GDT: chicar

[Boom Boom Apathy]

No I don't think Eric is the only straw to stir the drink, but I think the team's chances this year with Eric is better than it is without him. As we've seen, lose 1 or 2 guys (like PDG and Pesce) and the team struggles because they don't have depth. Additionally, if you are selling E. Staal at the deadline, then it probably make sense to sell Liles, and maybe even Versteeg as well.

As I said, I'm fine with trading Staal and would prefer they get a return than lose him for nothing or, God forbid, overpay him to come back. I'm also of the position that it's time for the team to move on from the Staal/Ward era. I'm just not convinced that RF will pull that trigger IF they are in a playoff spot come time to do it. If they aren't (even if they are only a few points out), I expect he will pull the trigger.

Anyhow, it's a theoretical discussion since I still don't think they'll be in that position come the deadline, but that's just my view.

 

[Ole Gil]

No I don't think Eric is the only straw to stir the drink, but I think the team's chances this year with Eric is better than it is without him. As we've seen, lose 1 or 2 guys (like PDG and Pesce) and the team struggles because they don't have depth. Additionally, if you are selling E. Staal at the deadline, then it probably make sense to sell Liles, and maybe even Versteeg as well.

As I said, I'm fine with trading Staal and would prefer they get a return than lose him for nothing or, God forbid, overpay him to come back. I'm also of the position that it's time for the team to move on from the Staal/Ward era. I'm just not convinced that RF will pull that trigger IF they are in a playoff spot come time to do it. If they aren't (even if they are only a few points out), I expect he will pull the trigger.

Anyhow, it's a theoretical discussion since I still don't think they'll be in that position come the deadline, but that's just my view.

Eric is playing 2 minutes more a night than the next forward on the team. Bill Peters agreed with your initial assessment on who's stirring the drink.

And advanced stats...good lord the advanced stats. Alas, those can only be used to sing Semin's praises while he's busy playing himself out of the league, which is a bad break for Eric, because his are amazing.

The stat that worries me about Eric's departure:
Victor Rask CF% with Eric: 60.4
Victor Rask CF% w/o Eric: 45.7

 

[NotOpie]

Whether we fans like it or not. If they keep playing the way the way they are and are in playoff contention, I can't see any way they move Staal, which means there's a decent chance he walks for nothing at the end of the season.

I have a somewhat different take on the situation. I do not feel there is any way that the organization let's any of these UFAs walk without getting something in return....unless an NMC is exercised in a fit of anger. But I don't see that happening either. What I do think may happen is that we re-sign a couple of these guys.

I believe that both Eric Staal and GMRF were waiting to see just how close THIS team was to competing now with Ronnie being fully aware of and bought in to adding critical assets for the future. That said, I feel the strategy has been to get that read and then make decisions accordingly. Last night, I believe it was Forslund who said that Peters asked Eric about this young defender and/or that young defender, a clear indication of where the coach holds EStaal's opinion. I think it is also a tangential indicator that he feels the team is better with Eric than without him.

From Eric's side he's looking to see just how close the team is as well. Does it make sense for him to sign one last major multi-year deal with the Canes AND take a discount thinking/hoping that this team is turning the corner or is on the cusp of turning the corner? Based on his most recent comments, his solid play, and his revitalized effort, I'd say he thinks the answer is yes.

So I think we'll either see a contract renewal that will be reasonable in both $$$ and term, perhaps as soon as the end of the All-Star break. Certainly not too long into the month of February. If the parties can't come to a meeting of the minds, no matter where the team is, he'll get moved....period.

Neither does a slow, aging, overpaid, glorified third line center who was last in the playoffs six years ago.

I'm sorry, but if you think that Eric Staal has been the straw to stir this drink, I don't know what to tell you. I will grant you: he's been solid. He's been strong with the puck. He's had more jump than he's had in previous years. He's mostly made good decisions. I could say all the same things about Ron Hainsey.

I don't necessarily agree or disagree with this Hank (except the Hainsey part). I think that depending on what we get back for Eric, it won't ruin what could be a playoff run. I think we'll have to take a salary back even if we do retain to make the best deal for Eric work. To me that means we'll get a portion of Eric's production back. I'm not sure we'll be able to replace his big body and other teams' focus, but that's something we just have to deal with.

I wouldn't, however, be surprised to see Kris Versteeg re-upped if we are in the mix. My guess is, however, is that one of Hainsey or Liles is gone regardless. I also think Murphy gets moved as well (although he may be perceived as the Liles replacement)....of course, any of the 4th line scrubs that can bring a return will be gone as well. As I've said before, that get's us a few more high-middish round picks and/or comparable players/prospects, which would all be fine considering we have 10 picks in the Top 100 of the next two drafts.

 

[caniac247]

I'm with Wysh. It's dumb because the win is exciting for us, because we're a loser franchise that doesn't have much to cheer for. But for the Hawks, they're sitting in the #1 seed in the west and are reigning cup champs. I doubt there were many tears being shed over a regular season game.

I thought it was funny even the Hawks fans that I was sitting around. Every single one of them laughed. It's all in good fun, that's what sports/entertainment is supposed to be about. Wysh got his panties in a wad over something that didn't hurt anybody but made people laugh.

