Confirmed with Link: Joni Pitkanen to miss entire 2013-14 season

[Carolinas Identity*]

These boards sometimes. Someone makes a half-joking comment about Pietrangelo as a RFA, and all of the sudden we're getting our hopes up.


I'm expecting something in the next couple of days. I'm guessing if they want to bring someone in they'll want them here soon for the start of camp.

I still don't think Morrow's a possibility. I think our forward group for next year is under contract already (with the exception of Dvorak, who I do think will make the team as a PKer/4th liner).

It's fun to throw around these ideas, and I do think some of them are good. But the more I think about it the more I think it's exceedingly likely we sign Hainsey and JR likes our group.

I won't disagree, but you have to admit this does kind of seem like eerily similar circumstances to when JR offer sheeted this guy.

Except, maybe this time, JR will get his guy.

 

[Drury_Sakic]

If you are looking for someone on the cheap, costing you nothing to get and is only on a one year deal, Matt Hunwick could be had from the Avs.

Not saying he is even close to a replacement, but if you need a guy that can eat bad minutes as to not wreck the development of a young player OR a guy to sit in the pressbox or play small minutes, Hunwick is perfect for that.

He is nothing but a fringe NHLer, but again, the price is right and it would be better than forcing Murphy into full service right away...and again, he would cost you nothing.

Also, from what fans have seen, Hunwick is a stand up guy in the locker room, which is never a bad thing.

There is also the chance, however small, that Hunwick can take a step or two up in his game and be a decent NHLer if he ever found the right coach and D-partner.

 

[urho]

I still can't believe he'll most likely retire because of this

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

If you are looking for someone on the cheap, costing you nothing to get and is only on a one year deal, Matt Hunwick could be had from the Avs.

Not saying he is even close to a replacement, but if you need a guy that can eat bad minutes as to not wreck the development of a young player OR a guy to sit in the pressbox or play small minutes, Hunwick is perfect for that.

He is nothing but a fringe NHLer, but again, the price is right and it would be better than forcing Murphy into full service right away...and again, he would cost you nothing.

Also, from what fans have seen, Hunwick is a stand up guy in the locker room, which is never a bad thing.

There is also the chance, however small, that Hunwick can take a step or two up in his game and be a decent NHLer if he ever found the right coach and D-partner.

Nice try, nobody wants Hunwick. I wouldn't take him as a replacement for our 7th defenseman.

 

[DaveG]

If you are looking for someone on the cheap, costing you nothing to get and is only on a one year deal, Matt Hunwick could be had from the Avs.

Not saying he is even close to a replacement, but if you need a guy that can eat bad minutes as to not wreck the development of a young player OR a guy to sit in the pressbox or play small minutes, Hunwick is perfect for that.

He is nothing but a fringe NHLer, but again, the price is right and it would be better than forcing Murphy into full service right away...and again, he would cost you nothing.

Also, from what fans have seen, Hunwick is a stand up guy in the locker room, which is never a bad thing.

There is also the chance, however small, that Hunwick can take a step or two up in his game and be a decent NHLer if he ever found the right coach and D-partner.

It would? I've at least seen moments of competence in his own zone from Murphy, and his offensive ability is amazing. Can't say I've seen either from Hunwick at any point.

 

[vippe]

no touch icing.

 

[Fogelhund]

I'm sure Liles could be had from Toronto for cheap since they still have their RFA's to sign. He would be an ideal replacement for Pitkanen.

A conditional sixth would probably get the deal done at this point. Liles production has been very similar to Pitkanen's the last few years, decent player just not a favourite of the current coaching staff. It would shore up your D, without any real cost.

 

[Mr Whipple]

My guess is we stay put and do nothing. It will be up to somebody (Murphy) to step up. JR will say "I tried my best, but there was nobody out there available at the right price."

What we don't need is a D that isn't already an established Top 4 and can eat top minutes. Pitkanen played nearly half the minutes of every game he played in. We've got more than enough bottom pairing and fringe players. If we're going to throw somebody in the Top 4 that hasn't proved themselves there already, it might as well be Murphy. Trading for a true replacement would cost more than we can afford. Picking up someone in FA might have been more of an option towards the beginning of FA, but it's slim pickings now.

As for Hainsey. I'm guessing he either wants too much, or since PK is a member in good standing of the Good Ol' Boy club that wants to punish him for his stance during the lockout that PK won't want to rock the boat and go against his buddies. I'd be surprised if he gets signed.

In retrospect, Sekera might just have been picked up as Pitkanen's replacement if they had any clue that Pitkanen might not be back well before they came out and announced it.

 

[sheriff bart]

Go big or go home.

Offer sheet Pietrangelo, surrender two 1sts+2nd+3rd and call it a day.

I wouldn't be so quick to give up those picks. In today's NHL with the salary cap and the self imposed restrictions that PK has, getting a young player logging some quality ice time on an entry level contract is hugely important when you want to have some higher end talent too. I think JR would be better served long term by a UFA like Hainsey or a cheap trade for an odd man out like Niskanen or Liles.

JR doesn't have the salary space to "go big"

 

[Drury_Sakic]

It would? I've at least seen moments of competence in his own zone from Murphy, and his offensive ability is amazing. Can't say I've seen either from Hunwick at any point.

