Roster Building Xxvi Picking Our Teeth Off the Ice

[To Be Determined]

Leaf fans and others in the Atlantic would say that our Division is very weak and the ability to win a series is not that big of an accomplishment (not sure I disagree with that).

Yeah, metro is having a meh year but the atlantic for the last few years has been a four team division plus four bottom feeders.

Now, if they want to say playoff vasi and (lately) bob makes the atlantic harder, i won't say much.

 

[A Star is Burns]

I mean, the Laffs lost to bad Columbus and Montreal teams so who gives a rat's ass what they think about the playoffs? And it's always meaningful to win a playoff series. Beating teams in a long series isn't easy, especially at least one each season is tough. Kinda why other teams haven't been doing it.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

According to the odds today, there’s a 78% chance we play Jersey in the first round, a 12% chance we play Columbus, 6% we play the Rangers, 2% chance we play the Islanders, and a 1% chance we play Ottawa (which I believe only happens if we overtake Washington, yeah?)

But all I could see is that 2% chance for the Islanders and think “Not again.”

 

[Sigurd]

I think Marner could be a style fit for the Canes for several reasons.

1. He's an elite scorer. Would probably lead our team in points.
2. He plays defense and can PK. We like our big boys to get minutes on the kill.
3. Would improve the puck movement on the powerplay, perhaps dramatically.
4. He could see Carolina as having a better chance of winning the cup as Toronto.
5. Signing him would give us enough top 6 wing options to continue our recent strategy of having three #3 centers and surrounding them with wing talent.
6. Maybe he prefers a quieter market to play in? I have no idea on that one. He could wear his Mickey Mouse shirt to games and no one would care.
7. He turns 28 in May. So if we sign him for 7 years, we'd have him from age 28-35, which is a good bit better than say 30-37.
8. We have all the capspace in the world. Certainly the most cap space of any contending team.

I don't think it will work out, but a boy can dream. I'd have Marner as my #1 target going into the offseason. A guy like Bennett is a warrior but I don't see his contract holding up as well 7 years from now as Marner's.

Although I'd still like to get a good 2C, I still wouldn't be opposed to getting Marner. You talking about him improving our puck movement on the powerplay alone is very appealing; never mind everything else. Is Marner good with zone entries with the puck? If so, yeah, he'd improve our powerplay dramatically.

Back to a 2C, I think Horvat and Barzal being made available in a trade this summer is a long shot, and even more so to a team in the same division as the Islanders (us). Even if they do rebuild, I doubt they'd trade one of them to us, but maybe they decide it doesn't matter because they won't be competing against us for a long time. So, without those two Isles centers, that only leaves Benett (free agency), and MAYBE EP40 via a trade (posters here have also voiced concern about his play).

2C options this summer don't look good with only Benett and maybe EP40. Unless there's a surprise 2C that will be available via trade that isn't on people's radars.

If we don't sign Marner though, we almost have to sign Ehlers IMO. One or the other would be good signings. Ehlers gives us more cap space though.

Meanwhile, on the blue line, hopefully Morrow is ready to be on the 1st pairing with Slavin starting next season. Not sure what the front office will do about Burns though; they might extend him 1 more year.

 

[chaz4hockey]

Joel Eriksson Ek was rumored to have been part of a trade discussion between Minny and Vancouver at the TDL.

He is big, 6' 3" 210lbs and at 28 is in his prime.

He has only played 42 games this year and has been injured but scored 30 goals the year before (don't know if that impacts him going forward); he has very favorable team deal with 4 years left at $5.250M per.

FO% could be better but perhaps just needs RBA tutelage.

thoughts?

 

[spockBokk]

Although I'd still like to get a good 2C, I still wouldn't be opposed to getting Marner. You talking about him improving our puck movement on the powerplay alone is very appealing; never mind everything else. Is Marner good with zone entries with the puck? If so, yeah, he'd improve our powerplay dramatically.

Back to a 2C, I think Horvat and Barzal being made available in a trade this summer is a long shot, and even more so to a team in the same division as the Islanders (us). Even if they do rebuild, I doubt they'd trade one of them to us, but maybe they decide it doesn't matter because they won't be competing against us for a long time. So, without those two Isles centers, that only leaves Benett (free agency), and MAYBE EP40 via a trade (posters here have also voiced concern about his play).

2C options this summer don't look good with only Benett and maybe EP40. Unless there's a surprise 2C that will be available via trade that isn't on people's radars.

If we don't sign Marner though, we almost have to sign Ehlers IMO. One or the other would be good signings. Ehlers gives us more cap space though.

Meanwhile, on the blue line, hopefully Morrow is ready to be on the 1st pairing with Slavin starting next season. Not sure what the front office will do about Burns though; they might extend him 1 more year.

I think they’d go after Karlsson before re-upping Burns, but I don’t expect them to do that. I think Morrow is basically a lock for a roster spot next year

 

[SlavinAway]

Joel Eriksson Ek was rumored to have been part of a trade discussion between Minny and Vancouver at the TDL.

He is big, 6' 3" 210lbs and at 28 is in his prime.

He has only played 42 games this year and has been injured but scored 30 goals the year before (don't know if that impacts him going forward); he has very favorable team deal with 4 years left at $5.250M per.

FO% could be better but perhaps just needs RBA tutelage.

thoughts?

I would think Erikkson Ek would only be available in a hockey trade and not for futures.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Joel Eriksson Ek was rumored to have been part of a trade discussion between Minny and Vancouver at the TDL.

