Hurricane Season preview

[Staal-aholic]

on www.hockeytraderumors.com, They have posted their outlook on how the Canes will do this year and rate the basic aspects of the team. We got a B- on the Blue Line, C on offense, B in net and a C overall. I think we deserve a little more credit but this is coming from a Toronto biased site so I won't take too much stock in this. Their Prediction: 9th in the East.

[guinevere]

If they predict us 9th in the East - then I have even more positive feelings than I did before. I disagree with the B- in defense - the addition of Markov and Boughner increases our physical presence on open ice and Markov is going to be a huge asset to our nonexistent powerplay. In addition, based upon what I"ve heard and seen in Boughner - this guy has the potential to improve the play of everyone - saying it in the locker room and then doing it on the ice. As far as our offense - it would seem unlikely that our performance will merit a "C". Every year except for the last our offense has improved. We started last season with injuries and attitudes. Now we're returning healthy and hungry. We some unknowns coming into the equation that I think will add energy to our forward lines.Remember last season - even as late as December- we were still doing rather well- hovering around second place until we pushed the snowball over the cliff and it started to roll downhill. Kevin has improved every year as well - even with his injuries.

I have good feelings about this coming season - hoping very hard that Mo rolls all four lines and lets the guys open up a little. If all this comes together we should go into the playoffs and most definately be higher than 9th.

Guin :beatup:

[Guyute]

good post Guin :)

A more likely prediction would be 6th in the East.
Though I can see 5th.

[Staal-aholic]

The only one on our offense that deserves a "C" is Ron Francis.

[lvscolencanes]

OFFENSE--C The Canes made little headway in their search for more offense. Out is Hlavac, who had a grand total of six goals in a Canes uniform after he was brought in from Vancouver. No real loss there, but the Canes will have to look to Ron Francis, who is now 40 years young, to spurn the offense again this year. Major contributions have to be made by Rod Brind'Amour, who has to stay healthy for the Canes to have any shot at the playoffs this year. Also, Jeff O'Neill has to remain consistent, and Radim Vrbata will be looked upon for a good portion of the goal scoring. Overall, not much better than last year's squad, but they can't get much worse now can they?

What about Colesy!! He is a super scorer when he is healthy, crazy dude!!! :crazy:

[guinevere]

good post Guin


Thank you Guyute- coming from you- especially, that means a lot.http://www.smilies.org/basesmilies3/1036945924.gif I thought it was time to bring myself back over here a little more though I still don't feel too comfortable giving my hockey opinions...I'm not worthy...http://websmileys.bei.t-online.de/div294.gif

But only 167 posts? I lost 5 times that in the unpleasantness... thats embarrassing...http://www.smilies.org/basesmilies3/1044204696.gif

Guin

[Cool Hand Luke]

I'm kind of surprised we got a "B" in the net. Our 2 goalies are relatively unproven, IMO. Especially since Patty D has only played in a handful of NHL games. We have a higher rating in the net, than we do with our defensive corps? Doesn't seem to make much sense.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Since we're talking grades I'll give THN Yearbook's ratings as well.
Team grade: C+ "Lots of middle-of-the-road at all positions."
Goalies: C "Weekes an unknown quantity over full year."
Defensemen: B " Off-season upgrades should pay off."
Forwards: B- " How long can Francis keep producing?"
They have us 11th in the East "Playoffs not out of reach."

I like that we keep getting placed out of the play-offs. Just keep under-estimating us....I think that's when we play best. They should wallpaper the locker room with all the rankings that have us out of the playoffs.

[guinevere]

You are so right SHC- I have a copy of a Stanley cup Preview from 2002 - the Canes weren't even mentioned and yet we make it not only to the playoffs but the finals as well... I think we like the sneak attack...

Guin

[Staal-aholic]

Good Point Guin, I remember vividly the week before going into the playoffs, The woman from the Boston Globe was matching up the first round teams. She did atleast 3 paragraphs on each matchup but ours. She had one sentence. " Does it matter who Carolina plays? They will be knocked out in the first round, anyways." That is motivation for any team. So just let them have their fun. As shown in 2002, We laugh last.

[cmw00]

Well these guys don't know alot about the canes and it shows...

B- On the blue line? That means Nj better have gotten a C+ or worse... The devils lost alot of their defense this off season, the Should have the best group of defensemen in the East!

C on offense seems alittle unfair also, but then again I haven't looked to see what they have ranked other teams as. I think we have as good a offense as we've ever had, even as good probaly better than the SCF team...

