Tempered Expectations

[Anybodyhome]

If anyone thought for a minute the Canes were going to storm the gates this season, I don't know what to tell you. The off-season saw an exodus of players who accounted for 30% of last year's goal scoring during the regular season. They lost one of the better 2-way defensemen in the league in Brady Skjei and one of the best net-front guys in the league in Stef Noesen.

I'm hoping for a .500 season, anything better will be a worthy accomplishment in my mind. I'm not even thinking playoffs this season- I'll be happy if they can gel and start playing as a team. I'm not making this assessment based off one game, because the Canes never played best-on-best in their preseason schedule, so we didn't know what to make of it all.

[GamecockSmitty4]

I agree that this is not going to be a season where we’re battling for the top spot in the East. But I think we’ll be much better than .500. Rod certainly has some flaws but I go back to the 2018 season when nobody expected anything and he guided the team to the ECF. He’s still a great coach and we have some talent. 

[KillerKat]

I knew since after the playoffs, that was our last best shot and its going to be pain for the next year or 2. Too bad this team kept screwing up the goalie situation and the TDL, besides last season, which didnt help us get over the hump.

[organicrusty1201]

2 hours ago, KillerKat said:

I knew since after the playoffs, that was our last best shot and its going to be pain for the next year or 2. Too bad this team kept screwing up the goalie situation and the TDL, besides last season, which didnt help us get over the hump.

So true, we wasted our best shots at the cup because of trying to win with retread goalies

[Rocky Davis]

6 hours ago, Anybodyhome said:

If anyone thought for a minute the Canes were going to storm the gates this season, I don't know what to tell you. The off-season saw an exodus of players who accounted for 30% of last year's goal scoring during the regular season. They lost one of the better 2-way defensemen in the league in Brady Skjei and one of the best net-front guys in the league in Stef Noesen.

I'm hoping for a .500 season, anything better will be a worthy accomplishment in my mind. I'm not even thinking playoffs this season- I'll be happy if they can gel and start playing as a team. I'm not making this assessment based off one game, because the Canes never played best-on-best in their preseason schedule, so we didn't know what to make of it all.

Agreed, hope everyone realized how much this team changed in the off-season.

I will just note that the right decisions were made with Pesce, who is hurt again, and Skjei who got his bag and deserves it.  I am going to be watching Skjei's numbers with interest as his first game with the Preds was not good for him.  I think he's a solid d-man, but I also think he needs the right system and pairing to be as good as he was with us. 

Still stung about Guentzel, but it was probably our FO's hesitation that led to him leaving for the same contract in tax free Florida.

Noesen we'll miss.

[MillionDollarCam]

The window isn’t closed, it’s just being shut during a storm (cap storm). Once the storm is over next year, the Canes will have the following roster with over $20M in cap space.

Svechnikov - Aho - Jarvis

??? - Kotkaniemi - Necas

Martinook - Staal - Carrier

??? - Drury - Blake

Slavin - ???

Nikishin - Chatfield

Gostisbehere - Walker

Kochetkov

If guys like Nadeau, Unger-Sorum, and Morrow progress then it’s highly likely guys like Roslovic, Fast, Robinson, Lemieux, and Orlov will be back and with the three guys above being on ELC’s, it opens up the opportunity for the Canes to go big game hunting. I also think Rod will want Burns back.

I’m fully expecting the Canes to go big game hunting in the offseason and I think they’ll target Konecny.

[Anybodyhome]

I'm not convinced Necas will still be here after the TDL if the right suitor comes along.

I don't think Orlov comes back- he's not played up to the salary he's getting now.

[organicrusty1201]

1 hour ago, Anybodyhome said:

I'm not convinced Necas will still be here after the TDL if the right suitor comes along.

I don't think Orlov comes back- he's not played up to the salary he's getting now.

especially if they are not in playoff contention 

[MillionDollarCam]

1 hour ago, Anybodyhome said:

I'm not convinced Necas will still be here after the TDL if the right suitor comes along.

I don't think Orlov comes back- he's not played up to the salary he's getting now.

I’m not either, I’m just penciling in guys that are currently under contract for next year.

Also meant to say it’s highly unlikely not likely.

Only free agent I can see is bringing back is Burns on a discounted deal.

Maybe go something like:

Slavin - Chatfield

Nikishin - Burns

Gostisbehere - Walker

Edited October 14 by MillionDollarCam

[PantherChris]

On 10/12/2024 at 11:02 AM, Anybodyhome said:

If anyone thought for a minute the Canes were going to storm the gates this season, I don't know what to tell you. The off-season saw an exodus of players who accounted for 30% of last year's goal scoring during the regular season. They lost one of the better 2-way defensemen in the league in Brady Skjei and one of the best net-front guys in the league in Stef Noesen.

I'm hoping for a .500 season, anything better will be a worthy accomplishment in my mind. I'm not even thinking playoffs this season- I'll be happy if they can gel and start playing as a team. I'm not making this assessment based off one game, because the Canes never played best-on-best in their preseason schedule, so we didn't know what to make of it all.

Care reaction.... I don't think anyone is tempering anymore 

[GamecockSmitty4]

On 10/12/2024 at 1:57 PM, GamecockSmitty4 said:

I agree that this is not going to be a season where we’re battling for the top spot in the East. But I think we’ll be much better than .500. Rod certainly has some flaws but I go back to the 2018 season when nobody expected anything and he guided the team to the ECF. He’s still a great coach and we have some talent. 

It’s early but I am on track to be very wrong about expectations and couldn’t be happier. 

[Anybodyhome]

3 hours ago, PantherChris said:

Care reaction.... I don't think anyone is tempering anymore 

 

2 hours ago, GamecockSmitty4 said:

It’s early but I am on track to be very wrong about expectations and couldn’t be happier. 

Of course it looks different now, but all of us were seeing the same thing in the preseason.

Who knew Orlov would look that bad in early October and look this good a month later?

Who knew the top line was gonna get carried by the 4th line

Aho and Svech have yet to get going.

[organicrusty1201]

No excuse for me, I thought this was a bridge year and Tulsky and the boys have proved me wrong