Confirmed with Link: D - Alexander Nikishin signs 2 year ELC

[HisIceness]

There was a time I thought this wouldn't be a thing.

Now I just hope he plays.

 

[chaz4hockey]

 

[CanesFanBudMan]

Ghost has 13 ES points tied for 129th among D and last among all of the canes regular blueliners. He is 4th in ES P/G among canes D. He has the 3rd most power play points among D in the league.

Edit: he is not impactful offensively at ES. He is effective on the PP but those numbers are inflated because of how one dimensional the canes PP

 

[Ole Gil]

Blaming the guy at the top of the ice for the powerplay is tough. There's only so much you can do up there. You get the puck on net, you make quick passes to the wings. But in the end, the forwards are the one's who need to make plays.

 

[Derailed75]

I’ve watched him play some and the prospect talking heads a year or two (he was already dominating) in were still saying the offense is no guarantee to translate, that he’ll be a strong two way guy in style.

You’re under rating Ghost as an offensive player. He’s a very strong and athletic skater, who is the right size to be slinky and deceptive with the puck as needed - as well as a good shooter. Nikishin is big and strong, has an offensive mind and is a good skater “for his size” but assuming he’ll be a dancing and dominant pp qb in this playoff and we should be sitting Ghost due to it is hyperbole at this point. He’s got a bomb it seems. He’s more likely to be a Burns style than Ghost style, which may be great for us. In terms of Canes recent past Ghost plays the TDA style a bit and Nikishin seems to be more of the Dougie style, maybe? Hall has been very helpful this way.

When it comes to defensive play I’m far more hopeful that Nikishin can step in and play at least a top four role, presumably for Orlov. I definitely have more hope than I do for Morrow that way.

This board loves its scapegoats, I get it. Ghost was great last time he played in the playoffs for us. Judging someone by pt production playing for this team has always been a little silly. Ghost could be one of our best players. Orlov was awesome last playoffs after being meh all season.

We lost enough forwards for Necas to finally have a spot this year, then we traded Necas for Stank. Yet somehow the pp problem is on Ghost. We have maybe three or four vets who have any business being on a power play unit (either first or second unit) at the NHL level. That’s probably the problem with the power play. Ok Roslovic is probably a fifth for the second unit.

This team is way more all in on Rod’s style, and has sacrificed offense for good fits in that style. We absolutely lack offensive skill. I don’t see how anyone blames the point man for not overcoming that. The best argument for Nikishin over anyone would be the shot as the focal point of the pp and everyone burying rebounds.

You said a lot of words most true. You omitted the fact that while Ghost's career has been good and he has averaged out to a really good player, he has been borderline trash since he came back from his injury.

Sure the PP woes aren't all on him but it was in the top ten in the league pre Ghost injury (maybe even top 5 I don't really remember) and since he has come back it has been historically bad, he's also on a good day been a below average defender and he's been worse since coming back. Maybe he still has a lingering issue, IDK. I do know other top teams have installed a top tier player with little practice with the team are at or just before the playoffs, there no reason we can't

 

[Stanky and Janky]

I don't think it's about anyone being a scapegoat. Early season Ghost was better offensively and seemed to be playing a pretty simple game defensively. Later season Ghost after the injuries does not look as consistenly dangerous in the offense end and looks much more dangerous to our team in the defensive end.

Ghost probably will get first crack to be in the spot he's been all year, especially with Nikishin just arriving and having minimal practice and no playing time. He may stay there no matter what until an injury occurs. But it's not unreasonable for some of us to think that he's been bad enough to be worth sitting. And I'm not one of the folks that thinks Nikishin is guaranteed to be one of the best dmen in the league right away or ever. Just that he could absolutely be better than the version of Ghost we've had recently.

 

[hblueridgegal]

Big boom

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

I’ve watched him play some and the prospect talking heads a year or two (he was already dominating) in were still saying the offense is no guarantee to translate, that he’ll be a strong two way guy in style.

