Matt Karash: Jeff Skinner poll results + Who will play point on the power play?

Pitkanen, Faulk, Semin, and Murphy?

If Murphy can have a big impact on the PP, development be damned, I think. The team can't afford to have another bottom 5 PP unit. Especially, when one of the strengths of the team is drawing penalties.

Skillset wise, Semin seems to have what you'd like. Composure, vision, big shot, passing skills, and enough defensive ability to handle anything coming back the other way. I don't know if taking him away from a forward spot screws anything up, but he certainly seems like he'd be able to handle the job.

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Pitkanen is a great player to have on the powerplay...


For the 30-40 games he'll play next year.

Another vote for Semin, Murphy, plus Joni and Faulk!
...and a question..? who has played the point well in Charlotte?
Sutter? ..maybe?
or let's be creative Gerbe!! he's fast and QUICK which would benefit the rush up ice, as well as help protect against breakaways caused by errant shots etc.

Matt, well written blog that really hits on a subject that needs to be improved upon if the Canes want to compete this year. The Canes Special Teams was atrocious last season. The personnel for the PP and PK should def be looked at and changed/modified from last years groups. Assuming no other players are added from FA or Trade, and admitting to not knowing the Checkers team very well, I would consider the following:

The back end should have a combination of R shot on the left side and Left shot on the right side. Whether that comes from a forward and Dman or two dmen, etc. is the fun in this. Just looking at the roster with R shot you have: Semin, Westgarth, Dwyer, Lindholm, Faulk, Komisarek, Dalpe, Bellemore, and Murphy.

Of that group I think it's safe to say the options really are: Semin, Lindholm, Faulk, Dalpe, and Murphy.

I would consider on the left side of PP1 as:
Semin - C - RW
Faulk - RD

The right side of things is a little bit more opened up as there are a lot of Left shot guys on the team. I would consider icing the PP1 as:

Semin - E Staal - Ruutu (with Ruutu planting himself in front of the goalie and Staal playing RW)
Faulk - Pitkanen

My PP2 would be

Lindholm - J Staal - Tlusty
Murphy - Skinner

I'm not so sure I like this option the best as you don't really have any big body options (except J Staal). I like Tlusty up front because he can finish. My thought for Skinner in the back would be to allow him to move around a bit and maybe pull some of the PK out of position a bit. I'm leaning on Lindholm on the left because he is a R shot, but honestly he's untested and a Dalpe, or Dwyer, or (insert potential FA/Trade could fit better). Depending on the style that each unit implies would also change the personnel up a bit. Not having the big bodies on this PP2 to crash the net, maybe you try and impose a 'Gretzky's office' type of style?? There is def enough talent on the ice to do so. Thoughts??

I think you put Faulk-Semin on one PP and Pitkanen-Sekera on the other. Semin showed last season that he is a decent defensive forward when he needs to be.

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- GOA88

Probably mike komisarek