Hurricanes Have Pieces In Place To Build An Elite Defense
by Cory Lavalette on Mar 9, 2010 11:31 PM EST
41 comments
I try to not look too far in the future simply because you never know what will happen. But when I look at what the Carolina Hurricanes defense could be next year and beyond, I can't help but quiver with anticipation. An outsider might look at the Canes’ blueline and think the group could have the kind of success the 2006 Stanley Cup-winning defense had: effective, but essentially a no-name group that is greater than the sum of its parts.
Such outsiders would be wrong. This defense — from skating and offensive potential to physicality and defensive positioning — has the potential to be good. Really, really good.
Let’s start with Olympic silver medalist and fan favorite Tim Gleason. It didn't take the fans long to forget about reports that GM Jim Rutherford didn't get enough return for one-time third overall pick Jack Johnson when he acquired Gleason as the centerpiece of the four-player deal prior to the 2006-07 season.
The 27-year-old is now in his fourth season with Carolina, and his steady improvement hit a new high with his solid play for Team USA at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. And while Gleason played well in the short tournament, his hallmark scowl and team-first attitude wasn't as noticeable in relatively scrum-free international play. That's not to say Gleason needs to be facewashing and fighting opponents to be effective, but that part of what he does makes him a feared foe and even more effective in the other facets of his game.
More and more, Gleason is evolving into a new era Jason Smith, but with more offensive upside.
* * *
Like I mentioned earlier, outsiders might look at the Carolina D and think "OK, but not great." A lot of people feel that way about 27-year-old Joni Pitkanen, too. But a closer look reveals that not only is Pitkanen emerging as a reliable defender in both ends, but he has begun to put up elite numbers.
Now in his sixth season with his third team, Pitkanen has had a standout season on a team that struggled horribly the first half of the year. Not only does he lead all NHLers in average ice time (27:12), but he's tied for 11th in defenseman scoring and has shown the willingness to be both physical and intimidating — when needed — despite his normally stoic demeanor.
Unfortunately, many remember Pitkanen as a dynamic but mistake-prone 20-year-old in Philadelphia instead of realizing he has emerged into a reliable and calm force on the Carolina backend, and still has his prime in front of him. Does he take poor penalties from time to time? Sure. But his growth and improvement since those days he was labeled a player "you couldn't win with" are clear as day.
* * *
Speaking of 20-somethings, Brett Carson has been steady in his first shot at being a full-time NHLer. How well has he played? Wrap your brains around this: Carson might be the best rookie to suit up for the Canes since Eric Staal. Don't believe me? In 37 games, Carson has eight points and is plus-3 — tied for best among blueliners who have been with Carolina all season. The 16:45 Carson plays each night is the most a truly contributing Carolina rookie has played since the move to Raleigh — even more than the 16:39 Staal averaged in 2003-04. More than Erik Cole and Shane Willis, too. The playoff contributions from rookies like Cole, Cam Ward, Jaroslav Svoboda and Chad LaRose may come to mind, but only Cole, Willis and Staal can say they had a better freshman regular season campaign than the 24-year-old native of Regina has had in 34 games so far this year.
Carson may not have the marquis player potential of Cole or Ward, and his quiet Western Canadian demeanor coupled with his commitment to his own zone doesn't bring a lot of attention his way. But the thing he does have is a spot carved in the Canes top six, and time is on his side.
* * *
From the moment he first steps on the RBC Center ice, Jamie McBain will attract the eyes of diehard Hurricanes fans. The first-year professional has already grown by leaps and bounds in Albany this season. After spending much of the season's first half focusing on playing in his own end, McBain has emerged as an offensive force. He has 34 points in 64 games, tops among all River Rats defensemen and 13th in the entire AHL. But most impressive is that McBain has compiled a lot of those points recently, finishing January with 13 points in 14 games — which included a seven-game point streak. It's also worth noting McBain has taken just five minor penalties all season, a tribute to his top-notch skating and positioning.