 

[caniac247]

I believe that both Eric Staal and GMRF were waiting to see just how close THIS team was to competing now with Ronnie being fully aware of and bought in to adding critical assets for the future. That said, I feel the strategy has been to get that read and then make decisions accordingly. Last night, I believe it was Forslund who said that Peters asked Eric about this young defender and/or that young defender, a clear indication of where the coach holds EStaal's opinion. I think it is also a tangential indicator that he feels the team is better with Eric than without him.

From Eric's side he's looking to see just how close the team is as well. Does it make sense for him to sign one last major multi-year deal with the Canes AND take a discount thinking/hoping that this team is turning the corner or is on the cusp of turning the corner? Based on his most recent comments, his solid play, and his revitalized effort, I'd say he thinks the answer is yes.

Your assessment seems very plausible, but I wanted to add on to the bolded part. I listened to an interview with Peters, I forget which one, but he was asked about EStaal. He said something along the lines of: he's a big body, strong, every team needs this type of player.....WE need this type of player.

I think Peters believes they are a better team with him than without him. And if Peters/Francis are close as they appear to be, in regards to how they want the team built, I'm leaning more towards EStaal resigning.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

I'm indifferent to it, but Wyshynski was kind of salty over it: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-p...th-crying-jordan-after-blowout-043424057.html

Dat comment section doe.

Funny, Carolina fans can't tell the difference between hockey and basketball. I actually forgot they played hockey in that state. Thought they moved.

Those 3 cups in 5 years have them really sad... Moron Canes fans (I didn't know they even had fans). You're only cup is a total farce. The year you won, it took you 7 games to dispatch a Buffalo Sabres team who had their top 5 defenders not playing because of injuries AND you had the blind luck of the 8th seed Edmonton Oilers making a miracle run to the Western Conference title. Hush.

Classless, From a Classless team. Carolina will suck in the playoffs while the Blackhawks win another Stanley Cup

So how many classless Subbans do the Canes earn for this?

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

they hate us cause they ain't us

 

[HisIceness]

Is Basketball that game where the guys in tank tops and long shorts throw the orange ball in the hoop? Or is that the game where the cars race in a circle for hours?

 

[Finnish Jerk Train]

Dat comment section doe.

My eyes, my eyes.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

It was a dumb, albeit harmless thing for the Canes PR staff to do, but I have to assume the people posting those comments are all 16 and under?

 

[Stormie]

Dat comment section doe.

"Classless, From a Classless team. Carolina will suck in the playoffs while the Blackhawks win another Stanley Cup"

Confirmed. Canes will make the playoffs!

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

i think it was hilarious

ppl need to chillax

 

[VAcaniac]

Good lord, some people need to get a life. This was a meaningless regular season game and people get so fired up over what??

Not like this was game 5 of the SCF...

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I have a somewhat different take on the situation. <snip>

I think what you are saying in that long winded response was that you expect RF will either sign EStaal to an extension or trade him before the deadline, but won't go past the deadline without either one of those things happening. That makes some sense.

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

They were speculating on the hawks broadcast (indirectly) on players that had been traded at the deadline and then resigned by the canes by going over who had done that in hockey history.

Most likely spitballing. But I'd like to see that happen.

Also....think versteeg resigns? Or is he a pure merc?

 

[DaveG]

I don't think we trade Versteeg honestly, I think we keep him on a 2-3 year deal.

Eric I think comes back as a UFA regardless of what we do.

 

[Novacane]

I don't have a problem with it. I just think it was poorly thought out and kinda stupid and deserving of a target of minor backlash

 

[NotOpie]

I think what you are saying in that long winded response was that you expect RF will either sign EStaal to an extension or trade him before the deadline, but won't go past the deadline without either one of those things happening. That makes some sense.

How did you do that?

But my words were so pretty.....

....not to mention the exquisite detail added so much...

 

[A Star is Burns]

I'm not sure I've understood any outrage over the Canes putting something on the jumbotron or on Twitter. Both of those things are supposed to be things that are for Canes fans. It was something that should have been mildly amusing for its target audience and something that Hawks fans I wouldn't have thought would have given a crap about because they have had so much success. I can't imagine caring that much even if my team hadn't had success and was the target of something like that. But to each his own.

 

[Ole Gil]

People keep using the word outrage. Saying it was dumb is not outrage.

 

[RodTheBawd]

Personally, I liked the Bye Felicia gif better as Hawks fans made their way to the exits.

I just find it funny how Hawks fans are talking so much **** that probably didn't even know the Hawks existed prior to 2006. It's like Pens fans post-Crosby. Congrats, you were cellar dwellers for a decade before hitting the jackpot of generational talents.

It was a dumb, albeit harmless thing for the Canes PR staff to do, but I have to assume the people posting those comments are all 16 and under?

Sadly, most are likely "adults".

 

[A Star is Burns]

I personally meant outrage more from Wysh and what seems to be the comments, though I haven't really waded through them. Maybe not the best choice of words, but there do seem to be some ruffled feathers.

 

[HisIceness]

Winnipeg fans were throwing fits when the Dallas Stars scoreboard guy made the top ten things to do in Winnipeg list when it was just funny, which is what this is.

 

[NotOpie]

The death of "sense of humor" has been greatly under-reported.

 

[Penaltykiller17]

Yeah I remember specifically going to the Blackhawks game at the PNC last year. It was a typical game where Carolina outplayed them and lost the game 2-1. The Blackhawks fans were parading around the arena like they had just won the cup. I was going to talk trash back as i left, but decided it wasn't worth it.

So i feel little sympathy for the pic, although i wished the Hurricanes didn't post that up. We're better than that.