We are going to the playoffs, I think!

[tarheelhockey]

Hainsey's certainly one of the more movable pieces on the team, in terms of being a decent but not irreplaceable player. If they were really committed to tearing it down at the deadline, he's a guy I'd expect them to shop.

That said, he really seems to have found a niche here and I'm not sure where he stands in the long-term plans. They might have him tagged as a guy to keep around as a mentor for the younger D.

 

[NotOpie]

I wouldn't be surprised if the only guy that gets moved at deadline is Ryan Murphy, maybe one of Hainsey and Liles, but the more I think of it the more I believe they are going to continue to push for the playoffs, just not by being buyers at deadline time.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

remember 2010 when we traded everyone at the deadline?

that was a fun deadline

we dont do many big things

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I wouldn't be surprised if the only guy that gets moved at deadline is Ryan Murphy, maybe one of Hainsey and Liles, but the more I think of it the more I believe they are going to continue to push for the playoffs, just not by being buyers at deadline time.

What type of deal do you think they'd move Murphy in if it's a deadline deal and they aren't buyers? My way of looking at it is that no contending team is going to want Murphy as he won't help them this year. And any non-contending team would be looking to sell off vets / UFAs to be at the deadline, not a young player like the Canes would be looking for.

I DO think Murphy will be traded, but my guess is that it's either part of a package deal now (ie..including him in a deal with one of our UFAs) or they'll wait til the off season / draft.

Re: Hainsey, I think the Canes keep either Hainsey or Liles next year. Given how close they Canes are to competing, I can't see them losing both and going with Wiz (who is recovering from knee surgery so who knows how effective he'll be) and Faulk as the only vets on D. If one of the young D has any sort of sophomore slump or Fleury/Carrick/etc.. aren't ready to step up, they'd be screwed.

 

[Joe McGrath]

^Hainswy is signed for next year, correct?

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

^Hainswy is signed for next year, correct?

Correct. What I was trying to say was that if someone made a really good offer for Hainsey, then I think they'd try hard to sign Liles as to not have only Wiz and Faulk as the vets next year.

Realistically though, I think they just keep Hainsey. Liles would likley be the one moving on.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

In my opinion Jaccob Slavin has been as good or better than Hanifin many nights. I value him as one of the highest assets in our organEYEzation. I think I'd go:

1) Justin Faulk
2) Noah Hanifin
3) Jeff Skinner
4) Jaccob Slavin
5) Elias Lindholm
6) Victor Rask
7) Jordan Staal
8) Haydn Fleury? Not sure here
Pesce/Aho/Carrick/McKeown/LaRose/DesRoschers/Heereema

I wanted to think about this some before responding. I think you are right that Slavin is rated pretty highly within the organization, but I'm not sure I'd put him that high simply because of how deep the Canes are at D. Even without Slavin, the team could ice: Hanifin-Faulk, Fleury-Pesce (or McKeown) as the top 4 down the road and it could be a damn good defense. Take away Rask, Lindholm or especially Jordan Staal and the team is in a world of hurt right now and the forseeable future. Jordan handles all the tough assignments that no other center on our team could handle now, or in the near future. He has pretty much made viable NHLrs out of Nestrasil and Nordstrom. Right now (based on a combination of long term value, impact the next few years and relative depth at the position), I think I'd go:

1) Faulk
2) J. Staal
3) Hanifin
4) Skinner
5) Lindholm
6) Rask
7) Slavin
8) Aho
9) Fleury
10) Pesce

This is in terms of skaters. I have a tough time putting goalies and skaters on the same list and goalies are so hard to project anyhow.

 

[Ole Gil]

It's a very odd person (IMO) that believes the foundation *hasn't* been laid already and the rest is just icing on the cake.

The potential problem, is there is nobody in the system who looks like they can anchor a 1st line. Hopefully they can get lucky with a later 1st, or FA, or trade, and even if they keep Eric, I think it's in the best interest of the team for him not to be the best player on the top line.

Needing a franchise forward is not a small problem to overcome, and is the thing that worries me the most going forward.

 

[Sens1Canes2]

The potential problem, is there is nobody in the system who looks like they can anchor a 1st line. Hopefully they can get lucky with a later 1st, or FA, or trade, and even if they keep Eric, I think it's in the best interest of the team for him not to be the best player on the top line.

