Ryan Wilson: Stay the course for Game 3 + other playoff thoughts Stay the course for Game 3 + other playoff thoughts

Good blog.

Those couple of Canes video clips were nuts. That Aho goal is insane...so is how the puck didnt go in the Canes net in the first vid. Wow.

Vatanen with the big stop.

Seriously imagine being a pro hockey player with the name Sebastian Aho and just never, ever seeing your own stuff anywhere.

Vatanen with the big stop.

Seriously imagine being a pro hockey player with the name Sebastian Aho and just never, ever seeing your own stuff anywhere.
- BINGO!

Yeah he's criminally underrated.

The Cats live to see another day....

Remember when people were saying the Canes lost the deadline because they acquired a bunch of fine not great players that wouldn’t put a fine not great team over the hump? The Canes have been on the cusp for like three years. Counting them out was stupid and underrating their acquisitions was stupid.

I often forget that Brandon Sutter is an NHL player and I get a kick out of hearing about him again. What an ass player.

The Cats live to see another day....
- MattStrat

Man I (frank)ing hate the Isles. The one isles fan I know is an absolutely insufferable sports guy and it’s caused me a disproportionate hate for what’s been a nothing team for a while. I hope Florida can somehow come back and kick them out, but I don’t see it.

Remember when people were saying the Canes lost the deadline because they acquired a bunch of fine not great players that wouldn’t put a fine not great team over the hump? The Canes have been on the cusp for like three years. Counting them out was stupid and underrating their acquisitions was stupid.

I often forget that Brandon Sutter is an NHL player and I get a kick out of hearing about him again. What an ass player.
- Victoro311

People were saying that? lol

When Hamilton is back we'll be scratching two #4-5 defensemen as healthy extras.

People were saying that? lol

When Hamilton is back we'll be scratching two #4-5 defensemen as healthy extras.
- BINGO!

I wasn't saying that. I wanted the Pens to get Vatanen and Trocheck. I would have taken Skjei in a heartbeat, too. Those 3 vs. Sheary, ERod, and a 40 year old Marleau? Ugh. I understand "assets," cap, etc., but seriously, the Canes killed it and I think we may have gotten worse. We did get Zucker a couple of weeks earlier which saved an otherwise dreadful trade deadline for us.

People were saying that? lol

When Hamilton is back we'll be scratching two #4-5 defensemen as healthy extras.
- BINGO!

I don’t know maybe it was just someone/people on this board, but I remember at least one conversation where one side was claiming Carolina was a deadline loser.

I don’t know maybe it was just someone/people on this board, but I remember at least one conversation where one side was claiming Carolina was a deadline loser.
- Victoro311

I mean, they gave up a fair amount to get those players, and IIRC, Vatanen was injured at the time (maybe Trocheck was, too?). Many think Skjei is overrated, but I'd take him any day of the week over Petts.

Man I (frank)ing hate the Isles. The one isles fan I know is an absolutely insufferable sports guy and it’s caused me a disproportionate hate for what’s been a nothing team for a while. I hope Florida can somehow come back and kick them out, but I don’t see it.
- Victoro311

My hatred for the Isles reached a peak after the Trevor Gillies incident. However, since then, I have found it increasingly difficult to root against them. They seem like a team of hard-working non-star players. Tavares spurns them and they just keep working hard and end up sweeping the Pens in the playoffs. Trotz wins a Cup for the Caps and they spurn him and he ends up out-coaching Sully with an underdog team. They have earned my respect.

I mean, they gave up a fair amount to get those players, and IIRC, Vatanen was injured at the time (maybe Trocheck was, too?). Many think Skjei is overrated, but I'd take him any day of the week over Petts.
- Hockey66

Vatanen was hurt, though comments since have indicated that he was hurt quite a bit worse than what the Devils said he was.

But I mean the canes had lost Hamilton and Pesce so they had to get some help on defense and those two were likely the best available.

Vatanen was hurt, though comments since have indicated that he was hurt quite a bit worse than what the Devils said he was.

But I mean the canes had lost Hamilton and Pesce so they had to get some help on defense and those two were likely the best available.
- BINGO!

Yep, gotta love a GM who goes for it instead of just taking half-measures, tinkering around the edges and bargain bin shopping.

(frank) the isles. I’ll hate them for you.

Yep, gotta love a GM who goes for it instead of just taking half-measures, tinkering around the edges and bargain bin shopping.
- Hockey66

we had the extra space, the extra draft picks and our window is just starting to open, might as well spend some money and see if we can't kick the door down.

