Winger Wish List

by DidJussiThat? on Nov 8, 2011 10:51 AM EST

It's clear that the Hurricanes need a top line winger to put beside Eric Staal. No matter the combination Coach Maurice throws out there, nobody has managed to spark the big guy to the kind of performance that everyone knows he can deliver, and that the team desperately needs.

So who is out there?

Staal, based on his history with Cole and Stillman or Ruutu and Whitney (as pointed out by another poster this week) needs a hellraising, forechecking, fast charger on his right wing and a distributor on his left, allowing him to either pass or take up space in the slot and shoot one timers and rebounds past a goalie dealing with a Hurricane forward about to land on his head.

As much as I admire LaRose, his grind it out in the corner and get the occasional garbage goal kind of game is not the game best suited for Staal. LaRose has thrived as Staal gathers all defensive attention, but the point of the Staal line is to have Staal thrive, not LaRose.

So who is available, and what would they bring? Forwards in the last year of a contract who might be available for prospects and defensemen (which we have in abundance) include:

Jarome Iginla - would the Flames trade their Captain and start a youth movement? Is he too old for what the Hurricanes need? Would he be no more than a one year rental? I think the answers to all these questions are yes, but boy would it be nice to see Staal play with a truly elite power forward.

Shane Doan - Doan has been loyal to the Coyotes, and he's enormously popular there. He's also a consistent 60+ point performer who earns his goals the hard way. He would probably not want to be traded, but if he did, a trade to a team with a history of loyalty and getting long-suffering veterans periodic shots at a Cup may be a good place. He also would drive Montreal fans nuts, which is always a good thing.

Alexander Semin - We can't afford him, but a guy can dream can't he?

Dustin Penner - Yes, he's overpaid now, thanks to Edmonton's offer sheet a few years ago. But that contract i9s coming to an end, and he's another big, strong power forward. He has soft hands and he's younger than Iginla and Doan. The Kings have been willing to deal with us before. He's not having a very good season right now, and his value may be at an ebb. He could be a perfect candidate for a Rutherford rebuild.

Anyone else have any players to put on the Winger Wish List? I have to get back to work.

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I would love to have that guy who was on Crosby’s wing in the Olympics. You know, the guy would have prob been the MVP of the tourny if anyone other than God Jr had scored the golden goal….what was his name again? Eric something I think. That guy was an incredible scoring winger.

I believe in strength. I believe in unity. And if that strength, that unity of purpose, demands a uniformity of thought, word and deed then so be it.

by Douchebag St John on Nov 8, 2011 10:55 AM EST reply actions

Aftermath agrees

John F. said he would move Sutter to top line center and Staal to the wing.

The Condor. #63.

by DidJussiThat? on Nov 8, 2011 11:06 AM EST up reply actions

Don't overlook Brent

2 goals, 2 assists, +2, less than 10 minutes of 4th line ice time per game.
Solid game, good upside potential. Moving Sutter up could have the same outcome as moving Skinner up.

by surgalt on Nov 8, 2011 12:08 PM EST up reply actions

Brent on the first line?

Brent could fill in very nicely in the 3rd center slot until Nash or another center prospect can play there, but he shouldn’t be on the first line.

by hurricane9 on Nov 8, 2011 3:06 PM EST up reply actions

brent centered the first line when staal got clipped in the nose

and he seemed to do well. i say take a chance on him, we couldn’t do any worse…

Mi piace l'hockey su ghiaccio.
l'hockey è buono qui .. sì?

by zippy8 on Nov 8, 2011 5:16 PM EST up reply actions

Alot of people have not given Babcok the props for being the coach that he is, but the proof is right there. He took a Canada team that was under performing and he tweaked them and turned them into gold!

by wylde4canes on Nov 8, 2011 11:20 AM EST up reply actions

Toews…?

Red Line Station and @RedArmyLine, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
I believe in next year.

by red army line on Nov 13, 2011 9:43 PM EST up reply actions

My dream would be to have the Blue Jackets blow their team up and trade some of their best players. I’d love to take Rick Nash off their hands and have him play wing with Staal. Or snag Jeff Richards and let him play center while moving Staal to the wing. Never going to happen though :(

I fully expect management to announce that Cory Stillman has come out of retirement to sign a one-year deal with the Hurricanes in a week or so though.

/sarcasm

"I'm not going to waste my time with Tuukka Rask" - Cam Ward

by anonymousJ on Nov 8, 2011 11:01 AM EST reply actions

while we are dreaming it would be nice for Sid to wake up out of his concussed haze and decide that his heart belongs in Ole’ Caroline and Bettman to decide that this must be so, because the Golden One hath spoke it, thereby transferring his rights at no cost to the Canes. At the same time, Mo suddenly hits the floor convulsing, a giant tear appearing in the center of his face. Slowly his body splits in two, like a pea pod, and out from the husk emerges a younger Scotty Bowman in his prime!. Peter Karmanos suddenly becomes enamored with spending his money and we become a near cap team. Tripp Tracey finds five dollars on the sidewalk and goes out and buys a clue. The Storm Squad all become pixies capable of flying and granting wishes, and Buffalo is swallowed by a giant sinkhole, a ala the Battle of Moodoor at the end of the Lord of the Rings, and we go on to win the next 10 cups, making RTO the new mecca of hockey. All that said, Cam Ward will still give up goal 2 seconds apart because as caniacgirl knows, Ward sux. Even my imagination can’t fix that.

Hey I can dream too, right? ;)

by wylde4canes on Nov 8, 2011 11:43 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I fully expect management to announce that Cory Stillman has come out of retirement to sign a one-year deal with the Hurricanes in a week or so though.

