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2019 Carolina Hurricanes Off Season Thread

cmaleski2 said:
Svech's assist totals would have been much higher last season if his creative/perfect passes were not being flubbed up by the likes of Martinook and Wallmark for much of the season. Svech looks like a highly capable sniper, but he made some unbelievable high end passes as well last season only to watch them not result in goals.
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This is what the advanced metrics really illuminated. Svech was driving his line fairly consistently at age 18 and with linemates that didn't really help much in the offensive zone. That was fine in Year 1 when the team wanted to protect him from too much responsibility and allow him to find his game in all three zones, but hopefully Year 2 will see Brindy taking the training wheels off the way he largely did in the playoffs. I'm convinced this kid can be special if handled correctly, and it's time to let him roll with some guys who can play up to his level.
 
jeffbear said:
This is what the advanced metrics really illuminated. Svech was driving his line fairly consistently at age 18 and with linemates that didn't really help much in the offensive zone. That was fine in Year 1 when the team wanted to protect him from too much responsibility and allow him to find his game in all three zones, but hopefully Year 2 will see Brindy taking the training wheels off the way he largely did in the playoffs. I'm convinced this kid can be special if handled correctly, and it's time to let him roll with some guys who can play up to his level.
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We all saw it. During the playoffs he was really coming out and showing his game, and he had earned time with better linemates too. I am really looking forward to seeing him paired with Aho and Dzingel for example. Who knows too early to forecast lines... I still see an issue of surplus too that needs to be addressed unless we are going to be carrying a healthy extra all year and Williams does get resigned?
 
If we can find the right mix of line mates for Svech and he continues to develop, he has 30-40 goals, 40-50 assist potential. Its hard to define his ceiling really, he appears to have high end skills across the board and the drive to improve in all aspects. Its going to be exciting as heck to see what he can do.
 
On lines.....

Can we expect Aho and Haula as number one and two down the middle, with Staal and... Wallmark rounding out lines 3 and 4?
 
I think for sure the plan is Aho, Haula, Staal and Wallmark at center. I don't think you can really start to label lines 1, 2, and 3 because that is not how Brindy will handle them. There will be a line 4 that will generally play less than the other 3 lines, but I would call our lines more Line 1 (which is Aho's line) and then Lines 2A and B.

Yes Jordan Staal's line will be given enhanced D responsibilities when we play at home, but even there Brindy was starting to put out Aho against other team's top lines with the approach of 'my top line is capable of stopping your top line and you can't stop our top line'. So I don't know exactly what the wingers will look like on each line and I know Brindy doesn't know either yet. I think the only things I can say 100% for sure at this point is:

* Aho, Staal, Haula and Wallmark, barring injury, will be our 4 primary centers

* If you want to try to assemble any line right now, the only thing I think is absolutely a sure thing is that Dzingel will NOT play with Jordan Staal. Unless Dzingel suddenly has some sort of capability to play defense that he has never shown before, he is not going to be part of a Jordan Staal shut down line. Then again, if there is anyone that bring out a player's defensive capability/willingness its Brindy.
 
Couple of thoughts on lines ...

I really, really, really wish we could forget about line numbers around here. Brind'Amour simply doesn't use his lines that way, and honestly neither do most coaches. And they use the lines completely differently on the road than they do at home so the whole thing has turned into a shorthand that doesn't save anyone any time any more. Same with position numbers in soccer ... this guy or that guy should be a No 8 instead of a No 6 when they both get used the exact same way in a particular coach's system. Whatever ... when the shorthand expressions don't fit, they just muddy the water.

Here's what we know ... Aho will be the center that gets most of the optional offensive zone faceoffs and the one that will get line mates geared to maximize scoring. Call it a first line, call it a cheeseburger ... whatever. Staal will almost certainly get at least one wing who can check and will get the majority of the optional defensive zone draws. Call it a 3rd line, call it a checking line, call it a Graf Zeppelin ... don't care. Huala will likely center a line that attempts to take advantage of his mobility and versatility. That will probably mean that at least one guy who can really move it will stick with Huala, while his other wing will probably be manned by a guy who can protect physically a bit. I assume that Dzingle will be the other speedster to play with Huala, and if those two get it going they'll get ice time. Guaranteed. I can see that one as a change of pace line that Brindy will try and get paired up with a cumbersome opposing line when the other team tries to "go heavy" and as a second unit to start plays in the offensive zone. Wallmark or whoever emerges as the grunt line center will do the usual ... play D, forecheck their little brains out and be as annoying as possible.