Needing a franchise forward is not a small problem to overcome, and is the thing that worries me the most going forward.

That's exactly what I was *trying* to convey. The Canes have for the most part addressed the depth issue in the organization. We need a star or two now (I shudder to use the word star with Staal...) and if it happens to be Eric for 2 more years, then that's ok with me at the right price tag. You won't find one at 26th in the draft. And I doubt...I could be wrong, but I doubt...that any sort of package would get the #1 thru #3 picks in this year's draft.

It's either keep Staal or sign a high-powered UFA.

 

[Ole Gil]

That's exactly what I was *trying* to convey. The Canes have for the most part addressed the depth issue in the organization. We need a star or two now (I shudder to use the word star with Staal...) and if it happens to be Eric for 2 more years, then that's ok with me at the right price tag. You won't find one at 26th in the draft. And I doubt...I could be wrong, but I doubt...that any sort of package would get the #1 thru #3 picks in this year's draft.

It's either keep Staal or sign a high-powered UFA.

I'm with you 97%. I just have the one nagging little voice in the back of my head worrying they are coming out of the rebuild 1 year too early before they got 1 more key piece to the puzzle. Of course they aren't out of the rebuild officially until they get past this deadline. So maybe we see a deal that fixes just that in the next couple weeks.

 

[NotOpie]

What type of deal do you think they'd move Murphy in if it's a deadline deal and they aren't buyers? My way of looking at it is that no contending team is going to want Murphy as he won't help them this year. And any non-contending team would be looking to sell off vets / UFAs to be at the deadline, not a young player like the Canes would be looking for.

I DO think Murphy will be traded, but my guess is that it's either part of a package deal now (ie..including him in a deal with one of our UFAs) or they'll wait til the off season / draft.

Re: Hainsey, I think the Canes keep either Hainsey or Liles next year. Given how close they Canes are to competing, I can't see them losing both and going with Wiz (who is recovering from knee surgery so who knows how effective he'll be) and Faulk as the only vets on D. If one of the young D has any sort of sophomore slump or Fleury/Carrick/etc.. aren't ready to step up, they'd be screwed.

Agree on Hainsey and Liles. If we move a roster defender my guess is it is one of them. I also think Peters likes having a couple of those older guys to tutor the youth. I just don't think he needs more than two of Hainsey, Liles, or Wisniewski.

My point about Murphy is the closer he gets to next season the less his value is because of his waiver eligibility. He is again tearing it up for a Checkers team that seems to have lost its way. Maybe look to a team like Arizona that needs blueline help and has a stable of forward talent or potentially a pick. I was thinking that perhaps there was another "underperforming" guy that needed a change of scenery (Kerdiles, Rattie, or Rychel, for example).

I do agree that there's likely a better chance for him to be package with a UFA to enhance the overall return, but my "Spidey Sense" is telling me that we might stay closer to "standing pat". Just a hunch.

 

[GindyDraws]

Chicago tanked? I just thought they sucked. And Yes, the Pens tanked to get Lemieux, but again, they just sucked (and lucked out) to get Crosby.

Oh, it it's nice of those teams to say hi to Hank.

Nah, Chicago sucked until the old man croaked and his son had radical new ideas for the team that involved (gasp!) competing.

But, really... 9 years of us sucking, and what do we have to show for it?

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

If my cipher'n is right, the Canes have the 5th best record in the NHL since 12/1.

Oct/Nov: Canes were 8-12-4 with 20 points in 24 games (.833PPG). They were also a -20 in Goal diff.
Today: Canes are 26-21-10 with 62 points in 57 games (1.09PPG). They are now -11 in Goal diff.
Dec1 - Today: Canes are 18-9-6 with 42 points in 33 games (1.27 PPG) and a +9 in Goal Diff.

The top teams in the NHL since 12/1:

Wash: 1.59 PPG
FLA: 1.41
CHI: 1.39
ANA: 1.39
CAR: 1.27
TB: 1.26
DAL: 1.24
COL: 1.23
LAK: 1.21
STL: 1.20

If the Canes had played at the same pace the whole year as they have since 12/1, they'd have ended up with 104 points and would easily make the playoffs. If the Canes play at the same pace (1.27) the rest of the way, they'll end up with 94 points which puts them squarely on the bubble I think. With all the teams in the mix and in front of them, IMO, they'll need to play at a slightly better pace than they have since 12/1 to make it.