But that's the AHL — what can McBain do against the best in the world? Chances are we'll find out soon. With the trade of Aaron Ward, Andrew Alberts and Joe Corvo, the Canes have journeyman Jay Harrison playing in the No. 6 spot. Rutherford has said McBain will get a look this year — likely at Harrison’s expense — and once he does, Carolina fans will get to see how the team's top defensive prospect fits into the future. Chances are that by next year he won't have to worry about riding AHL buses any more.
* * *
Brian Pothier and Alexandre Picard were both acquired as part of recent trades. Picard, 24, will likely factor in to Carolina’s future plans — Rutherford has made a point of acquiring young, underachieving/underappreciated defensemen and having them emerge in a Hurricanes jersey. For those who fear that this is now Picard's fourth NHL team, remember that Pitkanen and Gleason were each on their third team and 24 and 23, respectively, when they were acquired by the Canes.
The nearly 33-year-old Pothier and Carolina will be auditioning for each other to see if they want to continue their relationship past the balance of this season when his contract runs out. Both Pothier and Picard could see their respective roles and future determined by how ready McBain is to make the jump to the NHL and eat minutes in perhaps every situation.
* * *
Even if Pothier departs, Carolina has five defenseman that could prove formidable next year and beyond, sporting a combination of size, grit, offense, defense, determination and, perhaps most importantly, youth that few teams can boast. Even if Pothier returns, the Canes would average just a shade older than 26 in their top six with this group, with the team still retaining the rights to Anton Babchuk (26 next year), while youngsters Bryan Rodney, Casey Borer, Kyle Lawson and Michal Jordan are all waiting in the wings, not to mention recent draftees like Brian Dumoulin. Compare that to the top six entering this season, which averaged more than 30 years of age at the start of the season and featured two players on the wrong side of 35.
The same could be said at up front, where the departures of Matt Cullen, Scott Walker, Stephane Yelle leaves just two players who are older than 31: Rod Brind'Amour (39) and Ray Whitney (37), and both could conceivably be gone after this season. Toss in a potential net tandem of Ward (26) and Justin Peters (24 in August), and the Canes could go from the league's oldest teams to one of the younger ones in less than nine months.
So it seems youth will be served in Carolina. But that doesn't mean dark days are ahead. Look no further than the defense to see how bright the future may be.
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Great article Corey
Nice to see analysis like this from a perspective we don’t often read regarding the Canes D.
Great write-up Cory.
Hopefully management has learned their lesson from the Sutter debacle and will actually give McBain a real shot to make the team coming out of camp. That being said, hopefully McBain and the other AHL players will follow in Brandon’s footsteps and really step up their offseason training regimines to prepare for the speed and physicality of the NHL. Whatever plan Sutter did last summer should be required for all camp invitees!
The blueline looks sound for years to come. I expect Picard to back next year and likely be on the 3rd pairing with McBain (hopefully). But if that is the case I’d like to see us sign someone short term with some experience to play on the 2nd pairing to help transition our young core. Pothier would be great if we can get the price right.
Still not a crook!
This article...
…makes me happy to be a Canes fan. Now if only we could see some of these young guys in the playoffs. ;-)
Young and
cheap! With Staal and Cam eating up 25%ish of the team’s budget for next year, JR needs to fill out the roster with guys that are competent but inexpensive. Building a solid D in front of Cam is a very smart move on the general manager’s part, especially in an Eastern Conference that’s going to be dominated by Pittsburgh and Washington for the near future.
Blueline
I have to say this article is a bit of a stretch. Carson brings no physical presence on the
the ice. He skates well and is fundamentally sound, but strikes fear in the heart of no one.
The jury is still out on Pitkanen. He plays too many minutes (that’s a Coach Mo issue) which contributes to fatigue penalties and some lazy plays. I’d like to see his game at 20 minutes a night. He is not a Glen Wesley or Bret Hedican that you want on the ice with a minute to go and trying to hold a lead.
