2016/17 Carolina Hurricanes

[RealBitsOfPanther]

So let's see if we can get some people in this forum this year (or at least this thread lol). 

What are ya'lls expectations going into the season? Do you think we compete for a playoff spot or do we have another sub par season resulting in a top 10 pick? 

I think if the young talent keeps developing, we push for a playoff spot. Francis made a lot of solid moves in the off season bringing in some scoring help with Tervainen. Bickell was a throw in on that deal but if he can even get a little bit of his playoff magic back for us, then he will help. Lee Stempniak will be an underrated signing as well. It will be interesting to see if Aho is NHL ready or not. He could be a solid scoring threat on the 3rd line and provide some balance for us. Hopefully Skinner stays healthy as well. When he is healthy, he is one of the most dangerous players with the puck. 

 

The defense should still be solid as it was last year. Faulk, Slavin, Noah, Pesce, Hainsey, Murphy is solid for the most part. Will be interesting to see if Fleury pushes for a spot in camp or not. In net we still have Cam Ward (somehow) and Eddie Lack. Also have Leighton in the system as well. I still think we see Cam start more games than Lack unless Cam just struggles.

 

 

[lightsout]

Well you pretty much hit the big points already. I think if the chemistry returns to where it got the last three months of the season last year, we push for a playoff spot. If not, expect more 1 goal/OT losses like last year. We're good enough to hang in there with anybody, just not consistent enough to pull out tight games. We're also young. Very young.

Until we get a goalie that can pull 60 games a year and have a better than .909 save percentage, we're gonna be in that spot. Cam is only good, not great. Lack is only serviceable as a backup who can come in and get you some wins, but that's all he'll ever be. The 52/30 rotation we're currently running just is not working. Neither goalie has time to hit a groove and gain momentum before being pulled for a week.

[iamcline]

Need to bring back Alexander Semin. This team has no personality. :)

[RealBitsOfPanther]

On 10/5/2016 at 9:42 AM, iamcline said:

Need to bring back Alexander Semin. This team has no personality. :)

Well I mean his buyout is still on the books, so in a way, he kind of never left. lol 

[iamcline]

12 minutes ago, RealBitsOfPanther said:

Well I mean his buyout is still on the books, so in a way, he kind of never left. lol 

Can he play RT?

[RealBitsOfPanther]

He should be seriously considered. lol 

[lightsout]

The Teuvo/Lindholm/Aho line this year will be straight fire.

[iamcline]

On 10/8/2016 at 7:16 PM, lightsout said:

The Teuvo/Lindholm/Aho line this year will be straight fire.

Lord I hope so.

[RealBitsOfPanther]

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/nhl-power-rankings-penguins-begin-top-perch-sharks/story?id=42708972

 

Espn showing us some love at #13 and 3rd in Metro. I'd be stoked if we finish that high. 

[Omega Atrocity]

I think we make the playoffs this year, but it might just be blind optimism. Goal-tending, once again, I think will be our biggest issue.

[RealBitsOfPanther]

This is the deepest we have been in a long time. We have a very good young core and have some crafty vets that will help. Peters having the ability to truly roll 4 lines this year is going to help tremendously. Also, having the ability to load a line up for a shift (i.e. put Rask Skinner and Linds or whoever the hot hand is) while not making every other line poo will go a long way too.

[cookinbrak]

That was an epic letdown.

[iamcline]

10 hours ago, cookinbrak said:

That was an epic letdown.

Looked like classic Cam Ward. Overreacting and playing too far out in the crease.

[backtobackwinningseasons]

Hurricanes seem destined to be bad for a long time. Another late game collapse.