Matt Karash: Are the Canes doubling down on the 2012-13 team?

Matt Karash: Are the Canes doubling down on the 2012-13 team?
- CarolinaMatt63

In a division with the Rangers, Pittsburgh, Philly, the Islanders, Columbus, Washington and Jersey, the Canes are going to have a very hard time making the playoffs. While they could finish anywhere from 3rd (they're not beating out the Rangers or Pens) to 8th, I think 5th to 7th is where they will most likely finish and they will be looking at another year in the draft lottery. They just don't have the depth to survive the injuries that every team goes through during a season.

Good blog Matt. Jagr will go to the highest bidder. That is his M.O. If the Canes offer him the most $$$, then that is where he will land. Brendan Morrow is going to sign with a cup contender. I don't think he signs with the Canes unless he gets no other offers. This is not a slight against Carolina, but Morrow has indicated a desire for a shot at another cup. He also had to have a conversation with Ray Shero before he agreed to waive his no trade and go to Pittsburgh.

The old adage, is that your best players have to be your best players, or something like that. Last year, I think the team's problem was that their worst players were their worst players.

The combo pack of McBain/Sangs/MaB/Peters/Corvo (corvo when overslotted) created such a huge deficit, no team could overcome their shortcomings.

McBain -> Sekera
Corvo - > Komisarek
Sangs - > Murphy
Bergeron - > Bellemore
Nash - > Lindholm?

And peters hopefully doesn't sniff the NHL this year, as we have a nice young healthy backup in Anton, instead of old man Ellis.

The key being that we've gone from people who WILL cost us goals, to people who can at least try and hold down the fort, and let the top players decide the game.

re the pk: Lindholm. Watching video, the player he reminds me of in a way, is a young Chad Larose. Not skill-wise, obviously. But lindholm plays with that energy level that seems like it should be unsustainable. Watching Lindholm dog the puck with constant quick movement, I think, bodes well for him as a possible PK guy. Maybe asking too much of an 18yo, but we'll see, I suppose.

I thought we would have re-signed Nodl or Brent over someone like Boychuk. Sigh.