GDT: r2g1

[Discipline Daddy]

The main board discourse is an interesting case study in sports psychology. What makes you feel better the morning after:

Playing like ass and getting blown out
Playing like ass and losing a close one
Playing like ass and winning
Playing great and losing
Playing great and winning a close one
Playing great and winning a blowout

Exactly. The narrative changes from the Canes suck because they are outchancing and can't buy a goal to the Canes played their A game and barely were able to win. Not enough credit is given to the Canes playing great defensive hockey and limiting the Caps to scant scoring chances in the entire game.

An analogy:
The Canes shoot from everywhere, yes. Imagine shots from far out as $1 bills and shots near the top of the circles as $5s and shots in close as $20s. The Canes have a lot of $1 bills, yes. Their identity to fans of other teams as that they aren't worth much because all they have is $1s. It's like the Canes had twenty $1s, ten $5s, and seven $20s. However, the Caps had six $1s, four $5s, and 4 $20s.

The same fans who bitch about the Canes having lots of low-percentage shots never realize that the Canes also routinely have more high danger shots than their opponent. Sure, the low-chance shots usually don't go in, but the high-chance ones do, and they had more of those as well.

Plus, if we play offense all night and the Caps play defense and block 30 shots a night, we're going to see the same effect at the end of the series as we did versus the Devils: tired bodies.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

I know RBA won't do it but it would be the perfect time to unleash the Boom. They're playing with house money and definitely the Crapitals are going to be at their very worst

The perfect time to unleash the Boom would've been as soon as he was eligible to play (got his visa) and practiced once or twice with the team. But yes the 2nd best time to unleash the Boom is now (tomorrow).

I understand Rod's reasoning for not, I just don't agree with it. Nikishin is a game changing talent and well worth scratching a decent player like Ghost or Walker or Burns.

With Jank out, I do wonder if it's possible we go 7 D and give Boom some minutes. Still very very unlikely and probably just Roslo slots back in, but theoretically now a D or forward injury could result in him finally getting his shot. I'd much rather go 11/7 than play any of the forward after Roslo. Jost has been ok but prefer not to see him in the playoffs unless we have 3+ forward injuries.

 

[Stickpucker]

The perfect time to unleash the Boom would've been as soon as he was eligible to play (got his visa) and practiced once or twice with the team. But yes the 2nd best time to unleash the Boom is now (tomorrow).

I understand Rod's reasoning for not, I just don't agree with it. Nikishin is a game changing talent and well worth scratching a decent player like Ghost or Walker or Burns.

With Jank out, I do wonder if it's possible we go 7 D and give Boom some minutes. Still very very unlikely and probably just Roslo slots back in, but theoretically now a D or forward injury could result in him finally getting his shot. I'd much rather go 11/7 than play any of the forward after Roslo. Jost has been ok but prefer not to see him in the playoffs unless we have 3+ forward injuries.

It's like the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

It's like the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.

yeah exactly what I was going for but it got a little wordy lol

 

[tarheelhockey]

Exactly. The narrative changes from the Canes suck because they are outchancing and can't buy a goal to the Canes played their A game and barely were able to win. Not enough credit is given to the Canes playing great defensive hockey and limiting the Caps to scant scoring chances in the entire game.

An analogy:
The Canes shoot from everywhere, yes. Imagine shots from far out as $1 bills and shots near the top of the circles as $5s and shots in close as $20s. The Canes have a lot of $1 bills, yes. Their identity to fans of other teams as that they aren't worth much because all they have is $1s. It's like the Canes had twenty $1s, ten $5s, and seven $20s. However, the Caps had six $1s, four $5s, and 4 $20s.

The same fans who bitch about the Canes having lots of low-percentage shots never realize that the Canes also routinely have more high danger shots than their opponent. Sure, the low-chance shots usually don't go in, but the high-chance ones do, and they had more of those as well.

Plus, if we play offense all night and the Caps play defense and block 30 shots a night, we're going to see the same effect at the end of the series as we did versus the Devils: tired bodies.

To me it’s a lack of recognition that the Canes absolutely strangled them defensively. That put the Caps in a position of needing to hit on one or two specific opportunities, or the game was already decided.

I know we can’t do that every night, but if we did it would mean lights-out as long as we get 90% goaltending. Any team in the league would gladly take those chances, especially in the playoffs.

