Matt Karash: Canes preseason catch up

If McClement is trying to eat up A big chunk of J.Staal's ice time, this team is in very big trouble. Part of why he was so cheap was he was massively overused by Carlyle and got exposed for it. He's a good, productive 4th line guy. If he's playing 12 minutes a night, though, he's going to get torched more often than not.

If McClement is trying to eat up A big chunk of J.Staal's ice time, this team is in very big trouble. Part of why he was so cheap was he was massively overused by Carlyle and got exposed for it. He's a good, productive 4th line guy. If he's playing 12 minutes a night, though, he's going to get torched more often than not.
- BINGO!

Seconded. The thin forward depth on this team is going to be sorely tested.

Gosh this team is going to blow so hard this season. I'm so depressed about having to watch this for 82 games. Oh well.

Gosh this team is going to blow so hard this season. I'm so depressed about having to watch this for 82 games. Oh well.
- rotcnomar

It's not ALL bad.

Staal-Staal-Semin
Skinner-McDavid-Lindholm

If McClement is trying to eat up A big chunk of J.Staal's ice time, this team is in very big trouble. Part of why he was so cheap was he was massively overused by Carlyle and got exposed for it. He's a good, productive 4th line guy. If he's playing 12 minutes a night, though, he's going to get torched more often than not.
- BINGO!

I am not sure there is a better option. Seems like you have to hope that an old school 3rd/checking line can hold its own defensively and then lean real heavy on the top line and ideally power play for scoring.

I think another interesting upshot of the current lines and the Jordan Staal is how clearly it shows where the team is short at forward:

1st line: Tlusty/EStaal/Semin: I know they never found it last year, but I argue that there is enough talent there and what they did in 2013-14 (they really were as good as any other line in hockey at even strength) shows it is as least possible.

3rd line: Skinner/Nash/Lindholm: On a good team, I think this is where they slot. Skinner is an elite scorer but has yet to prove he can bring enough 2-way hockey to be a top 6 forward on a good team. Lindholm has the pedigree and some skills, but he was not a top 6 forward last season. Best to let him work his way up to it. And Nash is a decent complementary player for this group first because he can skate with them and second because he brings enough 2-way hockey.

4th line: Gerbe or Malone/McClement/Dwyer: You get a decent veteran PK unit, some jam for when you need it and a generally defensively trustable set of players for limited minutes. And you have good depth. Gerbe is top 9 capable. He proved it last year, but on real good/deep teams, players like him get pushed down to the 4th line with top 9 minutes for injuries or hot streaks. The Canes have had a longstanding lack of forward depth that always seems to push this kind of player into a higher role - first it was LaRose, then it was Dwyer, now it is Gerbe.

That leaves the 2nd line. I think Jordan Staal is capable, but if you slot the rest of the lineup like I did there is nothing left. The Canes are 2 top 6 forwards short of being strong at forward. That is a lot. Many teams are short a forward or 2 or 3, but for good teams the gaps are not sitting in the top 6. Is it possible that a young player or 2 step up, but on good teams those are bonuses that make the team better not the only way to fill the roster.

My hope is that someone comes available on the waiver wire that can help the club immediately.

Ward was very good. No chance at all on one goal and very little, if any chance on the other two while making some good saves. He kept them in the game.

Ward was very good. No chance at all on one goal and very little, if any chance on the other two while making some good saves. He kept them in the game.
- stljam

Which is good, but also somewhat frustrating.

On one hand, it's great if he plays well and actually has trade value.

On the other, if he plays well, there's a chance it convinces Francis to run with him and trade Khudobin, which would be immensely counter-productive.

Which is good, but also somewhat frustrating.

On one hand, it's great if he plays well and actually has trade value.

On the other, if he plays well, there's a chance it convinces Francis to run with him and trade Khudobin, which would be immensely counter-productive.
- PepinoPamplemousse

From what I saw, build up ward to trade and go into full rebuild mode. imho of course.

So, it appears to be:

Tlusty-Staal-Semin
Skinner-Nash-Lindholm
Gerbe-Rask-Boychuk
Malone-McClement-Dwyer

Brown/Terry as first call-ups

Not sure if this is better or worse than last season. Looks better if it has J.Staal in it, but it's... well.. it's younger, anyway.

So, it appears to be:

Tlusty-Staal-Semin
Skinner-Nash-Lindholm
Gerbe-Rask-Boychuk
Malone-McClement-Dwyer

Brown/Terry as first call-ups

Not sure if this is better or worse than last season. Looks better if it has J.Staal in it, but it's... well.. it's younger, anyway.
- PepinoPamplemousse

This is the least excited I have been for the start of the season in a long time. I'll be at the Buffalo game Friday night. Hopefully I'll see something to get me a little more excited for the season but what I have seen so far I have nothing to argue with the prognosticators who pick us last in the metro division and declare us contenders in the McDavid sweepstakes.

This is the least excited I have been for the start of the season in a long time. I'll be at the Buffalo game Friday night. Hopefully I'll see something to get me a little more excited for the season but what I have seen so far I have nothing to argue with the prognosticators who pick us last in the metro division and declare us contenders in the McDavid sweepstakes.
- Barbecued Hockey

I'll say that the team will definitely be a lot more fun to watch in terms of style and youth. Going to have to focus on small victories this year, I think.

Buckle up gents. It could be a loooong year. If it IS, though, Francis could make it interesting.

Lines for tonight.

Closest one to our final roster yet.

Except with Chad (frank)ing LaRose in it for some reason.

Tlusty-E. Staal-Semin
Skinner-Rask-Lindholm
Gerbe-McClement-LaRose
Boychuk-Nash-Malone

Sekera-Faulk
Hainsey-Murphy
Harrison-Gleason

Ward
Khudobin