 

[VAcaniac]

One of the reasons I'm a little bullish on the Canes is that I really don't see another team that has been on the outside looking in having any chance. Maybe give a very slim chance to the Flyers. But outside of them, they're all garbage.

At this rate, Montreal might be competing for the #1 pick by April.

I'm not sold on the Devils yet either.

 

[Hockeywatching]

As someone who has only followed hockey through the Canes this past year and a half, this has been very exciting to say the least. It gives one definite emotion and fire watching the team both on tv and in person when these games suddenly have playoff implications. I read this board quite a bit and it's even exciting to note the mood here change so positively.

On that note, I've been very fortunate to be able to go to about 50%+ of the home games with student rush. From y'all's experience how much would first round playoff tickets cost, seats where my back is touching the wall and my head is touching the ceiling of PNC? Would they be lower than before due to lack of attendance? Or higher due to ticket inflation?

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

As someone who has only followed hockey through the Canes this past year and a half, this has been very exciting to say the least. It gives one definite emotion and fire watching the team both on tv and in person when these games suddenly have playoff implications. I read this board quite a bit and it's even exciting to note the mood here change so positively.

On that note, I've been very fortunate to be able to go to about 50%+ of the home games with student rush. From y'all's experience how much would first round playoff tickets cost, seats where my back is touching the wall and my head is touching the ceiling of PNC? Would they be lower than before due to lack of attendance? Or higher due to ticket inflation?

Based on the past, tickets will be marked up from the current list/full price and will increase with each round should they progress. There won't be any discounts due to lack of attendance as that won't be an issue.

 

[the halleJOKEL]

yeah if they are in the playoffs the building will sellout every game

 

[Hockeywatching]

I figured as much. Any idea on the average markup for nosebleeds? 150-200%?

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I figured as much. Any idea on the average markup for nosebleeds? 150-200%?

Here's what they listed a few years back.

http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=87630

 

[tomdundo]

I was going to respond that it's hard to say since it's been so long since they've been in the playoffs, and that I'd spitball somewhere in the $40 range.

Looks like BBA's link shows I'm accurate.

 

[Hockeywatching]

Awesome, thanks guys I appreciate it.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

The other thing to keep in mind is that (I believe) the Season Ticket Holders get first priority on add'l playoff tickets also, so certain areas tend to get bought up quickly.

 

[NotOpie]

If my cipher'n is right, the Canes have the 5th best record in the NHL since 12/1.

Oct/Nov: Canes were 8-12-4 with 20 points in 24 games (.833PPG). They were also a -20 in Goal diff.
Today: Canes are 26-21-10 with 62 points in 57 games (1.09PPG). They are now -11 in Goal diff.
Dec1 - Today: Canes are 18-9-6 with 42 points in 33 games (1.27 PPG) and a +9 in Goal Diff.

The top teams in the NHL since 12/1:

Wash: 1.59 PPG
FLA: 1.41
CHI: 1.39
ANA: 1.39
CAR: 1.27
TB: 1.26
DAL: 1.24
COL: 1.23
LAK: 1.21
STL: 1.20

If the Canes had played at the same pace the whole year as they have since 12/1, they'd have ended up with 104 points and would easily make the playoffs. If the Canes play at the same pace (1.27) the rest of the way, they'll end up with 94 points which puts them squarely on the bubble I think. With all the teams in the mix and in front of them, IMO, they'll need to play at a slightly better pace than they have since 12/1 to make it.

16-8-1 get's us to 95.

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

94-95 points should be enough to sneak in. Let's keep this up. This team is fun

 

[VAcaniac]

I read this board quite a bit and it's even exciting to note the mood here change so positively.

The board hasn't been this positive in years. I'm usually pessimist #1 considering how the last 6 years have gone. 2 heart-wrenching seasons missing the playoffs in game 82.

I just get this feeling we finally have found a coach and a GM who know what the **** they're doing. Been a long time coming. And it's a lot of fun watching these young guys develop on the blue line.