Pre-Game Talk: CLINCHED: 2025 Playoffs --Seventh Straight Year!

[Big Daddy Cane]

100 points seasons in the Rod-era: 3, soon to be 4
100 point seasons pre-Rod: 1

"But shootouts", you might say.

40 RW seasons in the Rod-era: 3
40 RW seasons pre-Rod: 2

They've shrugged off veteran talent loss again and again. Really impressive.

 

[Buenos Necas]

Everyone should use a nice action shot of current Carolina Hurricane leader Mikko Rantanen and emphasize which of his many great qualities you admire most...just to get the ball rolling with a few that come to mind: Commitment, Loyalty, Grit, Passion, Heart, Devotion, Dependability, Honesty, Trustworthiness. Many great ones to choose from!

 

[geehaad]

The Hurricanes have made us feel pretty damn good for 8 months of the year during the past 7 seasons, and that's a pretty remarkable thing to have in your life. Sure, there have been stretches where we're wondering WTF, but all told, the Canes made us suffer through very few 3-game (or more) loss streaks...usually it's just a game here and there. That's 7 years of watching 82+ games and feeling pretty damn good most of the time...it's good to step back and appreciate that fact.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

That is incredible, lol

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

I was looking for an excuse to share this. Never made it to air.

View attachment 1005432

That is incredible, lol

 

[Discipline Daddy]

To further the Rantanen idea, I say 80% of us roll up one day with Rantanen in a Canes jersey in our avatars. 10% of us do something like Rantanen in a Stars jersey. 10% of us have an Antti Raanta picture but it's captioned Rantanen on the picture.

The entire appeal for me are the main board posters who will not understand the sarcasm. I guarantee you if we do this, a bunch of posters will reply to nearly every post we make and tell us that Rantanen no longer plays for the Hurricanes. This will especially be so if we make playoff-themed avatars like "the missing piece" with him featured.

Should we commit to the bit, it is paramount that we double down and remain firm in our (mis)belief that Rantanen still plays for the Hurricanes. "Obviously he does - dude signed an 8 year extension with us on the trade deadline!" "Dallas jersey? Dude played for Dallas before we got him in trade. C'mon now."

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

To further the Rantanen idea, I say 80% of us roll up one day with Rantanen in a Canes jersey in our avatars. 10% of us do something like Rantanen in a Stars jersey. 10% of us have an Antti Raanta picture but it's captioned Rantanen on the picture.

The entire appeal for me are the main board posters who will not understand the sarcasm. I guarantee you if we do this, a bunch of posters will reply to nearly every post we make and tell us that Rantanen no longer plays for the Hurricanes. This will especially be so if we make playoff-themed avatars like "the missing piece" with him featured.

Should we commit to the bit, it is paramount that we double down and remain firm in our (mis)belief that Rantanen still plays for the Hurricanes. "Obviously he does - dude signed an 8 year extension with us on the trade deadline!" "Dallas jersey? Dude played for Dallas before we got him in trade. C'mon now."

Every time #96 Roslovic scores… there’s a bit there.

 

[robbieberns]

Rantanen avatars just feel like we’re asking for a loss to Dallas in the finals

 

[chaz4hockey]

Which Pyotr do we get balance of season and playoffs?

 

[AD Skinner]

Every time #96 Roslovic scores… there’s a bit there.

Maybe something around Rolexes

 

[MinJaBen]

Every time #96 Roslovic scores… there’s a bit there.

I’ll tune in to watch that bit.

 

[Discipline Daddy]

Rantanen avatars just feel like we’re asking for a loss to Dallas in the finals

Absolutely. Conversely, maybe it's the mojo we need to beat Dallas in the finals.

I just like owning the joke by embracing it.

 

[To Be Determined]

F rantanen. He gone and isn't missed.

I don't avatar, but if i did i'd have ai make me a pic of jiri tlusty as a mad scientist frankenstein type with the caption "bestest gm evar."

