GDT: Let the Free Agency Madness begin

[Big Daddy Cane]

Keller fits the general narrative of the Canes lacking skill. Otherwise, he’s a very underwhelming fit. Size and handedness was mentioned.

In conjunction with the former, his cap hit could push Necas out after the season. The net impact moving forward might not be what it seems in this snapshot in time.

The PP is the other thing. The Canes and their 11.9% net in the playoffs under Rod need help. Keller’s EV production was elite. Not so much on the PP; he didn’t crack Top 50 in points or goals. It’s not as if he was playing with crap in that game situation in Arizona.

 

[Svechhammer]

Keller fits the general narrative of the Canes lacking skill. Otherwise, he’s a very underwhelming fit. Size and handedness was mentioned.

In conjunction with the former, his cap hit could push Necas out after the season. The net impact moving forward might not be what it seems in this snapshot in time.

The PP is the other thing. The Canes and their 11.9% net in the playoffs under Rod need help. Keller’s EV production was elite. Not so much on the PP; he didn’t crack Top 50 in points or goals. It’s not as if he was playing with crap in that game situation in Arizona.

At a certain point I don't care much about the PP numbers if the EV numbers are good. If the eye test combined with the fancy stats shows he's the kind of player who can pick a corner and hit it, just trust that on a better team he'll get better looks on the PP and should be able to score more.

Risky, sure, I'm not sure we're going to get many better fits.

And at a certain point, this is why I would actually be ok with pursuing someone like Nylander and be willing to entertain a reasonable extension for him (assuming he's even interested in reasonable). At a certain point, you just have to trust that having a pure offensive player would be a net positive for us, and that any negatives out there defensively would be netted out by our overall team defensive play.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

Like some analyst said in the playoffs: we have plenty of great 200 foot players, we need a couple of great 50 foot players.

 

[MinJaBen]

Like some analyst said in the playoffs: we have plenty of great 200 foot players, we need a couple of great 50 foot players.

Front office heard that and decided it was the back 50 feet and is going all in on defenseman.

 

[Chrispy]

Like some analyst said in the playoffs: we have plenty of great 200 foot players, we need a couple of great 50 foot players.

With Bunting, Lemieux, and Rod's reputation, they may think the 50 feet is the area of the penalty box.

 

[spockBokk]

First of last year’s AHL roster to be stashed somewhere for next season:

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

Like some analyst said in the playoffs: we have plenty of great 200 foot players, we need a couple of great 50 foot players.

Ehh that's a really simplistic view. We have plenty of great defensive forwards but most of them don't offer much at all offensively so they're not really great 200 foot players, just decent. We could use more natural goal scorers but so could every single team in the league. I'm not sure we "need" much of anything considering how far we got last year, how close we played Florida and all of that with Svech hurt and a significant percentage of our cap tied up in Patches not playing. We've already improved on last year overall and there are still moves to be made. I wouldn't force anything, if a good value trade or signing is there then go for it but otherwise I see no issue with continuing to stay the course with this core and supporting pieces.

First of last year’s AHL roster to be stashed somewhere for next season:

I'd be surprised if he comes back considering his poor AHL stint last year. Will make more $ and get more recognition in the K if he can carve out a role for himself there.

 

[Svechhammer]

how close we played Florida and all of that with Svech hurt and a significant percentage of our cap tied up in Patches not playing.

At the same time, our defense is why we played as close to Florida as we did, and our absolute dearth of scorers (i.e. those 50 ft players) is why we couldn't get past them. Very well could be that just one pure offensive player to play on the Aho line is all we need to get over that hump.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

At the same time, our defense is why we played as close to Florida as we did, and our absolute dearth of scorers (i.e. those 50 ft players) is why we couldn't get past them. Very well could be that just one pure offensive player to play on the Aho line is all we need to get over that hump.

Or Bob just played out of his friggin mind with an insane GSAE… Yes we could use more scoring help, but it’s not the issue most here think it is.

 

[Gurglesons]

Or Bob just played out of his friggin mind with an insane GSAE… Yes we could use more scoring help, but it’s not the issue most here think it is.

Having a player like Keller who can score an easy goal in a tight game is essential.

 

[Svechhammer]

Or Bob just played out of his friggin mind with an insane GSAE… Yes we could use more scoring help, but it’s not the issue most here think it is.

Our lack of finishing ability might have played more than a small part in his crazy ECF stats

 

[Ole Gil]

One thing nobody talks about, is I wonder how much that 4OT game 1 hurt the Canes. That's one of those crazy events that the effects probably didn't go away immediately.

I know both sides played the game, but at least in game 1, Carolina clearly was gassed way more than Florida in OT2 and on. Just a weird anomaly that might have hit some of those guys just enough to make them struggle in games 2-4.

 

[SvechneJerk]

At a certain point I don't care much about the PP numbers if the EV numbers are good. If the eye test combined with the fancy stats shows he's the kind of player who can pick a corner and hit it, just trust that on a better team he'll get better looks on the PP and should be able to score more.

Risky, sure, I'm not sure we're going to get many better fits.

