My dreams for the rest of the season, post-ASG

by Capt. Stinky on Jan 24, 2012 4:44 PM EST

So the All Star Game is upon us, and low and behold, only 1 Cane going. Sounds about right; this year has been among the most challenging of any in recent history for fans and players alike. The lack of spending in the pre-season, coupled with Mo talking JR into giving him another chance behind the bench in essence doomed the season before it started. But there is hope: a new coach with new ideas and positive results, two star players (12 & 30) rounding into form, a pleasant surprise on defense (28) and some young guns making good impressions all have me giddy for the rest of this year. Here are the top 10 dreams I have for the remainder of this season:

Paul Maurice gets a head coaching job -- a nice man, with above-average hockey IQ. He should be coaching somewhere in the near future.

Lavi wins another Cup -- if it can't be our guys hoisting it, I'd like to see Peter Laviolette get another one. He's a quality guy who brought us hope and, yes, the Cup. His reign was quite a ride.

Boychuk gets traded -- he has a lot of talent but for whatever reason just cannot seem to realize it here. Give the kid a shot somewhere else.

Ruutu is re-signed -- ideally, JR signs him tomorrow, but that won't happen. He'll likely get pick-up as a rental, but hopefully he comes back to play with his Finnish friends one more time next season.

Skinner stays upright -- I almost threw up when I saw him go down again the other night. Thought for sure it'd be another concussion; he has such a bright future, I'd like to see him get through the season relatively unscathed.

Harrison/Faulk and McBain/Joslin allowed to gel -- both of those pairings seem like they are making some progress lately, I'd like to see them kept intact. Whichever leaves, Gleason or Allen, I would see paired with Pitkanen or even Murphy if they kid is ready for NHL action this season.

Quality forward gets brought in -- I like Tlusty, but he isn't the long-term answer on the top line. That, coupled with the fact Ruutu will likely be rental bait, should clear a path for some sort of trade (veterans and prospects) for a top line winger to play with Staal.

Just some happy thoughts as I lay down for my All Star nap. See everyone in another week....

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Sweet Dreams Capt.....

We’ll wake you when it’s over………I too would like to see the “D” have time to gel I believe there is some talent there and it is starting to show. Lavi is a class guy, and if we can’t win it I also would like him to win another………..
When all is said and done I believe we will see a much different team, both play wise and player wise, there will be many new faces, I hope for the better. While we have had a rough start, things could be worse……….we could be living in Buffalo………
Southern Fried Hockey is where it’s at…….

by littlepig on Jan 24, 2012 5:30 PM EST reply actions

i like most of your ideas

but i only count seven

" was it over when the germans bombed pearl harbor?"

by brass bonanza on Jan 24, 2012 9:02 PM EST reply actions

My dream...

Is to get Ray Whitney back, but from the sounds of it, he wants to play for 1 last chance at the Playoffs and next season will be his last. Be nice though to get him with us next season…so he can retire here in Carolina. :)

Ready for the Canes to win the Cup again! :)

by thebl4ckd0g on Jan 25, 2012 2:09 AM EST reply actions

The only one I disagree with is keeping McBain/Joslin together. I really do not like seeing those 2 on the ice together. I really wouldn’t mind if either or both of those guys were traded.

JR; please dump some players and bring the kids up to stay!

by PackPride17 on Jan 25, 2012 10:36 AM EST reply actions

Nice positive thoughts………thanks.

When able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.
Sun Tzu circa 4th Century BC

by hurricanefever on Jan 25, 2012 10:52 AM EST reply actions

Stinks Getting Soft

I can’t find fault with any of your musings. Didn’t know you had this sentimental side to you. I am not sure about the McBain/Joslin pairing, but heck you could be right.

by FoxtrotSierra on Jan 25, 2012 12:40 PM EST reply actions

Agreed with everything you said with the exception of Tlusty. I don’t think he’s a long term answer on the top line but I thought he really played well when he was on Sutter’s wing last season. He’s healthy now, finally showing some of the skill that made him a 1st round pick and I think he can be resigned for pretty cheap in the offseason.

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

by anonymousJ on Jan 25, 2012 2:25 PM EST reply actions

The question would be why? Is he better than Bowman or Samson or Nodl?? Because that’s whose spot he would take. We have a surfeit of third/fourth line wingers: Tlusty, Nodl, Samson, Bowman, LaRose, Dwyer, Sutter42, Stewart….. We have 4 spots. We are a budget team. If we are going to spend for a real, bonafide, top twenty forward AND re-sign Ruutu, why waste money on Tlusty (or Larose or Dwyer for that matter, but we’re stuck with them for now)?? Why not save and go with Samson and/or Bowman. Both come cheaper, both have shown the handle that third line duty quite capably and both have shown scoring touch as well….

by Squeaky83 on Jan 25, 2012 2:47 PM EST up reply actions

I would very much prefer having Tlusty over Nodl. Injuries happen as well and Tlusty could fill in the top 6 in a pinch. Either way, I see LaRose/Dwyer as being more of a waste of money and blocking the Checkers more than Tlusty would.

