Boom Boom Apathy
I am the Professor. Deal with it!
- Sep 6, 2006
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While I agree with what you said from my personal viewpoint, I'm not sure the Canes front office views it that way. Dundon said from day 1 that it's his job to find players better than what we have and it's the players job to make that hard for him. Tulsky has echoed the same sentiments that they are always looking to upgrade, even though it's a lot harder now that they are so good and won the cup.I think the only reason we'd move Nikishin is because we realize he'd have more value as a trade piece than he would playing 3rd pairing or on his offside for us. And since we have guys like CAL who can play the 3rd pairing and not look out of place, Nikishin becomes movable
But moving him for a defenseman to create the same issue, except it'll be Slavin or Miller playing that 3rd pairing/offside, doesn't make sense.
I still maintain we're putting feelers out there because someone was dumb enough to give a top 5 pick for Byram and we're like "Well, if teams are going to overpay for young defenseman..."
If the Canes front office can get an elite player like Werenski, I think they do it and will figure out the fit. Same goes for forwards. They've shown they aren't afraid to stick guys like Ehlers and Jarvis on the "3rd" line with Staal and make it work.
I'm not sure if the smoke around Nikishin is just BS, or as you said, the Canes seeing what teams might offer, or legit because of fit/contract etc....Just commenting on how I think the front office operates.




