DavidEng

Kootchie in the crease, Nystrom with Niki on D.

Grok AI: No, there are no credible reports that the Carolina Hurricanes offered Jake Guentzel the same contract terms as Tampa Bay (7 years, $63 million total, $9 million AAV) before he signed with the Lightning. Reliable sources, including The Athletic, consistently reported that Carolina’s offer during negotiations was an eight-year deal worth $64 million ($8 million AAV). Guentzel did not accept it promptly, leading the Hurricanes to trade his negotiating rights to Tampa Bay on June 30, 2024, for a 2025 third-round pick. He then quickly signed the 7x$9M deal with the Lightning on July 1, 2024. Guentzel himself later reflected (in 2025 interviews) that staying in Carolina was his initial preference, but negotiations stalled and “didn’t work out,” with Tampa’s opportunity becoming a “no-brainer.” No reports from outlets like ESPN, NHL.com, or insiders (e.g., Elliotte Friedman, Pierre LeBrun, Frank Seravalli) indicate Carolina ever matched or offered the Lightning’s exact terms—total money, AAV, or length. The extra year was Carolina’s key advantage, but they reportedly stuck closer to $8M AAV and moved on when Guentzel explored options.

He wanted to go to Tampa Bay according to some sources. I saw an interview with him where imho he heged and reading between the lines I sensed he was ready to leave. I don’t say “absolutely” though lol.

If they haven’t learned their lesson with those two then they never will. Basically expensive rentals who don’t want to be here and the team suffers for it.

Audio, post game interviews https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/vorssthzfznmhulqtln4a/AIt4DvM0phA3cgy5bkrCm50?e=2&noscript=1&rlkey=110x19o9te4pk4fd8zk3y9dw8&st=27e9gb94&dl=0

Buss Stop wins it woooo!!!

Buss Stop!

Jarvy is a shootout man!

Stank!!!

Hopefully the rest of the PP is a hella lot better than that effort.

I tell ya if Bussi wasn’t in net Caps would be up a goal already.

The reason Bussi is in net tonight- Rod wants to keep his job. lol

Blake

Yes! Gonna be a tough game, Caps are on an 8-1-1 win streak. Need Buss Stop in the crease for sure.

And Freddie is in there as well! Bussi and Freddie are among three goalies in the last 12 years to score 9 wins in their first 10 NHL games.

Staal has really cranked it up this year, Marty Party scores an empty netter, and Svech and Jarvy did Svech and Jarvy things. And Buss Stop? Well ….

Canes starting to fight back now

Aho

Woah. How many of those was Freddie in net?

My query was for ALL centers, regardless of which line. 21 centers have more points than Aho. https://www.statmuse.com/nhl/ask/nhl-centers-points-leaders-this-season

I won’t argue that Aho needs to step up. I agree with that but he’s not the only one who didn’t score. FYI Aho is ranked 22nd in points for Centers this season, that puts him ahead of 10 other 1C’s in the league. Can he be better? I hope so but he’s certainly no slouch and is a bonafide 1C.

I posted this in the game thread but you’ve earned a repost here lol. —- I don’t blame the goalie when we only score 1 goal, have poor puck control (18 turnovers to sharks 9), and defensive lapses on sharks goals. After watching replays closely I see a defensive zone turnover and defense as the blame for the 1st sharks goal, and both goalie and defense to blame for the 2nd and 3rd sharks goals. So Kootchi was partially responsible for at most 2 goals. If Canes don’t score more than that we’ll lose a lot of games. 1st Sharks goal- Canes turn the puck over in their end, Celebrini shoots from center left and Graft skates in unmolested at right net front for the tip in. Puck control and defense fail. 2nd sharks goal- Celebrini pass from behind the Canes net to a wide open Klingberg 10 ft in front of the net for the goal while 3 Canes couldn’t defend and Kootch partially screened by Ghost. Defense fail, goalie fail. 3rd sharks goal- Eklund shoots and puck bounces off Kootch to an all alone on right side Wennberg who slams it in for the goal. Goalie fail, defense fail.

I don’t blame the goalie when we only score 1 goal, have poor puck control (18 turnovers to sharks 9), and defensive lapses on sharks goals. After watching replays closely I see a defensive zone turnover and defense as the blame for the 1st sharks goal, and both goalie and defense to blame for the 2nd and 3rd sharks goals. So Kootchi was partially responsible for at most 2 goals. If Canes don’t score more than that we’ll lose a lot of games. 1st Sharks goal- Canes turn the puck over in their end, Celebrini shoots from center left and Graft skates in unmolested at right net front for the tip in. Puck control and defense fail. 2nd sharks goal- Celebrini pass from behind the Canes net to a wide open Klingberg 10 ft in front of the net for the goal while 3 Canes couldn’t defend and Kootch partially screened by Ghost. Defense fail, goalie fail. 3rd sharks goal- Eklund shoots and puck bounces off Kootch to an all alone on right side Wennberg who slams it in for the goal. Goalie fail, defense fail.

Placing the blame for this game solely on Kootchie? Try watching replays.

It’s feast or famine with Canes scoring and defense these days. Canes scored 1 goal - can’t blame the lack of scoring on goalies gents.