B in net?? Well I like getting high rating for our team, but I'd say with weekes we have a good chance at a B rating, but teachers don't give students good grades just because they stand a chance of it? They must be planning on Weekes to come back like he started last season? I'd love that and hope that happens, but we'll just have to wait and see...

C over all??? I'd say more like a solid B overall. If we stay relatively healthy we should make the playoffs, and winning the division shouldn't be out of our reach. I think we are a more solid team than all the others in the SE division...

[Stormbringer]

HockeyTradeRumors.com's report doesn't surprise me...afterall, we are talking about a place where a good chunk, as in at least nine tenths, of the rumors either don't make sense and/or never come true. With that said, I obviously agree with everyone that HTR's assessment is crap...here are the ratings I would give the aspects of the Canes.

Offense - A- to a B+: With the now solid defense the Canes possess, that should open up more opportunities for our huge goal-scorers and playmakers in Ronnie, O, Brindy, Cole, and Vrbata. And those are just the first two lines...the defense is awesome enough to make even the third and fourth lines good threats too.

Defense - A+: The easiest and most obvious grade of the trio. With the likes of Boogie and Markov, plus d-men we know and love in Heddy, Hilly, (PLEASE stay out of the sin bin! Or at least don't head in as much...) Wes, and Wallin/Ward returning, this defense has very strong potential to have most of the NHL shaking in their skates.

Goaltending - B to a C+: I almost considered saying B-, but decided that a solid B was more right on since afterall, Weekes did post a few shutouts last season despite having a lackluster defense. Now that the Canes have mucho better defense in not only having what I described above but also NO Tanabe, plus no Irbe behind the bench causing any jitters, I think Weekes can do very well...he just has to prove it. As for Patty D, I liked what I saw of him in his couple of games last season...I know they were just a couple of games, but he had some good stops against both Buffalo and Philly. A couple of the goals let in seemed to be more the defense's fault than Patty D's. But just like Weekes, this is truly going to be Patty D's time to prove himself, be it as a backup, or, PLEASE don't let this happen, should Weekes fall victim to injury, a starting goalie.

In conclusion, it's all about the D, baby. Great D can open up scoring and help goaltending. I expect our D to greatly help our very good offense and potentially good goaltending to shine.

I like that we keep getting placed out of the play-offs. Just keep under-estimating us....I think that's when we play best. They should wallpaper the locker room with all the rankings that have us out of the playoffs.

Exactamundo, SHC. Look what happened when everyone started saying the Canes were going to be a theat last season thanks to the Cup run...they were quite the opposite. I love seeing everyone underrate the Canes like they are right now, it'll only add more fuel to the fire that should be burning in our beloved team's bellies.

[guinevere]

One thing that concerns me a little is that few goaltenders are the workhorses that Irbe was (is). Is it reasonable for Weekes to play as many games as Irbe historically did (last season aside) and maintain a high standard of play. Putting DeRoschers in makes me a little nervous. He had a great game- he had a not so great game. Watching him in goal and in practice - he's got a pretty good glove hand and does well with the side to side but continues to have trouble with the up and down. (As I tried to tell him last season :roll: - who's going to listen to a garden gnome).

Weekes has not had the chance to carry a team and I"m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. He wants it, he has the skill and with the defense we have in front of him, he should be able to pull it off. Just how many games can he reasonably play. Thats what worries me. (a little bit about offense but I"m willing to wait on that one.. :) )

Guin

[Guyute]

Weekes has had the potential to be a Star goalie his entire career. He just needs to prove he's ready, and this is probably his "make it or break it" shot. I'm SURE he knows this. If he doesn't take control this year, he might not get another shot to be a team's "main" goalie.

If he steps up with some hunger, we're in like flynn. If not... well.... you know...

[AbNormal27]

Since we're talking grades I'll give THN Yearbook's ratings as well.
Team grade: C+ "Lots of middle-of-the-road at all positions."
Goalies: C "Weekes an unknown quantity over full year."
Defensemen: B " Off-season upgrades should pay off."
Forwards: B- " How long can Francis keep producing?"
They have us 11th in the East "Playoffs not out of reach."

I read that and was a bit curious. How can they say on one hand "11th in the East", but then add "Playoffs not out of reach"? 11th in the East means the playoffs ARE out of reach. The only thing I took away from reading their preview on the Hurricanes is that is was done between the draft and Markov's signing, so I took it with a grain of salt and said to myself the same thing I say every year.............. "Whatever" :roll: . We'll just wait and see.

HEY, ONLY 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE FIRST EXHIBITION GAME! The wait is almost over!

Aaryn

[HockeyPat]

I don't see any reason we can't win the division outright. I say we will be a number three seed come play off time.