You’re under rating Ghost as an offensive player. He’s a very strong and athletic skater, who is the right size to be slinky and deceptive with the puck as needed - as well as a good shooter. Nikishin is big and strong, has an offensive mind and is a good skater “for his size” but assuming he’ll be a dancing and dominant pp qb in this playoff and we should be sitting Ghost due to it is hyperbole at this point. He’s got a bomb it seems. He’s more likely to be a Burns style than Ghost style, which may be great for us. In terms of Canes recent past Ghost plays the TDA style a bit and Nikishin seems to be more of the Dougie style, maybe? Hall has been very helpful this way.

When it comes to defensive play I’m far more hopeful that Nikishin can step in and play at least a top four role, presumably for Orlov. I definitely have more hope than I do for Morrow that way.

This board loves its scapegoats, I get it. Ghost was great last time he played in the playoffs for us. Judging someone by pt production playing for this team has always been a little silly. Ghost could be one of our best players. Orlov was awesome last playoffs after being meh all season.

We lost enough forwards for Necas to finally have a spot this year, then we traded Necas for Stank. Yet somehow the pp problem is on Ghost. We have maybe three or four vets who have any business being on a power play unit (either first or second unit) at the NHL level. That’s probably the problem with the power play. Ok Roslovic is probably a fifth for the second unit.

This team is way more all in on Rod’s style, and has sacrificed offense for good fits in that style. We absolutely lack offensive skill. I don’t see how anyone blames the point man for not overcoming that. The best argument for Nikishin over anyone would be the shot as the focal point of the pp and everyone burying rebounds.

Fair, we see it differently and only time will tell.

 

[Nikishin al Gaib]

Big boom

Yeah the more I watch.....

I don't think the team goes this much out of its way to bring him over and Brindy agrees to do this in front of a camera if we weren't fully expecting him to play in the playoffs. They're treating him like a major deadline acquisition.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

Yeah the more I watch.....

I don't think the team goes this much out of its way to bring him over and Brindy agrees to do this in front of a camera if we weren't fully expecting him to play in the playoffs. They're treating him like a major deadline acquisition.

As they should IMO. And agree, reading the tea leaves not only do I think he’ll suit up in the playoffs but potentially get a pretty big role too.

I personally would scratch Walker, move Burns to 3rd pair and take a leap of faith with Nikishin on Slavin’s right side. Unlikely of course but I’d do it

 

[chaz4hockey]

Blaming the guy at the top of the ice for the powerplay is tough. There's only so much you can do up there. You get the puck on net, you make quick passes to the wings. But in the end, the forwards are the one's who need to make plays.

His shot (or lack of) matters. PP QB makes things go.

With his defensive deficiencies it’s a no brainer for me to replace if Nikishin is as good as they say.

 

[chaz4hockey]

As they should IMO. And agree, reading the tea leaves not only do I think he’ll suit up in the playoffs but potentially get a pretty big role too.

I personally would scratch Walker, move Burns to 3rd pair and take a leap of faith with Nikishin on Slavin’s right side. Unlikely of course but I’d do it

Play Nikishin his off hand while adopting to Canes defensive setup? Me thinks RBA would never go for it.

 

[Tryamw]

But guys, we can't sit Gost when he contributes so much to our great power play

But what's Cardboard Cutout 's corsi on the pp I know he's rather stationary but

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

In the playoffs Roslovic would probably be sat from that group - Robinson next. We’ll see how long Carrier makes it without serious injury. I completely disagree that Rod would sit a dman before a forward. I think that’s completely against how he thinks. I think that idea is just board group think that wants Nikishin in and scape goat of the month out.

I don’t assume that Nikishin will be better than Ghost as an offensive type at all, Ghost is a very good offensive dman at this level. Maybe the shot is harder, that’s about it. Defensively he’s a huge unknown and unless we’re down I don’t see Rod doing it short an injury.

