Aho's future relationship with teammates, management and fans

[Svechhammer]

Don't look now, but Willie is likely part of the Borg...

Jerkutus of Borg

 

[Unsustainable]

The Charlotte Checkers just can't quit Jeff Daniels.

I want Scotty Walker to take the Checkers over

 

[garnetpalmetto]

I want Scotty Walker to take the Checkers over

Only if he names Ryan Bayda and Dreamy Keith Aucoin as his assistant coaches #ScottyandtheRiverRatsRideAgain

 

[My Special Purpose]

I get what Williams brings to the team in leadership, which is always hard to translate to on-ice benefit. But he's no spring chicken, will be another year older, and quite possibly could be a net negative on the ice compared to this past year. If we think the team was going to pay him $3mil for another year, why not pay that to a younger guy like a Boyle, Brassard or Maroon?

I get everyone's concern with JW. But allow me to point out a few things about our soon-to-be 38-year-old friend.

• JW finished T94th in the NHL in scoring in 2018-29, playing all 82 games; among forwards, he was T83rd in in scoring, which, using points as a determining factor, made him a first-line forward
• Williams had the exact same season stats as Nino Niederreiter (23g, 30a, 53 points, minus-4)
• Other NHL players with 53 points last season include: Brock Nelson, Jamie Benn, Reilly Smith and Jonathan Drouin
• He also played all 15 playoff games, scoring four goals (fourth on the team)

Through the game of Dec. 5, Williams had 4g, 10a, 14 points in 27 games, and was minus-8. He looked like he ws skating in jello, and even he admitted he was worried he had "lost it." He finished with 19g, 20a in the final 55 games, an almost 60-point pace.

I, too, worry that the end is near for Williams, and I get the apprehension counting on a guy who's clearly got one year left at the most. But I think we also have to give credit where credit is due. Williams is a lot more than a leadership-only guy still. He's a very useful, talented, skill forward, and I hope he's back.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Yeah, I agree. I don't want him back on a long term deal, but I'd like him back. Hopefully he'll want to do a series of 1 year deals like Wesley did.

 

[A Star is Burns]

I very much want Williams back on a one year deal. I think we're close to not needing to lean on him as much as we did down the stretch last year, but I think he still has some of that left to provide too. I think one more year of his leadership would be critical to continuing what we started last year as well.

 

[My Special Purpose]

If we think the team was going to pay him $3mil for another year, why not pay that to a younger guy like a Boyle, Brassard or Maroon?

Oh, and I forgot to address this. Younger doesn't necessarily equal better, especially in the above examples. Brassard will be 32, yeah, but when he signs this summer -- if he signs -- it will be with his *sixth* team since the end of the 2016 season. In 70 games with three teams last season, he managed 23 points. Boyle is 34, and is looking for his *sixth* team since the end of the 2014 season. His single-season high in points the past six seasons is 25. And Maroon just flat-out can't skate. Nicolas Roy would dust him in a race. I'm not sure he'd have made our AHL team any better this past season.

These guys are the definition of journeymen. I wouldn't give any of them anything more that the veteran minimum on a one-year term. They are replacement-level.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

I mean, even if Williams drops off at some point, he's still a great fourth liner for the remainder of the season. It's not like he's going to be doing anything but signing one-year deals for as long as he's willing and able.

 

[GoCanes2015]

If his production drops, is he really a typical fourth liner though? He's not fast enough IMO. If he's not on 2nd/3rd line I don't think he has a place.

I mean, even if Williams drops off at some point, he's still a great fourth liner for the remainder of the season. It's not like he's going to be doing anything but signing one-year deals for as long as he's willing and able.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

If his production drops, is he really a typical fourth liner though? He's not fast enough IMO. If he's not on 2nd/3rd line I don't think he has a place.

He'll be a capable forechecker until he's 50 if he so chooses. It's not all about speed.

 

[My Special Purpose]

If his production drops, is he really a typical fourth liner though? He's not fast enough IMO. If he's not on 2nd/3rd line I don't think he has a place.

You just really don't understand how good Justin Williams is, do you. The fact that you would rather spend $3 million on Patrick Maroon than Justin Williams really says about all you need to say. You've got to do you, but this is a really weird path to take. Justin Williams is really good at hockey. I'm not sure what else to say.

 

[AD Skinner]

Obviously time comes for us all (resistance is futile) but Williams stats over the past few years are pretty much the model of consistency:

2013–14	Los Angeles Kings	NHL	82	19	24	43	48	26	9	16	25	35
2014–15	Los Angeles Kings	NHL	81	18	23	41	29	—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Washington Capitals	NHL	82	22	30	52	36	12	3	4	7	14
2016–17	Washington Capitals	NHL	80	24	24	48	50	13	3	6	9	6
2017–18	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL	82	16	35	51	56	—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL	82	23	30	53	44	15	4	3	7	18

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Obviously time comes for us all (resistance is futile) but Williams stats over the past few years are pretty much the model of consistency:

2013–14	Los Angeles Kings	NHL	82	19	24	43	48	26	9	16	25	35
2014–15	Los Angeles Kings	NHL	81	18	23	41	29	—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Washington Capitals	NHL	82	22	30	52	36	12	3	4	7	14
2016–17	Washington Capitals	NHL	80	24	24	48	50	13	3	6	9	6
2017–18	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL	82	16	35	51	56	—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL	82	23	30	53	44	15	4	3	7	18

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

This year was the 2nd most goals he's scored since he scored 33 with Carolina back in 06/07. It was also the most points since 11/12 with the Kings.

