We'll see how Aho+TT look 20 games in. I think judging them before that will be premature.
Agree. I don't see Aho as a guy who will come out of the gate quickly as his game seems to be more cerebral so he'll take time to adjust to the rink size, speed/size of the game, Canes system, teammates etc..
Guys like Skinner, who are goal scorers, can adapt more quickly and make an impact, and hit the ground running as a rookie more easily IMO.
The Aho//Lindholm//Teräväinen line is the thing I am most curious about on this whole team.
I'm obsessed with our 4th line as that is what will make or break this team. Will it be Bickell, or Torres, or Stalberg, or PDG, or Nordstrom, or Nestrasil, or McGinn, or Brown, or Foegele? Can anyone unseat McClement?
Don't envy the coaches and GM having to make this tough decision, which will likely define the fate of this team.
i know this is a joke but mcclement was just not good last year
too bad none of those guys are centers or hed have some competition
Brown is. And frankly, he's been one of the more impressive "non-NHLr" in the limited pre-season action I've seen. He's plays physical, seems to be responsible defensively, played on the PK, seems to skate well, etc..
Doc Emrick called out Brown for having a great game last night, fwiw.
I'm obsessed with our 4th line as that is what will make or break this team. Will it be Bickell, or Torres, or Stalberg, or PDG, or Nordstrom, or Nestrasil, or McGinn, or Brown, or Foegele? Can anyone unseat McClement?
Don't envy the coaches and GM having to make this tough decision, which will likely define the fate of this team.
The 4th line makes or breaks this team? I'm surprised to read that.
If anything (in my very humble opinion), there are a multitude of factors more important than the 4th line composition and performance.
Goaltending, sophomore slumps from the young D, goaltending, Aho-Lindholm-TT, goaltending, and Jordan Staal...
The 4th line makes or breaks this team? I'm surprised to read that.
If anything (in my very humble opinion), there are a multitude of factors more important than the 4th line composition and performance.
I know it was a joke, but the way the 4th line has been used in recent history, it could easily sink this team, or at least play a major part in sinking it.
McClement rolled in at a -17. That's a big hole to dig for an offense that looks like it is going to score 2 goals on a good night.
Looking at the line combos in the top 9, I think they're probably going to want the 4th line to play some meaningful minutes in the defensive zone again this year (rather than stick the kids out there or Skinner's line).
Maybe not the most important thing, but it is critical to the team the 4th line doesn't get destroyed every night like they did last year.
Sorry S1C2. It was a completely sarcastic post playing on how this board often focuses a lot of the angst on fringe player (Harrison, Terry, Malone, Dwyer, etc..) vs. the real problems the team face.
IMO, Goal scoring (or Lack there-of), particularly from our top 9; and goaltending are what is going to make or break this team.
Looking at the WCoH, the preseason, the first regular season game... what do you think is Teravainen's problem? How is he so completely lost?
Bickell in turn has looked actually useful in Canes?