Roster Building XXIV: Our Hearts Go Pitter Pattersson

[Finlandia WOAT]

Just learned that Unger-Sorum was born on September 14, missing the cut for the draft by 2 days and is one of, if not the, youngest to be taken in that draft

 

[Unsustainable]

Whose next on our list?

GMET doesn't sound like he's closing the door on making us better

 

[Brock Anton]

Whose next on our list?

GMET doesn't sound like he's closing the door on making us better

A center for sure and I think they'll give Freddy until the TDL until they decide if they need to swing a move for a goalie.

 

[Bunch of Jurcos]

To manage expectations, is Mikko what we hoped Svech would be when we drafted him?

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Imagine being 20 and living in North Dakota last year and now you’re on a line with Aho and Rantanen lol

 

[Chrispy]

A center for sure and I think they'll give Freddy until the TDL until they decide if they need to swing a move for a goalie.

Difficulty is they would need to move Freddie back to make it work and he has a 15 team NTC.

I think they are likely to stick with Andersen barring further injury.

A C is the likely target at the deadline.

 

[cptjeff]

Just learned that Unger-Sorum was born on September 14, missing the cut for the draft by 2 days and is one of, if not the, youngest to be taken in that draft

He was indeed the youngest player taken in that draft.

Big part of why I like him so much, and while I want to take more guys at the younger side of the draft. He's had to put up all the numbers he did against many guys nearly a year ahead of him physically. The inverse of guys like Julien Gauthier, who look really good as prospects in part because they're substantially more physically developed than their peers.

 

[Lucky Lindy]

I hope that, if they would trade for Elias Pettersson, that they get the center Elias Pettersson and not the defenseman Elias Pettersson.

 

[Sigurd]

Defense and goaltending are just poor for us this year.

No other way to put it, Rantanen won't matter if we don't do something defensively. Burns is f***ing garbage, he's actively hurting us badly this year

I'm taking this quote from the GDT since this long post is more appropriate here:

I'm not confident we do anything with the blue line this season. However, for now, I think we need to improve on the following:

2C, top 4 defenseman, and goalie.

I'm tired of Andersen missing half a season every year and he's kind of old now too, and while KK shows streaks of offense, I'm not sold on him being our guy long term for 2C. Once Burns retires, our RHD depth looks genuinely bad. Morrow won't be ready for the top pair next to Slavin next season, and at best, he might become ready later in the season after adjusting on the 3rd pair. Orlov we probably won't extend, and especially since I think Nikishin starts as the 2nd LHD.

This summer, I'd throw a Brinks money truck contract offer to Ekblad since he's a RHD, and slot him next to Slavin. So, until we feel Morrow is ready to be bumped up to the 2nd pairing, the lines would look like the following:

Slavin-Ekblad
Nikishin-Chatfield
Ghost-Morrow

That's a damn fine blue line, and after losing Burns, we still have a really big RHD on the top line who can also score points. Ekblad turns 29 years old next month, so this will most likely be his last contract. I'm not sure what the situation is with him and Florida, but I suspect without that knowledge that Ekblad will extend with Florida. So, this is probably just wishful thinking; unfortunately.

Honestly, if I had to choose between the two though, I'd pick a good 1st pairing defenseman next to Slavin over a 2C. We can manage with KK as our 2C. However, we can't ignore getting Slavin a good partner after Burns is gone.

Tulsky did say in a pre-game interview last night with Mike and Tripp in response to Mike's question about whether there were any moves left: "we are always looking at trying to improve the team." I think for this season, after getting Rantanen and Hall, we'll add a depth guy at most; like a 4C. We'll probably keep Andersen too, and not get a new goalie. The goalie and blueline moves will happen in the offseason at the earliest IMO.

 

[Chrispy]

I'm taking this quote from the GDT since this long post is more appropriate here:

I'm not confident we do anything with the blue line this season. However, for now, I think we need to improve on the following:

2C, top 4 defenseman, and goalie.

I'm tired of Andersen missing half a season every year and he's kind of old now too, and while KK shows streaks of offense, I'm not sold on him being our guy long term for 2C. Once Burns retires, our RHD depth looks genuinely bad. Morrow won't be ready for the top pair next to Slavin next season, and at best, he might become ready later in the season after adjusting on the 3rd pair. Orlov we probably won't extend, and especially since I think Nikishin starts as the 2nd LHD.

This summer, I'd throw a Brinks money truck contract offer to Ekblad since he's a RHD, and slot him next to Slavin. So, until we feel Morrow is ready to be bumped up to the 2nd pairing, the lines would look like the following:

Slavin-Ekblad
Nikishin-Chatfield
Ghost-Morrow

That's a damn fine blue line, and after losing Burns, we still have a really big RHD on the top line who can also score points. Ekblad turns 29 years old next month, so this will most likely be his last contract. I'm not sure what the situation is with him and Florida, but I suspect without that knowledge that Ekblad will extend with Florida. So, this is probably just wishful thinking; unfortunately.

