P.R.O.Se 1 for 2006-07- What's Y O U R opinion?

[aLADDin]

At the one year cycle where we are looking forward to training camp again, I have to say last year was a really good ride. Bumpy at times, but good. I guess with kids starting school it won't be long until the droppin o' the puck on the new hockey season. So-- partake of the poll, and spill on where you think this new Canes team is headed. Do we stay in the penthouse, head to the basement, or somewhere in between?

[aLADDin]

I voted realistic. Last year I voted optimistic.

My reasoning is that we still have too many injured players entering the season to get the quick jump on the rest of the league that we did last year. I think that we have the talent to go far. I think that the players still are "hungry" to do well and achieve. We have talented and innovative coaches and support from the front office. But we have to win on the ice.

The d corps is so beat up from SCFG7 (man, doesn't that sound ELITIST. I LOVE it!) that we are going to have to rely on some players having breakout years that have not yet produced in a big way in the big show. Our boomerangers- Bayda, Boulerice, Tanabe, and Willis- will be under the gun to play up to the past potential that J.R. has shown in them. Boulerice in particular has the most important role- getting good enough at skating to make himself a fourth line fixture- and at the same time, being available to take care of the dirty business that our team of gentlemanly players has to endure...the cheap shotters. Orpik, Doig, Stevens...the list of people who have cheap shotted our players over the years GROWS each year. If Bouler is going to help this team, he has to stay off the healthy scratch column and in Raleigh, not Albany.

I also feel that the grind of the Stanley Cup tournament will have taken a little of our jump that we had last year away from us. Which means that we probably won't have a nine-game win streak until after we get some guys back from rehab. I don't think we'll stink. We just won't be world beaters at first. That gives someone else in the division a chance to run away and hide. Who-Tampa, Florida, or Atlanta? I don't know. I just hope that we can stay close. We have the talent to do this. Just keep Staal, Cole, Brindy, Commodore, Ladd, Wallin, and Williams healthy.

Warren

[PennsylvaniaCanesFan]

I definatly expect playoffs this year. Either as the 1-4 seed. After that, who knows. Too early to predict with trades, injuries, and such.

[Zamboni]

I would have gone with Realistic, but I refuse to forget Lord Stanley. He was just too shiny to forget. In fact, he seems to be burned into my retina.

[Fernando da Silva]

Between 2 and 3.

[tommy]

I went with between 1 and 2. I know it was under totally different circumstances, but you can't forget what happened after last Stanley Cup Finals run. I expect the playoffs, but it's very hard to repeat, and that is evidenced by the elite nature of the teams that have done that before. Nonetheless, I think the division is a realistic goal -- probably a 2 or 3 seed, I would guess/hope. Anything after the first round of the playoffs, I don't know. These injuries already seem to be piling up. And honestly, I don't know what our goalie situation is going to be like. Ward was fantastic for ~20 games, but 4 times that is difficult. And it can be especially so if you're in the middle of a losing streak.

However, considering we didn't have Weight and Recchi, et. al., until late in the season, I think our opening day roster is going to be comparable to, if not better than, our opening day roster last year.