Confirmed with Link: Petr Mrazek signed 1 year, 1.5M

[Buenos Necas]

There was nothing to spend money on. The goalie market was very weak; it was a potential long-term solution in Grubauer, a bunch of backups and failed starters. They tried for the top option and were financially committed enough to take on Orpik, but Washington didn't want to deal in the division. What was the expectation here?

It's 1 year deal. They can try again next year, if neither Darling nor Mrazek nor Nedeljkovic works out.

I'm no apologist, but the freak out is excessive. This was a case of bad timing.

I don't disagree, I just hope we're proactive enough to fix it if (when) it's clear the tandem is not working out.

 

[GoldiFox]

We tried to get Grubs (made a better offer) and I think we might have been the ones that Hutton turned town when offering more money. We have passed the Flyers as the goalie graveyard.

Who knows what the deal with Lehner is.

I think we gave it our best shot to improve goaltending and this was the best we could get.

On NHL Network Hutton said he felt Buffalo gave him the best chance to start.

I sure as hell hope Waddell isn’t going around telling players and teams the same BS about their commitment to Scott being less of a fat f*** next year. Canes are more committed to Scott than Scott is to putting down the bbq.

 

[MinJaBen]

But let's be clear: once we missed on Gru, all the options left were gambles.

Sure, but there is a difference between betting on Black or Red and then trying for Green. All gambles, but some are a lot more risky than others.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

I think we gave it our best shot to improve goaltending and this was the best we could get.

Our goaltending was a major reason (if not the major reason) we missed last year. Anyone would half a brain would know that it needed to improve if they wanted to have any chance this year.

Knowing that, they got rid of the better goaltender from last year and brought in someone worse.

No, f*** that. If that's our best shot, just fold the team now, because that's pathetic.

 

[ndp]

Anyone else wondering if this organization has any sort of plan at all?
Out defense pairs are kind of a mess, we're weak down the middle. I guess they're putting a lot of eggs in the rookie's stepping up basket?
The "big trade" makes less and less sense to me now if we're rolling with this goalie duo.
Did we just waste a year of Hamilton's contract and Ferland's one guaranteed year? Hopefully Fox signs down the road and becomes a quality defenseman. On the surface the organization looks like a total mess though so who knows.
I'm not necessarily dissing the goalie situation (it sucks), they've got to take what they can get. But why make the other move?
I'm just really confused as to the direction of the team.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

I don't disagree, I just hope we're proactive enough to fix it if (when) it's clear the tandem is not working out.

Yeah. There should be no hesitation in giving Nedeljkovic a run this time. I still maintain that he's the path forward for this organization. They can't avoid dealing with his growing pains at the NHL level.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Our goaltending corps is more like a goaltending corpse.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

Sure, but there is a difference between betting on Black or Red and then trying for Green. All gambles, but some are a lot more risky than others.

Maybe you think you're well positioned to know which option here is red, black, or green. Myself, I have no f***ing idea.

We can get all mad because we feel like Garbage Goalie A was SO MUCH BETTER than Garbage Goalies B C or D, but meh. At this point, all I can do is hope the Canes have a workable plan.

 

[Ole Gil]

Would anyone have felt great with any of these goalies under the contracts they signed?

 

[tarheelhockey]

We tried to get Grubs (made a better offer) and I think we might have been the ones that Hutton turned town when offering more money. We have passed the Flyers as the goalie graveyard.

Who knows what the deal with Lehner is.

I think we gave it our best shot to improve goaltending and this was the best we could get.

The takeaway today, reading between the lines but not really, is that we are officially being avoided by players who have a real choice. “The deal” with Lehner, Hutton, Khudobin, Halak, etc is they didn’t want anything to do with this organization at any realistic price.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Let's just complete the shit sandwich and deal Faulk for a 3rd line forward with grit. Because that's how we're apparently going to win games.

We'll put off trading Skinner until the deadline, because Waddell is sure the market for him will improve, even though we all know it won't.

