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Everyone wants to talk about how bad the refs are.... how about the idiots who make the entertainment decisions for the half time show? The half time show is to performers as game shows are to washed up actors- it gets them a paycheck. I have nothing against Rihanna, I don't know her music and it's not something I listen to. But when I saw her on a TV show a couple days ago and she said she hadn't been on a stage in 9 years.... Is it that hard to watch the Grammy Awards, which is the biggest popularity contest for musicians on the planet, and get one of them? Again, not my style, but is it that hard to ask Harry Stiles, Lizzo, Adele, Taylor Swift....?

The trade will happen and it will be impactful. The Canes have proven more than once they can beat the Bruins, the Caps and Tampa Bay. The team they cannot get past is the Rangers, who aren't as good as any of the 3 teams I just mentioned. The Rangers run a very simple offense, but the Canes are very aggressive puck defenders. This is a problem when playing the Rangers, because they always have someone breaking to the middle of the ice the minute the Canes get too deep defensively. The result is the breakaways you saw Saturday night.

Bad call- good call.... not really the question, although it will be argued for days. The real issue was the lack of consistency in officiating. Players and coaches look for tendencies in officiating and that tone is typically set within the first quarter. For the most part, the refs were consistent for the huge majority of the game. They weren't an overwhelming part of the game, as many people feared they would be. After all, the SB ref threw more flags this past season than anyone else in the league. The fact is, that very same call was not made on several other opportunities, so why make it at the end of the game? Consistency. Sure, Bradberry admitted making the play, but he also had the thought it wouldn't get called. Know why? Because it wasn't called on several other occasions. Consistency. Oh yeah, the turf sucked and the half time lip sync wasn't very good either. Other than that, the first 58 minutes of the game was pretty good to watch.

Wow... unless that was sarcasm? Just in case, you never heard of the Jordan Rules?

Can't win the Cup if you can't beat NY. They are a 2-line team with nowhere near the talent throughout the lineup, yet Carolina can't beat them. And putting hats on visiting ice? Fug NY fans. They need to go home to their trailer park in Thomasville.

Necas clearly gets slashed from behind on a breakaway and no call with a ref 10 feet away. WTF?

Expect the Rangers to wear down after their game last night. Scoring chances are there, but the Canes have not found their groove and are just missing some passes. They continue pelting Halak with 13-15 shots over each of the next 2 periods, they'll find a goal or 2.

How long before Trouba cheap shots one of our guys?

Rangers on the wrong side of a back-to-back having to travel after winning at home vs. Seattle last night. Tarasenko had NY's first goal and his first, obviously, as a Ranger. Shesterkin played last night and Halak is expected to be in net tonight in Raleigh. But, for some reason, the Rangers seem to have Carolina's number and I'd love a win.... we'll see.

Total Wine carries it. There are 3 locations in Raleigh and one between Raleigh and Cary. The brewery (R&D) has a taproom as well which is open Saturdays. https://rndbrewing.com/location/seven-saturdays-taproom/

Tarasenko to the Rangers gives them a solid 2nd line. NY's biggest issue is they're a 2-line team with a real drop in talent up front. Blue line offense keeps them in games.

They were already interested and, in some circles, the lead dog to land him before the Hughes injury.

Hmmmmm..... not a move I see Waddell making, tbh. You're right, he's overpaid and doesn't bring any more potential offense to the 2C position.

Larkin is likely a pipe dream. His dad and the current GM played their entire careers together in Detroit, I'm fairly certain. But, it's an interesting conversation.

I might have been on that flight...

Both Toews and Kane are rentals. I don't want a 32 game rental that will cost the team a few years worth of prospects and draft pick(s). Meter, Tarasenko, Larkin are all long term investments that almost guarantee future success. I'm mentioning these 3 as they seem to be market favorites right now. But look, I still think one of the 2 goalies may be in play. Both Andersen and Raanta are free agents after the season and Kochetkov is waiting in the wings with a recently signed multi-year contract.

NYI gave Horvat 8 years for $8.5M AAV today.

Horvat got an 8-year extension for $8.5M AAV today.

Tarasenko or Meier or Larkin.

Put 'em to work as caddies for rich, white, rednecks. There's also hunting, so you could get them familiar with handling firearms, so they can keep up with their classmates who bring them to school.

Although they won fairly easily, they were gassed in the 3rd period as evidenced with the amount of offensive zone time Buffalo had and the number of shots. After allowing only 17 shots thru the first 2 periods, Carolina gave up 13 in the third period alone. If you go back and watch the game, you'll see Canes players reaching hard for loose pucks because their legs can't get them to the puck before the Buffalo skaters. They may not have come out flat, but they were done after that game, believe me.

I like the mid-season assessment idea. I'm already looking at how to improve going to next season because, frankly, this season's roster is set with the exception of adding Timo Meier, Tarasenko or Kane (which is my least enticing option). Canes need a 2C, no question. KK is on the hook for the next 4 years at $4.8M and, although he is fairly consistent and reliable, the reality is he's not worth what he's making. But, he's only 22 and does RBA see something we don't? Turbo has one more year on a $5.4M contract and I think he could be a trade option. He's flashed this year and had some timely goals of late. But, let's be real, he'd rather pass the puck than shoot it. I can't tell you how many times he's passed up a shot when it's there. I believe those 2 guys are the biggest names on the roster who someone else may want. Goaltending? Both guys are UFAs after the season and our netminders seem to be either very good or bad, with not a lot in between. When Andersen is healthy and his head is right, he can be a top goalie in the league. Raanta is and will forever be a #2, although another team may want him as a #1. Couple goalies have been hurt recently, don't be surprised if Raanta is part of a trade and Kochetkov finds himself as the #2. Wouldn't that be interesting? Surprises thus far: Martin Necas, after getting benched a couple times last season, being moved around the lineup, he's blown up this year. Jalen Chatfield. Nobody saw this coming. Nobody. And what a pleasure it has been to watch him play at this level. Stefan Noesen. At 29, he's finally getting to play at the top level and he's making the most of his opportunity. Can the Canes win 55 games this season? (21 of the remaining 31?)

Need another one this period. Buffalo has their share of comebacks this season. No need to give them hope or a chance.