SlapShots
Well-known member
If there was ever a tropical sounding sporting event, this is it. Islanders against Hurricanes. Can't you just hear the steel drums, feel the sand between your toes? No? There's always the tailgating- 82 degrees on a Friday afternoon, partly cloudy and only a small chance of rain. Of note, this is the ONLY game tonight...
After a long off season, the Hurricanes' have their home opener, hosting the NY Islanders, their Metropolitan division rivals and fellow cellar dwellers. This is the first of a back-to-back. The Hurricanes are without Jeff SKinner (concussion) and Jordan Staal (broken leg), two very significant players in the Hurricanes desire to get back into playoff contention. We've been told that this will be offence by committee, players stepping up and younger players like Victor Rask and Chris Terry being given ample opportunity to earn their NHL creds. New faces also include Brad Malone and Jay McClement. And from the what's old is new department, Tim Gleason is back.
When other teams re-tooled this summer, they did it with their on ice product. The Hurricanes' re-tooling took place anywhere but the ice. Ron Francis took the GM's chair as expected as Jim Rutherford was nudged out and other front office re-shuffling on Edwards Mill was done to give the new GM his own support staff and corporate types. The Canes also hired a new coach, Bill Peters, a Mike Babcock disciple and a guy who has earned this chance. We now have a coach who pursued coaching as a profession.
In the Islanders case, they hit the re-set button button with multiple player moves and signings. They committed to Jaro Halak in goal, added Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin to their forward ranks and in the past two weeks shored up their defense obtaining Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk from cap strained teams. This is not last year's Islanders. Also expect to see recent draft picks getting their chance, too-- Griffin Reinhart and Ryan Strome.
Look for Cam Ward to be in goal for the Hurricanes.
Let's get it started! Here's hoping to good games, highlight reel worthy goals (for) and a solid game tonight and on hell of a surprising season.
After a long off season, the Hurricanes' have their home opener, hosting the NY Islanders, their Metropolitan division rivals and fellow cellar dwellers. This is the first of a back-to-back. The Hurricanes are without Jeff SKinner (concussion) and Jordan Staal (broken leg), two very significant players in the Hurricanes desire to get back into playoff contention. We've been told that this will be offence by committee, players stepping up and younger players like Victor Rask and Chris Terry being given ample opportunity to earn their NHL creds. New faces also include Brad Malone and Jay McClement. And from the what's old is new department, Tim Gleason is back.
When other teams re-tooled this summer, they did it with their on ice product. The Hurricanes' re-tooling took place anywhere but the ice. Ron Francis took the GM's chair as expected as Jim Rutherford was nudged out and other front office re-shuffling on Edwards Mill was done to give the new GM his own support staff and corporate types. The Canes also hired a new coach, Bill Peters, a Mike Babcock disciple and a guy who has earned this chance. We now have a coach who pursued coaching as a profession.
In the Islanders case, they hit the re-set button button with multiple player moves and signings. They committed to Jaro Halak in goal, added Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin to their forward ranks and in the past two weeks shored up their defense obtaining Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk from cap strained teams. This is not last year's Islanders. Also expect to see recent draft picks getting their chance, too-- Griffin Reinhart and Ryan Strome.
Look for Cam Ward to be in goal for the Hurricanes.
Let's get it started! Here's hoping to good games, highlight reel worthy goals (for) and a solid game tonight and on hell of a surprising season.
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Feels good.