 

[CanesFanBudMan]

If Jank is hurt you have to go 7 D

 

[AD Skinner]

For real if one team triples the other team’s shots and possession time that team dominated the other. Doesn’t always mean they will win but the hand wringing of “oh the canes actually aren’t good because they were completely in control of the game” is so transparent. Thompson played great and so did the canes. Folks spouting off that can’t hold both of those ideas in their heads at the same time aren’t worth listening to

 

[chaz4hockey]

Exactly. The narrative changes from the Canes suck because they are outchancing and can't buy a goal to the Canes played their A game and barely were able to win. Not enough credit is given to the Canes playing great defensive hockey and limiting the Caps to scant scoring chances in the entire game.

An analogy:
The Canes shoot from everywhere, yes. Imagine shots from far out as $1 bills and shots near the top of the circles as $5s and shots in close as $20s. The Canes have a lot of $1 bills, yes. Their identity to fans of other teams as that they aren't worth much because all they have is $1s. It's like the Canes had twenty $1s, ten $5s, and seven $20s. However, the Caps had six $1s, four $5s, and 4 $20s.

The same fans who bitch about the Canes having lots of low-percentage shots never realize that the Canes also routinely have more high danger shots than their opponent. Sure, the low-chance shots usually don't go in, but the high-chance ones do, and they had more of those as well.

Plus, if we play offense all night and the Caps play defense and block 30 shots a night, we're going to see the same effect at the end of the series as we did versus the Devils: tired bodies.

To your point and one that McDonough and the "geniuses" at ESPN don't seem to grasp.

Ai generated:
In Game 1 of their playoff series on May 6th, 2025, the Carolina Hurricanes had 3.82 expected goals for, while the Washington Capitals had 1.31. The Hurricanes also led in five-on-five shots attempts, scoring chances, and high-danger chances.
+ this

 

[Bunch of Jurcos]

We pretty much hit the Capitals with the Mayweather special. People hate seeing Floyd because his defense is top tier and a majority of Americans only appreciate knockouts. When one team is strangling the other defensively like a boa constrictor it is going to be a tough watch but don't be mad at the boa for being a boa.

 

[Nikishin al Gaib]

BTW, is Chatfield good or what? Another solid 21 minutes yesterday, always good aggressive plays to close gaps.

Still signed for two more years at 3M$... great development, great contract. He has become a personal favorite for me. Hopefully he will get some national recognition as we move along in these playoffs.

Chatty and Nikishin has potential to be an excellent defensive pair next year.

If they click, we might not be able to afford Chatty's next contract unless he takes a home team discount

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Chatty and Nikishin has potential to be an excellent defensive pair next year.

If they click, we might not be able to afford Chatty's next contract unless he takes a home team discount

The thing is that the Canes drafted a defensive RD in Badinka with an early 2nd rounder last year. The projected developmental timeline matches up very well with Chatfield's potential UFA overpayment in two seasons, though the Canes may need to pursue a stopgap for a season if Badinka isn't ready. I always saw Chatfield as a great bridge between Pesce and Badinka, in a very similar way that Orlov was a bridge between Skjei and Nikishin and Burns was a bridge between Hamilton and Morrow. If executed properly, the Canes will have a homegrown trio of young top-4 D mentored by Slavin and locked up long-term.

 

[3CanesInTheBox]

I agree with all of those who have praised our performance despite the score being so close. Rust was probably the only difference between us winning in regulation anyway.

It really seems like a stylistic preference, too. I tend to appreciate defensive excellence like a pitching duel or 90s style NBA defense. Yet, these are often the type of games considered "boring". Meanwhile for me, those ridiculous 298 to 294 NBA games or 11-12 baseball scores make me want to gouge my eyes out.

I definitely WANT the Canes to lean more towards a more offensive approach, but generally commend defensive excellence.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

The thing is that the Canes drafted a defensive RD in Badinka with an early 2nd rounder last year. The projected developmental timeline matches up very well with Chatfield's potential UFA overpayment in two seasons, though the Canes may need to pursue a stopgap for a season if Badinka isn't ready.

The odds of Badinka ever even becoming a bottom tier NHL player are pretty damn slim. Unless we see more progression from him that is definitely not something I would count on or make decisions about Chatfield based on. Badinka is not Nikishin who basically won the game of hockey outside the NHL early enough for us to make roster decisions based on (Orlov bridge deal to his arrival).

