Who will be your team's whipping boy this year?

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Canes fans: Justin Faulk

Me: Jordan Staal unless he stays full moose mode.

It's always Justin Faulk for many Canes fans. Some of it deservedly, some of it not.
I agree that if Staal doesn't play in moose mode, he could become one.
Mrazek has a shot at being a whipping boy if he doesn't play well to start the season.

 

[Bandit]

Derek Forbort will be beaten by our fanbase like he owes everyone money.

 

[TheGoldenGod]

This manss gonna get it

 

[cgf]

Burakovsky, without a doubt.

 

[bukwas]

No idea what the consensus would be as i never visit the team board but i have a whip with Nylanders name on it.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Dubas did really well in getting rid of really bad and unpopular players. The one I'd guess would be Ceci, but I'm fine with him for a year considering he helped us get rid of Zaitsev. I have a feeling Babcock will overly rely on someone like Spezza, Harpur, or Mikheyev and it will get annoying

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Alot of people are saying Burakovsky which surprises me. Are people actually expecting him to excel all of a sudden?

He hasnt done much yet in his career and im not expecting anything at all. Even if he is just very average(25 to 30ish points) id say that is a success.

His career high is 38 points 4 years ago.

He isnt very good so unsure what fans are expecting. Just expect the worst but anything better than that is a massive plus!!

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Dubas did really well in getting rid of really bad and unpopular players. The one I'd guess would be Ceci, but I'm fine with him for a year considering he helped us get rid of Zaitsev. I have a feeling Babcock will overly rely on someone like Spezza, Harpur, or Mikheyev and it will get annoying

Isn't Hyman the odds on whipping boy, now that Brown, Hainsey and Marleau are gone? He's been a whipping boy to many for years, even if it's not deserved.

 

[SlapshotTheMovie]

Marc Staal

It will be him but it will also be 100% earned. I think buch will be unfairly held accountable for not being more then he is.

 

[Zenos]

I could easily see Neal take over Lucic's role as the whipping boy. Though I'm hoping last season was simply an anomaly for him.
Also, if Puljujarvi sticks with the club, things could get ugly. Real ugly.

 

[Drewcifer]

For Minnesota it is likely going to be Rask, and if Fiala doesn't impress it may be a rough season for him as well. Ultimately it is all on Fenton though.

 

[I Hate Philadelphia]

Bruins - Tuukka (as usual) + an older and (even) slower Chara.

 

[The Macho King]

I'm already warming up my Palat trashing algorithm.

 

[Note Worthy]

Joel Edmundson

 

[kingsholygrail]

It's already Kopitar.

 

[Cupless44]

Eriksson is #1 whipping boy in Vancouver year after year. Useless, soft and lazy.

 

[Clint Eastwood]

Fans - David Krejci

Dumb radio show hosts and casual fans - Tuukka Rask

 

[izzy]

if youd never watched the blues play and just went by half of hfblues and the blues page on facebook and insta youd think alex pietrangelo was a bottom pairing dman.

after that it’ll be edmundson, schwartz and steen

 

[Lays]

Big year for Skjei. Could either remain the whipping boy or could elevate his game to a #2/3 dman. I think we rushed him into the 1D role though and that took its toll on his reputation. He was in his sophomore season when we traded McDonagh and made him the 1D. We should’ve sheltered him a bit more so he could develop his offense. Hopefully getting his buddy Trouba will help as Skjei doesn’t have to carry every pairing anymore

 

[McGarnagle]

Clearly David Backes

 

[DaveG]

Faulk. It's always Faulk.

 

[Machinehead]

I'll say Kreider, Buchnevich, or Trouba are the leading candidates depending on how the year goes.

To me, a whipping boy implies a guy who gets more than he deserves. For example, Marc Staal could join an S&M club and still not get whipped enough.

 

[Iapyi]

Not unless he sits out the year, he could get paid too much and underperform his contract and he'll still be too much of a good Canadian boy to get much heat. On the other hand, Nylander could get 70 points and half the fanbase will still hate him for not being Wendel Clarke.

I keep hearing reference to this and no one has ever answered this question ; please explain exactly what this is and what you mean with the terms usage.

 

[HFBS]

Marc Staal, primarily

Marc Staal

I pine for the days when we could boo a guy off the team. We evidently need a fission nuclear reaction for him.

 

[sharks9]

Drouin for sure, Danault for getting more minutes than Kotkaniemi, probably Chiarot too