In the old days we'd lose to all those teams and even worse ones and then beat the really good ones. I prefer them winning the games they are supposed to win in stong fashion.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

The goaltending will bite them in the ass eventually, but holy shit do they loads of talent everywhere BUT goalie. Their forward group is ridiculously deep with the additions of Foegele, Svech, Ferland, Wallmark and Martinook. That Foegele-Staal-Williams line was just annihilating on the cycle all night long last night.

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

I

In what way do you mean that? I hadn’t followed the Canes in years, what’s wrong with Skinner being on that team?

He literally does none of the things Brind’amour expects out of his players.

He’s a one man show who doesn’t even know where the defensive zone is.

 

[The S5]

They've been impressive so far but I still don't understand why they traded Skinner for a bag of pucks.

Guy didn't stand a chance with Roddy as coach. Skinner won't do the things it takes to win. Stats and skill aside, the guy won't play in the tough areas. He won't be missed.

 

[Unsustainable]

I

In what way do you mean that? I hadn’t followed the Canes in years, what’s wrong with Skinner being on that team?

RBA wants them to be responsible, Skinner tries to do too much on his own, looking at our left side: Ferland, Foegele, McGinn, Martinook. McGinn is the only one he would be removing from a spot, and McGinn provides grit for Necas.

Ferland provides time and space for the Finns, and produces with them, Foegele with Staal and Williams, Skinner never meshed with Jordan.

So he’s either on the “3rd” line that’s a total mess right now, or the “4th” line, but Martinook is better for that.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Aho will be a top 10 C.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Won’t last giving up that many goals. Offense looks solid though.

True. Other than the Ranger's game though, which was a track meet that was IMO a bit of an anomaly, they've only given up 1 ES goal in each of the other 3 games. Their PK has been pretty bad so far though so they have to fix that.

Brindy doesn't mind giving up scoring chances if the team is giving them up because they are creating scoring chances themselves. Things like the PK and allowing stretch passes don't fall into that category though so that needs to be cleaned up. Still, they have weak goaltending and the approach under Peters was to limit the other team's shots/chances and try to play a more defensive game. Brindy seems to be taking the approach of be more aggressive offensively so that a bad goal or two given up is minimized if they can score more.

A LONG way to go though and too early to make any proclamations about how good they will or won't be, but at least the team is more exciting to watch.

 

[MrThomas]

Sebastian Aho is the most fun guy to watch on ice

 

[Drytoast]

Our gm messed up

 

[Drytoast]

duh, but to say hes a "huge addition" is a little overboard.

You are going to find as the aeason goes on that mcback is now a steady reliable goalie.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Carolina looks solid but at the same time, out of 4 opponents they played, 3 were teams that surely won't make the playoffs. Staal and Ferland aren't over PPG players either.

 

[The S5]

Carolina looks solid but at the same time, out of 4 opponents they played, 3 were teams that surely won't make the playoffs. Staal and Ferland aren't over PPG players either.

Who ever said they were point/game players? Will Matthews end up with 200 goals?
This team makes the playoffs last season if they have anywhere near average goaltending.
This year, they have improved up front considerably and the goaltending has been good. I don't see any reason to think this isn't a playoff team this year.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Who ever said they were point/game players? Will Matthews end up with 200 goals?
This team makes the playoffs last season if they have anywhere near average goaltending.
This year, they have improved up front considerably and the goaltending has been good. I don't see any reason to think this isn't a playoff team this year.

Nobody said it, simply after 4 games they are. The point was Carolina is currently overachieving mostly because they are playing against weak opposition.

You don't see the reason to think this isn't a playoff team yet it all relies on a huge assumption that they will get "near average goaltending" when there is no actual evidence it will be the case. They still have the guy who was extremely terrible last year, the guy who was terrible for a few years and the career backup as their choices in goal.

"Considerable improvement up front" is 18 y.o. rookie and 4th liner Martinook. Lindholm was traded away to get Ferland and the other guys (Wallmark, Foegele, etc.) were at Canes disposal last year as well. They lost Ryan and Skinner. So really, guys promoted from the AHL and 18 y.o. Svechnikov is the considerable improvement over Skinner?

