Roster Building XXVI: Picking Our Teeth Off the Ice

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If Slavin can make TDA look decent defensively, he can make a developing Morrow look like a gem.

Or just bring TDA back.... again..... lol

Yes… but that was also during the days when we can a monster 2nd pair in Skjei + Pesce and Chatfield in the 3rd pairing. The same impact depth across the D isn’t there anymore, regardless of Nikishin coming in and blowing the doors off.

We need a legit 1st pairing.

 

[chaz4hockey]

We need Ehlers. We need top 6 LW help and that is him.

I don't see a problem with having Jarvis, Blake, Stankoven in the top 9 on the right side. That's an awesome area of strength to have especially when all of them can move up and down as needed. But on the left side we have Svech and that's it.

Other names out there would be Marchand, Mangiapane, Kuzemenko and I don't love any of those but Marchand on the Canes would be hilarious.

For Centers I can't see Giroux leaving Ottawa considering they are actually getting good and will probably make the playoffs this year.

Tavares, Nelson, Gourde, Grandlund don't fit the age range we would normally looking at so it really is Bennett as the main C option there. He will have a lot of interest though. I wouldn't be opposed to any of those other guys but the deal would have to be right of course.

Also think the Canes need another RD. I can't see Morrow getting the jump to first pairing with Slavin just like that but a Burns replacement would have to be don via trade not UFA

How about Chatty or Walker to pair with Slavin next year and move Morrow down?

 

[MinJaBen]

How about Chatty or Walker to pair with Slavin next year and move Morrow down?

I think Walker would work well with Slavin (almost anyone would) but then you either have both rookies together or Ghost and Morrow together...neither is going to make the coaching staff sleep well at night. I think there will be some pair shuffling quite a bit in October if both Morrow and Nikishin make the roster next year.

 

[spockBokk]

Morrow with Slavin, long term, makes the most sense. I’m not sure that makes sense next season based on Morrow’s defensive deficiencies. However, I think with what Morrow has shown over the past few weeks cements his roster spot next season, at least as a 3rd pair option. I just don’t see the Canes going out and acquiring a another RD with what Morrow has shown and with Chatfield and Walker under contract for a few more seasons each.

If they did go out and get a RD, I’d think Morrow gets traded in a package for a big fish. But…just don’t see that happening. Morrow seems like a perfect fit for what the Canes want out of a defenseman, I think the defensive issues will work themselves out with experience and he probably eventually ends up next to Slavin anyway. He’s also got years of team control left.

I could see them being interested in Karlsson, for real cheap, but again, don’t see the need with Morrow still on an ELC.

I think they go all in on Ehlers and potentially Bennett in UFA and also make a trade for a top 6 F at the draft.

 

[Borsig]

At least try the kid with Slavin. He can't be worse defensively than TDA

 

[bleedgreen]

At least try the kid with Slavin. He can't be worse defensively than TDA

Going into this year I’d say Morrow is way behind TDA it’s not even close. We haven’t really seen Morrow play much defense yet so it’s hard to say where he really is on the improvement scale.

 

[chaz4hockey]

Going into this year I’d say Morrow is way behind TDA it’s not even close. We haven’t really seen Morrow play much defense yet so it’s hard to say where he really is on the improvement scale.

I'll need to check who he has played against and in what zone but the the staff has given him an increasing amount of minutes each game since the first 2.

FWIW: I have complete faith in Gleason working with him to improve his defensive game. Morrow clearly will never be a Slavin, perhaps not even a Chatty on D but OTH he provides the Canes with an offensive dimension that their D Corps is surely missing (big time btw). I'd continue to play him rotating some vets not named Burns for rest games recognizing that the big picture is to get Nikishin on-board this year and perhaps having Orlov as a happy camper is important too.

+5 after 5 games is terrific (yeah, I know about how stats folks feel about +/- but still)

 

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At least try the kid with Slavin. He can't be worse defensively than TDA

Well I think the idea is that you want to go into the season with a better solution to this rather than ' try the kid out first and if it doesn't work we look at something else'.

I like Morrow a lot and think he will be a big part of the Canes D-core moving forward but I think a 2-3 year solution for the 1st pairing with Slavin would be ideal. I see that as the Canes window to go for it while him and Aho are still in their prime and guys like Svech and Jarvis are locked up on good deals. Players like Blake and Stankoven will continue to improve.

Hopefully Kochetkov continues towards being a solid #1 but the right side defence needs an upgrade.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

 

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Uhhhh... I appreciate your imagination and willingness to put yourself out there.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Uhhhh... I appreciate your imagination and willingness to put yourself out there.

What's there to lose?

 

[SvechneJerk]

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The ONLY way Nashville is moving Forsberg is if they commit to a rebuild (which I can't see Trotz doing - cause that would mean his 1st year moves put the team in that position) & Forsberg saying he wants out (also unlikely).