[guinevere]

I read that and was a bit curious. How can they say on one hand "11th in the East", but then add "Playoffs not out of reach"? 11th in the East means the playoffs ARE out of reach. The only thing I took away from reading their preview on the Hurricanes is that is was done between the draft and Markov's signing, so I took it with a grain of salt and said to myself the same thing I say every year.............. "Whatever" . We'll just wait and see.



You read my mind. I think this is their way of saying "We don't know what in the heck the Canes are going to do. We don't feel ballsy enough to stick our neck out given their performance last season and say they will do well but we want an out if they do good." http://www.smilies.org/basesmilies3/1042284708.gif

[SouthernHockeyChick]

How can they say on one hand "11th in the East", but then add "Playoffs not out of reach"? 11th in the East means the playoffs ARE out of reach.

Those were the exact words out of my mouth as I read it.

And Guin is probably right.

[hoosiercaniac]

I read that and was a bit curious. How can they say on one hand "11th in the East", but then add "Playoffs not out of reach"? 11th in the East means the playoffs ARE out of reach. The only thing I took away from reading their preview on the Hurricanes is that is was done between the draft and Markov's signing, so I took it with a grain of salt and said to myself the same thing I say every year.............. "Whatever" . We'll just wait and see.



You read my mind. I think this is their way of saying "We don't know what in the heck the Canes are going to do. We don't feel ballsy enough to stick our neck out given their performance last season and say they will do well but we want an out if they do good." http://www.smilies.org/basesmilies3/1042284708.gif

EXACTLY! I don't think any of us really know how they'll be this year after experiencing last year's shocking spiral to last place. I look to December as the month that will tell us where we are at....either we'll be in the playoff hunt or in a world of hurt. If it is the latter, then I'm not sure Mo can survive another dismal December.

[AbNormal27]

Just a bit more on how confused The Hockey News is about our team.

I was taking another look at the THN Yearbook, and on page 101 they list the top 10 prospects in the Hurricanes organization. They state that players that have "Blue square" numbers by their names are "projected sure-fire NHLers" Those players are #1 Jeff Heerema, #2 Cam Ward, #3 Mike Zigomanis, and #4 Ryan Bayda, no arguments there.

HOWEVER, also in the list are #6 Bruno St. Jacques, and #7 Patrick DesRochers who do NOT have "Blue square" numbers, and therefore aren't "projected sure-fire NHLers"?

If you look about four and a half inches away from this list, there is a nice write-up on Carolina's No. 2 Netminder...... Patrick DesRochers. So, he's good enough to be the back-up, but that doesn't qualfy him as one of the "projected sure-fire NHLers"?

On page 99 in their review of the Hurricanes' defense, they also state that "Youngsters Tomas Malec and Bruno St. Jacques showed potential, but need more development. St. Jacques is expected to make the NHL roster." ????? So they expect him to be on the team, but THAT isn't good enough to be considered as one of the "projected sure-fire NHLers"?

Anyone else wondering if this preview was even proofread?

Aaryn

[cmw00]

Sadly they may be right about DesRochers....

[Shell]

2003-04 Carolina Hurricanes Preview
POSTED: 2:01 PM EDT September 30, 2003
By Matt Canamucio, NHL Editor -- 2003-04 Carolina Hurricanes Preview

Just when we thought professional ice hockey was about to catch on down south, the Carolina Hurricanes went and laid an egg.

After capturing the hearts of Tobacco Road with an unlikely trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2002, the Canes plundered to the bottom of the National Hockey League with a meager 61 points. Injuries took their toll early and often, the goaltending that carried it through three playoff rounds was horribly inconsistent and the hunger that became a trademark two springs ago vanished.

But that was then.

Carolina began the offseason in promising fashion by cashing in on the high draft pick that came with a last-place finish. The Canes selected young Ron Francis clone Eric Staal with the second-overall choice, and also pulled off a draft-day trade for Phoenix defenseman Danny Markov.

The summer continued with an "upgrade the defense" theme, including the re- acquisition of Glen Wesley, as well as the addition of the rock-steady Bob Boughner.

AT THE HELM - Head coach Paul Maurice was allowed to keep his job, even after the horrid campaign. He remains both the youngest and longest-tenured benchman in the NHL at the moment.

The cool-tempered Maurice has most of the core that took him to the Finals back, with the exception of winger Sami Kapanen, who was traded to Philadelphia last season. Francis, 40, Rod Brind'Amour, Jeff O'Neill are back to head things up front, while Bret Hedican, Sean Hill and Wesley will anchor the backline.

