Speculation: Canes needs to contend

[Porter Stoutheart]

I wish we could send O'Reilly and Saros from Nashville. They might be just what Carolina needs? We're not going anywhere with or without them in Nashville, unfortunately.

They aren't even really expensive for what they could bring? Give us Kochetkov and a prospect/pick? I don't know, any minor tweaks around the edges are fine too. Of course there is no way the "real Preds" do this, because Barry Trotz thinks for some reason he already has a playoff team here. So he's not on board. But in HFBoards land, let's make the trade?

 

[Fatass]

All successful playoff teams have a couple elite forwards who have the toughness (right dna) to carry the puck east/west in high collision areas. Was Nescas the one that got away?

 

[Savant]

I’ll listen later. Does he reference who? Or just sort of glazes over it?

Hes talking about Guentzel

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

All successful playoff teams have a couple elite forwards who have the toughness (right dna) to carry the puck east/west in high collision areas. Was Nescas the one that got away?

30 points in 59 playoff games.

 

[Nikishin al Gaib]

The problem is their 2nd line center is roslovic or kotkienemi

That is definitely a big one. Allows defenses to load up to stop the Aho line because they know that 2nd line just isn't playoff ready.

Another one is that we're just a little too easy to knock off the puck up and down the roster. Having Nikishin in next year is going to help a lot with that, but we need another big body. Someone in the Marchmant vein. Plays good hockey and isn't afraid to throw his weight around, the kind of player that makes everyone on the ice play a couple inches taller and 20 lbs heavier than they actually are.

Lastly, we need someone to run the PP who isn't a complete and utter trainwreck 5v5. Ghost and Burns running point on the PP for us put us in such a 5v5 hole that it really did help crater our season. It caused us to have to align lines to shield Ghost so much that it caused Orlov to play his offhand with a rookie, because it was the least bad play we had, and it went as predictably terrible as you would think.

 

[Nikishin al Gaib]

have the toughness (right dna) to carry the puck east/west in high collision areas.

What you describe is the one thing that Necas cannot do despite trying every time he has the puck. When defenses tighten up, he willingly skates right into the teeth of it, thinking his puckhandling is a lot better than it actually is, resulting in turnover after turnover after turnover, most of the time going the other way on some sort of break because your team is caught in a line change.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

Horvat or Barzal for futures. The only other team looking to trade away centers and go into a lengthy rebuild is Pittsburgh and Crosby isn't going anywhere.

 

[Rebels57]

They should sign Marner and trade for Saros.

 

[qcal1427]

You're moving the goalposts now rather than just admitting your comment was off base. What you said was:

Surely this is the offseason where they finally weaponize all that cap space and future assets to make a big move!

There's no way they'll just stay the course in the name of 'future flexibility' again

1. Have they utilized their cap space in recent years? Yes

They have used all their cap space, but it has always been on short-term, "flexible" bets. Outside of a few homegrown core pieces, they have been completely unwilling to make the kinds of larger commitments that it takes in the NHL to lure premium pieces. It's very smart at the bottom and middle of the roster, but at some point you need to accept that year 7 or 8 of a deal might look bad in order to lure a top of the lineup player that will help maximize your roster now

2. Have they made a big move in past years? Yes, Guentzel and Rantanen were big moves that involved utilizing cap space and parting with future assets.

Not all moves are going to work out long term, but it's incorrect to say they haven't made big moves.

I'm sorry but when it happens once or twice then yes the intent matters but it's now been multiple years with multiple big name players that they've been either unable or unwilling to keep long-term and at some point you have to look at the results. Even when they finally bucked the trend with Guentzel and Rantanen they pretty immediately either f***ed up negotiations or got cold feet and went back to the way they've always operated. I'll believe that they'll do something significantly different when I see it.

 

[qcal1427]

There's also a preconception of how the team operates that mostly dates back to how they did things under Karmanos - cheap out on as much as possible and spend as little as you can get away with while occasionally throwing a contract at damaged goods like Semin or Kaberle. ESPN and TSN/Sportsnet still actively hold onto that as well for a variety of reasons which makes it even more difficult to change lazy takes.

It's not just spending on players. The front office is one of the smallest in the league and Dundon basically did all he possibly could to get Rod to leave over a couple million dollars in salary for the coaching staff.

As with how they've managed their roster, for the most part they deserve a lot of credit for their smarts and being able to exploit inefficiencies. You have to take the bad with the good though, and there are real drawbacks of running your organization that way and should be criticized as well.

 

[Nikishin al Gaib]

Dundon basically did all he possibly could to get Rod to leave over a couple million dollars in salary for the coaching staff.

Well that's just not true

 

[TageGod]

With close to 30 million in cap space this offseason and only needing to fill 2-3 spots what needs push the Canes to the next level?