He is big, 6' 3" 210lbs and at 28 is in his prime.

He has only played 42 games this year and has been injured but scored 30 goals the year before (don't know if that impacts him going forward); he has very favorable team deal with 4 years left at $5.250M per.

FO% could be better but perhaps just needs RBA tutelage.

thoughts?

That talk was likely for Pettersson, as a player-for-player swap.

 

[Tryamw]

Any updates on Stillman?

 

[To Be Determined]

Any updates on Stillman?

After eating the skate? He was actually on waivers when that happened and went to chicago the next day. He played another day after that. The ahl had a nice article about it on their site.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

2C options this summer don't look good with only Benett and maybe EP40. Unless there's a surprise 2C that will be available via trade that isn't on people's radars.

Duchene is the really interesting one, to me, at least as a short-term option. If the Canes are interested in a long-term solution, however, an underrated possibility is an offer sheet to a young player on a cap-strapped club who is caught napping. Depending on what the Wild do in free agency, Marco Rossi could be a name to watch there.

 

[Chrispy]

Duchene is the really interesting one, to me, at least as a short-term option. If the Canes are interested in a long-term solution, however, an underrated possibility is an offer sheet to a young player on a cap-strapped club who is caught napping. Depending on what the Wild do in free agency, Marco Rossi could be a name to watch there.

The Canes don't have their own 3rd round pick in 2026; it was traded in the 2023 Ghost rental. I believe that eliminates all offer sheets between 4.58M (2nd as compensation) and 11.45M AAV (4 1sts as compensation.)

I think that pretty much eliminates any potential offer sheets.

 

[chaz4hockey]

The Canes don't have their own 3rd round pick in 2026; it was traded in the 2023 Ghost rental. I believe that eliminates all offer sheets between 4.58M (2nd as compensation) and 11.45M AAV (4 1sts as compensation.)

I think that pretty much eliminates any potential offer sheets.

Thanks for the clarification. I'd think the Canes could trade for one?

 

[DaveG]

Thanks for the clarification. I'd think the Canes could trade for one?

It needs to be a teams 3rd round pick so even if we were to go out and trade for the rangers one it wouldn't help.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

The Canes don't have their own 3rd round pick in 2026; it was traded in the 2023 Ghost rental. I believe that eliminates all offer sheets between 4.58M (2nd as compensation) and 11.45M AAV (4 1sts as compensation.)

I think that pretty much eliminates any potential offer sheets.

St. Louis made a quick draft pick swap to get their own picks back before they offer-sheeted Broberg and Holloway. A similar thing can be done with Utah.

 

[chaz4hockey]

Athletic with an article today on free agent goalie market...they list Freddie as the #1 option. The list. Who are you taking? archived version: https://archive.ph/ZUWyk

 

[Chrispy]

With both Capitals, Vemeljka, and Lankinen now signed goalie appears to be re-sign Andersen short term or trade for someone.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

With both Capitals, Vemeljka, and Lankinen now signed goalie appears to be re-sign Andersen short term or trade for someone.

Honestly, Andersen is still playing very well. He just gets weird injuries and ailments sometimes. Get a good #3 and I'd be fine with Andersen again.

 

[CandyCanes]

It’s a vicious cycle for Canes fans and Anderson. When he’s healthy everyone is happy he’s here and more than open to bringing him back. As soon as he gets injured everyone seems like there’s no more point in keeping him. Bunch of flippy floppers.

 

[chaz4hockey]

Looking ahead to next year and before any roster moves, our lineup is still comprised of a younger core (I highlighted Jost and Roslovic as I think they won't be part of the roster next year). Age is as off 10/14/25:

 

[bleedgreen]

It’s a vicious cycle for Canes fans and Anderson. When he’s healthy everyone is happy he’s here and more than open to bringing him back. As soon as he gets injured everyone seems like there’s no more point in keeping him. Bunch of flippy floppers.

I flopped on the side of letting him go before the last contract and have never left. Let him go please.

The only reasons at other times for keeping him was flat out not having any other choices - or just because we didn’t want to pay someone more.

 

[chaz4hockey]

I wonder if there any goalies in Europe worth looking at?

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Looking ahead to next year and before any roster moves, our lineup is still comprised of a younger core (I highlighted Jost and Roslovic as I think they won't be part of the roster next year). Age is as off 10/14/25:

View attachment 993053

To me, Nadeau needs more development before he's ready for the NHL. I'd give him one more full AHL season and load up on UFA/trades for this year. Next season is definitely Morrow's and Nikishin's time to shine, though.

 

[LakeLivin]

It’s a vicious cycle for Canes fans and Anderson. When he’s healthy everyone is happy he’s here and more than open to bringing him back. As soon as he gets injured everyone seems like there’s no more point in keeping him. Bunch of flippy floppers.

I don't know that it's as much "flippy flopping" as it is almost reflexive negativity /pessimism, and it's not limited to Andersen.

Where are all our "if Canes even make the playoffs they'll never get past the first round" peeps right now, lol?

#emotionaltourettesyndrome

 

[WreckingCrew]

It’s a vicious cycle for Canes fans and Anderson. When he’s healthy everyone is happy he’s here and more than open to bringing him back. As soon as he gets injured everyone seems like there’s no more point in keeping him. Bunch of flippy floppers.

It's not just the injuries though...it's RBAs undying loyalty to him in the playoffs even when he looks cooked (like Burns). It's also the fact that when he gets injured, it's rarely a game or two and usually weeks or months of unknown. He's great in a limited role but his injury frequency makes every hard save scary