Matt Karash: Where from here?

Matt Karash: Where from here?
- CarolinaMatt63

Carolina was a Category 1 this season.

Islanders are in 8th fyi

In my eyes regarding blame, I'll thrown out a lyrical reference:

"We're doomed and there's plenty for all"

The coaching staff has to take some of the blame. This team has consistently struggled to put together a solid 60 minute effort. Sometimes we get 20, maybe a little more, maybe a little less. Every player on the team needs guidance, especially the younger guys. Every player needs to know their role so that they can properly execute. That falls on the GM to find the right players and the coaches to make sure they are fully and properly prepared. There is a definite lack of confidence overall. Is that due to ineffective coaching? I don't know. Are the players comfortable and sold on the system in place? I don't know that either.

Speaking about the GM finding the right players (or not), our defense is a wreck, injured or not. I realize that in 'today's game' having a wealth of good puck moving defensemen is a blessing, but when those puck moving d-men become turnover machines, you not only lose the benefit they provide but are saddled with a porous defense that constantly coughs the puck up. We have seen plenty of that this year. I like Gleason. I think Harrison has a spot on this team. However the ONLY regular from the backend that is untouchable is Faulk. I actually wouldn't be opposed to JR trying to bring in Andrew Ference (I believe he is UFA after the season) assuming he isn't re-signed.

The team needs to play with more sandpaper. We are NOT a tough team to play against. You don't have to have the biggest team around but you do need guys who play with heart and who aren't afraid to lay a hit on someone at any given time. When's the last time a big hit gave this team a boost of energy? If you can remember, please remind me because it escapes me. Westie was brought here for 4th line minutes and to drop the gloves, but we need a third liner who is ready and willing to mix it up consistently yet possesses enough skill to not be a total write off. Ruutu fits that bill, but I like him better on the JStaal line. David Clarkson, should he make it to free agency, would be worth a look here.

Then you have Too Many (insert your favorite expletive) Passes Syndrome. Yes, I realize this team put up nearly 50 shots on the NYR last game out, but how many were really quality shots? This isn't meant to take anything away from Lundquist or the Rangers, but those who have followed the Hurricanes know that there have been plenty of good chances for high quality shots which have been skipped in favor of passes that either catch the intended recipient off guard, bounce over their stick or are intercepted by a defender. This goes beyond a crown screaming "SHOOT!" when a pointman on the PP has nothing to shoot at other than a penalty killer's shin pads. Guys need to be more selfish, especially when they have a good look and open lane.

I won't go into goaltending. Everyone has their opinion about it, as do I. Ward was struggling early one then got injured just when it looked like he was getting it together. Ellis looked good early, with many fans clamoring to start him over Cam. Ellis has since had injury issues and has not looked solid, while Justin Peters has looked more confident and at ease. This team hasn't had a solid duo since the days of Irbe and Weekes. I realize I am leaving out Gerber/Ward, but I am doing so because Cam did not have a good regular season at all prior to catching fire in the playoffs. Anyway, I'm done. I said I wasn't getting into goaltending and I did. Boo me...

Can't believe u guys didn't make a move at the deadline (actually sooner) for a goalie
You prob would've won the division if u could've gotten someone like Kiprusoff or Smith...
Standing pat seemed very strange to me

won't get any easier playing in the new patrick as opposed to the southleast. on the bright side, cam usually kills the b's.

Can't believe u guys didn't make a move at the deadline (actually sooner) for a goalie
You prob would've won the division if u could've gotten someone like Kiprusoff or Smith...
Standing pat seemed very strange to me
- jdfitz77

They got worse. They traded Jokinen for nothing. I have to admit I don't watch a ton of 'Canes games, but Jokinen always gave us a lot of trouble. I'm not sure why they moved him.....and were willing to eat a third of his contract as well.

They got worse. They traded Jokinen for nothing. I have to admit I don't watch a ton of 'Canes games, but Jokinen always gave us a lot of trouble. I'm not sure why they moved him.....and were willing to eat a third of his contract as well.
- madmike71

I was surprised at how eager JR was to move Jokinen out. Since his breakout in 09-10, his numbers have dropped off each year. This year specifically, he could find no chemistry anywhere in the lineup. As for the lack of additions at the deadline, it's an easy call as to why: JR has written this season off.

Is "Your worst players need to be your worst players" a saying?

Using the Rangers game as an easy example, the Team played a pretty solid game. But they were sabotaged by Ellis/McBain. It had the feel of a hard fought game that ends 1-1 in regulation. But McBain abandons the front of the net to double team the invisible guy behind the net, and Ellis serves up goal number two for who knows what reason.

And that's how it has felt for a lot of games. We've got a few players gift wrapping goals for the other team. McBain/Sanguinetti/Bergeron and Ellis/Peters being a couple of the culprits. Corvo too, although, he's being asked to play in the top pairing, which is hard to hold against Joe.

It just isn't possible to grind out a win, when you have that defense and goaltending being as bad as they are.

Seems like an easy solution. Instead of the depth being Sangs/Corvo/McBain/Bergeron, mix in defensive defenseman. An Old Wesley/Wallin type. A Bellemore type seems like a step in the right direction. Doesn't need to be mobile or fancy, just someone who can hold their own in their own zone, without ripping backhands past our own goalie.

(hopefully, that jussi money can help with the D depth. And if we lose enough, maybe the draft could help with it too.)

Top 5 pick

[quote=Speaking about the GM finding the right players (or not), our defense is a wreck, injured or not. I realize that in 'today's game' having a wealth of good puck moving defensemen is a blessing, but when those puck moving d-men become turnover machines, you not only lose the benefit they provide but are saddled with a porous defense that constantly coughs the puck up. We have seen plenty of that this year. I like Gleason. I think Harrison has a spot on this team. However the ONLY regular from the backend that is untouchable is Faulk. I actually wouldn't be opposed to JR trying to bring in Andrew Ference (I believe he is UFA after the season) assuming he isn't re-signed.

The team needs to play with more sandpaper. We are NOT a tough team to play against. You don't have to have the biggest team around but you do need guys who play with heart and who aren't afraid to lay a hit on someone at any given time. When's the last time a big hit gave this team a boost of energy? If you can remember, please remind me because it escapes me. Westie was brought here for 4th line minutes and to drop the gloves, but we need a third liner who is ready and willing to mix it up consistently yet possesses enough skill to not be a total write off. Ruutu fits that bill, but I like him better on the JStaal line. David Clarkson, should he make it to free agency, would be worth a look here.

This! The Canes are an easy team to play against. They are not a physical team. Skill players get too much room to operate against our defense and put up good numbers against us. It's not a team built for the playoffs anyhow and would be beaten up in a seven games series against a physical team like Boston.

Issues:

Lack of leadership. This team plays well until they are scored on. They are unable to handle adversity. A lack of leadership is responsible for that.

The checking line: Who is it going to be next season? The third line? The second line? If its the third some serious changes needed to be made. Ruutu makes too much to ba 3rd liner. If its the 2nd line (I am in favor) then Skinner needs to be moved to first line and a checking guy needs to be signed. Then what happens to Tlusty? He may be too good for the 3rd. He also may be a product of playing along side of Staal and Semin.