OT: Look here! Now with prizes!

[spockBokk]

Is the roster limit 22 or 23 players? With 23 (which I want to say is right...) and Stempniak possibly going to the IR, isn't possible that both Necas and Kuokkonen make the opening night roster?

I'd assume Wallmark and Bean are the final cuts? (I'm probably missing something or someone here, just confused by some talk on Twitter that the decision will have to be made b/t Kuokkonen and Necas...)

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Is the roster limit 22 or 23 players? With 23 (which I want to say is right...) and Stempniak possibly going to the IR, isn't possible that both Necas and Kuokkonen make the opening night roster?

I'd assume Wallmark and Bean are the final cuts? (I'm probably missing something or someone here, just confused by some talk on Twitter that the decision will have to be made b/t Kuokkonen and Necas...)

It's a minimum of 20 players and a maximum of 23, so the Canes roster has to be between 20 and 23. If they keep the max and Stempniak goes on IR, then I agree with you, Kuokkanen and Necas get their 9 games, Wallmark and Bean go back.

 

[Lempo]

Are we sure Necas will ever go away?

 

[Svechhammer]

I'm curious about Necas. Everything I've seen written about him this training camp has been in regards to how he's surpassed the expectations of the staff. I wonder if there is any real legitimate chance he could crack the lineup this year on a permanent basis?

 

[GoldiFox]

Stempniak had an MRI on the 22nd. It seemed at that point like they were looking at a potentially serious issue. Can't find much after that. With how tight a lid the Canes keep on things I wonder if he will be out for a long time.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

I'm curious about Necas. Everything I've seen written about him this training camp has been in regards to how he's surpassed the expectations of the staff. I wonder if there is any real legitimate chance he could crack the lineup this year on a permanent basis?

Two weeks ago that might've been the case, as his skill seemed to fit in and he seemed to be capable of NHL production.

After the latest preseason games though in which he wasn't noticeably bad but also not a real producer, I'd bet everyone is real comfortable with him going back for the year, maybe after a game or two as a reward for showing out so well.

 

[geehaad]

If they're thinking they like Necas and Kuokkanen best as temp fill-in for Stempniak, I hope they send Kuokkanen down and keep Necas for some [less than 9] games, then send him to Czech and bring up the deserving Checker.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Actually, in my mind I was mistakenly thinking TT was also out so had them keeping both Necas and Kuokkanen, as they'd both play. I don't see them keeping both if they are going to just have one of them parked in the pressbox.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Actually, in my mind I was mistakenly thinking TT was also out so had them keeping both Necas and Kuokkanen, as they'd both play. I don't see them keeping both if they are going to just have one of them parked in the pressbox.

Depending on the severity of the Stempniak injury I wouldn't be surprised if it was just Kuokkanen and we held 22 until Stemp gets back and/or the first injury.

Really just depends on whether Stemp is healthy enough to travel by the west-coast trip (we will want to have all 23 for that).

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Philly put Matt Read on waivers, if this is a long-term injury for Stemp I wonder if we pick him up and consider him a one-for-one replacement.

 

[Svechhammer]

Two weeks ago that might've been the case, as his skill seemed to fit in and he seemed to be capable of NHL production.

After the latest preseason games though in which he wasn't noticeably bad but also not a real producer, I'd bet everyone is real comfortable with him going back for the year, maybe after a game or two as a reward for showing out so well.

Yeah, I get it, and long-term its probably best to let him develop another year before enabling his ELC. I'm just glad it looks like we may have an answer to the #1C issue already in the fold.

 

[RodTheBawd]

Do we have any information at all on Stempniak? When it happened and where? Googling only turned up back/hip soreness, which is actually the first time I've seen any detail.

 

[JCLA]

Do we have any information at all on Stempniak? When it happened and where? Googling only turned up back/hip soreness, which is actually the first time I've seen any detail.

That's all we've been told. He had an MRI like a week or so ago but no news has come out of it.

It supposedly started in his back and then moved down to his hip.

All this is coming from Peters interviews

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

Philly put Matt Read on waivers, if this is a long-term injury for Stemp I wonder if we pick him up and consider him a one-for-one replacement.

I think that's highly unlikely given Read's $3.5 mil salary for this season.

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/matt-read

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

I think that's highly unlikely given Read's $3.5 mil salary for this season.

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/matt-read

I think you are correct I didn't check his salary just his hit

 

[FreshSeabass]

 

[Vagrant]

Interesting to see PDG go down before Kuokkanen. That looks like a won battle to me at least at the outset of the season. I think Necas is all but assured to be headed back to Czech. I think Kuokkanen is going to be the offensive winger that we keep up until Stempniak is ready and pending his production we'll make a call on AHL for him at that time. London released his rights so he's free to go to Charlotte instead of the CHL.

Really interesting how much of a leap Kuokkanen has taken after having a season last year that really didn't inspire much confidence. The whole Finnish U20 squad taking a dump was part of that sour taste for sure. Especially after taking home the gold in dominating fashion the year prior. Kuokkanen - Ryan - Skinner might have a little pop and sizzle.

 

[Stickpucker]

Here's to hoping Stempy gets Wally Pipped

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Not that our forward group is elite, or even average...

But it feels weird to send down a guy like Wallmark that we are all pretty sure is NHL ready.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Depending on the severity of the Stempniak injury I wouldn't be surprised if it was just Kuokkanen and we held 22 until Stemp gets back and/or the first injury.

Really just depends on whether Stemp is healthy enough to travel by the west-coast trip (we will want to have all 23 for that).

What I had heard from Peters is that he hadn't even practiced with the team yet. Even if he is medically cleared, it sounds like he hasn't even skated yet. Can't imagine he's even close to game shape.

 

[Hulkacaniac]

Looks like they practiced Kuok, Ryan, and Skinner today. It's kind of nice having the depth that we're forced to put people on waivers for a change rather than being dumpster divers.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

The 10 game clock is only triggered when a player is dressed for a game, IIRC. Conceivably, the Canes could keep both Kuokkanen and Necas, alternate them in and out of the lineup in some interval, and get up to 18 games total from the duo without burning any ELC years. Not that I suggest or think the organization would do anything to that extreme, but that may be an option on a smaller scale.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Really interesting how much of a leap Kuokkanen has taken after having a season last year that really didn't inspire much confidence. The whole Finnish U20 squad taking a dump was part of that sour taste for sure. Especially after taking home the gold in dominating fashion the year prior. Kuokkanen - Ryan - Skinner might have a little pop and sizzle.

He’s just such an NHL-style player, and has been since we drafted him. He has a Jussi Jokinen vibe that I like, while bearing in mind what a frustrating player Jussi could be.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I have to admit, I've been much more impressed by Kuokkanen in pre-season than I was beforehand. Something about him just seemed off to me when I had seen him before. Still, a long way to go before saying he's a viable NHLr, but he's impressed me this pre-season.

 

[RodTheBawd]

I have to admit, I've been much more impressed by Kuokkanen in pre-season than I was beforehand. Something about him just seemed off to me when I had seen him before. Still, a long way to go before saying he's a viable NHLr, but he's impressed me this pre-season.

Yep, as I've mentioned before, I had the same feeling. Glad he's further proving I know f*** all about evaluating young talent.