I personally think we need a Bennett and Ekblad to fill out our roster. Marner doesn’t move the needle {in the playoffs IMO}. It became obvious after the Florida series that we need skilled physicality to compete in the last couple rounds.

Will this also finally be the year the Canes bring in a goaltender via trade or free agency? Free agency is slim pickings so a package deal may be needed to get a franchise goalie finally.

This is a quick off season roster I made. Bought out KK, traded Morrow and Pyotr for Demko. Maybe a 2nd round pick is also needed. What other goalies would be available with a package deal and what would it take?

I’m no GM just a fan since 96 that believes this is what is required to win the cup and get over the hump.

Discuss

When you made this, did you actually think you would sign Ehlers, Bennet, AND Ekblad? Pick one, and chances are it won't be the Florida guys since they know how much you suck in the conference finals lol.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I'm sorry but when it happens once or twice then yes the intent matters but it's now been multiple years with multiple big name players that they've been either unable or unwilling to keep long-term and at some point you have to look at the results. Even when they finally bucked the trend with Guentzel and Rantanen they pretty immediately either f***ed up negotiations or got cold feet and went back to the way they've always operated. I'll believe that they'll do something significantly different when I see it.

The problem I have with your initial post was that you said "surely this is the year they'll make a big move". They HAVE made big moves in the last 2 years even if they didn't work out or they f***ed them up. That's the part I'm saying you are off base.

If you would have said:"they made a few big moves in the past and were unable to hold onto the players so I'll believe it when I see it." I wouldn't have taken exception to your post.

 

[samsagat]

Canes have a great organization overall.

They draft good, they have great coaching and player development... but their owner

Their problem is their owner wants a champagne team on a beer budget...

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

Canes have a great organization overall.

They draft good, they have great coaching and player development... but their owner

Their problem is their owner wants a champagne team on a beer budget...

Do you have any evidence to support your narrative?

 

[Nikishin al Gaib]

Do you have any evidence to support your narrative?

Dundon gets shit for being "cheap" because he got rid of the radio broadcast and told Forslund to pound sand when he demanded a pay raise during COVID while also getting assurances from the Canes he could freely do any NBC games he wanted, even when they conflicted with the Canes. Like, that's what it all really comes down to.

At the end of the day, this is an owner who spends to the cap every year, pays his head coach whatever salary Rod wants, agreed to a $1 billion expansion and renovation of the arena, and has routinely bought players and picks from markets in Canada. He's not cheap

 

[bossram]

All successful playoff teams have a couple elite forwards who have the toughness (right dna) to carry the puck east/west in high collision areas. Was Nescas the one that got away?

No.

 

[MinJaBen]

Horvat or Barzal for futures. The only other team looking to trade away centers and go into a lengthy rebuild is Pittsburgh and Crosby isn't going anywhere.

Both would be great, with Horvat the better fit I think, but what makes you think they are available?

 

[bossram]

Canes have a great organization overall.

They draft good, they have great coaching and player development... but their owner

Their problem is their owner wants a champagne team on a beer budget...

Is it? Dundon is one of the more involved owners in the league, but he doesn't seem cheap with regard to the on-ice product.

He spends to the cap. He renovated their arena and built a practice facility. Gave RBA's assistants the raises RBA wanted for them.

He wants a lean, efficient front office staff. I mean, fair enough!

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

Both would be great, with Horvat the better fit I think, but what makes you think they are available?

It's unclear, just guessing cause there's a new FO, ownership seems to want a reset/rebuild, and Horvat in particular doesn't fit their timeline. Most of the other teams that are not currently contenders are trying to become contenders so they wouldn't be interested in futures.

 

[My3Sons]

Dundon gets shit for being "cheap" because he got rid of the radio broadcast and told Forslund to pound sand when he demanded a pay raise during COVID while also getting assurances from the Canes he could freely do any NBC games he wanted, even when they conflicted with the Canes. Like, that's what it all really comes down to.

At the end of the day, this is an owner who spends to the cap every year, pays his head coach whatever salary Rod wants, agreed to a $1 billion expansion and renovation of the arena, and has routinely bought players and picks from markets in Canada. He's not cheap

I don’t think he’s cheap but some of the reporting makes him seem focused on relative inexpensive things. The no real GM title thing and getting rid of the broadcast guy and last season the assistant coach thing. Maybe they are blown out of proportion? In terms of on ice talent trying to stick to a budget in a cap league makes sense. Paying guys reasonably is not a bad strategy. Do you lose some guys when they get to that 28-29 year old contract? Yes. NJ signed Hamilton and Pesce in part because Carolina drew a line on what they’d pay them for how long. They’ve been excellent team overall and the lack of game breaking talent is more the luck of the draw than anything they have or haven’t done

 

[Gregor Samsa]

It feels like most of the Canes players are similar so I think a couple top 9 guys who have a different type of game could benefit the club