Despite being thrown from it on a regular basis lately, the NHL schedule requires the Carolina Hurricanes to get back on the horse. Right when things are becoming fun for about ¾ of the league, another full month of Carolina Hurricanes hockey feels long. In times like this, I try to find mini-story lines and things to watch for next year. That is the focus of my game preview.
Up today, is a New York Rangers team very much in the playoff hunt, playing pretty well and only recently removed from a win in Raleigh on Friday night. Despite being outplayed most of the night, the Canes had a very good chance to win before blowing 1-goal leads twice in the 3rd period in a collapse that was probably the end of the 2013-14 season for all intents and purposes.
At this point, I am watching Canes games from 3 angles:
1) Player development/futures. How does Andrei Loktionov look, and where might he fit next year? Are there signs that Ryan Murphy is making progress rounding out his game, or is he just back trying to do the same things a little better? After 5 months to adjust and acclimate to the NHL, does he look ready to take the next step? Has Zach Boychuk (or Chris Terry for that matter) become a late bloomer who might help the team next season? I am on record as being incredibly impressed with Boychuk’s attitude, effort, determination and most importantly willingness to round out his game. He is scoring like mad in the AHL (not new), but more importantly everything that I read seems to suggest that he continues to improve as a 2-way player (somewhat new).
2) Combinations. Now is a good time to take a look at different line combinations and defense pairings with the goal of identifying working combinations and holes to be filled for next season. Trying to do this in preseason is tricky because of the limited number of games and mix of AHL and NHL level competition. My list of things, I would like to see: --Liles/Bellemore (realizing that Liles is hurt, so this 1 will have to wait). I think in an ideal world, the top 4 next year would be Sekera, Faulk, Hainsey if he stays and at least 1 new player. As a left shot/right shot and puck-mover/stay-home combination, I think they could be the best 3rd pairing depending on how quickly Murphy develops. --Skinner/Loktionov. I still just do not see Jeff Skinner in the top 6 and prefer to see him used on a 2B/3rd line that is built to prey on lesser defensive matchups. At least resume-wise, Loktionov could be the playmaking/offensively capable 3rd-line center that the Canes have lacked all season. The team might as well take a look at the duo to see if it is an option. --JStaal/Semin. Who plays with whom next season will be partially dependent on what type(s) of new players are added, but I think it makes sense to get JStaal/Semin some run time together to build familiarity that might be useful next season.
3) Kirk Muller watch. I will be very surprised at this point if he returns as the Canes coach next season. There are multiple reasons for this. First is that someone has to meet the accountability check box. Unless we get a miracle, the team is going to miss the playoffs again. I just do not see Canes GM Jim Rutherford going anywhere, so Muller it is. I actually agree with this. I will save the ‘why’ for if/when it happens or otherwise maybe my post-season assessment. If/when Canes GM Jim Rutherford gets to the point where he makes a decision, there is some value in getting the new coach (if he is available now) getting run time with the team to implement systems and begin building toward next season.
So that is the lead in for most of what I am watching for Tuesday night versus the Rangers:
--Ryan Murphy. I think Ryan Murphy and Elias Lindholm are the 2 players currently on the roster who have the greatest potential to propel the entire team forward with their individual improvement. Both have played decent hockey and contributed at times in 2013-14, but both have real high ceilings that they have come nowhere close to reaching yet.
--Any carryover from last Friday. I would have to guess that Brian Boyle will go looking for Brett Bellemore at some point early in Tuesday’s rematch. It will be interesting to see if anything happens with that. Sometimes players like Bellemore have to fight a bit above their weight class spur of the moment dictated by circumstances (i.e. Hainsey going after Roussel for running Khudobin a few games back), but when a player in a higher weight class stalks you in a premeditated way, discretion is sometimes the better part of valor.
--Various line combinations and defense pairings. Loktionov should be reasonably acclimated with a couple games under his belt. It will be interesting to see if he can find chemistry. Per my comments above, I think ideal would be a Skinner/Loktionov combination with a big skating right wing to be added this summer, but just in general I will be watching the new #8.
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