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2018-19 Canes Prospect and Calder Cup Winning Charlotte Checkers Thread

Re: 2018-19 Canes Prospect and Cherkers Thread

Alexsi Saarela's game winner was pretty sweet too. Sick wrist shot.

Its pretty hard to handicap what happens with the roster next season. You almost have to hold at least one spot open for these kids to compete for. Necas would seem to have the inside track, he has offensive skills that we sorely need at forward. But is that it? We somehow managed to get to the Conference finals with a whole pile of rookies last year. Can we really add 2 more rookies to the forward ranks next season?
 
Re: 2018-19 Canes Prospect and Cherkers Thread

JamesNorthern said:
Wow. Nice goal. I'm really really liking Necas more and more. His physical game is still a concern, but I think we've seen him adapting to the NA game quite well this season. His production isn't quite there, but when you can make a pro move like that? Kid is definitely chomping at the bit and hope he makes the club next season.
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The patience he showed is most impressive to me. Yeah, the dangle was pretty but the maturity to wait instead of firing it into the dman was good to see.


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Re: 2018-19 Canes Prospect and Cherkers Thread

I think Necas HAS to be in the NHL next season. Once he woke up from the demotion, he's grown by leaps and bounds and is now showing his skills on the regular, even in the biggest pressure scenarios. And again, I've thought all along that either Brown or Bishop would be fine centering the 4th line. Ned is a question for me, but I wouldn't shocked if he ends up backing up in Raleigh next season too. Can you manage three more rooks next season? I think you can.
 
Re: 2018-19 Canes Prospect and Cherkers Thread

Worth noting that Gauthier showed up with a strong effort in Game 4 after being fairly quiet in Game 3. That play to Roy for the 3rd goal was lovely, and showed off the way the kid needs to be using his length and strength on the regular. Please be clear that my general impression of Gauthier may be a step or two behind the rest of you, but I'm still high on him as a prospect. I just think he still needs a fair amount more time in the oven before he gets thrown into the NHL fire.

Another thing worth noting, especially coming off of a game when the Checkers scored a couple of long range goals, I'm not at all sure what level the Wolves keeper is supposed to be on ... but I'm certain that he's not playing up to it. From a quick scroll through Vegas' Cap Friendly page, it looks like Dansk is pretty much purely a minor leaguer in their system but he's on a 2-way contract so ... whatever. Either way, he hasn't impressed me at all, while both of Charlotte's stoppers have had their ups and downs ... but mostly ups. A bit more digging shows Dansk is a Swede who came through the Shattick St Mary's program before getting drafted by the Blue Jackets. They cut him loose after his ELC and he went back to Sweden for a couple of seasons before landing a deal with Vegas. So more of a hopeful backup kind of guy than a prospect.
 
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Re: 2018-19 Canes Prospect and Cherkers Thread

Reminder ... Game 5 is tonight in Rosemont. 7:00 Central, so 8:00 Eastern. Not sure what the TV situation is for tonight though.
 
Re: 2018-19 Canes Prospect and Cherkers Thread

jeffbear said:
Reminder ... Game 5 is tonight in Rosemont. 7:00 Central, so 8:00 Eastern. Not sure what the TV situation is for tonight though.
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Live on NHL Network with the Wolves announcers.
 
Re: 2018-19 Canes Prospect and Cherkers Thread

Didn't much care for the late 2nd period goal allowed, but Carrick got the two goal lead back. Geekie's having a great night.

Another late one... 3-2. :shrug

But Poturalski seals the Calder Cup with an empty netter. :party:

Chicago scores again, but it's not gonna be enough.

Nastasiuk makes absolutely sure it's over.
 
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Re: 2018-19 Canes Prospect and Cherkers Thread

Poturalski wins the playoff MVP playing on a broken foot. He had 12g, 11a in the playoffs. But the most impressive stat I saw all night was that, with last night’s win, the Cherkers closed out a season in which they were perfect when leading after 2 periods. They went 49-0-0. Toronto led the NHL at 36-0-1. The Canes were 34-3-2.
 
Re: 2018-19 Canes Prospect and Cherkers Thread

StormChaserBH said:
CHECKERS ARE CALDER CUP CHAMPIONS!
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Congratulations Checkers! A lot of really good future prospects on that Baby Canes roster, the culture change of not accepting losing is evident at every level! Necas, Bean, Ned, Geekie, Gauthier, the list of legit NHL caliber players is strong.
 