I get it. The team is looking good, it also has de Haan and Hamilton this year, forward group looks deep.. But at its core, this is a team which missed the playoffs by 15 points last year and hasn't made straight up improvements. They reshuffled the deck and that's all. Surely their youngsters got better but 15 points in the standings is hardly a gap which can be covered by internal growth.

The Canes will be in the hunt for a playoff spot because their division is not great and they have some nice pieces but "not seeing any reason to think this isn't a playoff team this year" is just the definition of a wishful thinking rather than facing facts.

 

[RogerRoger]

Goalies are the only weak area. If the goalies play well, the Canes will be very good.

 

[The S5]

Nobody said it, simply after 4 games they are. The point was Carolina is currently overachieving mostly because they are playing against weak opposition.

You don't see the reason to think this isn't a playoff team yet it all relies on a huge assumption that they will get "near average goaltending" when there is no actual evidence it will be the case. They still have the guy who was extremely terrible last year, the guy who was terrible for a few years and the career backup as their choices in goal.

"Considerable improvement up front" is 18 y.o. rookie and 4th liner Martinook. Lindholm was traded away to get Ferland and the other guys (Wallmark, Foegele, etc.) were at Canes disposal last year as well. They lost Ryan and Skinner. So really, guys promoted from the AHL and 18 y.o. Svechnikov is the considerable improvement over Skinner?

I get it. The team is looking good, it also has de Haan and Hamilton this year, forward group looks deep.. But at its core, this is a team which missed the playoffs by 15 points last year and hasn't made straight up improvements. They reshuffled the deck and that's all. Surely their youngsters got better but 15 points in the standings is hardly a gap which can be covered by internal growth.

The Canes will be in the hunt for a playoff spot because their division is not great and they have some nice pieces but "not seeing any reason to think this isn't a playoff team this year" is just the definition of a wishful thinking rather than facing facts.

You made the statement about them not being point/game players and my response was essentially, "no shi%".

Losing Skinner is addition by subtraction. Lindholm woefully underachieved in Carolina. Half the time, you didn't know he was on the ice.

What will ultimately be the biggest change this year is Roddy. He has them playing a more aggressive, pressuring style which seems to suit them well. It does allow more scoring chances, but for now, they are scoring a bunch of goals.

With regard to goaltending, there aren't many teams that would make the playoffs with the goaltending the Canes got last season. It was that bad. So, it isn't a stretch to think it will be better this year. Darling worked extremely hard in the offseason. Mrazek has looked fine and Mc has been good as well.

Now, add Dougie, DeHaan (better than Hanifin), Ferland, Foegele and Svech and its hard to not think this team has improved substantially. Of course, its way too early to be overly confident, but, so far, they are playing up to their talent and expectation level.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Nobody said it, simply after 4 games they are. The point was Carolina is currently overachieving mostly because they are playing against weak opposition.

You don't see the reason to think this isn't a playoff team yet it all relies on a huge assumption that they will get "near average goaltending" when there is no actual evidence it will be the case. They still have the guy who was extremely terrible last year, the guy who was terrible for a few years and the career backup as their choices in goal.

"Considerable improvement up front" is 18 y.o. rookie and 4th liner Martinook. Lindholm was traded away to get Ferland and the other guys (Wallmark, Foegele, etc.) were at Canes disposal last year as well. They lost Ryan and Skinner. So really, guys promoted from the AHL and 18 y.o. Svechnikov is the considerable improvement over Skinner?

I get it. The team is looking good, it also has de Haan and Hamilton this year, forward group looks deep.. But at its core, this is a team which missed the playoffs by 15 points last year and hasn't made straight up improvements. They reshuffled the deck and that's all. Surely their youngsters got better but 15 points in the standings is hardly a gap which can be covered by internal growth.

The Canes will be in the hunt for a playoff spot because their division is not great and they have some nice pieces but "not seeing any reason to think this isn't a playoff team this year" is just the definition of a wishful thinking rather than facing facts.

Forwards Out: Skinner (24 goals; -27), Lindholm (16G, -8); Ryan (15G, -15), Stempniak (3G, -8), Nordstrom (2G, -11), Kruger (1G, -6) = 61 goals, - 75 (out of a team total of -143).