 

[Canes]

Williams has shown he has more than enough left in the tank to play in the NHL. He takes very good care of his body and could easily play a bottom 6 (if not top 6) role with PP time for another 3-4 years if he really wanted to. It's just a question of how much does he really want to when he has done almost everything there is to do in the NHL. I hope he comes back for at least another year or two but I would understand if he wanted to walk away now.

 

[Discipline Daddy]

One small thing is that Shea Weber got his offer sheet on July 19th. We got the l'offre hostile d'Aho (am I doing it right, Lempo?) on July 1st. Very little time to negotiate. I would have done the exact same thing as the Canes, and I don't really blame anyone. Thank God they didn't go 5 years, $10M or $11M like they could have.

 

[cptjeff]

Justin Williams has plenty left in the tank as an effective hockey player if he chooses to be. But he's a guy with a family and kids who has made plenty of money in his career and already reached the pinnacle of his profession three times considering whether he really wants to dedicate another year of his life to one of the more grueling lifestyles you can find and one that only gets more grueling as you get older.

Sometimes there's no conspiracy. Sometimes you just want to get out of the heat of things, come down off the adrenaline, sleep deprivation and caffeine and hit the beach for a couple weeks before you make a big decision.

 

[Primetime8]

Justin Williams has plenty left in the tank as an effective hockey player if he chooses to be. But he's a guy with a family and kids who has made plenty of money in his career and already reached the pinnacle of his profession three times considering whether he really wants to dedicate another year of his life to one of the more grueling lifestyles you can find and one that only gets more grueling as you get older.

Sometimes there's no conspiracy. Sometimes you just want to get out of the heat of things, come down off the adrenaline, sleep deprivation and caffeine and hit the beach for a couple weeks before you make a big decision.

I have trouble seeing him being done for good. I know he has won multiple cups, but the prestige and excitement that comes from raising the cup as a captain must be second to none. He may not sign before the season but I definitely see him coming back mid-season at the latest - like Mike Fisher.

If this happened, I feel like the current captain at the time (Slavin?) would happily step down to A and the other 2 A's would alternate home and away the rest of the season.

 

[Jaska]

 

[Jaska]

Sebastian Aho (@SebastianAho) | Twitter

 

[GoCanes2015]

You just really don't understand how good Justin Williams is, do you. The fact that you would rather spend $3 million on Patrick Maroon than Justin Williams really says about all you need to say. You've got to do you, but this is a really weird path to take. Justin Williams is really good at hockey. I'm not sure what else to say.

I didn't suggest a $$$ amount for Maroon. If he's going to get $3mil then maybe not. But he doesn't look all that bad, is 6 years younger than Williams, and is about a 40-point player with a decent shooting %age. I don't know about his defensive capabilities, maybe that's where his speed is a liability? But he seems like a decent guy, plays a strong game, and wouldn't be the worst guy to bring on? I agree Williams has been good, I just don't know about paying him $3-$4mil at his age, and watching him make some fairly questionable plays with the puck all year.

 

[Sens1Canes2]

Williams has shown he has more than enough left in the tank to play in the NHL. He takes very good care of his body and could easily play a bottom 6 (if not top 6) role with PP time for another 3-4 years if he really wanted to. It's just a question of how much does he really want to when he has done almost everything there is to do in the NHL. I hope he comes back for at least another year or two but I would understand if he wanted to walk away now.

Off the ice - he just built a massive house in McGregor. I would think the thought of “hey, I could play this year and nearly pay for the whole damn thing” has to be a little enticing.

 

[Joe McGrath]

I didn't suggest a $$$ amount for Maroon. If he's going to get $3mil then maybe not. But he doesn't look all that bad, is 6 years younger than Williams, and is about a 40-point player with a decent shooting %age. I don't know about his defensive capabilities, maybe that's where his speed is a liability? But he seems like a decent guy, plays a strong game, and wouldn't be the worst guy to bring on? I agree Williams has been good, I just don't know about paying him $3-$4mil at his age, and watching him make some fairly questionable plays with the puck all year.

Maroon as a 31 year old power forward was 28 point player last year. He had one big year with McDavid as his center, otherwise he’s been a large Brock McGinn.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Off the ice - he just built a massive house in McGregor. I would think the thought of “hey, I could play this year and nearly pay for the whole damn thing” has to be a little enticing.

Quick search on wake.gov. Total assessed value = $2.24M

Future News Release: Justin Williams re-signs with Carolina to a $2.25M 1 year contract.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Maroon as a 31 year old power forward was 28 point player last year. He had one big year with McDavid as his center, otherwise he’s been a large Brock McGinn.

A larger, older and much SLOWER McGinn

 

[A Star is Burns]

On the other hand, Maroon brings the ability for me to post Bugs Bunny gifs. Talk about advanced stats.