I think Chatty will want to stay here and we'll be able to keep him. I wouldn't go so far as to call him a core piece as he isn't close to that but, similar to Koko if he sticks around, he can be a long term key contributor here and I think the team might view him as that. You need some glue guys who stick around for a long time even if they aren't superstars. He doesn't put up enough points to get big $/term as a UFA in a few years.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

The odds of Badinka ever even becoming a bottom tier NHL player are pretty damn slim. Unless we see more progression from him that is definitely not something I would count on or make decisions about Chatfield based on. Badinka is not Nikishin who basically won the game of hockey outside the NHL early enough for us to make roster decisions based on (Orlov bridge deal to his arrival).

I think Chatty will want to stay here and we'll be able to keep him. I wouldn't go so far as to call him a core piece as he isn't close to that but, similar to Koko if he sticks around, he can be a long term key contributor here and I think the team might view him as that. You need some glue guys who stick around for a long time even if they aren't superstars. He doesn't put up enough points to get big $/term as a UFA in a few years.

If the Canes win the Cup at any time over the next few seasons, any one of our UFAs, including Chatfield, will automatically get the Cup champ cache. Some clubs have a highly-impulsive and ill-advised approach to free agency. Also, Nikishin didn't truly break out into sure-fire NHLer until his Draft+3 season, the year he was traded to SKA.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

Chatty and Nikishin has potential to be an excellent defensive pair next year.

If they click, we might not be able to afford Chatty's next contract unless he takes a home team discount

I think Chatty basically is what he is which is a ~average 2nd pair D man without much more potential but who is just rock solid and steady defensively while not putting up much offense. I don't think playing with Nikishin (or anyone) would elevate him really. We may choose to move on from Chatty if a RHD prospect emerges like Nikishin (unlikely) and/or we go big game hunting like Dobson, but both of those I view as somewhat unlikely and I think Chatty will probably get another reasonable contract here after this one.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

If the Canes win the Cup at any time over the next few seasons, any one of our UFAs, including Chatfield, will automatically get the Cup champ cache. Some clubs have a highly-impulsive and ill-advised approach to free agency.

Sure and if that winds up contributing to him pricing himself out of here then so be it. I don't think his market will be anywhere near as robust as Skjei/Pesce's were this past offseason. And I don't think Badinka or any other current prospect other than Morrow is likely to factor into our decision regarding Chatfield at all. Sure, Badinka or someone else could emerge, but I just would not be planning around that hope.

 

[Ole Gil]

Chatty and Nikishin has potential to be an excellent defensive pair next year.

If they click, we might not be able to afford Chatty's next contract unless he takes a home team discount

It's hard for 20 point dmen to make big money.

That Skjei got 7 and Pesce 5.5 is a pretty good representation of how teams value their defense scoring over playing defense.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

It's hard for 20 point dmen to make big money.

That Skjei got 7 and Pesce 5.5 is a pretty good representation of how teams value their defense scoring over playing defense.

The Canes winning a Cup from a great defense may create a paradigm shift, though. Many front offices are not known for their creativity or originality when it comes to roster construction.

 

[DaveG]

The Canes winning a Cup from a great defense may create a paradigm shift, though. Many front offices are not known for their creativity or originality when it comes to roster construction.

eh I kinda doubt it. Most teams are still going to chase the big name FAs that put up 100+ point seasons to put butts in seats and try to build around that rather than trying to build through the drafts around a team concept that suffocates the opponent and overwhelms them with sheer depth at all positions. Now having said that watch ET go out and sign Marner this off-season completely invalidating the point I'm trying to make here.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

eh I kinda doubt it. Most teams are still going to chase the big name FAs that put up 100+ point seasons to put butts in seats and try to build around that rather than trying to build through the drafts around a team concept that suffocates the opponent and overwhelms them with sheer depth at all positions. Now having said that watch ET go out and sign Marner this off-season completely invalidating the point I'm trying to make here.

The difference is that the Canes will do so only after they build the foundation and have $30+M in cap space. That's not like most teams.

 

[NotOpie]

Sure and if that winds up contributing to him pricing himself out of here then so be it. I don't think his market will be anywhere near as robust as Skjei/Pesce's were this past offseason. And I don't think Badinka or any other current prospect other than Morrow is likely to factor into our decision regarding Chatfield at all. Sure, Badinka or someone else could emerge, but I just would not be planning around that hope.

