Matt Karash: Carolina Hurricanes Training Camp 2014: Pt1: 10 things I'm watching

Today @ 10:34 PM ET
PLZ HELP!!!!

Im in a keeper pool and i dont know what to do with my first pick

MY top 8 protected players are:

T Hall
H Sedin
D Sedin
P Kessel
M Pacioretty
E Kane
J Quick
S Bobrovsky

Obviously the twins are getting older and Im looking to trade them in the next couple years or replace them with draft picks.

I'm torn between Eric Staal or Ryan Nugget Hopkins? Who do i draft? Youth for long term or Staal for the next few years?

Today @ 10:34 PM ET
PLZ HELP!!!!

Im in a keeper pool and i dont know what to do with my first pick

MY top 8 protected players are:

T Hall
H Sedin
D Sedin
P Kessel
M Pacioretty
E Kane
J Quick
S Bobrovsky

Obviously the twins are getting older and Im looking to trade them in the next couple years or replace them with draft picks.

I'm torn between Eric Staal or Ryan Nugget Hopkins? Who do i draft? Youth for long term or Staal for the next few years?
- r212019

I wouldn't get bogged down in EStaal's age. At 29 and a history of being healthy, it's not like he is at the end of the line. The concern is his recent trend. Hope is that Bill Peters jumpstarts the whole team and the power play. If that happens, there is enough offensive talent in EStaal and around him for him to rebound to a point per game kind of pace. If last year really is the Canes regardless of coach, then it could be rough sledding with any Cane for fantasy except Skinner if you get him late and he stays healthy.

I watched McGinn in the Memorial Cup game, and read the Prospect Tournament write ups. Hope his play translates to the NHL.

I watched McGinn in the Memorial Cup game, and read the Prospect Tournament write ups. Hope his play translates to the NHL.
- dogbutler

I think it will eventually. The question is when. In his limited run in preseason last year, you could tell that he just was not quite ready for pace of the NHL game.

In prospects camp in July, he was right in the middle of everything and always around the puck creating chaos. Then in preseason and scrimmages, you could tell that the game was just a little bit faster such that he was chasing it a bit. He had a whale of a 2013-14 season in juniors and is a year older/stronger physically, so we will see. That is 1 of the things I will be watching for game-like play either preseason games or scrimmages to get an early read on his readiness. Team could use a little more bang and sandpaper but in a player who can score too.

Today @ 10:34 PM ET
PLZ HELP!!!!

Im in a keeper pool and i dont know what to do with my first pick

MY top 8 protected players are:

T Hall
H Sedin
D Sedin
P Kessel
M Pacioretty
E Kane
J Quick
S Bobrovsky

Obviously the twins are getting older and Im looking to trade them in the next couple years or replace them with draft picks.

I'm torn between Eric Staal or Ryan Nugget Hopkins? Who do i draft? Youth for long term or Staal for the next few years?
- r212019

In a keeper league go with the younger guy. RNH can only get better and have more trade value. I like Staal but in a couple years his value will plummet.

Hey Matt, where do you project Lindholm to play with this year. Do you think he could be part of the first line?? I really like the way he finished the season last year.

Good luck with that rag tag group Connor McDavid is a possibility with that lineup

Good luck with that rag tag group Connor McDavid is a possibility with that lineup
- holeinone

Speaking of rag tag... Doesn't your team still have Rob Scuderi and Craig Adams on it?

And do you expect 35 year old Pascal Dupuis to be even a 20 goal scorer coming off of a serious injury?

And Kunitz had a career year last season. He's 34. Think he can do it again?

Good luck with that rag tag group Connor McDavid is a possibility with that lineup
- holeinone

With Pittsburgh trending strongly in the wrong direction in terms of depth, another empty playoff entry and early exit is a possibility with that lineup.

Malkin and Crosby are great, but chart out the Pens forwards 3-9 against teams who are top-tier Cup contenders. It's not pretty. The teams that are winning in the NHL right now go 9 deep at forward not 2-3 with filler.

With Pittsburgh trending strongly in the wrong direction in terms of depth, another empty playoff entry and early exit is a possibility with that lineup.

Malkin and Crosby are great, but chart out the Pens forwards 3-9 against teams who are top-tier Cup contenders. It's not pretty. The teams that are winning in the NHL right now go 9 deep at forward not 2-3 with filler.
- CarolinaMatt63

Welcome to the world of JR!

With Boychuk, I would really like to see him get significant time in a role that fits his skillset. Yes, he has had "opportunities" in the past, but not much of anything that plays to his strengths. Going by Peters' comments about rolling three offensive lines and one energy line, this is a great idea, but it comes down to talent. I can see our top offensive talent getting spread out over three lines, in which case a guy like Boychuk can end up with a golden opportunity to play with offensive linemates and show what he can do.

With Pittsburgh trending strongly in the wrong direction in terms of depth, another empty playoff entry and early exit is a possibility with that lineup.

Malkin and Crosby are great, but chart out the Pens forwards 3-9 against teams who are top-tier Cup contenders. It's not pretty. The teams that are winning in the NHL right now go 9 deep at forward not 2-3 with filler.
- CarolinaMatt63

JR has done a little bit to improve the team... the D is significantly better with Errhoff.

Hornqvist will help as well.

They aren't terrible by any stretch, but any team that has Craig Adams eating up a roster spot is having depth issues.

JR has done a little bit to improve the team... the D is significantly better with Errhoff.

Hornqvist will help as well.

They aren't terrible by any stretch, but any team that has Craig Adams eating up a roster spot is having depth issues.
- BINGO!

Hear Fitzgerald call him out? Maybe he and Scuds retire and start an emu farm in Montana. Thoughts?!

Hear Fitzgerald call him out? Maybe he and Scuds retire and start an emu farm in Montana. Thoughts?!
- I_Am_Jebus

I've been to Montana countless times. It's almost as bad a place to raise Emus as here.