 

[FreshSeabass]

Lehner still out there. Not many Dmen have signed, no news on Neal.

I'm still hopeful.

knowing what i know about this organization our free agent signings are probably done. im holding out for a trade. that probs wont happen either.

 

[What the Faulk]

Here comes the Waddell conference.

 

[Anton Babchuk]

Let's just complete the **** sandwich and deal Faulk for a 3rd line forward with grit. Because that's how we're apparently going to win games.

We'll put off trading Skinner until the deadline, because Waddell is sure the market for him will improve, even though we all know it won't.

I'd be fine with that. Faulk is a liability.

 

[Kaako Kappo]

Why not sign Lehner?

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

knowing what i know about this organization our free agent signings are probably done. im holding out for a trade. that probs wont happen either.

Of course he’s excited about still having an nhl job.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

knowing what i know about this organization our free agent signings are probably done. im holding out for a trade. that probs wont happen either.

Not surprising. Dundon came right out and said he’s not going to spend a lot in free agency. Waddell said something like opening day of free agency is like shopping at Nieman Marcus and he’ll wait and shop at Walmart. Goalie was Definitely a Walmart signing, even if it was on day 1

 

[GoldiFox]

Here comes the Waddell conference.

Everyone would be and should be excited if we brought this type of guy in on a 1 year deal. As long as a solid Veteran like Cam Ward was behind him. The problem lies with Mrazek needing to play 60+ games next year, well, if the Canes are to be a Playoff team. Else we are getting a steaming pile of Darling for 40+ games.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Maybe you think you're well positioned to know which option here is red, black, or green. Myself, I have no ****ing idea.

We can get all mad because we feel like Garbage Goalie A was SO MUCH BETTER than Garbage Goalies B C or D, but meh. At this point, all I can do is hope the Canes have a workable plan.

Nah, I'm sure they've got a plan. What we should question is whether that plan is better for the organization and its fans, or better for Dundon and his future plans.

 

[Ole Gil]

The takeaway today, reading between the lines but not really, is that we are officially being avoided by players who have a real choice. “The deal” with Lehner, Hutton, Khudobin, Halak, etc is they didn’t want anything to do with this organization at any realistic price.

The other way to look at it, is the Canes weren't interested in giving 32 year old career backups multi year deals.

 

[Anton Babchuk]

I'm not sure why we should have wanted Khudobin instead of Mrazek? Is it possible that we were just flat out not interested and didn't make an offer? We've seen Khudobin here before. He was absolutely brutal his last year here...as in literally much worse than Ward. I don't think there's any chance he could be a viable starter. At 32, what you see is what you get.

 

[Buenos Necas]

Once teams started offering 3 years for Hutton/Bernier, there was no way we were getting either of them. It was basically Lehner or Mrazek on a cheap 1-year deal, and looks like Mrazek was the one to say yes. I preferred Lehner, but it could be he's not open to a 1-year deal right now. Waddell did say yesterday something else could happen later this summer, but I'd wager that's something in the Jarry/Nalimov range where they could still be put in Charlotte.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Was there a single goalie available that anyone would’ve been comfortable signing for 3 years?

They took their shot at Grubauer (read: THIS WAS NOT PLAN A), and by all reports it was a great shot, with objectively the best offer.

After that, they need to objectively look at the options and recognize there may not be a good solution to this problem this year. This is very low risk, if he sucks we get someone else next year. Way better than having TWO Scott Darling contracts on the books, no?

If Darling or Mrazek bounce back (BOTH of which are possible) then lovely. If not, we have the same problem next with a better assortment of options.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

The other way to look at it, is the Canes weren't interested in giving 32 year old career backups multi year deals.

Andrew Hammond signed a 1-year, two way deal for 650k.

Would have felt better with a duo of Ward/Hammond than Darling/Mrazek.

 

[What the Faulk]

Andrew Hammond signed a 1-year, two way deal for 650k.

Would have felt better with a duo of Ward/Hammond than Darling/Mrazek.

Ward/XXX didn't sound like an option