News & Notes XXIII: Brindy Beats the Team Into Shape

[Joe McGrath]

IMO the Canes would be far better off consolidating to an 80/20 or 70/30 PP unit like most of the rest of the league. I'm hoping and praying that "Even though we have one of the least talented teams in the league, let's just put these guys out there 50/50 and see what happens" was one of Bill Peters' many terrible deployment strategies.

Aho + TT + Svechnikov + Hamilton + Necas/Center is just astronomically better than anything they could put together on the 2nd unit. A change that would also increase Aho's points a bit.

Someone needs to be a net front presence and it’s not going to be an 18 or 19 year old taking that beating. Penciling these guys in to top PP roles, there’s a lot more to bring successful on the PP individually than just going out there and playing.

 

[The Faulker 27]

Let's not jinx Aho by saying he's likely to get 70+. I'm losing sleep at my desk over it.

 

[Stickpucker]

shoot puck goal

total control

win gaem.

dance on enemy corpse.

 

[Stickpucker]

Someone needs to be a net front presence and it’s not going to be an 18 or 19 year old taking that beating. Penciling these guys in to top PP roles, there’s a lot more to bring successful on the PP individually than just going out there and playing.

Zykov is best suited for that beating. Russian machine never break.

 

[The Faulker 27]

The youth of the team is the big question mark for this season. I think it will make for some entertaining hockey, but mistakes will be made, and when they do we have 2 very large question marks in goal, so I'm going into this season with similar outlook as I had last season. Playoffs possible, but far from likely.

 

[the halleJOKEL]

The youth of the team is the big question mark for this season. I think it will make for some entertaining hockey, but mistakes will be made, and when they do we have 2 very large question marks in goal, so I'm going into this season with similar outlook as I had last season. Playoffs possible, but far from likely.

i thought it was the goaltending

can we get our narrative straight already geez

 

[MinJaBen]

Of course it is only one mans opinion, but over at theAthletic Dom Luszczyszyn grades out the offseasons of each team. He uses net value added, value added per player, and difference in the team's point projections.

Carolina Hurricanes: A-
In: Dougie Hamilton, Calvin de Haan, Micheal Ferland, Petr Mrazek, Jordan Martinook
Out: Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm, Derek Ryan, Cam Ward, Marcus Kruger, Joakim Nordstrom
Net Value Added: +2.4 wins
Another year, another great offseason for Carolina. This year feels a little different though as they made a big addition to the top end of their lineup rather than the middle or the bottom. Dougie Hamilton is a monstrous addition and he might be an even better get than John Tavares in the grand scheme of things. The relative value between them is certainly up for debate (they’re both right near the top at their respective positions), but Hamilton costs half as much for the next three seasons, and is still in his prime at age 25.
Over the last three seasons, he’s fourth in defender 5-on-5 points-per-60 behind Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns and Victor Hedman. His raw production would look a lot better with more ice-time, especially on the power play. Over the same time frame he was third in relative Corsi behind Karlsson, Hampus Lindholm and Cody Franson, all while playing tough minutes every night. He and Mark Giordano were one of the league’s best pairs over the last two seasons and it’s unfathomable that the Flames would give that up for the package they did. (I like Noah Hanifin, but his potential likely peaks at what Hamilton already is). My model is likely a bit too bullish on Hamilton because he takes a lot of shots, but he’s much better than he gets credit for. He’s very much a top 10-15 defenceman in the league.
Adding defensively reliable Calvin de Haan to the mix is icing on the cake, giving the Hurricane’s a top three defence corps. Carolina’s goaltending is still very questionable – Petr Mrazek is probably not the answer – but the Hurricanes are still a better team now than they were at the end of the season (not to mention they drafted a potential offensive superstar in Andrei Svechnikov). Whether it’s playoffs good is yet to be determined.

By the Numbers
(it is the Athletic, so it is a paywall...but it is worth it)

 

[Joe McGrath]

i thought it was the goaltending

can we get our narrative straight already geez

I just assumed it was that they are the Hurricanes. Isn’t that narrative enough?

 

[the halleJOKEL]

I just assumed it was that they are the Hurricanes. Isn’t that narrative enough?

too shay

 

[FreshSeabass]

 

[vorbis]

my god Maniscalco is such an awkward toady

 

[tarheelhockey]

Zykov is best suited for that beating. Russian machine never break.

I’d like to see Zykov and Ferland taking that role in successive PP units. Just get them in front of the goalie and jam like hell, create some space for the perimeter guys to move the puck. It’s been a long time since we had anyone willing/able to do that.

If we can roll those guys along with the obvious top forward talents (Aho, Skinner, TT, Svechnikov), and send out our 4th line + Slavin/Pesce to suppress the opponent’s scoring line post-PP, then that would be a really nice setup for well-rested guys like Necas and McGinn and Williams to come flying out with a burst of energy and pin the other team down for another long shift.

 

[Joe McGrath]

I’d like to see Zykov and Ferland taking that role in successive PP units. Just get them in front of the goalie and jam like hell, create some space for the perimeter guys to move the puck. It’s been a long time since we had anyone willing/able to do that.

If we can roll those guys along with the obvious top forward talents (Aho, Skinner, TT, Svechnikov), and send out our 4th line + Slavin/Pesce to suppress the opponent’s scoring line post-PP, then that would be a really nice setup for well-rested guys like Necas and McGinn and Williams to come flying out with a burst of energy and pin the other team down for another long shift.

In this scenario you can just send out McGinn-Staal-Williams to face the top competition coming off the PP. He can’t be on the PP if he’s doing anything other than standing in front.