Yeah, it might. It is sometimes necessary to run someone out there and eat bad minutes. If you are forced to play a guy who is not 100% ready more time than he is equipped/ready for, it can slow or even ruin his development. The whole point of acquiring Hunwick would be to make him play a good chunk of those bad minutes rather than force Murphy to play too much.

As I mentioned in my post, he is nothing but a fringe NHLer at this point, but if you need someone who can either eat bad minutes OR play a bench depth role that won't rock the boat in the locker room if he gets uneven ice time who would cost nothing to get, Hunwick is that type of guy.

 

[StormCast]

So did I really just read that Yandle is near-generational and Big Buff is near-elite? Not quite in either case. Holy hyperbole.

Hedge your best with a guy like Hainsey and get camp going.

 

[Blown Away]

^I would rather run Bellemore out than take on Hunwick or another teams dead weight.

I think Franson would be a far more likely offer sheet target than Pieterangelo.

 

[DaveG]

Sorry but that's still a big ol hell ****ing no. There are actual NHL caliber UFAs out there to eat those "bad minutes" and do it competently, or a number of kids from the Canes system that can be called up that are more skilled then Hunwick.

Want me to put it bluntly? Hunwick is about on par with an average 2nd pairing guy in the AHL. In no way shape or form is a guy that should be a #10 defenseman a remotely viable alternative regardless of whatever "reasoning" you might have for it. Frankly even coming over to the Canes board to suggest we do you a favor by taking him off your hands is trolling, and any further responses along those lines will be met as such.

 

[Mr Whipple]

Unlike what most people around the league think, we're in 'Win Now' mode. We don't need someone to just fill a roster spot until guys are ready. We need guys ready now. We'll throw Murphy to the wolves and it's sink or swim if we don't get someone that can already play Top 4.

Which I'd bet against the latter.

 

[the halleJOKEL]

So did I really just read that Yandle is near-generational and Big Buff is near-elite? Not quite in either case. Holy hyperbole.

Hedge your best with a guy like Hainsey and get camp going.

i am rite nd u r rong. u no nothing about hockey. yandle and buffy = cup

bandwagon fan, u make me laff

go bak to hockey school;; eat crow; sunshine

 

[tarheelhockey]

The thing about taking on a guy like Hunwick (or another bad minute eater) is that we already have an abundance of guys who can play that role:

Komisarek
Murphy
Flood
Corrente
Bellemore
Jordan

All of these players have NHL experience and none of them will begin the season in the top-4.

What we need isn't another bottom-pair guy, but a top-4 replacement for Pitkanen.

 

[sheriff bart]

What we need isn't another bottom-pair guy, but a top-4 replacement for Pitkanen.

Which will not happen if JR decides to fill from within. Hoping Murphy is ready for prime time isn't the answer either. Maybe he is, but I'd feel better if he forced his way into the line up than if he were forced into the line up.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Which will not happen if JR decides to fill from within. Hoping Murphy is ready for prime time isn't the answer either. Maybe he is, but I'd feel better if he forced his way into the line up than if he were forced into the line up.

The only things that would make sense at this point would be to sign Hainsey (which looks like a total no brainer unless there's a contract impasse) or to make a trade.

 

[StormCast]

yandle and buffy = cup

Only insofar as there is no D in "cup" either.

 

[the halleJOKEL]

Only insofar as there is no D in "cup" either.

um, turn cup 180 degrees.

dn)

found the d, wise guy

 

[StormCast]

um, turn cup 180 degrees.

dn)

found the d, wise guy

Ah, but the more difficult, relevant part would be to get those two guys to turn their defensive games around 180 degrees.

 

[sheriff bart]

The only things that would make sense at this point would be to sign Hainsey (which looks like a total no brainer unless there's a contract impasse) or to make a trade.

I totally agree. No rush though. Training camp doesn't start until...uh oh.

 

[My Special Purpose]

I'm trying to get upset about this. I'm trying to think about how bad this hurts our defense and get all depressed. But I just can't. I feel like crap for Joni, especially if this torpedoes his career, which it sounds is very possible. But as for the Canes, I'm just not all that busted up.

Between insurance picking up the actual cost and long-term IR picking up the cap hit, essentially Joni just became a free agent one year earlier tham he otherwise would have, which is fine by me. I thought he was overpaid and overrated anyhow. The *only* problem is that we didn't have a chance to trade him at the deadline or a chance to spend the his expiring salary on free-agency day. And JR probably wouldn't have done either of those anyhow, so I'm not sure how we're any worse off than if he played out his contract this past season.

The only way we're worse off is if you believe Joni Pitkanen is a $4.5 million player, and I personally don't think he is. I think we sometimes get "big minutes" mixed up with "exceptionally effective." Yeah, it's going to hurt a bit asking players to play more minutes than they're comfortable, but if you add two minutes each to our five returnees, you're only looking at another 13-14 minute guy to fill the gap.

I don't think we're a whole lot worse off now than we were when we thought he was coming back, and I'm not sure I'd spend the money right now. I like having the flexibility to do what is needed during the season. I say let's go with what we have and sort it out around Thanksgiving. If we're out of it by then, we'd have been out of it even with Joni. If we have another key injury at a different position, we can choose to fill that hole instead. If we're lacking something, we can add it then. No harm in waiting.