ON THE ATTACK - Francis is back for his 23rd season and hopes to bounce back from an injury-hampered effort that limited him to 22 goals and 35 assists in 82 games. The warrior he is, Francis did not miss a match last season despite tearing a muscle in his back last fall.

O'Neill will again flank Francis' right side, coming off his third consecutive 30+ goal showing. The 27-year-old is hovering in that second-tier of NHL snipers, but has the speed and shot to move into the next strata. The Canes would love a repeat of his 2000-01 stats when he reached the 40-goal plateau.

Brind'Amour, after a tremendous playoff run in '02, missed 34 games with a hand injury but was still able to post 14 goals and 23 assists in 48 contests. His absence was immeasurable, though, because he provides so much in every aspect of a game, from timely scoring to penalty killing.

After this trio, it will be a matter of younger players stepping up. It may sound like a cliche, but it will be a must if the Canes are to improve on their impotent goal total of 171 -- the worst in the NHL. Erik Cole's sophomore season was interrupted by a broken leg -- missed 29 games -- and he managed 14 goals after a tremendous rookie showing. Josef Vasicek tallied 10 scores in only 57 games as his campaign was also slammed by the injury bug, while Jaroslav Svoboda, another playoff hero, was limited to three goals in 47 games due to a dislocated shoulder.

A wild card is winger Radim Vrbata, who was obtained from Colorado in the Bates Battaglia trade at the deadline. The Czech right winger has a natural scorers knack and potted 16 goals last season -- five in 10 games as a Hurricane.

Other question marks include Ryan Bayda, who was a prolific scorer in college at North Dakota, and Pavel Brendl, who hopes to erase the term "bust" from his name. Brendl, the fourth-overall pick in 1999, is with his third organization and is on his way to becoming the next Alexander Daigle. He has tremendous scoring touch and instincts, but it remains to be seen if he has the mental drive to use those tools to his advantage. Things are already off to a bad start, as he was sent down to Lowell of the AHL during the preseason.

Last but not least is Staal, who was given ample opportunity to make the big club and took advantage with a terrific preseason. His skills are NHL- ready, but he must fill out his 6-3 frame, as he's listed at a mere 182 pounds.

ON DEFENSE - Hedican and Hill, both integral in the '02 Eastern Conference title run, were the workhorses last season, but the return of Wesley gives Maurice a trio he can count on in every situation.

Markov, meanwhile, provided the Canes a scare by threatening to play in Russia after being traded by the Coyotes, but has since inked a deal and will round out the top four. The 27-year-old is a very good skater and loves to dish out hits, despite weighing in at under 200 pounds.

The 32-year-old Boughner was courted by the Hurricanes when he was a free agent two summers ago, but he opted for a futile situation in Calgary. Well, Carolina was more than happy to send a fourth-round draft choice to the Flames for the grizzled vet, who will be a pure stay-at-home presence in the Canes zone, as well as a leader in the dressing room.

Aaron Ward and Niclas Wallin are also in the fold, as are youngster Bruno St. Jacques and Tomas Malec. St. Jacques is a former Philadelphia prospect obtained in the Kapanen deal, and has shown some flashes at the NHL level. The 6-2, 210-pounder will never be a top-four blueliner, but he definitely has the potential to make a career being a pure stopper.

IN THE CREASE - Kevin Weekes will enter the season as a clear-cut No. 1 netminder in Raleigh, and the hope is that consistent playing time will equal consistent performance. Weekes posted a 2.55 goals-against average and .912 save percentage in 51 appearances last year, but he had his season irritated by two separate stretches of injury. The bottom line, though, is that the 28- year-old is only going to improve, and the best thing for him is the fact that Arturs Irbe, his competition, is all but absent from the situation.

Irbe is expected to play in the American Hockey League this season, and Weekes will likely be backed up by Patrick Desrochers, a former first-round pick by the Phoenix Coyotes (1998). The 23-year-old. who has primarily been a minor leaguer, has terrific size -- 6-4, 208 lbs. -- and is expected to be a solid NHL backup.

X-FACTOR - Health was obviously part of the Canes' downfall in 02-03, and it will again play an integral role this season. The team was in bad shape last January, but when Brind'Amour, its best all-around player, was lost for the rest of the year the downward spiral was accelerated.

WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE - If injuries, especially to the big three of Francis, Brind'Amour and O'Neill, stay away, there's no reason why the Canes cannot compete in a Southeast Division that is still the weakest group in the NHL. And even if they can't secure the division, the East is full of enough uncertainties that a bottom-four playoff spot is possible.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Wow!! A preview that says we have a shot at the playoffs! Finally, someone with some sense. ;)

St. Jacques is a former Philadelphia prospect obtained in the Kapanen deal, and has shown some flashes at the NHL level. The 6-2, 210-pounder will never be a top-four blueliner, but he definitely has the potential to make a career being a pure stopper.