Trying to evaluate Picard or Pothier right now is speculation, even if the the initial results are encouraging . I see the current group as C+ at best (mostly because of Gleason).
So because Carson isn’t a bug physical presence that invalidates his defensive play? I don’t buy that at all. You got a kid who puts himself in shooting and passing lanes, is not blowing his coverage, and is making smart decisions in his own zone. I’ll take that before a guy who goes out of his way to finish a big check and causes an odd man advantage……………..
Pitkanen could benefit from playing less minutes a night, I agree, but he has proven to be the drive train for our transition game. He is not a shut down dynamo, but he is more defensively sound than we were ever led to believe, and he DOES provide that snarl you are missing from Carson.
I"ll agree with your assessment of Picard and Pothier, though. You really can’t judge a whole lot by their current performances. They both know they are on “audition” for not only us but the entire league. They know they have to be at their peak and we are seeing their best, I am sure.
There’ no jury out on Pitkanen for me. He gets nitpicked to death b/c of his past, but he has turned into a really, really good d-man. As for Carson, he’s only going to get better. He’s not a top-three d-man (never said he was), but he has the potential to be a solid No. 4 blueliner down the road, plus he hasn’t even begun to integrate his offensive abilities yet. He’s not going to be a 10-goal, 40-point guy, but he could be a decent contributor.
Agreed on Picard and Pothier … but this D is much better than a C+ group.
by Cory Lavalette on Mar 10, 2010 8:58 AM EST up reply actions
JohnSS
Pitkanen skates all those minutes because he is our best d-man. I disagree with your assessment that you don’t want Pitkanen on the ice with a minute to go and a lead. He and Gleason are out two best defensemen and they should be out against whomever, whenever. Would I like to see Pitkanen’s minutes trimmed, absolutely, but 20 minutes a night would be doing him a disservice. He is a threat to set up a scoring play every time he is on the ice, see Jussi Jokinen. How many times this year has a great pass from Pits in his own end ended up in the back of the opposing team’s net?
Is Carson the second coming of Scott Stevens, no. Is he a reliable d-man who has top 4 potential, absolutely. Defensemen are a lot like offensive linemen in football, you only notice them when they make mistakes(penalties) or big plays. It’s the plays that lie in the middle that ultimately determines the value of a player. Carson is often times hardly noticeable on the ice, and that is good thing.
C+ seems like an awfully low grade for such a quality group. B+ seems much more accurate for this current group.
"He has all the virtues I dislike, and none of the vices I admire." -Sir Winston Churchill
awesome analysis!
I think that Carson is going to be the new Wallin, only from a different mold. He does not play the same physical style that Wallin does, but he is going to be that quiet stay home guy who get’s the job done without being noticed.
McBain is going to be the ultimate replacement for what we lost with Corvo’s departure. his mix of offensive upside and dedication to the defensive aspect of his game will make for an eventual minute muncher who can man the point on the PP and give blue line scoring depth!
I'm Happy
But I’d be happier with Tuebert in the system, and Picard and Carson slotted then as third pair guys. A blue line corps of Gleason-Pitkane, Tuebert-McBain, and Caron-Picard strikes me as being elite, while without Tuebert it’s only very good.
Also, I know Gleason isn’t going anywhere, but what happens to Joni if this team struggles next season? He could be moved at the deadline next year.
I just wish JR would have given up Ray Whitney for Lent.
Hey, not to derail the thread by talking about forwards, but just got a tweet from the Canes saying that Cole is out tonight (illness) and the Finn is in.
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
Here’s the tweet:
nhl_canes: The Canes have recalled Oskar Osala from Albany. Erik Cole is out tonight due to illness. http://carhur.com/715
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
So what does it say that Osala couldn’t even find big minutes on Washington’s AHL squad, but he’s able to crack the line-up on our NHL squad?