Ferland scored 20 goals last year so assume he can do the same and that leaves the Canes 41 goals short from last year. I don't think it's unreasonable AT ALL to assume that Svech, Necas, Foegele, Wallmark, Zykov, and Martinook are going to exceed that 41 goals, not to mention being better defensively. Heck, they already have 8 goals between them in just 4 games.

I do agree with you that they are by no means a sure thing when it comes to the playoffs, but I do think they are much improved at forward compared to last year's team.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Nobody said it, simply after 4 games they are. The point was Carolina is currently overachieving mostly because they are playing against weak opposition.

You don't see the reason to think this isn't a playoff team yet it all relies on a huge assumption that they will get "near average goaltending" when there is no actual evidence it will be the case. They still have the guy who was extremely terrible last year, the guy who was terrible for a few years and the career backup as their choices in goal.

"Considerable improvement up front" is 18 y.o. rookie and 4th liner Martinook. Lindholm was traded away to get Ferland and the other guys (Wallmark, Foegele, etc.) were at Canes disposal last year as well. They lost Ryan and Skinner. So really, guys promoted from the AHL and 18 y.o. Svechnikov is the considerable improvement over Skinner?

I get it. The team is looking good, it also has de Haan and Hamilton this year, forward group looks deep.. But at its core, this is a team which missed the playoffs by 15 points last year and hasn't made straight up improvements. They reshuffled the deck and that's all. Surely their youngsters got better but 15 points in the standings is hardly a gap which can be covered by internal growth.

The Canes will be in the hunt for a playoff spot because their division is not great and they have some nice pieces but "not seeing any reason to think this isn't a playoff team this year" is just the definition of a wishful thinking rather than facing facts.

A lot of this is fair, but I think you’re underestimating the level of change that took place to that forward group over the offseason.

- Aho went from a question mark to a “hell yes” as the 1C, which is a position that has been crippling to this team for years.

- Foegele came up at the very end of last season and had 3 points in 2 games. “Yeah well let’s see what he does next season,” says everyone. So far he’s got 4 points in 4 games. Of those 7 points, 5 are goals. Of course that’s not a sustainable pace, but this kid is flying all over the ice and is clearly a productive player added from nowhere.

- Ferland fills a major organizational need. Even when he eventually cools off, he’s contributing to the total-team scheme in a way that Lindholm never did.

- Svechnikov is a star in the making. He has been playing on the 4th line with grinders so far, and he’s PPG in that role. When he really breaks out it will be a game changer for the franchise.

- Necas hasn’t even been all that great yet, but he’s a consensus top-10 forward prospect in the world and again, plays center. If/when he finds his footing and starts working toward his potential, he will be filling in one of the major gaps that has killed us repeatedly over the past few years.

Wallmark and Martinook are bottom line material, so I won’t argue with you there.

Goaltending is still suspect, yes. Rookie coach is still a huge question mark (though less of one today than it was 2 weeks ago). But yes, this forward group is definitely more coherent and promising than what we have had before. I liked Skinner but he is not Svechnikov, and adding Foegele/Ferland/Necas more than offsets losing Lindholm.

 

[zeke]

I've been a fan of the canes in recent years.

I think they made a very nice move trading the overrated Hanifin for a better player.

McBackup might not be an above average starter over the season, but I still think he'll be a nice upgrade over anything they've had in recent years.

The question is if they can continue to finish at this higher level, that the stats always said they should have been finishing at.

 

[Roboturner913]

I have been one of Skinner's most ardent defenders in the past because I don't think he is bad defensively as people seem to believe, but yeah, other people are right here. He would stick out like a sore thumb on this team. They definitely did the right thing shipping him out, it would be a terrible fit.

It's not all just, subtracting the goals of the guys who left and adding in goals of the new guys. You have to account for philosophical changes.

 

[Danythegod]

A lot of surprises on that team. Staal looks to be back in good form which is great for that team. Brind'Amour is doing a great job so far as well.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

The next string of games is going to be a big challenge for the Canes:

At Minn
At WPG
At TBL
Vs. Col
At Det
Vs. SJ

All playoff teams from last year except for Detroit.

I had said to start the season, if they could come out of the first 10 games at .500, that would be good so the need to win at least 2 of these games to hit that.