News & Notes XLIV: Revenge of the Seth

[A Star is Burns]

Rod, like any coach, has to try to find ways to push buttons and motivate. And it may be tough for the guys that have been with him for years and the message gets a little stale, and they're locked in secure contracts. But there's only so much a coach can do. The players gotta play. Maybe they're trying to straddle that line of doing just enough to get into the playoffs without killing themselves and then trying to turn it on. It's a dangerous game since you could miss (still seems pretty unlikely at this point) or not be able to turn it on at the right time. But maybe it pays off if they can play their style at a higher level in the playoffs. Dunno.

Now, Rod has tried to mix up lines. He's asked for more in the media. I would assume he's used other motivational and coaching tactics that we aren't always privy to. The team around them were responding and playing pretty well early on and that didn't kick start their performances. There's only so much a coach can do. Ultimately, it's probably just a funk, and they are still producing at an okay clip considering that. If they get fully on track we'll be in really great shape.

 

[hblueridgegal]

NHL Awards Watch: Who's leading for Hart, Norris, Calder?
A long way to go..but still sounds surreal

The Wild aren't at the top of the league without him or their goalie, but there are so many options right now," a voter said. "Kaprizov has been unreal to start the season, but Martin Necas is a close second."

Necas is one of only two other players to receive first-place votes for the Hart. Entering Monday night, the Carolina winger had tied Kaprizov for the league lead in points (42 in 27 games). His 14 goals means he's halfway to his career high (28 goals) well before the halfway mark of the season.

 

[Stickpucker]

And just saying we should play him higher or trade him is missing that you can't just unload large contracts and meh players that easily.

The Rangers had no problem doing just that.

Is their gm smarter and more resourceful than Tulsky?

Kotkaniemi is young enough and has enough size someone will think they can fix him. Probably our good buddy RF or UHC.

 

[ONO94]

Once again, let's put the facts out there.

From start of the season through the Columbus game here are some key metrics:

5v5:
CF%: KK was ranked 13 out of 13 Canes forwards
xGF%: KK was ranked 11th out of 13 Canes forwards.
GA/60: KK was ranked 10th out of 13 Canes forwards.
GF%: KK was ranked 7th out of 13 Canes forwards (due to Necas high SH%)
HDCA: KK was ranked 11th out of 13 Canes forward.
HDCF%: KK was ranked 12th out of 13 forwards.
OISH%: KK was ranked 1st (due to Necas high SH%)
Offensive zone starts%: KK was ranked 2nd most (Necas and Robinson 1 and 3)
Defensive Zone starts / 60: KK was ranked 12th (Necas and Robinson 11th, 13th)

Also, he had the worst FO% at 49.7% of any center during this time.

His line faced the weakest competition with favorable ozone starts and other than Necas's high SH%, didn't have good metrics.

Again, I don't think Drury is any better so I have no problem putting KK back there, but he was riding the coat-tails of Necas's high SH%.

Just curious - has Necas been better or worse or the same when he is not with KK?

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Just curious - has Necas been better or worse or the same when he is not with KK?

It's a bit hard to say because of rotating different linemates there isn't a lot of TOI with 1 player, there's different level of competition, etc..

Overall, possession (CF%) and scoring chances for/against is the same. Scoring is down (due to SH% but he was bound to take as step back) and xGF% is a little worse (53% vs. 47%).

Here's his TOI:

KK: 227 min
Robinson: 192 min
then it drops to
Drury: 79 min
Svech: 62 min
Roslovic: 52 min
Aho: 33 min.

Like I said, I don't have a problem putting that line back together as I don't think Drury helps it at all. I just don't think that line was as good 5v5 as some are letting on.

 

[A Star is Burns]

The Rangers had no problem doing just that.

Is their gm smarter and more resourceful than Tulsky?

Kotkaniemi is young enough and has enough size someone will think they can fix him. Probably our good buddy RF or UHC.

I personally think a guy that used to be pretty good with a year remaning is easier to move than a guy with five more after this year that's always just kinda fine. Trouba has traits that teams value even if they probably shouldn't. I'm not sure what Koko's particularly valuable traits are. I'm not saying it's impossible to move him but I don't think it's an easy move to make either. I'm skeptical he'd even be claimed on waivers with that contract whereas apparently Trouba would have been.

 

[HisIceness]

Shout out to the homies in Hawaii

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Shout out to the homies in Hawaii

Oof, losing SC is rough for all the attempts the organization has had to include them.

Also, Iowa is Oil Country?

 

[Lucky Lindy]

Oof, losing SC is rough for all the attempts the organization has had to include them.

Also, Iowa is Oil Country?

Ofc because good ol' Iowa boy Connor McDavid.

Wait what?

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

Just for fun

If you extrapolate the Hurricanes points for the entire 24-25 season so far, 37/28*82= 108 points. Easy playoff team.

If you take the last ten games, they were 4-5-1, 9 points in 10 games. There are 82-28=54 games left. 37 +(54*.9)= 86 points, basically bubble out.

Also, the 2021-22 year was nuts, in the East the 8th team in, the Capitals, had 100 points! Last out Islanders missed the playoffs by 16 points. What a crazy year.

 

[chaz4hockey]

Just for fun

If you extrapolate the Hurricanes points for the entire 24-25 season so far, 37/28*82= 108 points. Easy playoff team.

If you take the last ten games, they were 4-5-1, 9 points in 10 games. There are 82-28=54 games left. 37 +(54*.9)= 86 points, basically bubble out.