But if they did, you have to get Saros included in that trade, which I would think in a rebuild, they'd want to move him before his NMC kicks in.

Also, I can't see any team wanting to pay Duchene anywhere near that number.

My $0.02.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Also, I can't see any team wanting to pay Duchene anywhere near that number.

The key to that Duchene contract isn't the $11M...it's the one year. Get a PPG guy for a season, then when it expires, they can spend ~$21M to lock up Morrow/Nikishin/Stankoven long-term. If the Canes are concerned about age-related decline with the best centers on the market (I expect Bennett to stay in Florida) but want to outbid other teams, this type of contract could be enticing to the Nelson/Duchene/Tavares contingency.

 

[SvechneJerk]

The key to that Duchene contract isn't the $11M...it's the one year. Get a PPG guy for a season, then when it expires, they can spend ~$21M to lock up Morrow/Nikishin/Stankoven long-term. If the Canes are concerned about age-related decline with the best centers on the market (I expect Bennett to stay in Florida), this type of contract could be enticing to the Nelson/Duchene/Tavares contingent.

I mean, I read your post, so what I wrote still stands. Just think our FO, with how they operate, would rather take Seguin off their hands for, idk, 2026 2nd & their 2027 1st + then to pay Duchene $11M, even for the 1 year - IF he would even do that.

 

[TheBigLetowski]

Even at 1yr, who would play 2C after Duchene? I'd rather us use the 1st's and whatever else to get EP.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

I mean, I read your post, so what I wrote still stands. Just think our FO, with how they operate, would rather take Seguin off their hands for, idk, 2026 2nd & their 2027 1st + then to pay Duchene $11M, even for the 1 year - IF he would even do that.

Seguin isn't a bad idea at all, but the injuries scare me. I need to see how he looks this postseason before I would be comfortable with taking on that contract. It's also important for the Canes to build a roster next season that empties out enough cap space to pay the young guns for as long as possible, and Seguin's contract has two seasons remaining, meaning that he'll be on the books when the Canes will have to pay Morrow/Nikishin/Blake/Stankoven.

 

[Borsig]

Again. Try to train stankoven to be your 2c unless you think hes too small. If so then IDK what to tell you.

Maybe get a guy for a year but the kid is a natural C

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Again. Try to train stankoven to be your 2c unless you think hes too small. If so then IDK what to tell you.

Maybe get a guy for a year but the kid is a natural C

Marco Rossi is the blueprint, and Stankoven has a lot of qualities that could translate to the center position, but it is a risky play that I'm not sure the Canes would be willing to pull off.

 

[bleedgreen]

I'll need to check who he has played against and in what zone but the the staff has given him an increasing amount of minutes each game since the first 2.

FWIW: I have complete faith in Gleason working with him to improve his defensive game. Morrow clearly will never be a Slavin, perhaps not even a Chatty on D but OTH he provides the Canes with an offensive dimension that their D Corps is surely missing (big time btw). I'd continue to play him rotating some vets not named Burns for rest games recognizing that the big picture is to get Nikishin on-board this year and perhaps having Orlov as a happy camper is important too.

+5 after 5 games is terrific (yeah, I know about how stats folks feel about +/- but still)

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I get you, yes plus/minus is a tough stat. We’re on a winning streak and it’s a team stat really. I don’t do the fancy stuff, I know he was getting heavily sheltered early. He got more minutes in this last game we were winning handily. To me it comes down to coverage deep and decisions with the puck and charging forward. If he can handle those two things then he’s a playa and he has a chance of staying up.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

I'm personally incredibly high on Blake but that package doesn't even come close to getting Forsberg...

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

I'm personally incredibly high on Blake but that package doesn't even come close to getting Forsberg...

It's a base package. Obviously the Canes can add.

 

[chaz4hockey]

I didn't realize this but folks on the Stars site are worried about a Robertson contract renewal. Similar to Necas, his contract expires next year.

 

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I didn't realize this but folks on the Stars site are worried about a Robertson contract renewal. Similar to Necas, his contract expires next year.

Ya and it's an odd situation in that he's only got 1 RFA year left. If you're Robertson, unless they are giving you the full bag then you might as well do a 1 year deal and become a free agent.

He started the year out rough but now is back to PPG. Maybe the 109 point season was a blip but he's proven himself to be PPG at the very least. Dude will get paid big

 

[Borsig]

Ya and it's an odd situation in that he's only got 1 RFA year left. If you're Robertson, unless they are giving you the full bag then you might as well do a 1 year deal and become a free agent.

He started the year out rough but now is back to PPG. Maybe the 109 point season was a blip but he's proven himself to be PPG at the very least. Dude will get paid big

Robertson isnt Necas. Robertson is a much different more canes like player.

 

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Robertson isnt Necas. Robertson is a much different more canes like player.

OK... I wasn't really comparing them in anyway other than their contract situations and both needing new ones in a year. Necas being a UFA and Robertson having 1 year of RFA remaining which is rare especially for really good players.