Personally, id be fine (and assume most would be) with Nikishin over Morrow for the first guy in - but Morrow might’ve bought himself a ticket to be first in from being in and out of the lineup.

Morrow was sent to Chicago earlier today. Nikishin is at least 7D.

 

[chaz4hockey]

Quote of the day: “You know hockey”

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Welp, seeing the kid next to Brind’Amour, he certainly looks gigantic.

 

[SvechneJerk]

"Drago" Nikishin

 

[chaz4hockey]

Welp, seeing the kid next to Brind’Amour, he certainly looks gigantic.

Aho tells Wilson next time: meet my big brother

 

[Rad ChaLose]

Yeah the more I watch.....

I don't think the team goes this much out of its way to bring him over and Brindy agrees to do this in front of a camera if we weren't fully expecting him to play in the playoffs. They're treating him like a major deadline acquisition.

I wasn’t planning on seeing him unless someone got hurt. But yeah, I don’t know anymore. I mean I know social media posts are one thing but you’d think with as much play and hype the team has given him the past couple days that the coaching staff is planning on giving him some time. Would be a huge disconnect b/t social media team and the org if that wasn’t the case.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Ghost has 13 ES points tied for 129th among D and last among all of the canes regular blueliners. He is 4th in ES P/G among canes D. He has the 3rd most power play points among D in the league.

Edit: he is not impactful offensively at ES. He is effective on the PP but those numbers are inflated because of how one dimensional the canes PP

I don’t know where you got your stats, but Ghost has 18 points at even strength. Here are the stats for guys that could be out for Nikishin:

Ghost - 18:31 average ice time - 18 ES points, 27 PP points
Burns - 20:57 average ice time - 26 ES points, 3 PP points
Orlov - 20:00 average ice time- 27 ES points, 1 PP point
Chatfield - 18:53 average ice time - 17 ES points
Walker - 16:50 average ice time - 16 ES points

Ghost has the 3rd most PP points among defensemen in the league on a powerplay that has been very hot and cold throughout the year. I don’t know about everyone else, but to me, that tells me we need him in the lineup to have any shot at a functional PP for the playoffs. Especially when we look at the above stats and realize we have no one else that CAN contribute on the PP.

 

[DaveG]

Yeah Walker is who I'd take out. Boom can play his off side and has done so in Russia (I know it's a whole different animal in the NHL) and let him have a go at running PP2 with Burns always being available if needed.

 

[chaz4hockey]

Yeah Walker is who I'd take out. Boom can play his off side and has done so in Russia (I know it's a whole different animal in the NHL) and let him have a go at running PP2 with Burns always being available if needed.

I asked someone who posts from Russia whether Nikishin played the right side? He said just on the PP was he occasionally found on that side.

 

[bleedgreen]

His shot (or lack of) matters. PP QB makes things go.

With his defensive deficiencies it’s a no brainer for me to replace if Nikishin is as good as they say.

Tony was a mediocre shooter and was great on the pp. I’d say Ghost shoots better than Tony by a bit. I think Ghost when it comes to shooting is like any streaky goal scorer. If he pops one early in the playoffs he could pretty easily go on a heater.

 

[3CanesInTheBox]

Yeah the more I watch.....

I don't think the team goes this much out of its way to bring him over and Brindy agrees to do this in front of a camera if we weren't fully expecting him to play in the playoffs. They're treating him like a major deadline acquisition.

I was just thinking the same thing. It seems like a LOT of pageantry to not play him.

Although, this team does tend to surprise me, so who knows.

 

[chaz4hockey]

Tony was a mediocre shooter and was great on the pp. I’d say Ghost shoots better than Tony by a bit. I think Ghost when it comes to shooting is like any streaky goal scorer. If he pops one early in the playoffs he could pretty easily go on a heater.

Re :TDA. You think? I’ll have to look it up but I remember him starting out good but ice cold later. We had to put Skjei in during Ranger series.