 

[FreshSeabass]

I’d like to see Zykov and Ferland taking that role in successive PP units. Just get them in front of the goalie and jam like hell, create some space for the perimeter guys to move the puck. It’s been a long time since we had anyone willing/able to do that.

If we can roll those guys along with the obvious top forward talents (Aho, Skinner, TT, Svechnikov), and send out our 4th line + Slavin/Pesce to suppress the opponent’s scoring line post-PP, then that would be a really nice setup for well-rested guys like Necas and McGinn and Williams to come flying out with a burst of energy and pin the other team down for another long shift.

Martinook should get a look for this as well.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Doesn't Ferland have supposed a borderline-elite wrister?

Having him in the Staal role as the trigger in the middle would be great.

 

[tarheelhockey]

In this scenario you can just send out McGinn-Staal-Williams to face the top competition coming off the PP. He can’t be on the PP if he’s doing anything other than standing in front.

That’s true. I guess that would also let us put Necas on the PP without having him in a net-front role.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Martinook should get a look for this as well.

If this turns out to be real (not just another Tim Brent) we might actually have a somewhat tough forward group to play against this season. Svechnikov and Ferland are already adding a lot of jam.

 

[The Faulker 27]

i thought it was the goaltending

can we get our narrative straight already geez

I was good with just the goalie narrative, and really not having a proven #1C, until one fateful day BBA posted this, and realized I didn't fully understand just how young this team will be.

This team is going to be sooooo young this year. Probably only 5-6 skaters currently over 25 (assuming 1 of Skinner/Faulk gets moved)

Svech: 18, Necas: 19, Aho: 20, TT: 23, Zykov: 23, Maenalanen: 24, PDG: 24, McGinn: 24; Rask: 25; Martinook: 25; Ferland: 26; Staal: 29; Williams: 35 (Skinner: 26)
Fleury: 22; Pesce: 23, Slavin: 24, Hamilton: 25; TVR: 26; CDH: 26 (Faulk: 26)

Of course, if Skinner/Faulk are traded, it will depend on what the return is, but I don't think it will make the team older.

 

[FreshSeabass]

I would be disgusted when someone would lay a big check on one of our guys and you see the rest of the team just skate away with no response. ol man Justin Williams of all people was the one that stepped up to fight Gio for that Aho check last season.....Ridiculous.

 

[FreshSeabass]

If this turns out to be real (not just another Tim Brent) we might actually have a somewhat tough forward group to play against this season. Svechnikov and Ferland are already adding a lot of jam.

Id also be impressed if DW managed to flip Kruger for a useful player.

 

[bleedgreen]

Doesn't Ferland have supposed a borderline-elite wrister?

Having him in the Staal role as the trigger in the middle would be great.

He does have a nasty release, but it’s way more noticeable off the rush or cycles than posted in the slot. He seems more like the scrappy fight for loose pucks guy when he’s in the slot more than a trigger man. Not really his skill set though the fighting for loose pucks can be just as valuable at times.

Depends what kind of in front guy you want. Zykov is great at the reflections and burying rebounds and has a more natural offensive skill set overall. Posting Ferland a little higher and asking him to be the shooter probably is wasting his skills.

The plus is between Zykov, Ferland and McGinn we have a few guys that give us different looks and we aren’t even talking about the biggest positive change we have. Doug Hamilton shoots bombs. He can absolutely be the focal point of a power play. Tippable low bombs that leave juicy rebounds. Quick release snap shots that find the net and cause havoc. He’s a much better shooter than Faulk, and he’s better at being mobile back there as well as more poised with the puck. He can hit the wide open back door play and has a good feel when to do that vs shooting. He also pinches/drives on the weak side all the time even strength as well as pp. He’s a high end offensive guy. Our D if Dehaan stays healthy can be scary now.

Our pp should immediately change for the better with the trade. There’s flat out going to be more rebound goals available. Aho and TT playing the half wall and setting Hamilton up for bombs will be a thing for us.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

It’s just so great to think that we have Dougie Hamilton.

It’s getting harder and harder to believe how many reactionary “fire Waddell” takes there were a few weeks ago.

 

[HisIceness]

I would be disgusted when someone would lay a big check on one of our guys and you see the rest of the team just skate away with no response. ol man Justin Williams of all people was the one that stepped up to fight Gio for that Aho check last season.....Ridiculous.

I remember once hearing that sports teams are an example of the city they play in.

Pittsburgh for instance is blue collar and the Steelers play a blue collar brand of football. Baltimore is a gritty city and the Ravens are known for their defense. The Lakers are flashy like Los Angeles. The Lions and Browns are dying like Detroit and Cleveland.

I guess Raleigh is a city full of soft hipsters afraid of confrontation and it shows in our hockey team. I don't know.

 

[tarheelhockey]

He does have a nasty release, but it’s way more noticeable off the rush or cycles than posted in the slot. He seems more like the scrappy fight for loose pucks guy when he’s in the slot more than a trigger man. Not really his skill set though the fighting for loose pucks can be just as valuable at times.

Sounds a lot like what PDG was supposed to be.

 

[vorbis]

It’s just so great to think that we have Dougie Hamilton.

It’s getting harder and harder to believe how many reactionary “fire Waddell” takes there were a few weeks ago.

not sure how many wanted to fire Waddell versus just hire someone else, but overall I agree. whether you agree with the slate of moves is one thing, but it's clear that some roster makeup issues have been identified and addressed by management. I'd have liked more tangible solutions to first goaltender and top-6 points monster, but sometimes improvement is incremental rather than revelatory.