The fact that they’re both signed for next year probably does mean Tlusty want we be resigned. My thoughts are that I would much rather have Tlusty in our bottom 6 than I would Nodl, LaRose, Dwyer or Brent.

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

by anonymousJ on Jan 25, 2012 3:59 PM EST up reply actions

Tlusty has a much higher ceiling when it comes to scoring than Bowman, Samson, and Nodl. Much better hands and he still plays a very good defensive game.

Tlusty – Sutter – Dadonov

Would be an great 3rd line capable of shutting down opposing team’s top units, playing a hard-hitting gritty game, and every one of these players still has great offensive instincts. I think you could sub Bowman in for Dadonov if Dadonov proves to be a top-6 mainstay. I don’t believe Samson, Nodl, Dwyer, Stewart, Sutter42, etc. has near the raw talent that any of these guys do.

by JussiJuice on Jan 26, 2012 2:31 AM EST up reply actions

Something I wouldn't mind seeing!

It seems obvious that JR will not go out and find a “true” top line winger to play with Staal. My hope/dream was that he would somehow acquire Bobby Ryan, but that’s not happening. So I’ve started focusing on “lesser” players that might work in our system. It’s been rumored that Tim Gleason will eventually be on the move and a few place like Philadelphia, Vancouver, Chicago, and New York have been mentioned as possible destinations. I know a lot of fans would like to see draft picks returning to the Canes (and I wouldn’t mind seeing us with an extra few), but we need “now” players with maybe some more potential.

One player that I think would be available in Vancouver is Mason Raymond. He’s a RFA at the end of the season, is coming off a vertabre injury, and isn’t a “big” forward. But he does have speed, can play either wing position, can score & distribute, and is somewhat responsible defensively. He’s only a 0.50ppg in his NHL career; but I believe he can be a 20+ goal, 50+ point player in the right situation. Given his speed, he could work next to Staal or might work with Skinner and a bigger forward like Ruutu. Maybe the Canes could offer Gleason & Dwyer (to help fill out Vancouver’s bottom 6) to Vancouver for Raymond & a conditional 2nd (the pick becomes a 1st if Vancouver makes it to the WCF)?

Another player that is of some interest and has been mentioned before is Jakub Voracek. He’s also a RFA at season’s end, is not a speedy guy, and he doesn’t score a lot of goals. But he has real nice size, protects the puck well, is defensively responsible, and is a creative, distributing winger. He’s probably only going to put up 15 to 20 goals a season, but should chip in 30 to 40 assists if he plays in the top 6. He could work with Staal or Skinner. Maybe the Canes could offer Gleason (to help fill the void of Pronger) & Nodl (because of injury they would need some forward help and Nodl is cheap & knows their system; also I think most of us could agree that we have plenty of potential 3rd line wingers to play with Sutter, so replacing Nodl can be done) to Philadelphia for Voracek & a 2nd?

Chicago & New York are a little different. They really don’t have the current NHL players to acquire (at least ones that they would even consider giving up. Given those situations, we would probably request a good to very good prospect along with a pick.

JR; please dump some players and bring the kids up to stay!

by PackPride17 on Jan 25, 2012 3:06 PM EST reply actions

The biggest risk / reward play—which is something JR sometimes gives in to— is JVR from Philly. Here’s a kid who’s been progressing nicely until injuries this year. Size, speed, net drive, scoring…. Good character so would fit with the canes.

JVR is a better than 20 goal scorer with size and hitting. BUT as we know, hip surgery—which can totally change or limit his physical play or skating, so it’s a wild card, and concussion: Sid Crosby kind of concussion or Claude Giroux kind of consussion?? Big questions. You take a lot of risk to grab this guy, but the reward can be big. The downside is a relatively large contrct you have to eat if he doesn’t recover to previous form…..

I like JVR better than Voracek when healthy.

by Squeaky83 on Jan 25, 2012 4:53 PM EST up reply actions

I like JVR better than Voracek also, but JVR is a much bigger risk to this organization than Voracek. Not only does he have two medical issues, but his contract is a pretty decent amount for 4 seasons after this one. JR doesn’t normally do many contracts past 2 or 3 seasons, so trading for one that is 4 years at an average of $4.25 million for a currently unhealthy individual is a real stretch for him.

Either way, I wouldn’t mind doing that deal because it shows management is at least thinking of improving the team rather than being financially conservative.

JR; please dump some players and bring the kids up to stay!

by PackPride17 on Jan 25, 2012 5:55 PM EST up reply actions