I find that a bit perplexing.

[cmw00]

FInally a fair and reasonable preview...

Although they did slam poor Bruno alittle hard, and I think they are wrong about him. I think he will develop into a good defensemen in the NHL.

[Shell]

Posted on Wed, Oct. 08, 2003
Hurricanes Raise Expectations for Season
DAVID DROSCHAK
Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. - Most of the Carolina Hurricanes are too embarrassed or disgusted to talk at length about last season's collapse, one that erased any euphoria from a trip to the 2002 Stanley Cup finals.

The Hurricanes were three games over .500 in late December and in good playoff shape. But injuries to top players like Rod Brind'Amour and Erik Cole, and poor play resulted in seven wins over the final 44 games and a dismal 61 points.

"What season?" captain Ron Francis said recently.

Carolina lost games in every way possible less than a year after losing to Detroit in a five-game series for hockey's ultimate prize.

The team's 171 goals were the fewest in the NHL, while the 240 allowed were the third most in the Eastern Conference.

"I'm glad we were all frustrated by it because we have high expectations and our fans were frustrated because their expectations were relative to what we had accomplished," goalie Kevin Weekes said.

"I don't really think we were as bad as people said and maybe as bad as we felt we were," Weekes added. "But we have a high standard and that's good to see."

General manager Jim Rutherford first tried to bolster the club's defense in the offseason by acquiring Danny Markov and Bob Boughner, and reacquiring Glen Wesley from Toronto.

Coach Paul Maurice had a simple answer when asked how he knows his defense will be better this year.

"The names on the back of their jerseys," Maurice said.

Markov and Boughner are tough customers, while Wesley has played in 1,173 career games.

"It's nice to be with a team that's not far removed from being where it wants to be," said Boughner, who will miss the first three weeks because of a broken bone in his hand. "Everybody has that taste in their mouth and they gained a lot of experience with that playoff drive. They want to be right back at it."

"This is probably the best corps of defense I've ever played with," Wesley added. "It's going to make it a lot tougher on forwards night in and night out with the set of defensemen we can throw out there in every situation."

Rutherford took 6-foot-3 forward Eric Staal with the second overall pick in the draft. The 18-year-old center had an NHL-best seven goals in the preseason and reminds many of a young Francis.

There will be other changes in 2003-04. Francis and Josef Vasicek are expected to move from center to the wing to get additional scoring on the team's top two lines.

"I draw the line at goaltending," Francis said. "If they made me put the pads on then you might see me hang it up."

At 40, Francis is still Carolina's best player and will see plenty of time on the power play.

Brind'Amour, one of the NHL's top faceoff men, said there are no residual effects from last season's hand surgery that sidelined him for 34 games.

"I'm yearning to get back to when things count," Brind'Amour said. "We had a long time off and I've had even longer off. I've felt the rustiness just in the game tempo in practice."

Maurice begins his ninth season with Carolina, the longest tenure of any coach in the league. He believes a harder training camp will translate into a faster start.

"It just seems to me there is a very focused attitude by the players," Maurice said. "I've done less barking at guys to get going harder this year than in any past year. They've pushed themselves very, very hard and there seems to be a good level of respect for hard work."

And there's good chemistry, according to Kevyn Adams, one of the pleasant surprises to come out of last year's disastrous season.

"It's tremendous right now," Adams said. "It's hard to explain but you hope a team has it. This team is really going to play hard for each other and has a good feeling about each other as people. That's a huge part of it."

[nccanes]

"I draw the line at goaltending," Francis said. "If they made me put the pads on then you might see me hang it up."[/b]


LMAO. :laugh:

Ronnie's really been full of the one-liners lately!!

[Stormbringer]

"What season?" captain Ron Francis said (About the 2002-2003 season) recently.

"I draw the line at goaltending," Francis said. "If they made me put the pads on then you might see me hang it up."

:laugh:

I love Ronnie's sense of humor. :) I can especially understand his feelings about goaltending after reading the following...

http://www.carolinahurricanes.com/canesworld/tripp.asp?journalentryid=117

Ron Francis: “Hey, I used to play goal. One game, and we lost 3-2. My dad told me to not ever think about playing the position again. Had I stuck with it, I feel pretty confident in saying that there would’ve have been no ‘Ron Francis Night’ last night though.”