And at a certain point, this is why I would actually be ok with pursuing someone like Nylander and be willing to entertain a reasonable extension for him (assuming he's even interested in reasonable). At a certain point, you just have to trust that having a pure offensive player would be a net positive for us, and that any negatives out there defensively would be netted out by our overall team defensive play.

I’m definitely warming up to the idea of Nylander, like you said, IF he would come with an reasonable extension in place. A top line of Svech/Bunting-Aho-Nylander could be pretty dynamic.

 

[Lempo]

Front office heard that and decided it was the back 50 feet and is going all in on defenseman.

Own hockey in own end.

 

[Joe McGrath]

One thing nobody talks about, is I wonder how much that 4OT game 1 hurt the Canes. That's one of those crazy events that the effects probably didn't go away immediately.

I know both sides played the game, but at least in game 1, Carolina clearly was gassed way more than Florida in OT2 and on. Just a weird anomaly that might have hit some of those guys just enough to make them struggle in games 2-4.

No team that’s lost a 3OT or more game in a series has ever won the series. I think. I could be wrong but I swear I read that somewhere.

And remember we are Jarvis hitting the crossbar on the PP from 2 feet out from starting the series up 1-0 on the back of 3 PP goals.

Instead, they get swept and the PP is dog shit and Daniels needs to be fired and no one is a goal scorer. Because hockey is dumb sometimes.

 

[NotOpie]

Regarding snipers....when they are on, both Svech and Necas can be that guy. Their issue is inconsistency. In Marty's case, in my mind he's like the Sundance Kid.



.....he's better in motion than stationary.

Truth be told, and many forgot this because of his down year last season, but Tuevo is probably our best sniper currently on the team. Again, when he's on he can pick corners and pretty much put the puck wherever he wants....problem is he just doesn't shoot as much as he could (or in the case of last season was mostly snake-bitten).

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

The lack of news around the league since July 1 seems statistically significant?

Bertuzzi signing (which was July 2), Debrincat trade... is that it?

 

[Borsig]

I mean it has been a pretty slow off season, with regards to the league as a whole.

 

[Lempo]

The lack of news around the league since July 1 seems statistically significant?

Bertuzzi signing (which was July 2), Debrincat trade... is that it?

I sure would like to see an updated list of notable unsigned free agents and notable pending free agents for summer 2024 who became eligible for extension on July 1st.

 

[Svechhammer]

One thing nobody talks about, is I wonder how much that 4OT game 1 hurt the Canes. That's one of those crazy events that the effects probably didn't go away immediately.

I know both sides played the game, but at least in game 1, Carolina clearly was gassed way more than Florida in OT2 and on. Just a weird anomaly that might have hit some of those guys just enough to make them struggle in games 2-4.

I mean I said it right after the game.... When we lost that we lost the series. Going that deep into a game at home and then losing, and losing home ice? And we needed to play another game the literal next day? Florida rode the emotional high from that to the series win, and we never got our feet back under us. And not having someone with a natural shot just made a bad situation worse for us.

And I say its the same thing that happened in 2002. We win that game in 3OT and we win the Cup.

 

[Daeavorn]

Nylander is gonna want 10x7 at the very least from someone. I dont see him signing anything under that.

May some something like 9.5x8 in a sign and trade but id be shocked if he settled for under 10.

 

[A Star is Burns]

One thing nobody talks about, is I wonder how much that 4OT game 1 hurt the Canes. That's one of those crazy events that the effects probably didn't go away immediately.

I know both sides played the game, but at least in game 1, Carolina clearly was gassed way more than Florida in OT2 and on. Just a weird anomaly that might have hit some of those guys just enough to make them struggle in games 2-4.

Yeah, I said some time not too long after we were eliminated the biggest what if I tossed around in my head since we were eliminated is if that goal by Lomberg (I think it was him) hadn't been overturned for interference in game 1. Same result for the game, but much less of a physical and mental blow.

Now, even something that hasn't happened before or happens rarely potentially can happen, so I don't think it was impossible to still win the series. We had our chances to win in the series and we didn't get it done. But I think it certainly had an impact.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Having a player like Keller who can score an easy goal in a tight game is essential.

As well as not having Svech and Patches injured.

 

[Bunch of Jurcos]

I’ve come up with a trade proposal that I don’t think anyone has ever thought about; what if we traded Nylander for Pesce? I’m sure I’ve never seen this anywhere before. I triple checked.

 

[Rad ChaLose]

No team that’s lost a 3OT or more game in a series has ever won the series. I think. I could be wrong but I swear I read that somewhere.

And remember we are Jarvis hitting the crossbar on the PP from 2 feet out from starting the series up 1-0 on the back of 3 PP goals.

Instead, they get swept and the PP is dog shit and Daniels needs to be fired and no one is a goal scorer. Because hockey is dumb sometimes.

Another what-if moment is the disallowed Drury goal in game 2 that would’ve put them ahead by two goals (I think). It felt like that goal was gonna be huge for a game 2 win that made game 1 moot - and then it all slipped away.