In the Canes system on the right side, we have Morrow, Nystrom, Honka, Montgomery, Heimosalmi, Legault, and maybe a Russian or two in addition to Badinka. On the left side we have Nikishin, Fensore, Seeley, Grudinin, Franzen, Forsmark, Shokhrin, Kol, and a couple of others. While Nikishin and Morrow are clearly the cream of that crop and likely ready for the NHL full time, there are others waiting in the wings (we will learn a lot when most come over to the A). Nystrom, Forsmark, and Legault seem like players who might fit our mold. Fensore, tiny as he is, didn't look totally out of place during his cup of coffee. I have no worries about the defensive side of things.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

In the Canes system on the right side, we have Morrow, Nystrom, Honka, Montgomery, Heimosalmi, Legault, and maybe a Russian or two in addition to Badinka. On the left side we have Nikishin, Fensore, Seeley, Grudinin, Franzen, Forsmark, Shokhrin, Kol, and a couple of others. While Nikishin and Morrow are clearly the cream of that crop and likely ready for the NHL full time, there are others waiting in the wings (we will learn a lot when most come over to the A). Nystrom, Forsmark, and Legault seem like players who might fit our mold. Fensore, tiny as he is, didn't look totally out of place during his cup of coffee. I have no worries about the defensive side of things.

Odds are none of those guys (not incl. Nikishin, Morrow) ever wind up in our top 4, frankly. I personally am not amazed by any of their development so far. Of course it's still early and I hope I'm wrong but my view as it stands right now is they all remain blindfolded dart throws.

 

[Derailed75]

The perfect time to unleash the Boom would've been as soon as he was eligible to play (got his visa) and practiced once or twice with the team. But yes the 2nd best time to unleash the Boom is now (tomorrow).

I understand Rod's reasoning for not, I just don't agree with it. Nikishin is a game changing talent and well worth scratching a decent player like Ghost or Walker or Burns.

With Jank out, I do wonder if it's possible we go 7 D and give Boom some minutes. Still very very unlikely and probably just Roslo slots back in, but theoretically now a D or forward injury could result in him finally getting his shot. I'd much rather go 11/7 than play any of the forward after Roslo. Jost has been ok but prefer not to see him in the playoffs unless we have 3+ forward injuries.

Not saying you are wrong or that I disagree with you however, you have seen highlights, game clips, and possibly full KHL games of his. Rod has seen him live, in person, and practicing the Canes system. It's entirely possible he's not gotten a nod yet because he is not fully grasping the system, and we have seen how that plays out in this system when defenders don't fully grasp it.

 

[chaz4hockey]

Right: No sure thing although Morrow looks like 3rd pair; 6 other Candidates
Nystrom, Honka, Montgomery, Heimosalmi, Legault, Badinka.

Left: A given (Nikishin); 6 other Candidates
Fensore, Seeley, Grudinin, Franzen, Forsmark, Shokhrin, Kol,

Statistically, one of each group beyond Nikishin & Morrow (although, I think Morrow will be moved in the off season in a trade package) should emerge, if anything for 3rd pair.

Right now, I'm putting my money on Legault and Kol but there are others that are promising too.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

Not saying you are wrong or that I disagree with you however, you have seen highlights, game clips, and possibly full KHL games of his. Rod has seen him live, in person, and practicing the Canes system. It's entirely possible he's not gotten a nod yet because he is not fully grasping the system, and we have seen how that plays out in this system when defenders don't fully grasp it.

Me not seeing him in practices with the team is a 100% fair point and of course I'm just some random fan who played the game at a low level years ago while Rod is a hockey legend. Doesn't make me wrong here and Rod always right though. Of course I could be very wrong but it seems to be consensus opinion around the league that Nikishin is going to be a superstar. There is a reason the borg wouldn't even entertain including him in any trades we discussed for already star players. And re the system, I have watched a ton of full Nikishin games, going back to his time with Spartak, and he is the real deal and has played in a similar system to ours with SKA lately.

Rod has other factors going into his decision making as well. I don't think it's an egregiously terrible decision by Rod to not play him or anything like that obviously, and we are winning so can't really argue with what is working. I just think it would help us keep winning even more this postseason if we had Nikishin in the lineup. Maybe we wind up seeing it happen and he proves to be in completely over his head and needing an offseason to get up to speed -- certainly possible, I just doubt that. I think he'd slot in and immediately have a huge impact. But we shall see, eventually.