Matt Karash: Canes catchup: Dalpe trade + random thoughts on ongoing roster puzzle

I think there is still something much more to the trade today. Have to think JR has something up his sleeve. Also, I wouldn't be all that surprised is Skinner got traded. I think Muller finally has JR and PK on his side and will mold the roster to what he wants. He was able to shed Dalpe, LaRose, Corvo, McBain, Welsh and others and get who HE wants. Have to wonder if Skinner is a Muller guy.

I think there is still something much more to the trade today. Have to think JR has something up his sleeve. Also, I wouldn't be all that surprised is Skinner got traded. I think Muller finally has JR and PK on his side and will mold the roster to what he wants. He was able to shed Dalpe, LaRose, Corvo, McBain, Welsh and others and get who HE wants. Have to wonder if Skinner is a Muller guy.
- ward30nhl

i have been wondering the same thing, so is dwyer pretty much a lock on the second line.....i honestly think he is over-slotted on that line

i have been wondering the same thing, so is dwyer pretty much a lock on the second line.....i honestly think he is over-slotted on that line
- jerbear53

In a pecking order way of trying to reach a goal total kind of way I would agree. His scoring ceiling is pretty low. But (at least minus Tuomo Ruutu), I think it comes down to 3 things:

1) The primary role of this line. It is to break even most nights against the other team's best. Some scoring will obviously be required but 0-0 ties work just fine too.

2) Putting Jordan Staal in a situation where he can succeed and build confidence and with line mates who can help. Think Brind'Amour in 2001-02 where his line did not score a bunch but they ate up all the hard minutes and fought to draws most nights. This role is what he excelled at in Pittsburgh. Get him back to that.

3) You do need to get more offensively out of your 3rd line. This is where it gets tricky. A rebound by Jeff Skinner and some chemistry is possible. To be honest, I do worry about trying to get enough 3rd/4th-line scoring depth from relatively inexperienced and not big scoring bottom 6 (except Skinner), but I would rather take that risk than trying to force fit Jordan Staal into a more scoring-oriented line which failed miserably last season.

In a pecking order way of trying to reach a goal total kind of way I would agree. His scoring ceiling is pretty low. But (at least minus Tuomo Ruutu), I think it comes down to 3 things:

1) The primary role of this line. It is to break even most nights against the other team's best. Some scoring will obviously be required but 0-0 ties work just fine too.

2) Putting Jordan Staal in a situation where he can succeed and build confidence and with line mates who can help. Think Brind'Amour in 2001-02 where his line did not score a bunch but they ate up all the hard minutes and fought to draws most nights. This role is what he excelled at in Pittsburgh. Get him back to that.

3) You do need to get more offensively out of your 3rd line. This is where it gets tricky. A rebound by Jeff Skinner and some chemistry is possible. To be honest, I do worry about trying to get enough 3rd/4th-line scoring depth from relatively inexperienced and not big scoring bottom 6 (except Skinner), but I would rather take that risk than trying to force fit Jordan Staal into a more scoring-oriented line which failed miserably last season.
- CarolinaMatt63

i agree with you 100% but i honestly think we may need someone with a little more size and grit for that line, seeing how gerbe is on it

Right now there are only two things i am 100% sure on: 1. Tlusty-Staal-Semin is our top line and 2. Ward is the starter. That's it.

Safe to expect another move from JR. Most likely a depth forward and/or a depth defensemen. The Skinner rumblings are intriguing, not sure how many teams are interested in a often injured, defensively challenged young $5M player. Don't get me wrong, like Skinner a lot, but the organization should have given him a bridge contact ala PK Subban or N Kadri. But they gave him the moon, a bit too early in my estimation.

Safe to expect another move from JR. Most likely a depth forward and/or a depth defensemen. The Skinner rumblings are intriguing, not sure how many teams are interested in a often injured, defensively challenged young $5M player. Don't get me wrong, like Skinner a lot, but the organization should have given him a bridge contact ala PK Subban or N Kadri. But they gave him the moon, a bit too early in my estimation.
- CappyJr.

Skinner Imo would be hard to trade for his concussion history in order to get an equal top 6 player(s) back in return ,and that's where the Canes are lacking is top 6-9 depth ,and with Ruutu out JR's in no position to move Skinner without getting 2 quality top 6/9 players(s)

According to:
Chip Alexander @ice_chip - Gleason has concussion.

Chip Alexander @ice_chip - Muller says out indefinitely.

So, Gleason will probably go on IR, & Dvorak probably will be signed.

And Murphy got sent to Charlotte.