Canes ink Goalie Petr Mrazek

[MillionDollarCam]

So it appears the Canes are gonna give Darling every chance to return to his Chicago form.

Projected Line-up:

Zykov - Aho - Teravainen

McGinn - Staal - Williams

Skinner - Necas - Svechnikov

Freland - Rask - Martinook

PDG

Slavin - Hamilton

Pesce - Faulk

Fleury - Van Riemsdyk

Darling

Mrazek

[lightsout]

Flip the Staal and Necas lines. I think Staal still centers that line, but Svechnikov and Skinner get paired on the wings. Maybe not immediately, day 1 lines but long term that is probably the case. Hopefully Brindy realizes that Staal's best days are behind him and moves him back to third line and Necas gets put up. 

As far as Mrazek, I like it. Young guy who has something to prove. Philly is a hard place to find success in net. With notably better defensive pairings in front of him, let's see what he has. If Darling doesn't prove that he's deserving of the starts, I think we see Nedeljkovic get pulled up by Christmas. We need consistency in net, so if we lack it early I'm hoping he shakes it up more than Peters did.

[KillerKat]

Hopefully goaltender coaching has improved. I don't think its coincidence every time we bring in a solid goalie, they suddenly turn to poo.

[backINblack28]

Solid, cheap signing.  Young guy at 26 with some upside and we got him for half of what CHI paid Ward.

Alex Ned should be ready next year (or even this season) for whichever if either of the goaltenders doesn't work out this year.  I think Darling will have a nice bounce-back year.  He already looks like a completely different person physically.  Had a lot of stuff going on last year.

[MillionDollarCam]

It appears that we just decided to go with the odds game. 

Historically both Darling and Mrazek are .915 goalies. Odds that they both poo the bed again is unlikely. Especially with what could be the best defensive corp in the NHL.

Waddell did confirm that the Canes are done barring a trade (and resigning TVR) and that they are content playing Pesce on his offside with Faulk. They also are not willing to give Skinner away and will keep him unless they get the right offer.