This And That: Monday, Monday

Congratulations goes to Bill Peters and Team Canada for winning the gold medal at this year's world championships.  The Canadians were dominant and did not lose a single game.  Peters, who served as assistant coach, hopefully picked up some tidbits that might come in handy next season.

Anton Khudobin earned a silver medal with Team Russia and Justin Faulk, a bronze with the third place Americans.

While they did not medal, hopefully Elias Lindholm and Victor Rask learned more about each other, gained some valuable experience, and created some chemistry between them while repping team Sweden.

What's the best news about any of this?  There were no injuries reported to anyone in Carolina, so everyone has the chance to report healthy and at 100% next fall.

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Paul Branecky is hard at work this summer and recently posted an article for the Checkers about Carolina prospect, Trevor Carrick.   If the defenseman can continue to improve, he could find some time in Raleigh sooner rather than later.

All the 20-year-old did in his first professional season was set franchise records for games played (all 76), goals (seven), assists (25), points (32), power-play assists (13) and power-play points (14) by a rookie defenseman. His 94 penalty minutes were the most ever by a first-year Checker at any position.

Carrick was the Hurricanes 4rth round pick in 2012.

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Speaking of defensemen, Dallas blueliner Jamie Oleksiak could be on the trading block.

According to this article by Ed Sarno, the Stars might  be shopping the 14th overall selection in the 2011 draft because he has been slow to develop.  Oleksiak, who is listed at 6'7 and 250, played 36 games for Dallas last season and 36 for their AHL affiliate.

The author correctly points out that Oleksiak's advanced stats were second to worst on the team, but also complains that the defenseman does not always play to his size because he only had 20 PIM's in the AHL.

After reviewing the real time stats on NHL.com, Oleksiak was credited with 82 hits in those 36 games, so he must show some physicality.  His "shots blocked per game" ratio would place him within the top 10 on the team,  (46 blocks in 36 games).

The Hurricanes are listed as a possible destination for the big blueliner because, one, they are in need of defensmen, and two, Joe Nieuwendyk, former GM for the Stars, now works as a scout and advisor for the Canes.

The Stars drafted Oleksiak under Nieuwendyk's watch.

This is all interesting conjecture that probably means nothing, but it is something to talk about on a slow day and you never know.

We will see if Nieuwendyk has some influence regarding any Carolina acquisitions this offseason.