Guest Writer: Guest Blog: Hurricanes

When I heard that the Canes planned to TRY THE INEPT DARLING, again...!! My thoughts were WTF!! ...yeah I know that he is working hard to get in shape this summer (why he didn't do that last year I don't know )...there are professionals, and then...??
Continuing the tire-fire that Canes MGMT and goalie - selection has been FOREVER, Mrazek is signed for the CONTINUED STUPIDITY...concistancy?? Maybe Darling can look better...compared to him? I don't think so...
The bottom line...IS the new additions at forward and "D" better be able to out-score other teams,
HIGHLY UNLIKELY? !!

When I heard that the Canes planned to TRY THE INEPT DARLING, again...!! My thoughts were WTF!! ...yeah I know that he is working hard to get in shape this summer (why he didn't do that last year I don't know )...there are professionals, and then...??
Continuing the tire-fire that Canes MGMT and goalie - selection has been FOREVER, Mrazek is signed for the CONTINUED STUPIDITY...concistancy?? Maybe Darling can look better...compared to him? I don't think so...
The bottom line...IS the new additions at forward and "D" better be able to out-score other teams,
HIGHLY UNLIKELY? !!
- randycane

No doubt.

I wrote the guest column and am being positive about the changes because it's always good (I think) to be excited about the upcoming season.

Darling could bounce back, but he could also have shown his true ability in the starting role (which I'm kind of thinking might be the case). Hopefully the defensive additions can mask some of the goaltending issues. If they can do a Hawks thing (when they had their best success) where you have the solid defense and just need your goalie to make the routine saves to keep you in (plus takes pressure off the guys in the bluepaint), that would be the ideal situation going in to the season.

I guess we'll just have to see what happens.

After Grubauer was gone, who could you say could take over the number 1 spot with little questions? There isnt one.

So keep your assets and put money into the guy you have.

what do you do if we brought in Hutton for 3 years and he is unable to handle #1 minutes? Now we have ~7 million in goalies that arent number 1s for 2 more years. We buy someone out and eat money. So we get a guy for one year. If Mrazek doesnt work out, so what? If Darling doesnt work out for year two, he can bought out for more cap savings than a 3 year buy out, and we start from scratch at goalie. [/img]

After Grubauer was gone, who could you say could take over the number 1 spot with little questions? There isnt one.

So keep your assets and put money into the guy you have.

what do you do if we brought in Hutton for 3 years and he is unable to handle #1 minutes? Now we have ~7 million in goalies that arent number 1s for 2 more years. We buy someone out and eat money. So we get a guy for one year. If Mrazek doesnt work out, so what? If Darling doesnt work out for year two, he can bought out for more cap savings than a 3 year buy out, and we start from scratch at goalie.
- gocanes0506[/img]

Solid points

I still feel Mrazek is a good pickup in terms of what was out there. They're not splashing a ton of cash/years on him. Like you said, if he doesn't work out, so be it.

I also think it was kind of a calculated move in terms of a "Let's bring in this other guy that we feel has potential, is young and could challenge/push Darling to be the guy he needs to be."

Statistically, the Canes own the TWO WORST GOALIES from last year...!!
Try to wrap your head around that for a moment, there are several teams who have TWO OR MORE guys BETTER THAN THE CANES! It's hard to sugar-coat that...

Statistically, the Canes own the TWO WORST GOALIES from last year...!!
Try to wrap your head around that for a moment, there are several teams who have TWO OR MORE guys BETTER THAN THE CANES! It's hard to sugar-coat that...
- randycane

I agree. It's certainly a scary stat

Just gotta' hope something clicks or the defense plays big all year. Certainly not an ideal goaltending situation, but I'm not sure what they can do at this point.

Statistically, the Canes own the TWO WORST GOALIES from last year...!!
Try to wrap your head around that for a moment, there are several teams who have TWO OR MORE guys BETTER THAN THE CANES! It's hard to sugar-coat that...
- randycane

Best way to look at it is that the odds of both of them being that bad this year are extremely slim.

Best way to look at it is that the odds of both of them being that bad this year are extremely slim.
- BINGO!

Very true.

Zebras can't change their stripes, and the idea that TERRIBLE BECOMES GOOD ...is more than wishful thinking! Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome is the definition of insanity!

Zebras can't change their stripes, and the idea that TERRIBLE BECOMES GOOD ...is more than wishful thinking! Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome is the definition of insanity!
- randycane

Well, uh.... both goalies had very solid track records before last season, so... I'm not really sure what your point is?

Really don't know what you think they should be doing instead. Or why you're using so many emojis.

Well, uh.... both goalies had very solid track records before last season, so... I'm not really sure what your point is?

Really don't know what you think they should be doing instead. Or why you're using so many emojis.
- BINGO!

Agreed.

Yes, they splashed cash on Darling and so far it hasn't paid off. Gotta' see what happens this season, then they'll have a better idea in terms of an action plan at the deadline or next summer.

Picking up Mrazek for cheap was a good move IMO. Not a ton of options floating around and they had to do something.

Agreed.

Yes, they splashed cash on Darling and so far it hasn't paid off. Gotta' see what happens this season, then they'll have a better idea in terms of an action plan at the deadline or next summer.

Picking up Mrazek for cheap was a good move IMO. Not a ton of options floating around and they had to do something.
- Hank3Henshaw

Yep. You spent the money on Darling, might as well give him every opportunity to be the guy. And Mrazek is hungry to stay in the league after things kind of fell apart on him. It's not like Keeping Cam Ward was a good option.

Yep. You spent the money on Darling, might as well give him every opportunity to be the guy. And Mrazek is hungry to stay in the league after things kind of fell apart on him. It's not like Keeping Cam Ward was a good option.
- BINGO!

Exactly.

I wrote in my column that I think the bigger idea behind the Mrazek signing was to bring in a young guy who (like Darling) hasn't lived up to expectations yet and hopefully create a good goalie completion that will push either both of them or at least Darling into being the guy they need him to be.

When Ward was there, it was sort of a safety net of sorts for Darling to fall back on. Now Darling will have a young guy that's eager to prove he belongs in the league, too, and that's nipping at his heels - at least that's probably what they're hoping.

Good article! I enjoyed seeing an "outside perspective" on the state of the Canes. I agree that at the end of the day, the Canes were really left with keeping Darling and bring in a talented, cheap goalie to motivate Darling to be the man in the crease, or be replaced in goal. I will say this about Darling. He looks great this summer. He has really been working out and has shed a lot of the "baby fat". You can tell this is more than just hitting the weights hard. I'm sure he has been consulting with a nutritionist, too and is taking a holistic approach to his off-season care. I admit that I wondered last season if his past issues with alcohol abuse had returned. I don't know that it did, and would never even speculate on something like this, but I heard his family spent time in Raleigh with him at one point during the season, and having family support is critical in battling your inner demons. I know. I've been there before. I really expect big things from both goaltenders this season. I think they are very motivated and Rod the bod will make sure they keep their noses to the grindstone, I'm sure.

Skinner for Pu Pu and Poo Poo. Literally. Two abominations now in trade market. Can we hear how awesome your offseason is now blogger guy?