Yesterday I yammered away like a kid nearing Christmas talking about optimism and all the good things for this time of year. But what does it really take for the Canes to be competitive and do the unthinkable - hang in the playoff hunt past the 4-5 weeks that most people are giving them?
I think it's 4 things:
1) The stars MUST rebound. The line of Tlusty/EStaal/Semin was as good as any line in hockey at even strength in 2013-14. For everyone who wants to chuck tomatoes, read it again. Then go check it. If you back out power play points (which was a sore spot for the Canes that year just like every other recent one), that line produced as well as any in the NHL. Last year...Not so much...Not even close actually. That line will be reunited to start the season and MUST carry the mail for the team to have any chance to put up enough goals. Whether it is in a starting or backup role, Cam Ward also needs to be better.
2) The power play and special teams overall. No one except Canes fans probably knows it, but the revamped power play driven by Bill Peters and managed by Rod Brind'Amour was very good during preseason. Maybe what is most encouraging is that it was across a wide range of players many of who are at the AHL and even junior level now. This would, or at least could, suggest that it is an improvement driven by the system which has the potential to be permanent and across both units. Or it could be just that it was preseason - who cares. Regardless, when undermanned, there are 2 things that can very quickly even the score. Specials teams is 1 and the other is my #3 below...
3) Goaltending. The Canes need similar from Anton Khudobin (at least until he faded just a bit down the stretch) and help from Cam Ward. With no significant additions on defense, I continue to think this team is 1 top 4 defenseman short. That is a lot in the NHL. And I think there are going to be some growing pains early adjusting to Peters' system. The goalies are going to be real good for the Canes to be successful.
4) Accelerated maturation. The lack of roster depth combined with a couple key injuries has thrust a few young players right into the spotlight. All of Ryan Murphy, Elias Lindholm and maybe to a tiny bit lesser degree Victor Rask come as high draft picks with pedigree and expectations or at least high potential to be good NHL players. In an ideal world, they start in a little bit lesser role and gradually grab more and more as they get comfortable and play their way up the ladder. The Canes do not have that luxury. These guys are being thrust into key roles. It is not at all unreasonable to think that these players will someday be capable of these roles, but does someday start in a couple days? Or will they be learning the hard way at the cost of points in the standings?
5) Adjustment to a new system. The Canes struggled significantly with Peters' system in the early preseason games. The puck possession system that sees the 5-man unit move up ice pretty tightly most times offers more and easier outlets for the puck to keep it rather than dump it, but it also leaves much less margin for error in terms of turning it over. The Canes looked better with this in the 2nd half of preseason, so there is hope that they are learning quickly, but we will not really know until we see it all tested at full NHL speed in real games starting Friday.
What say you Canes fans? What does it take for the Canes to surprise? Do you agree with my assessment yesterday that the 1st 3 games of a season have never been as important? Can Tlusty/EStaal/Semin refind their 2012-13 magic and carry the team offensively? Can the kids rise up? What else?
Twitter=@CarolinaMatt63
Go Canes!