Re: 2018-19 Canes Prospect and Cherkers Thread

It seems like its always me putting in a word for those "ahl for lifer" potentials we got in the A.... So I'm saying it now, I hope Brindy and co can find a place and give Poturalski another look. At the very least he's earned it. He ain't Boychuk yet, but lets give him his do. On a broken foot no less.
 
Re: 2018-19 Canes Prospect and Cherkers Thread

On Gauthier, I'm hoping "late bloomer". Next season will be ultra important for him. He's gotta step it up this off season and focus on keeping his intensity up
 
Re: 2018-19 Canes Prospect and Cherkers Thread

JamesNorthern said:
On Gauthier, I'm hoping "late bloomer". Next season will be ultra important for him. He's gotta step it up this off season and focus on keeping his intensity up
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That seems to be a consensus opinion. One more year in Charlotte should do it.
 
TheBigKahuna said:
Did Vellucci just write himself a blank check?
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Maybe. He still wants an NHL bench, I'm told ... and that means he'll be lobbying for other jobs. Sadly for him, this year's cycle has passed him by so he's going to have to count on some long memories for next spring. Honestly, given his background as both a coach and GM in major junior, Seattle could do worse for an expansion coach. That generally goes to a more proven guy, but at some point you have to ask why? Especially given that most of those guys have proven to suck.

JamesNorthern said:
It seems like its always me putting in a word for those "ahl for lifer" potentials we got in the A.... So I'm saying it now, I hope Brindy and co can find a place and give Poturalski another look. At the very least he's earned it. He ain't Boychuk yet, but lets give him his do. On a broken foot no less.
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Poturalski has already had a bunch of looks. It's not like anyone has forgotten the guy. I'm all for giving him another shot in camp, but his speed just isn't NHL standard and he's not a grinder, so he's got to break into the Top 6 and that's just not likely to happen.

JamesNorthern said:
On Gauthier, I'm hoping "late bloomer". Next season will be ultra important for him. He's gotta step it up this off season and focus on keeping his intensity up
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Definitely. If he can find a way to maintain the level of play he displays in his good games ... like the last two ... then he's definitely gonna get his looks at the NHL roster. Another year, with another step forward ought to do the trick.
 
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Re: 2018-19 Canes Prospect and Cherkers Thread

I hope everybody got a chance to enjoy some of that playoff run from the Cherks. They really committed to the Brind'Amour speed pressure system and it paid off big for them. Vellucci also did just a terrific job of roster management all year long. It's awesome that the kids got hardware to show for all that hard work.

Big picture, these guys really helped their status in the organization:

Necas ... he didn't pout when he was sent down so much as he took a fairly long time to buy in to the idea that he needed to play wing at an NHL standard to get back with the big club. Job done. Once he found traction after the World Juniors ... look out. As dynamic a kid as could be found in the AHL. Go find that trainer of yours in the Czech and get ready for camp, kid.

Ned ... not sure what else this one has to prove as a puck stopper, but he still has that addiction to fancy puck handling that's just not gonna fly in the NHL. I'd trust him to back up next season, but that's me. He could well end up back in the A as a well compensated third option. We'll see.

Brown ... leader who can grind or center two skilled guys. He's ready for 4th line duty.

Poturalski ... legit AHL star, but probably too physically limited to crack the NHL roster. Still ... nice guy to have in the system

Geekie ... his 3 zone game is efficient, he competes at a high level and he's smart. The club is high on him for good reason, as I'm told they see a lot of Foegele in him. He impressed in camp last fall and will likely do so again. He's close.

Bean ... grew by leaps and bounds this year and continued to impress in the post season. He may well have passed Fleury in the pecking order.
 
Re: 2018-19 Canes Prospect and Cherkers Thread

I watched every minute from the Marlies series onward and what really stands out at me is just how much of a leap in speed, physicality and skill sets the NHL game over the AHL. It's no wonder that when Fleury and Brown came up they looked like they were just trying not to get smoked out there. Having said that, the Cherkers were far and a way a better team than either TO or CHI. They all looked very confident out there and dominated in all aspects of the game. True champions and most deserving of the title.

Great work Boys!!!
 
Re: 2018-19 Canes Prospect and Cherkers Thread

JFG said:
I watched every minute from the Marlies series onward and what really stands out at me is just how much of a leap in speed, physicality and skill sets the NHL game over the AHL. It's no wonder that when Fleury and Brown came up they looked like they were just trying not to get smoked out there. Having said that, the Cherkers were far and a way a better team than either TO or CHI. They all looked very confident out there and dominated in all aspects of the game. True champions and most deserving of the title.

Great work Boys!!!
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8 points better than the next closest team (Syracuse) in the regular season and 15-4 in the playoffs. They were definitely the best of the league.
 
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