Honestly, if I had to choose between the two though, I'd pick a good 1st pairing defenseman next to Slavin over a 2C. We can manage with KK as our 2C. However, we can't ignore getting Slavin a good partner after Burns is gone.

Tulsky did say in a pre-game interview last night with Mike and Tripp in response to Mike's question about whether there were any moves left: "we are always looking at trying to improve the team." I think for this season, after getting Rantanen and Hall, we'll add a depth guy at most; like a 4C. We'll probably keep Andersen too, and not get a new goalie. The goalie and blueline moves will happen in the offseason at the earliest IMO.

I think that makes sense but does forget Walker, who I think holds Morrow out another year.


I think a short term RD is more likely than Ekblad while Morrow finishes maturing. Otherwise it’s Slavin-Walker, which is a solid pair but not the shutdown they might need.

 

[Svechhammer]

I mean if Mikko's starting point is $14m, yeah I can see why everything fell apart.

 

[Sigurd]

I think that makes sense but does forget Walker, who I think holds Morrow out another year.


I think a short term RD is more likely than Ekblad while Morrow finishes maturing. Otherwise it’s Slavin-Walker, which is a solid pair but not the shutdown they might need.

Yeah, I suppose to make that projected blue line a reality, Walker would be traded.

Also, I agree that a short term RD is more likely than us getting Ekblad. It'd be amazing if we pulled another elite player (Ekblad) to our team within the same calendar year though, and would really solidify our blue line for many years. Seems like a tough battle to get him though.

Also, I just watched a clip on Sportsnet that was posted last night, and Elliote Friedman said:

"There was a time yesterday that I thought Pettersson would become a Carolina Hurricane."

Friedman was asked about Vancouver and Carolina: "not JT Miller? It was gonna have to be Pettersson?" And Friedman said:

"No, if they were gonna make the deal, it was gonna be Pettersson."


The video link starts when Friedman discusses Pettersson and Carolina.

So, it really was Rantanen vs EP40, and Miller was no longer being considered by Carolina.

 

[DaveG]

I'm taking this quote from the GDT since this long post is more appropriate here:

I'm not confident we do anything with the blue line this season. However, for now, I think we need to improve on the following:

2C, top 4 defenseman, and goalie.

I'm tired of Andersen missing half a season every year and he's kind of old now too, and while KK shows streaks of offense, I'm not sold on him being our guy long term for 2C. Once Burns retires, our RHD depth looks genuinely bad. Morrow won't be ready for the top pair next to Slavin next season, and at best, he might become ready later in the season after adjusting on the 3rd pair. Orlov we probably won't extend, and especially since I think Nikishin starts as the 2nd LHD.

This summer, I'd throw a Brinks money truck contract offer to Ekblad since he's a RHD, and slot him next to Slavin. So, until we feel Morrow is ready to be bumped up to the 2nd pairing, the lines would look like the following:

Slavin-Ekblad
Nikishin-Chatfield
Ghost-Morrow

That's a damn fine blue line, and after losing Burns, we still have a really big RHD on the top line who can also score points. Ekblad turns 29 years old next month, so this will most likely be his last contract. I'm not sure what the situation is with him and Florida, but I suspect without that knowledge that Ekblad will extend with Florida. So, this is probably just wishful thinking; unfortunately.

Honestly, if I had to choose between the two though, I'd pick a good 1st pairing defenseman next to Slavin over a 2C. We can manage with KK as our 2C. However, we can't ignore getting Slavin a good partner after Burns is gone.

Tulsky did say in a pre-game interview last night with Mike and Tripp in response to Mike's question about whether there were any moves left: "we are always looking at trying to improve the team." I think for this season, after getting Rantanen and Hall, we'll add a depth guy at most; like a 4C. We'll probably keep Andersen too, and not get a new goalie. The goalie and blueline moves will happen in the offseason at the earliest IMO.

in principle I agree with you but I'd look more toward Chychrun than Ekblad. LH shot but he often plays on the right side, and I think he'll come in a good chunk less on the money side of things. Both are a bit on the injury prone side unfortunately.

 

[Sigurd]

in principle I agree with you but I'd look more toward Chychrun than Ekblad. LH shot but he often plays on the right side, and I think he'll come in a good chunk less on the money side of things. Both are a bit on the injury prone side unfortunately.

Chychrun did cross my mind. I thought I read he has played on the right side despite being a left handed defenseman. That positional versatility is a plus with a blue line that might be influx with prospects getting into the lineup and adjusting (I'm thinking of Morrow particularly).

Yeah, he should be a lot more affordable, and he's about two years younger than Ekblad. Chychrun is about to turn 27.