Please don’t give JR any ideas. Next thing you know Jan Hlavac and Harold Druken might show back up.

I believe in strength. I believe in unity. And if that strength, that unity of purpose, demands a uniformity of thought, word and deed then so be it.

by Douchebag St John on Nov 8, 2011 11:43 AM EST up reply actions

Make the list longer. Add Whitney, Vrbata, Cullen, Ladd, Adams, Think of the money saved on scouting alone.

by surgalt on Nov 8, 2011 12:12 PM EST up reply actions

Vrbata would be a far better player now than he was

The Condor. #63.

by DidJussiThat? on Nov 8, 2011 1:25 PM EST up reply actions

nd Buffalo is swallowed by a giant sinkhole,

I thought that had already happened, thats why there are so many orcs and tolls from there out in the real world.

I believe in strength. I believe in unity. And if that strength, that unity of purpose, demands a uniformity of thought, word and deed then so be it.

by Douchebag St John on Nov 8, 2011 11:46 AM EST up reply actions

^^^winning at the internet!

by wylde4canes on Nov 8, 2011 11:50 AM EST up reply actions

Well said

If everyone in Buffalo who wanted to move out could sell their house and find a job in the south the stampede out would create the vacuum that would cause the giant sinkhole. The net effect would be 2 games a year here would be even bigger sideshows in the upper deck. The increased beer sales alone would pay for Jordan and Marc to join their brother here. However, would it be worth it?

by surgalt on Nov 8, 2011 11:59 AM EST up reply actions

+1

"I'm not going to waste my time with Tuukka Rask" - Cam Ward

by anonymousJ on Nov 8, 2011 12:00 PM EST up reply actions

We could get Nash from Columbus…maybe…by trading Captain for Captain…maybe

The only easy day was yesterday.

by CoastalCane on Nov 8, 2011 11:20 PM EST up reply actions

Not sure what that solves…. Nash has always been the winger without a Center—“he’d be better with a true NHL center”. Staal’s always been the center without a winger….

by Squeaky83 on Nov 9, 2011 8:39 AM EST up reply actions

So who would you give up?

The expectations for Columbus were really big this year, obviously they’ve faltered just a wee bit,lol. Vinny Prospal might be shouting for a trade after being brought in to replace Huselius when he tore a pectoral. Antoine Vermette is not a whole lot different than Matt Cullen in my opinion. A solid centerman would go a long way for Carolina, allowing the Finns to stay where they excel, as wingers I feel. Thing is you aren’t going to find anybody that will take Kaberle so who leaves? I think McBain is really blossoming right now, part of why Kaberle looks so futile is because McBain looks so good. Heck, in all honesty I’d give up Gleason and a first or a second rounder for Rick Nash.

yeah, I used to play

by Gloveside on Nov 10, 2011 12:03 AM EST up reply actions

Regarding Power Forwards

Here are a couple of forwards that I have my eye on.

Chris Stewart – RW – St. Louis – He’s a power forward with wheels that can score. It seems like JR likes adding family to the organization, so maybe he could pry Stewart away from the Blues and another family affair could be started in Carolina.

Dustin Brown – RW/LW – Los Angeles – I love the way this guy plays. He reminds me of a better Ruutu. He likes to hit, but he also scores. He can play in all situations and he could play on any line. Though, I really think he would be the perfect playing partner for Sutter, but he could also work for Staal. Instead of fixing Staal, imagine a line of Skinner/Sutter/Brown.

Scott Hartnell – LW – Philadelphia – This one is somewhat a question for me. Hartnell plays a physical, agitating game; he goes to the net and scores some goals, but he also makes some good passes. Philly might trade him and his large contract to make some room for other acquisitions.

It's time for change! "If you want to change the culture, you will have to start by changing the organization." - Mary Douglas

by PackPride17 on Nov 8, 2011 12:45 PM EST reply actions

I was hoping they were going to make a move for Brown before, but they didn’t. I would love to have either him or Stewart.

by hurricane9 on Nov 8, 2011 3:07 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe Chris Stewart will have a falling out with his new coach.

by curiouscanesfan on Nov 9, 2011 8:03 PM EST up reply actions

Good idea about Hartnell, he’s a type of player we could use. Plays a game sort of like what Eric Cole did for us. I was hoping Poni or A.Stewart could fill that role but Mo seems to be burying A.Stewart.
But after moving Carter and Richards I doubt Philly would trade Hartnell so soon.

by drifterscape on Nov 11, 2011 6:06 PM EST up reply actions

It's Simple Bring Back Cole....and all will be right with the world...

by littlepig on Nov 8, 2011 2:49 PM EST reply actions

Cole

13g, 3g 2a, 5p….—3 7.9% shooting percentage

Stewart

13g 3g 0a, 3p…. —1 30% shooting percentage….4th liner 5 minuter.

Why not try Stewart on STaal’s right then?? I dunno, ask the coach…

by Squeaky83 on Nov 8, 2011 3:26 PM EST up reply actions

Stewart didn’t play for Toronto

by hurricane9 on Nov 8, 2011 3:38 PM EST up reply actions

Fail for Nail!

Nail Yakupov, Alex Galchenyuk, Filip Forsberg, Mikhail Grigorenko… All potential 1st liner talent at the top of the next Draft.

We may as well face facts and realize this is the only way we are ever getting a 1st line talent to play with Staal. Seems we are headed that way anyway.

by JussiJuice on Nov 9, 2011 10:02 AM EST reply actions