Also, the 2021-22 year was nuts, in the East the 8th team in, the Capitals, had 100 points! Last out Islanders missed the playoffs by 16 points. What a crazy year.

First paragraph = fun
Second = grumbling

I think it mostly comes down to recent game 3rd pair & GT challenges (Pyotr with another game that was good but let in leaky goal).

Plus, with (hopefully) a squad that knows this is a compressed scheduled and that they should conserve energy for spring '25.

We'll see.

 

[CandyCanes]

Shout out to the homies in Hawaii

I wonder how recent this data is. Just spent 2 weeks there, I wonder how much I contributed lol.

 

[MinJaBen]

Shout out to the homies in Hawaii

Canes next outdoor game in a volcanic crater? Yes please.

 

[dogbazinho]

I still think there should be at least 1 cruise ship professional sporting venue.

 

[WreckingCrew]

Shout out to the homies in Hawaii

I'm actually ok with not being there for SC, let's be honest the state is kind of a dump for the most part (Mustard-based BBQ...BULLSHIT!)

Just for fun

If you extrapolate the Hurricanes points for the entire 24-25 season so far, 37/28*82= 108 points. Easy playoff team.

If you take the last ten games, they were 4-5-1, 9 points in 10 games. There are 82-28=54 games left. 37 +(54*.9)= 86 points, basically bubble out.

Also, the 2021-22 year was nuts, in the East the 8th team in, the Capitals, had 100 points! Last out Islanders missed the playoffs by 16 points. What a crazy year.

Isn't 96 kind of the generally accept playoff cutout point? In which case 86 pts isn't really "bubble out" it's just "out". Granted I'm still not too worried about us actually making the playoffs, I think we'll probably be closer to a WC than "locked up". I also don't think we'll make a deep run either.

 

[MinJaBen]

I wonder how recent this data is. Just spent 2 weeks there, I wonder how much I contributed lol.

I mean, you have to wonder if the views are on purpose, or just a bunch of "when is the next Hurricane land fall....ooops, sports team page". I'd want to know if the most viewed college football team is from Miami before taking any victory laps here.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Oof, losing SC is rough for all the attempts the organization has had to include them.

Also, Iowa is Oil Country?

True, but losing them to the Rangers isn’t that big a deal. NYC teams tend to take states that don’t have a team of their own.

Now, Jersey going to the Rangers? That’s rough.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Just for fun

If you extrapolate the Hurricanes points for the entire 24-25 season so far, 37/28*82= 108 points. Easy playoff team.

If you take the last ten games, they were 4-5-1, 9 points in 10 games. There are 82-28=54 games left. 37 +(54*.9)= 86 points, basically bubble out.

Also, the 2021-22 year was nuts, in the East the 8th team in, the Capitals, had 100 points! Last out Islanders missed the playoffs by 16 points. What a crazy year.

Barring injury, my biggest concern is goaltending. I've seen these skaters and this system long enough to know that the skaters will get it sorted out.

Kochetkov has not been consistent enough IMO. Even last night, he made some great saves at the right time, but both goals he gave up he played poorly. The first one I kind of get, in that it was a block right back to the guy, but still he left the 5 hole open. The 2nd one he completely mis-read.

He's shown in the past he can go on a hot streak though. We need consistency from him.

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

Isn't 96 kind of the generally accept playoff cutout point? In which case 86 pts isn't really "bubble out" it's just "out".

Last year the Caps made the playoffs with 91 points, the year before the Panthers and Islanders made it with 92 and 93 respectively. Last teams below them were high 80's, which I interpret as they were pushing until ~game 80, it became mathematically impossible, at which point they went into golfing season mode.

 

[A Star is Burns]

Teams rarely go through an entire season without a slump. Teams like Boston and Tampa that pushed hard the whole season in recent years didn't ultimately fare that well. The Canes will be fine.

 

[Borsig]

I fail to believe that the rags are the most popular team in SC. Or WV. I grew up on the border of WV and VA and there isnt a single f***ing thing people in WV find redeeming about NY, and I never saw a single piece of rangers gear the there to this day when I go home (wife is from WV).

The near same could be said about SC. This map is pretty much horse shit lol.

 

[cptjeff]

I still think there should be at least 1 cruise ship professional sporting venue.

I thought it was pretty cool when UNC did an early season game on a carrier.

 

[cptjeff]

I fail to believe that the rags are the most popular team in SC. Or WV. I grew up on the border of WV and VA and there isnt a single f***ing thing people in WV find redeeming about NY, and I never saw a single piece of rangers gear the there to this day when I go home (wife is from WV).

The near same could be said about SC. This map is pretty much horse shit lol.

I was just in Myrtle Beach for Thanksgiving, and there were a lot of New York plates around. It's not the natives driving that, it's the snowbirds, and the snowbirds are much more likely to follow hockey.

 

[LostInaLostWorld]

I was just in Myrtle Beach for Thanksgiving, and there were a lot of New York plates around. It's not the natives driving that, it's the snowbirds, and the snowbirds are much more likely to follow hockey.

Used to be a wintering spot for Canadians. Don't know if it still holds true as I long ago stopped going there.

 

[hblueridgegal]

I was just in Myrtle Beach for Thanksgiving, and there were a lot of New York plates around. It's not the natives driving that, it's the snowbirds, and the snowbirds are much more likely to follow hockey.

Hilton Head, too. There are some hockey bars there with a lot of fans for NY teams and the Penguins.