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2025-26 Canes Miscellaneous Thread

andyt said:
has a hard shot and likes to thump people
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.... two things that are very visible and we know fans REALLY like, so there's a big slice of the answer as to why people, especially the public social media crowd, may be overly attached to the pup and overreact to trade rumors... I say, let it play out and THEN overreact. :)
 
Yeah … the Florida rumors were big yesterday and today it seems to have shifted. I’ve seen both Carolina and New Jersey linked. The Devils definitely seem to want to move on from Markstrom, but IMO he was nowhere near their actual problem last year.
 
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The thing about Hellebuyck is that his contract isn’t that bad, considering. He’s not over-paid at all at $8.5 million AAV, and even though the term is too long (5 more years and he’s currently 33), Carolina would split a lot of the load even with an A+ goaltender which would give a better shot at extending his effectiveness. With reasonable usage, he’s probably got 3 high end years left in the tank, which fits a current contender’s window nicely. The Canes have their first, probably would offer Nikishin (who fits Winnipeg’s needs nicely) and they could throw in Kochetkov, who if you squint should be ready to start and have plenty of runway left. That’s better than the dreck Winnipeg is gonna get offered by Florida … presuming Hellebuyck would approve the move. A lot depends on how focused he is on a specific US market versus how much he just wants to have a chance to win right away.
 
Best as I can tell, Ehlers was popular in that room in the same way he is in Carolina’s room. But Hellebuyck’s buddies seem to be more the guys on the US international team … and not the quiet, religious types if you get my drift. If Hellebuyck has interest in Carolina it’s going to be the winning and the East coast travel and the not living in Winnipeg.
 
There's about a 7 mile difference in my drive to either arena. A lot depends on the traffic between the two, which is a coin toss. There's enough idiots on the roads between each one to make them both challenging to get to.

Jim
 
TheBigKahuna said:
Hellebuyck to Carolina trade rumors swirling around this afternoon.
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Nikishin, Koochie and a first for Hellebuyck seems like a solid trade. The first is almost a second it’s so late, Koochie is expendable with a goalie coming in and Nikishin is the “you gotta give to get” piece in any big trade. I kinda like the 3-4 year window you get with that kinda stud goalie in net and you can always find a solid third pair D to replace Boom for the here and now.
 
He would be if last season was a blip and he returns to Vezina form. He did have a knee procedure last November so it was sort of a strange year for him. And Winnipeg was as terrible mess overall which also didn't help his stats.

Imagine having a goalie who doesn't allow 90% of breakaways to be goals and who you pen in for 50-55 starts. Or do we go sign....Stu Skinner? Do we bring Freddie back and roll those dice again? Just roll with Bussi and Kochetkov?

I don't think there is a wrong answer here, but Hellebuyck is a top 3 goalie on the NHL when he is 'right'. I suspect he is still a far better option than most of the alternatives we would be considering.
 
Nikishin got plenty of play in our top 4 when most of the crew was hurt. I would hope that Nikishin wants to play more, you don't want players who are content to get lesser minutes.

Nikishin still put up enough stats that would get him $8 million per on a long term deal even as mostly a 3rd pair guy. Jalen Chatfield has one more season left on his contract and is 30 years old. He will be 31 at the end of the coming season. That is typically the situation where the Canes allow our Dmen to sign elsewhere for more money than we think their value is. So yeah, there will probably be a top 4 spot available after next season. But this coming season? No.

Ghost's is also on the final year of his deal. He will be 34, but his situation as a 3rd pair guy and #1 PP guy is different than Chatfield's, so he MIGHT be given another contract.
 
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