Far fetched but...

[lightsout]

Ok...so a big win versus the Sens tonight. Great. Ward looked amazing, Staal looked comfortable, and overall (outside the 1st) we looked great. Call me crazy, but we STILL have a chance IF we continue this type of play. Atlanta has been UGLY the past 2 weeks. We can beat Florida and Tampa, IMO, with as good as we're playing now. That lands us 2nd if we can get hot this month and drop, at the most, 3 games. Anymore than that, playoffs are officially locked out. We still have a half of the season to work with. Its not probable, but possible. Granted, I am the eternal optimist. Any thoughts on us making a surge in the Southeast?

[G()AT]

Then call me the eternal pessimist, No chance.

[TyHillPanthers]

I want Taylor Hall so i hope we keep losing.

[Sapper]

They have won 4 of 6...and, points aside, they are 7.5 games off of 8th place. Have to take care of teams like the Leafs tomorrow night.

[lightsout]

While a player like Taylor Hall would be amazing, I don't want to have to wait for years for my team to be good. We need to rebuild with some youth, but at the same time I don't like being last in the NHL. This team can be a playoff contender year in and year out. They have proven such. 7.5 games isn't insurmountable, but it is a stretch. We can contend with the Leafs and, barring a serious injury, and with the confidence we seem to be getting from our first and third lines, we can close out the season with at least some league wide respect and confidence going into the offseason.

[Mesmer]

This team isn't doing anything this season. The best thing that can happen at this point is to sell off the older players and build towards next season.

Going on a tear and getting a terrible draft choice would be bad. Theres no way we make the playoffs, so honestly at this point it's better if we're in last.

[merchman567]

Im just glad to see some Canes talk. I was thinking the exact same thing after the Senators game. Everytime I think that they lose though...however something is changing on this team. I will wait till I watch this game to offically see, but I think this team has finally stopped figuring ways to lose games. Ward looks good, but it looks like we remember how to block shots and we got forwards who can score... Sutter is amazing... he looks better and better each night no matter what line he is playing! I know our chemistry is amazing, but I think when we get Corvo back and his big blast from the point... things may happen... good things! Call me what you want... I just want to see the Canes win!

[Mesmer]

The effort is there but the team as whole just isn't that good. That's why it looks good on the ice, because it's not for lack of effort.

It's just not a good team.

To be honest, if we can move guys like Whitney and Corvo, bring up more young guys, and draft a guy like Taylor Hall to play wing with Eric Staal next season.. we're going to be poised for a quick turnaround next season.

I know it sucks that we suck... the pain of that realization has probably lasted for me until about two weeks ago or so. I'm not really ok with it.. I still root for the Canes and it still sucks when we lose.. but knowing that we can get the #1 pick I know it's probably for the best.

I can't root for them to lose though, I love my Canes too much.

[lightsout]

I really don't think we have a bad team, just not enough speed. Speed =/= good. Slow =/= bad. Its just a matter of role playing, and I think the late success is due to guys understanding their roles (especially some of the younger ones). Kostopoulos will be great with Sutter in the second line and that line alone will help us win a lot of games the rest of this year and next year. We just need a more consistent 1st and 4th lines. I like to think our 3rd is average, just weak defensively.

Really, as fans, regardless how this season goes, we are looking to be in good shape as far as happiness.

Canes win a lot of games and get some points, we are happy.

Canes lose a lot, upset with turnout but, we got the #1 pick.

[merchman567]

Well that was a game.. a month ago we would have lost, but again we didnt panic and we come out with a W. I stand by what I said earlier... its not that we have found more ways to win... its we have found out how not to lose. It will be a good test thursday

[Mesmer]

I really don't think we have a bad team, just not enough speed. Speed =/= good. Slow =/= bad. .

I mean to an extent but come on speed is really the Canes game. We've never been a tough, hit em in the mouth team. We went on a retarded tear in 2006 and won the Cup because we were fast, and people couldn't water ski on our guys through the neutral zone.

Post-lockout the NHL is a young mans game for sure. You even think about lifting your stick and you're doing 2 for hooking.

[lightsout]

I agree with what you say. Don't get me wrong, we are fast and that HAS been our game forever. But we have a lot of age (Brindamour, Whitney, Walker, even Wallin, Yelle, and Aaron Ward are getting up there in age). We do need to get a bit younger. Any athlete knows that as you gain age, you lose speed. Its just how your body works. Granted, hockey isn't exactly football. Work out regimens are different, conditioning is different. But wear-and-tear is practically the same.

All in all, I believe we all agree that while we love what the present core of this team did for us 4 years ago, its time to remold the team a bit. Not saying gut the roster of all the aforementioned names. But start considering some roster movement. Send some of those old guys down to Albany and let them teach our draft choices and what not, bring some guys up from Albany. Something. It has worked out so far anyway.

One last note, go 'Canes. We keep getting wins. I like it. (the more this thread progresses, however, i really wouldn't mind us getting that #1 overall draft spot. lol)

[Mesmer]

At this rate the Edmonton Oilers will get the pick.. (or at least the top position in the lottery for the pick)

They are beyond awful and it's barely conceivable.