Remember when people were saying the Canes lost the deadline because they acquired a bunch of fine not great players that wouldn’t put a fine not great team over the hump? The Canes have been on the cusp for like three years. Counting them out was stupid and underrating their acquisitions was stupid.

I often forget that Brandon Sutter is an NHL player and I get a kick out of hearing about him again. What an ass player.
- Victoro311

Everyone had Carolina as a top team this off-season, Aho, Svech, and Hamilton all took steps forward into top stars, they have one of the league's deepest line-ups, yet they struggled some when they had some injuries particularly Hamilton and it's like everyone forgot how good they were. Crazy how many people picked that upset.

I didn't like Skjei, not just the overpay, I don't think he's very good and got pumped up in NY and was unnecessary when they can't even find a spot for Bean. But Trocheck and Vatanen were great adds. Aho-Staal-Trocheck is pretty scary down the middle.

Everyone had Carolina as a top team this off-season, Aho, Svech, and Hamilton all took steps forward into top stars, they have one of the league's deepest line-ups, yet they struggled some when they had some injuries particularly Hamilton and it's like everyone forgot how good they were. Crazy how many people picked that upset.

I didn't like Skjei, not just the overpay, I don't think he's very good and got pumped up in NY and was unnecessary when they can't even find a spot for Bean. But Trocheck and Vatanen were great adds. Aho-Staal-Trocheck is pretty scary down the middle.
- Tojo.

Skjei's been a totally different player in CAR so far.

I think a lot of it has to do with style of play. In his rookie year, he was aggressive and had great success, then they hired Lindy Ruff to coach the defense and everything went to poop for him.

Since he's been in CAR it's been a wildly different system and he's been racking up some great looking fancy stats.

Skjei's been a totally different player in CAR so far.

I think a lot of it has to do with style of play. In his rookie year, he was aggressive and had great success, then they hired Lindy Ruff to coach the defense and everything went to poop for him.

Since he's been in CAR it's been a wildly different system and he's been racking up some great looking fancy stats.
- BINGO!

I was unaware and will have to watch for that.

I'd still like to see Rust in place of Jake, but I feel like unless they take Hornqvist off again, the PP breaks through tonight. It was lost in the 2 abbreviated chances late with Malkin in the box, but 2 of the 3 PPs with the full group looked good. If they finished one of those rebounds, like the one Jake had early, different feel and I say they do tonight. Probably Malkin because he's getting shots and is due.

I was unaware and will have to watch for that.
- Tojo.

Such a common thing when someone awesome doesn’t work somewhere else. Easy to have good goalie or defensive stats when you play a defensive system then ppl wonder why he isn’t the same on an all offense team. Systems have a huge impact. Look at mike Johnston and his crippling effect here.

Such a common thing when someone awesome doesn’t work somewhere else. Easy to have good goalie or defensive stats when you play a defensive system then ppl wonder why he isn’t the same on an all offense team. Systems have a huge impact. Look at mike Johnston and his crippling effect here.
- 10inchTerror

Thing is on the same Rangers team I felt Shattenkirk was underrated and would thrive elsewhere. Didn't see it with Skjei. But sometimes that works.

Thing is on the same Rangers team I felt Shattenkirk was underrated and would thrive elsewhere. Didn't see it with Skjei. But sometimes that works.
- Tojo.

Ive always liked Skjei. I thought him entering his prime coinciding with a general team wide skid in quality was always a positive indication that he could pick it up on a good team.

I wasn't saying that. I wanted the Pens to get Vatanen and Trocheck. I would have taken Skjei in a heartbeat, too. Those 3 vs. Sheary, ERod, and a 40 year old Marleau? Ugh. I understand "assets," cap, etc., but seriously, the Canes killed it and I think we may have gotten worse. We did get Zucker a couple of weeks earlier which saved an otherwise dreadful trade deadline for us.
- Hockey66

Bjugstad is a pretty good player when healthy. Key words... When healthy. When word came out that he was done for the season, I knew it was a bigger deal than people were thinking. Simon too. Our 3rd line needs to chip in or we're toast.

Bjugstad is a pretty good player when healthy. Key words... When healthy. When word came out that he was done for the season, I knew it was a bigger deal than people were thinking. Simon too. Our 3rd line needs to chip in or we're toast.
- madmike71

Yea it would be nice to have Bjugstad to be the 3C. But it wasn't really counted on as a big deal because he had zero contribution this year. It would be way different if he was having a good year for us.