*Edit* I just realized that if Chychrun plays on the same line with Slavin, it will be Jaccob and Jakob. Sounds like an injury law firm or something; lol. @DaveG

 

[chaz4hockey]

in principle I agree with you but I'd look more toward Chychrun than Ekblad. LH shot but he often plays on the right side, and I think he'll come in a good chunk less on the money side of things. Both are a bit on the injury prone side unfortunately.

Wouldn't his off-handedness not align with Canes style of play?

 

[spockBokk]

Yeah, I suppose to make that projected blue line a reality, Walker would be traded.

Also, I agree that a short term RD is more likely than us getting Ekblad. It'd be amazing if we pulled another elite player (Ekblad) to our team within the same calendar year though, and would really solidify our blue line for many years. Seems like a tough battle to get him though.

Also, I just watched a clip on Sportsnet that was posted last night, and Elliote Friedman said:

"There was a time yesterday that I thought Pettersson would become a Carolina Hurricane."

Friedman was asked about Vancouver and Carolina: "not JT Miller? It was gonna have to be Pettersson?" And Friedman said:

"No, if they were gonna make the deal, it was gonna be Pettersson."


The video link starts when Friedman discusses Pettersson and Carolina.

So, it really was Rantanen vs EP40, and Miller was no longer being considered by Carolina.

If Rantanen walks or Pettersson becomes a consistent 80-90pt 1C…

If and buts though.

I am a little surprised they went with UFA to be Rantanen over a sure 7yrs of Pettersson. Maybe the extra asset(s) needed to pry away Pettersson were too much to stomach. Either way, Rantanen is the better player, but I actually think Pettersson would have been the better fit.

I believe all will be moot as long as they end up extending Rantanen however, which I fully expect them to do.

I suppose I’d just have to make due if Rantanen walks after they win another cup, somehow I could live with that too.

 

[Unsustainable]

If Rantanen walks or Pettersson becomes a consistent 80-90pt 1C…

If and buts though.

I am a little surprised they went with UFA to be Rantanen over a sure 7yrs of Pettersson. Maybe the extra asset(s) needed to pry away Pettersson were too much to stomach. Either way, Rantanen is the better player, but I actually think Pettersson would have been the better fit.

I believe all will be moot as long as they end up extending Rantanen however, which I fully expect them to do.

I suppose I’d just have to make due if Rantanen walks after they win another cup, somehow I could live with that too.

I think us keeping Rantanen is pretty strong, we've got time to sell him on sticking with Aho. Not saying Petterson wouldnt have been a bad addition here, but outside of 1 100 point season, his numbers aren't much more than Aho the past few seasons. Where as Rantanen is a top 10 player every year.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

To me, Slavin's partner next year will either be Burns (1 year extension) or Karlsson (via trade and salary retention - only has 2 seasons remaining). I know that neither move is particularly glamorous, but simply-put, the Canes just need a bridge acquisition while Morrow develops his defensive game in the AHL. Ekblad and his injury history has felt like a ticking time bomb for years now.

Also, no way was Vancouver going to trade Pettersson after they just inked him for max term.

 

[mikeyfan]

Is Seth Jarvis ready to step in as the #2 Center on this team?

Blake. Aho. Ratanen

Svech Jarvis (Trade) or Hall

Martinook, Staal. Robinson

Jaaska KK Rolsovic or Call up.

Now 22 years of age, Center appears to be his natural position and he is about the same age as Aho was when Rod made him a center.

 

[Chrispy]

I can see Jarvis transitioning to C in the off-season. I don't see Rod making the move mid season.

Maybe if Jarvis didn't make 4 Nations they could work on it during the break. But it would be a major transition, not just for Jarvis but his line mates as well.

 

[mikeyfan]

I can see Jarvis transitioning to C in the off-season. I don't see Rod making the move mid season.

Maybe if Jarvis didn't make 4 Nations they could work on it during the break. But it would be a major transition, not just for Jarvis but his line mates as well.

My thinking was it would open more trade options than just a center. I understand your point though and thanks.

 

[LakeLivin]

Longshot regarding our long term solution for a #2 center: instead of paying the premium a strong #2 center is likely to command, what about circling back to Jarvis? Gotta believe the cost of picking up a premium winger to replace him at wing would be cheaper than picking up a premium 2C. At 22yo you hope he might still bulk up some more. Intense training with Rod offseason on faceoffs, and maybe even some time running him with Rantanen who can take some faceoffs as needed? (You'd hate to split Aho and Rantanen but if doing so makes the overall lineup better?)

edit: I didn't see mikey and crispy's posts while I typed the above, lol

 

[MinJaBen]

I’m not sure if it has been considered, but what about Jarvis at 2C?

 

[WreckingCrew]

If we could get Ekblad on the Orlov deal as a transitionary piece that would be ideal?

 

[TheBigLetowski]

With the Mikko move and GMET on the prowl, I’m sure anxious to see what comes/goes before the deadline. I think the org is still wanting a 2C. Also need another C to play on the 4th unless that’s KK.