Matt Karash: Games #67 & #68: Annnnd...it's basketball time for most

This team flat out sucks and quite honestly are one of the worst team on paper and on the ice for having the proper chemistry. If not for some pretty good goaltending this year the number one overall pick would have been possible. There is a reason that Matt has only a couple of regular blog readers and that all comes back to the team on the ice, boring!! Great blogs Matt but every time I watch the Canes I seem to fall asleep. I get really choked when they can't beat the Oilers at home.

Matt, I wish I shared your optimism about the future. If the Canes have any hope of making the playoffs next year, here are the keys to make that happening in my mind:

1) Eric Staal has to be much much better. He has been very disappointing this year, both as a point producer and a leader. There was not 1 game I watched this year where I thought he was the best player on the ice, not even 1 game when I thought he was the best player on his team. If this doesn't change, the Canes are in trouble next year again

2) Cam Ward needs to be traded, Khudobin has to be the guy next year, the Canes cannot afford to carry $9M of goalie salary into next year

3) Canes need to use that $ freed up from Ward and maybe more to improve the Top 9. The fact is, guys like Nash, Bowman, Dwyer, Dvorak, Lindholm (see #5 below) etc are just not good enough to have regular Top 9 roles on a playoff team. I think we got a glimpse of what Jordan Stall can do if he skates with more skilled players.

4) The improvements in the top 9 need to come with SIZE. Beyond Jordan Staal there is no forward who has any kind of physical presence. Canes are an easy team to play against and get manhandled by teams like Boston.

5) Lindholm has to develop quickly into an NHL ready center. Ideally the #2C. Unfortunately to my eyes he was not NHL ready this year at all, especially when you compare him to guys like Monahan and Nichuskin who were drafted after him and just look much better at this point. Hopefully he is a later bloomer and will produce next year....the Canes desperately need it.

I think I am done watching this team for this year, I'll watch teams like the Blues, Kings, Sharks, etc with my free time.

The major problem with this team is that its not complete. Canes have a good top 6 unit but horrendous bottom 6. That needs to be fixed w/proper players and can be easily done. Looking at the roster, another major issue is the defense. Besides the kids or rookies "take long to develop", you're only good Dman is Sekera. That's the biggest problem with this roster. Canes need to fill the D with worthy players.

Ward is not the answer anymore in G, stay w/Peters & Khobi and use Ward's money on D.

Matt, I wish I shared your optimism about the future. If the Canes have any hope of making the playoffs next year, here are the keys to make that happening in my mind:

1) Eric Staal has to be much much better. He has been very disappointing this year, both as a point producer and a leader. There was not 1 game I watched this year where I thought he was the best player on the ice, not even 1 game when I thought he was the best player on his team. If this doesn't change, the Canes are in trouble next year again

2) Cam Ward needs to be traded, Khudobin has to be the guy next year, the Canes cannot afford to carry $9M of goalie salary into next year

3) Canes need to use that $ freed up from Ward and maybe more to improve the Top 9. The fact is, guys like Nash, Bowman, Dwyer, Dvorak, Lindholm (see #5 below) etc are just not good enough to have regular Top 9 roles on a playoff team. I think we got a glimpse of what Jordan Stall can do if he skates with more skilled players.

4) The improvements in the top 9 need to come with SIZE. Beyond Jordan Staal there is no forward who has any kind of physical presence. Canes are an easy team to play against and get manhandled by teams like Boston.

5) Lindholm has to develop quickly into an NHL ready center. Ideally the #2C. Unfortunately to my eyes he was not NHL ready this year at all, especially when you compare him to guys like Monahan and Nichuskin who were drafted after him and just look much better at this point. Hopefully he is a later bloomer and will produce next year....the Canes desperately need it.

I think I am done watching this team for this year, I'll watch teams like the Blues, Kings, Sharks, etc with my free time.
- grubber

Agreed .....
Lindholm will be good, and at present time should be 3rd C until he gains experience. I think Canes should make a trade for Bickell and skate next to Lindholm on 3rd line to help build your bottom 6.

Remember when Tuomo Ruutu was a hot commodity at the deadline last year, could of even pushed for a 1st rounder? Nahhh, he's a good core piece. Lets give him 4.5 million bucks for a few more years.

Yeah, you ended up with Andrei Loktionov and some dead capspace. Pretty much sums up the last 2 years of your franchise doesn't it? lol