Annual "Where will the Canes finish the season" poll

[Big Daddy Cane]

Key questions:

If he plays away from Aho, as he did down the stretch full-time and in the playoffs part-time, does Teravainen maintain his production?
How large of a step does Svechnikov take in year 2?
Foegele was feast (October, April-May) or famine (November-March) last year; will he find consistency as a sophomore?
Will Necas be able to score from distance on the PP at the NHL level?
Most importantly, will the goaltending be there again this year?

As currently constructed, I see an above-average (11-15) team offense and a good (6-10) team defense. That should be good enough for a 1-3 Metro finish. I have a higher opinion of Faulk than most; trading him without getting back something good and immediate will hurt the team on both sides of the puck.

 

[Justshootmore]

Carolina had 99 points last year and was a "bubble team". Toronto was comfortably in the playoffs with 100.

To be fair it just feels like that because Toronto sucked in March. When looking at the points, they weren't that far away from missing (5points, while for the Canes it was four points).

 

[Roboturner913]

'bout tree fiddy

 

[Roboturner913]

Carolina had 99 points last year and was a "bubble team". Toronto was comfortably in the playoffs with 100.

Surely you know by now, the tier system applies to teams in the standings as well as players' point totals.

Carolina's 99 points = Underdog with a garbage roster that barely squeaked in because weak division or somesuch

Toronto's 100 points = The elite of the elite, a true contender for the next 10 Stanley Cups

 

[SvechneJerk]

1st in the Metro.

 

[NotOpie]

1st in the Metro.

Not enough skinny jeans in Carolina to be 1st in Metro

 

[A Star is Burns]

At least a top 3 position in the Metro. It may still be close enough to be bubblish, but given that finish, I'll say comfortably in. I think we yet again have our 2nd best season in franchise history in the regular season and crack 100 points, though just barely.

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

That time of year again. Other than a Faulk trade, the roster is pretty much set for the most part. I suspect this poll will be decidedly more optimistic than prior years. This is a regular season poll.

Where will they finish?

1) Top 3 team in the east
2) Comfortably in the playoffs
3) Bubble team - but will make the playoffs
4) Bubble team - but will miss the playoffs
5) Not really in the playoff hunt, but not bottom 5 in NHL
6) Bottom 5 team in the NHL

For reference, here is last year's poll.

Annual "Where will the Canes finish?" Poll

What about option oF TAKING VENGEANCE!?!

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

What about option oF TAKING VENGEANCE!?!

It's implied.

 

[TheBigKahuna]

Its a good thing we spent the last 10 years building up our tolerance to that high quality NC meth, amirite?

It's all the Bojangles fry seasoning I huff.

 

[Svechhammer]

What about option oF TAKING VENGEANCE!?!

Stop this. I can't handle this.

the lack of all caps in these messages has me worried about the actual Vengeance being taken this season. Like, are we even serious about this vengeance anymore?

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

Stop this. I can't handle this.

the lack of all caps in these messages has me worried about the actual Vengeance being taken this season. Like, are we even serious about this vengeance anymore?

DO NOT WORRY AND WALK THE PATH OF VENGEANCE.

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE WAY THE COMMENT IS BUILT, THE VENGEANCE VERY MUCH LIKE THE NEW SEASON IS ON ITS WAY.

EVENTUALLY IT’S COMING. IT’S f***ING COMING WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT.

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

It's implied.

*HAPPY BERSERKING NOISES*

 

[Tryamw]

I guess I'm still up on the 6 points in five thread.. so glad we made the playoffs but that part well...

 

[Joe McGrath]

f*** me that’s a lot of optimism.

 

[vorbis]

I don't think Columbus' name should be written at the bottom of the Metro standings in ink just yet. sure they lost several big names but it's not like they lack for talent otherwise. and if Torts manages to rally the troops under some kind of "nobody believes in us" banner, then I mean...crazier things have happened. I feel like the Rangers are a safer bet for #8 Metro, in the end.

 

[Roboturner913]

What about option oF TAKING VENGEANCE!?!

This is not an option, it is modus operandi

 

[Bunch of Jurcos]

Because the preseason is the time for optimism, I have the Canes as a top 3 team in the East. Now that is a caveat of having a team that plays like the last half of the season last year. Luckily if we can get to November with even a .500 record, it's going to be a great month to feast. November could legit be like last years February and we should be near the top from then on.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I don't think Columbus' name should be written at the bottom of the Metro standings in ink just yet. sure they lost several big names but it's not like they lack for talent otherwise. and if Torts manages to rally the troops under some kind of "nobody believes in us" banner, then I mean...crazier things have happened. I feel like the Rangers are a safer bet for #8 Metro, in the end.

It's hard to predict. Rangers played hard last year and added Panarin, Kakko, Trouba, Fox and McKegg

If some of their young guys, like Buchnevich, Kravtsov, Fox, Chytil, etc.. can put it together, they can turn it around in a hurry. I still think they are a year away, but the Rangers are not going to be bad for long.

That said, I agree with you on CLB. Going to be a bit wide open in the Metro and probably only 3 teams make it.

 

[Lempo]

I don't think Columbus' name should be written at the bottom of the Metro standings in ink just yet. sure they lost several big names but it's not like they lack for talent otherwise. and if Torts manages to rally the troops under some kind of "nobody believes in us" banner, then I mean...crazier things have happened. I feel like the Rangers are a safer bet for #8 Metro, in the end.

Yeah, and an expansion team has a chance for the SC final in year one. Stop your silly fantasizings.

 

[A Star is Burns]

I don't think Columbus' name should be written at the bottom of the Metro standings in ink just yet. sure they lost several big names but it's not like they lack for talent otherwise. and if Torts manages to rally the troops under some kind of "nobody believes in us" banner, then I mean...crazier things have happened. I feel like the Rangers are a safer bet for #8 Metro, in the end.

They just remind me of many of our teams from the past. Not good enough to get a top pick, not good enough to make it. Fairly mediocre forward group outside of a few talents, massive question marks in goal, really talented defense.

 

[Dishface]

47 votes and no one picked us to miss the playoffs. Oh no....

 

[Roboturner913]

47 votes and no one picked us to miss the playoffs. Oh no....

FWIW, I abstained

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I'll close this poll in a few days, and then I'll put the exact poll on the main boards for NON-Canes fans only to see how the rest of HF views the Canes vs. how we view them. Might be interesting to see if it mimics what Kev said in terms of the media.

 

[cptjeff]

They just remind me of many of our teams from the past. Not good enough to get a top pick, not good enough to make it. Fairly mediocre forward group outside of a few talents, massive question marks in goal, really talented defense.

They might have an us against the world thing, but they barely scraped into the playoffs last year, and lost a star goalie and three major forwards in one offseason. You don't lose an NHL first line without replacing it and maintain scoring. As tight as this league is, you just can't. You can't lose a two time Vezina winner and expect goaltending to be at the same level.

They and the Sens are going to be battling for the #1 overall pick.

The Islanders took a big blow too. I don't see them being in the playoffs. Last year was special, but it took special goaltending. Greiss always stones us, but can he carry a starter's load? Can the guy behind him be the kind of backup Greiss was?

New Jersey and the Rangers are going to be threats. Washington is still good, but like the Pens, keep getting older. We're young, added some serious talent, and got faster, and we have young players ready to take the next step. We have guys we would have put on the 2nd line just two years ago who will be fighting to stay on the 4th line. Our defense is wonderful.

We can win the Metro, and the only reason I don't think we can win the East is because Tampa exists. This is a better team than last year, and last year's team was pretty good.