For those looking for a small diversion to count down the last work hours before the long holiday weekend, I present 10 Canes bits under a couple different topic headings:
Wild cards entering training camp:
1) Noah Hanifin. The range for his readiness seems like it could be anywhere from Aaron Ekblad who was an NHL difference-maker in his draft year in 2014-15 to he could need a couple years in the AHL before ready. Either is fine for Hanifin’s long-term role with the Canes but they are obviously wildly different results for building the 2015-16 team.
2) Derek Ryan. He was an elite playmaker/passer each of the past 2 seasons. I think the Canes could really use this skill set to get Jeff Skinner and/or Eric Staal more scoring chances. With no NHL experience, is Ryan able to quickly translate his game to the NHL and be an immediate difference-maker in a key role for the Canes? Or does he need time in the AHL to try to make the adjustment?
Make or break time:
3) Ryan Murphy is still young at 22 years old, and it is not out of the question that he is not quite ready yet but ultimately emerges as a good NHL defenseman in another year or 2. But he has 2 years of mixed NHL/AHL experience under his belt and seemingly should be rounding into NHL form if he is going to. With the pack of promising younger prospects only 1-2 years away, I think this is his time to rise up and seize a role or otherwise possibly become expendable as a trade asset to add another young forward prospect to a mix that is heavy on defensemen right now.
4) The other older prospect defensemen. I think same is true for the collection of older/more-experienced Canes prospects on defense. The team already has more defensemen that it can fit in Raleigh and Charlotte and it only gets more crowded next year when McKeown, Fleury and Wesley graduate from juniors to the AHL level (and Fleury could do that this year with a great training camp). Robertson, Jordan, Biega, Rissanen and Lowe, like Murphy have a small window to carve out their space at least as a depth NHL defensemen otherwise they could be moved or not re-signed (all are restricted free agents next summer) to make room for the younger prospects.
Potential difference-makers. The Canes made only a couple additions to a team that was not very good in total in 2014-15. That begs the question of what hypothetically could make mostly the same team much better in 2015-16.
5) Health. Ron Francis mostly passed on adding veteran depth before the 2014-15 season. When Jordan Staal was felled by injury it showed and the team stumbled out of the gate and never really recovered. At least so far, Francis again seems mostly content to go with what he has and let the youth win open spots. This leaves little margin for error which I think requires the key players to stay healthy and in the lineup.
6) Eddie Lack. He was very good with Vancouver down the stretch getting the starting job in net when Miller was injured and never giving it back. He was arguably the difference between the Canucks making (which they did) or not making the playoffs. Could he do the same for the Canes?
7) More offensive fuel from the back end. James Wisniewski is the most obvious change here, but I think it could be more of a group thing. The Canes struggled to score 5v5 in 2014-15. Most people immediately say the forwards need to score more. They do, but I am not convinced that the catalyst is simply them playing better. I think a huge part is better puck movement and distribution from the back end to create more/better offensive zone time and more offense off the rush. Gone are Harrison, Gleason and Bellemore. In are Wisniewski and also some mix of young players like Hanifin and Murphy who are skating/offense-oriented defensemen. Could that be the key to more 5v5 scoring even if it comes with a minor downgrade defensively?
Off the ice
8) Eric Tulsky. The not-that-secret part-time stats analyst from 2014-15 is now more official and full-time. This role has the potential to be a difference-maker in today’s NHL for game preparation but even more so player scouting for acquisition.
9) Michelle McMahon. She was added to the television broadcast team to replace Chantel McCabe. For those not following along on Twitter, early impressions are incredibly favorable. She seems to have personality, energy and a sincere willingness to interact with the fan base. Hockey is a hobby for fans. It is supposed to be fun. I am real optimistic that she can hold her own as a hockey analyst/TV personality but equally encouraged by the fact that she seems to really get the fun thing.
10) Social media. If you have yet to join the Twitter universe, the 2015-16 Canes just might be your reason to break down and do so. Zach Boychuk is a depth NHL player right now, but he is a 1st team all-star NHLer on social media. Eddie Lack has a tremendous personality and an affinity for tacos and his former teammate netminders. See what you can glean from Twitter. He too is a 1st team NHL social media star. Here is hoping this leadership group can drag a few of the other players onboard. Because of the 140-character limit and weird combination of closeness yet professional distance, it is actually a great way to interact with fans. Michelle McMahon also gets the Twitter game as does John Forslund, so there is more goodness from the TV booth.
Matt Karash is a long-time passionate Hurricanes hockey fan, season ticket holder and also the founder of the Canes and Coffee web site.
Twitter=@CanesandCoffee
Go Canes!