This year's Canes: Looking at some numbers year-to-date (updated for penalty stats)

   It was a very tough loss tonight against Buffalo. To my mind, I think games like Buffalo will come with the territory of bringing up younger players and particularly against the teams that are built around size and an inside game. On the other hand, the younger players by and large have been responsible for new energy, skill, and speed.

   I saw the Buffalo game as a precursor for the upcoming draft because the game highlighted both the areas in which the team presently does well and those areas where the team at present struggles. Looking toward next season, I continue to wonder how Jim Rutherford will work his magic to further revamp the team in favor of larger, faster, more physical forwards. With Sutter, Boychuk, and Dwyer now playing the impact of their speed, soft hands, and commitment is extremely impressive. I think the first round pick for Carolina will be projected to play at Carolina next season. With Tlusty, Bowman and possibly Dalpe, focusing only on next season, Jim Rutherford is going to need to move some of the 5’9" 180 lb veteran forwards, i.e. Samsonov and possibly LaRose. Brind’Amour’s situation is the elephant in the room and has been for two seasons. Last night shows what Brind’Amour can still do; but also demonstrated how a lack of speed and quickness, and iron hands haunt him.

    Beyond next season and projecting into 2011-2012, Samson and Osala should clearly be ready to play at Carolina. It is conceivable that from the numerous second round picks, at least one of those players will be ready for 2011-2012.

   So for Jim Rutherford, one of the first gaps to fix is the third line center, in order to move Dwyer to fourth line center. The first round pick I think will address the need for a large, explosive scorer to go onto Staal’s line — hopefully in 2010-2011; but certainly by 2011-2012.

    The game also showed unfortunately that the Hurricanes struggle on the power play when large-bodied teams dare the Hurricanes to skate the puck into the slot in order to score. After the game, the commentators and players suggested that the Hurricanes needed to have a shoot first mentality which is true; but until the Hurricanes have a bona fide power forward with size, speed, and scoring skills, they are going to have an uphill battle against the bigger teams on power plays. Cole will get opportunties; but his lack of soft hands undermines tremendously his effectiveness. Staal lacks the shiftiness to skate the puck to the net. Sutter is by far the most talented skater/scorer of the centers, but he at present lacks the bulk to overwhelm the defense on the power play. The time may well come over the next two or three years where Sutter is a force of nature. For example, Jordan Staal was actually quite skinny when he first came into the league.

   For me, as long as the team is learning, getting younger, and moving forward with the rebuild, tonight’s games are a necessary teaching lesson. In some ways, I am the most proud of the team for the guts they showed tonight — even more so than in some of the victories. Adversity builds character and this team is showing class and character as it battles through a tough start.

You’re right about how Staal has really changed his place on the team with the new guys. However, a couple of the call-up are still older than he is in years (though not in NHL seasons for sure)

ZACH BOYCHUK 20.42 years old
BRANDON SUTTER 21.08
JAMIE MCBAIN 22.08
JUSTIN PETERS 23.58
BRETT CARSON 24.33
ERIC STAAL 25.42
BRYAN RODNEY 25.92
JAY HARRISON 27.33

In fairness to the true spirit of hockeymomof2’s post, which is “what have you done for me this year?”, since the beginning of this calendar year, Brind’Amour’s stats have looked far better than the bleak picture you paint above.

In 32 games in 2010, averaging about 11:30 TOI per game, he has accumulated 5 goals and 3 assists, for 8 points (5-3-8), and is a cumulative minus 3.

That’s not bad numbers for a fourth-line center. And, note that he played in all 32 of those games.

Glad you liked it!

I wanted to do the same thing for all Eastern teams since Jan 1, but didn’t have the time to crunch the numbers myself. Maybe later this week.

In most stats, they would trail only the the Capitals in the East. The PK has really stepped up too. The Power Play since 1/1/10 is actually worse than we are for the full season, meaning the Canes had a better PP in the first 40 games than the last 31. With the arrival of McBain I think those might show some improvement.