If i were going to theme avatars, i'd have a "best but worst ai generated canes image" contest. 'Alex semin hart presentation' and such.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

please no AI images they are stupid and terrible

 

[Jerkob Rantanen]

Rantanen avatars just feel like we’re asking for a loss to Dallas in the finals

It's a risk I'm willing to take.

 

[Tryamw]

Rantanen avatars just feel like we’re asking for a loss to Dallas in the finals

It means we made the final

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Meh, I'd rather move on from the Rantanen saga all together. It seems like it's a weird situation that worked out well for all teams involved. Continuing to bring it up could easily be misinterpreted as being salty about his departure.

 

[To Be Determined]

please no AI images they are stupid and terrible

I agree 200% they are stupid and terrible. So, perfect for hfboards.

 

[Bub]

Every time #96 Roslovic scores… there’s a bit there.

If the NHL ever allows nicknames on the unis, even if just for one game, he's gotta go with "Anti-Rantanen."

 

[Jerkob Rantanen]

Meh, I'd rather move on from the Rantanen saga all together. It seems like it's a weird situation that worked out well for all teams involved. Continuing to bring it up could easily be misinterpreted as being salty about his departure.

Not salty at all. We've proved beyond any reasonable doubt that moving Rantanen was "addition by subtraction."

We're a much better team without that emo muppet.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Not salty at all. We've proved beyond any reasonable doubt that moving Rantanen was "addition by subtraction."

We're a much better team without that emo muppet.

I'm aware. But you can also see how continuing to bring him up, to the point of making him the focus of our playoff avatars, gives off the vibe of a scorned ex?

"Oh, look how much happier we are without you. Why aren't you paying attention to how much happier I am?! Notice me!"

 

[robbieberns]

I like and appreciate the “let’s pretend he’s still an active and current player for us” sentiment and respect the comedic absurdity of it, but i’m staunchly with BB on moving on from that man in all regards and or aspects.

 

[Stanky and Janky]

If some want to incorporate the Rantanen aspect, maybe we could do something like trade deadline winners and trade deadline losers.

Trade deadline winner: Logan Stankoven -> from Texas BBQ to NC BBQ (some don't agree, but whatevs)
Trade deadline winner: Mark Jankowski -> BBQ angle or just something about rediscovering being the best player in the draft
Trade deadline winner: Jack Roslovic -> trade number for a few weeks, get a fancy watch
Trade deadline loser/winner: Plenty for Rantanen along the lines of what have been said
Trade deadline winner: Dallas first round picks in 26 and 28 -> get to be Carolina Hurricanes or traded for two seconds
Trade deadline winner: Carolina Hurricanes -> Addition by subtraction -> Rantanen falling
Trade deadline winners: Jankowski and Stankoven -> United as Stanky and Janky
Trade deadline winners: Carolina Hurricanes -> Added more smurfs to roster

I think there'd be scenarios we could pull out for players that have been here the whole time and have had their lot improved by guys being traded or brought in, Brindy, Tulsky, etc. Let's people get some of the Rantanen stuff out but also defend Tulsky and the org some since we've been better than the experts expected after a tumultuous deadline.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

I like and appreciate the “let’s pretend he’s still an active and current player for us” sentiment and respect the comedic absurdity of it, but i’m staunchly with BB on moving on from that man in all regards and or aspects.

Fine, I get it.

One of the last years the Panthers were good (Newton MVP year maybe?) and me one of my buddies just pretended that they were undefeated all year and any Panthers-related conversation involved how incredible a year they were having and how they could become the first undefeated team in history, well after they lost their first game. The Rantanen idea is more in that vein, as opposed to a jilted lover situation (I honestly don’t care now that he’s back out West and I like our team). Just something dumb that makes F26, F26.

Could we do the same but with Jack Drury? Just act like he’s single-handedly leading us to and through the playoffs? Same vibe but no jilted lover confusion?

 

[Navin R Slavin]

I like the kooky idea of celebrating the players that are, y'know, here.