I mean, that's cheap enough and apparently Brindy wanted some real physicality in the depth group ... based on how much he went out of his way to praise Smith in pre season. And it's not like Carolina ever really has any pot stirrers in the development system.Well, the Canes have signed Givani Smith to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay Smith $775,000 on the NHL level or $140,000 on the American Hockey League (AHL) level, with a guarantee of at least $250,000.
He played a hell of a lot better than a lot of our ‘top prospects’ this training camp. I get you don’t like the guy but he fits a role this team needs and It’s not like he’ll be getting 17 mpg for 82 games. I, for one, am tired of being bullied like little girls against the likes of Florida and others. You might not think it makes a difference, but it does, and it’s showed. Other than a legit 2C and more scoring in the playoffs, this team needs a guy like Smith at times, who can mix it up and also throw in a few goals. He isn’t costing Jack squat so there really is no riskI will definitely say that I'm stunned that the end result of his tryout was a 2 way deal for Givani Smith. This guy has been a less than zero contributor for quite a while in the NHL. Good on him I guess for showing enough to earn himself that 2 way contract. I'm sure he will knocking heads in the AHL for Chicago with effectiveness after he clears waivers.
And a hedge against Miftakhov being as bad in practice as he was in those ex games.The Canes claimed Florida goalie Brandon Bussi off of waivers. We put Primeau on waivers today.
The only thing I can think of is Bussi is a hedge if we lose Primeau to waivers.
At face value, this is something of a curious move, as the Hurricanes’ NHL tandem of Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov appears set in stone. It’s possible the Hurricanes made this claim with an eye to goaltending depth in the AHL, but with Primeau already in place as the organizational number-three (assuming he clears waivers) there doesn’t appear to be a significant need to add Bussi.
Accordingly, at this point, the clearest explanation for this waiver claim is that it is some form of injury insurance, similar to how the Sabres signed Alexandar Georgiev before an injury to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was reported.
With that said, in the case that there is not an un-reported injury that prompted this waiver claim, there is another potential explanation that relates to the current state of the Hurricanes’ goalie depth:
Taking a wider-view look at the Hurricanes’ situation in net overall, the situation behind Primeau in Chicago (assuming he clears waivers) is somewhat more wide open. The Wolves currently roster three goalies below Primeau on the depth chart: Ruslan Khazheyev, Amir Miftakhov, and Nikita Quapp. The trio, combined, have just 42 games worth of AHL experience, and just one Khazheyev, played in the AHL last season. (.876 save percentage in 20 games played)
That explanation would require the Canes to keep Bussi around as a 3rd goalie at the NHL level. We are not going to successfully pass Bussi through waivers and make him AHL depth, Florida will just reclaim him. If we lose Primeau to waivers, are we really going to keep Bussi on the NHL roster as the #3? He has never played an NHL game.
It's one thing to sign an experienced NHL goalie for depth and keep him around the NHL. But this guy has no NHL experience. I guess we are hoping Florida won't reclaim him when we inevitably waive him?
We‘ll see at noon when waivers claims are published. If Primeau passes through, it’s all good and Bussi can be waived for Florida to claim him. But if Primeau gets claimed, we’re screwed, Chicago is screwed and the old goat that owns the Wolves will tell the world.GMET doesn’t usually make rushed uninformed
decisions so there must be a reason.
Let's be honest here. Tulsky doesn't do random stuff so he's got a reason for this. He just hasn't explained it yet, which is fine. There's too many balls in the air for him to pause to offer exposition.Bussi would have to clear waivers again though to stay here with us unless we are going to carry him on the NHL roster. I would think Florida would claim him back and send him to the AHL.
Unless ... Kooch isn't fully healthy or tweaked something in that last fake game and they actually start the season with Andersen and Bussi for whatever reason. Then you try to sneak him through waivers later. That old goat in Chicago is going to bitch and moan regardless.We‘ll see at noon when waivers claims are published. If Primeau passes through, it’s all good and Bussi can be waived for Florida to claim him. But if Primeau gets claimed, we’re screwed, Chicago is screwed and the old goat that owns the Wolves will tell the world.
The Evangelos Marinakis of the AHL.Unless ... Kooch isn't fully healthy or tweaked something in that last fake game and they actually start the season with Andersen and Bussi for whatever reason. Then you try to sneak him through waivers later. That old goat in Chicago is going to bitch and moan regardless.
He isn’t practicing with the team today. KK is in a regular jersey but the 13th forward. Chatfield is absent.Any idea on what number Bussi will go with? will he practice with the team today?
Jim