First, second, third ... that will be determined by icetime and matchups. 4th? Yeah ... that's gonna be Wallmark and whoever he's got with him on a given night.

I think a MUCH bigger deal for camp and the preseason is to find special teams groups that actually work.
 
jeffbear said:
Couple of thoughts on lines ...

I really, really, really wish we could forget about line numbers around here. Brind'Amour simply doesn't use his lines that way, and honestly neither do most coaches. And they use the lines completely differently on the road than they do at home so the whole thing has turned into a shorthand that doesn't save anyone any time any more. Same with position numbers in soccer ... this guy or that guy should be a No 8 instead of a No 6 when they both get used the exact same way in a particular coach's system. Whatever ... when the shorthand expressions don't fit, they just muddy the water.

Here's what we know ... Aho will be the center that gets most of the optional offensive zone faceoffs and the one that will get line mates geared to maximize scoring. Call it a first line, call it a cheeseburger ... whatever. Staal will almost certainly get at least one wing who can check and will get the majority of the optional defensive zone draws. Call it a 3rd line, call it a checking line, call it a Graf Zeppelin ... don't care. Huala will likely center a line that attempts to take advantage of his mobility and versatility. That will probably mean that at least one guy who can really move it will stick with Huala, while his other wing will probably be manned by a guy who can protect physically a bit. I assume that Dzingle will be the other speedster to play with Huala, and if those two get it going they'll get ice time. Guaranteed. I can see that one as a change of pace line that Brindy will try and get paired up with a cumbersome opposing line when the other team tries to "go heavy" and as a second unit to start plays in the offensive zone. Wallmark or whoever emerges as the grunt line center will do the usual ... play D, forecheck their little brains out and be as annoying as possible.

First, second, third ... that will be determined by icetime and matchups. 4th? Yeah ... that's gonna be Wallmark and whoever he's got with him on a given night.

I think a MUCH bigger deal for camp and the preseason is to find special teams groups that actually work.
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I have Dzingel and Haula on the same line with Niederreitter. Here are the lines I've put together:

Terravainen Aho Svech
Dzingel Haula Niederreitter
McGinn Staal Necas
Foegele Wallmark Martinook

I like these lines and they work pretty well. I actually interchange Necas with Terravainen at times, but Necas needs time to develop his defensive and all round game. I think that would be good with Staal. Also, maybe too light, but the idea of sticking Terravainen with Dzingel and Haula is also tantalizing. They'd be real had to keep up with.
 
I can't see Necas with Jordan Staal. You might as well keep Necas in the AHL if you are going to do that. Whoever is going out with Necas better be a fast skater or they are going to cripple what will hopefully make Necas an NHL player.

Nino-Aho-Svech
Foegele-Staal-Teravainen
Dzingel-Haula-Necas
McGinn-Wallmark_Martinook

You can mess around with those top 9 quite a bit (and swap McGinn in for Foegele), but I would say its easier to pick on players who should NOT play with Jordan Staal. That would include Dzingel and Necas to me.
 
I notice nobody is penciling Williams in for anything. Unless I missed a retirement announcement, it seems like he's headed for captain emeritus status.
 
Obviously adding Justin Williams means someone else comes out of the top 12. Necas would be the easy mark and maybe it plays out that way if Williams returns. I know the Canes are playing nice with Justin Williams but if he wants to play, its going to be for less than $3 million on a 1 year deal and his role will be reduced. That is fine with me especially if Necas still is not ready.

If Necas IS ready, and Justin Williams is also here, then what? Are we really going to trade McGinn or Foegele or Martinook (or someone else) because we need to free up a roster spot for Justin Williams? Would we really send Necas down to the minors just because we have no NHL spot for him? Once we signed Dzingel, to me, we pretty much shut the door on Justin Williams. I know its not quite that simple, but if you add Justin Williams at, say, $2.5 million, to the current mix, you are basically saying to all of our kids that there is likely no roster spot to fight for. I don't know how much I like that idea.
 
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HNIM said:
I notice nobody is penciling Williams in for anything. Unless I missed a retirement announcement, it seems like he's headed for captain emeritus status.
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I've got a feeling that if/when Williams re-signs, our boy McGinn will be on the next train out of town. We've got enough cap space, probably, to wedge Williams into the existing roster but that would leave the Canes right at the threshold and no matter how much I strain my brain, I can't make that sound like a good idea. I suspect that somebody is on the way out before camp, and I think they'd probably like to wait until pre season gets going to sort out the goalie pecking order. That leaves the forwards and McGinn's new contract ain't terrible ... but it ain't a bargain either.