Hershey is stacked … you could argue they’re one of the best AHL teams ever. I wouldn’t be concerned about that. Even the Bears’ coach was sad to see Osala go.
"That will hurt our depth," Bears head coach Mark French said. "He was a big power forward who could score goals. We’ll have a hard time replacing that.
"We’ve got forward depth. Now that’s going to be tested a little bit more."
by Cory Lavalette on Mar 10, 2010 10:46 AM EST up reply actions
whoops … supposed to all be in the block quote.
by Cory Lavalette on Mar 10, 2010 10:46 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah…I’m just wary of us ever being able to replace Washington atop the standings in the SE. He’s probably more NHL ready than some of our other young talented forwards, but I also think the opportunity to play against his former team had something to do with his call-up.
Washington will be forced to expel talent. Juggernaughts eat themselves in cap controlled league. They eventually have to divest themselves of talent to meet the cap. Combine that with the fact that their farm system will dry up as they continue to finish in upper half of the standings. Only Detriot seems to be able to maintain a farm system while winning, and the days of that continuing are numbered now that the rest of the NHL is catching up to them in European scouting.
I aint saying we will topple them next year or the year after, but their days are numbered…..
by wylde4canes on Mar 10, 2010 11:21 AM EST up reply actions
I think WSH will be smart about it, personally. They’ll do soemthing with Semin … maybe deal him this offseason before he’s UFA, and they got Green inked at a reasonable price. They also have a good goalie situation going forward, with two guys w/o UFA right for a long time.
Biggest thing will be Alzner stepping in as a big-tme d-man and finding others to fill some holes there. Perhaps that’s where Semin comes in.
by Cory Lavalette on Mar 10, 2010 11:31 AM EST up reply actions
i am not as sold on their golie tandem as you are, I’m afraid.
by wylde4canes on Mar 10, 2010 11:37 AM EST up reply actions
even less so on their goAlie tandem…..damn fingers.
by wylde4canes on Mar 10, 2010 11:37 AM EST up reply actions
With the scoring and defense that Washington has they don’t need the best goaltender in the world. The Oilers did just fine with Fuhr, who was good, but by no means the greatest goalie. I think Varlamov is capable enough to get Washington to a finals and potentially a championship.
I just wish JR would have given up Ray Whitney for Lent.
Oh man, I loved Grant Fuhr when he was with St. Louis. Mmmm, back when the Blues were playoff contenders. Remember those days?
Longest streak of consecutive years in the playoffs. They and Chicago used to have such good battles. I remember those times well. It was before Dollar Bill Wirtz killed the Hawks and while the Wings were still sucking.
I just wish JR would have given up Ray Whitney for Lent.
I couldn’t resist that one. Actually, I’m a big fan of Cole’s…but he just hasn’t been the same since the injury. Actually, his was the first jersey I bought, because I liked his game.
really ...
alot of credit has to go to our coaching Jeff Daniels in Albany, Glen Wesley here.
C-L you are really hung up on teubert aren’t you ?
I am. I don’t think it’s any secret that I’m a defense first kind of guy when it comes to hockey. I love scoring, but I have a special place for blue liners in my heart. Probably has to do with playing defense. If the Canes had acquired Tuebert I would be totally behind Cory in saying it looks like an elite defense. Without Tuebert, I’m still a bit worried about Carson as a #4. Not a lot, I think he can do it, but I’d like to slot him on the third pair where I think he can have a definite advantage over other third pair players. I also wouldn’t worry as much about Joni after next season with Tuebert in the organization. With Tuebert here, JR could, not saying he will, just saying could, trade Joni for a younger puck mover. McBain could move up to top pair guy with Gleason, Picard could play second pair and the young guy could play third pair and battle Picard and others for PT.
For me, Tuebert just filled so many wholes so perfectly that it’s frustrating to have him within grasp and then lose him.
No, after all this fawning over him, he’ll likely turn in to a third pair injury prone player.
I just wish JR would have given up Ray Whitney for Lent.
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