Note that I'm NOT saying that's a good idea ... just that it seems likely to me.
 
Right now, we have $2.5 million cap space available. That doesn’t include Williams or Maenalanen but it does include Necas, Gibbons and Bishop among the 14 forwards. So let’s shuffle the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Using Corey Perry’s contract as a guide, let’s say we sign Williams for $1 million and $3.5 million in easily achievable bonuses. Only the $1 million counts against this cap, any achieved bonuses count against next year’s cap when we lose the Marleau buyout. So now we’re at 15 forwards and $1.5 million of cap space. Ignoring Maenalanen for now, Bishop and Necas go to Charlotte, reducing the cap hit by $1.563 million, giving us more than $3 million in cap space. That leaves Gibbons as the 13th forward.

But, as someone pointed out, that essentially leaves no camp competition, aside from the 13th forward spot. And Necas really has nothing left to prove in the AHL. Is there room in the lineup for Necas and Williams? Yes. But a top 9 forward has to be traded. IMO, there are 2 candidates; McGinn and Nino. If we think Svech is primed for the next step:

Turbo-Aho-Svech
Dzingel-Haula-Necas
McGinn-Staal-Williams
Foegele-Wallmark-Martinook

If it’s McGinn, there are no obvious candidates in the top 9 to fill his spot on Staal’s line. As noted, Dzingel would have to really step up his defensive game. Either that or Turbo slides down to 3LW.

Regardless, Waddell still has some work to do.

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/corey-perry


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I would be ok with trading Nino in general, but the thought of doing so because we need to free up the roster spot for Justin Williams seems like a step backward doesn't it? Maybe less so if we trade Brock McGinn, because to me we have a few other kids who probably can do what he does. But either way, that seems sort of nuts to do.

I notice andyt that you didn't get a forward return for Nino in your scenario above. A 2nd round pick maybe? a depth Dman?

Waddell's job will be easier if Justin Williams retires. It will interesting to see what happens if he doesn't. I think the Canes have done an excellent job hedging if Williams retires, but you are right andyt, something else significant will need to happen to the current list of forwards for him to play next season unless we are going with zero rookies at forward next season (which is entirely possible).
 
Canes Country posted a link in today's Storm Advisory column to a local newspaper's interview with Justin Williams after his hockey clinic in Cobourg, Ontario ended last Friday (which is probably why we haven't heard a decision from him just yet):
Today's Northumberland

I had said all along that if he asked his kids they would want him to play since their access to all the fun things in the arena and social status revolved around him being on the team, much less captaining it.

And indeed in that interview he said he had asked the kids if they would like to see more of him (retire) or see him play...and they said play. And he then further noted that they were young enough to be interested (pre-teenager) and yet old enough to be aware and remember what they were seeing.

If he has the desire for at least one more season, my money would be on him deciding to play, not retire.

After that decision, it's all about what's the proper compensation (and we've noted performance bonuses can be incorporated if the player is 35+) and role.
 
Meh. If he signs the kids can still earn a spot. Make it impossible to send you down. Not a bad problem to have if you can make the cap work. Brandy isn’t set on 4 set lines so guys can move around. Where to slot in Willie is not a major problem. I wouldn’t trade someone unless you want to do that anyway for other reasons. The depth is a plus if you think you can make a run and you have guys and picks you could move for a deadline pickup.


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TheBigKahuna said:
Trading Nino for a draft pick to make room for Williams? Are you crazy?
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No. Trading Nino for a pick or 2 to make room for Necas.

But it would be easier for everyone if Williams retired. And it’s a self-inflicted wound. While I understand the why, giving Williams this much time to decide forced Waddell’s hand. If Waddell doesn’t sign Dzingel and Williams decided to retire, we’d have a hole and potentially 2 rookies in the lineup, with either both in the top 9 or a top 9 that includes Svechnikov, Necas and Foegele (on Staal’s line) and a rookie on the 4th line.
 
They aren't trading Nino. You can't just throw away talent like that, on a good contract. He fits in well. Looked really good. Unless Waddell and Brindy think last year was an anomaly, which is doubtful, he's not leaving.
 
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