Can the Hurricanes Keep It Up? The 2-2 Reality Check

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Well, four games into the season, and the Carolina Hurricanes are already taking us on a wild ride.
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After a frustrating 0-2 start with losses to Florida and Washington, the Canes have bounced back in a big way, grinding out an overtime thriller against Philly, followed by an explosive 6-4 victory in Montreal last night.
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With the ship starting to steady and 80 games left on the schedule, what should Canes fans really make of this opening stretch?
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Are they truly set in goal?
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Can William Carrier keep delivering in Seth Jarvis's spot?
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How did the Keynes stack up in a brutal metro division?
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And looming over everything, what's the timeline and return for an Alexander Nikisha trade?
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We've got a lot to unpack tonight.
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As always, thrilled to welcome in Aaron and Katie.
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And joining us to break down all these questions and give us the view for the press box is North State Journal and the Athletic's own, Corey Labellette.
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Hey Corey, welcome.
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Hey, good evening, everyone.
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Thanks for having me.
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And ladies, of course, great to have you uh as as always.
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And uh as I mentioned, we got a lot to talk about.
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Now, Corey, you've been covering the Keynes for the Athletic for how long now?
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Uh for the athletic, just a handful of years.
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Uh, but for North State Journal, I've been there for 10.
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Uh and then I was uh and then I was at uh Kane's country before that for a while.
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So uh that was more a passion project than a pay project.
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Okay.
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But uh yeah, it's been a long time.
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I had a I had a Facebook memory the other day, and I think it's been 16 years since the first time I was in the press box.
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So uh I'm a lot grayer now for sure.
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Well, that's fantastic.
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So yeah, you you've definitely uh been a fixture with the case for a long time, and we really appreciate you taking time today to come in and and spend time with us.
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You know, a couple of frustrating losses to kick things off.
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Four games in.
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What's your takeaway as we start the season, Corey?
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Yeah, I mean, I I think it's important not to ride the emotions too much of, you know, really any point in the season.
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I mean, we saw last year, even, you know, they had that little blip with those games against Florida and Tampa where things kind of went off the rails.
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Obviously, the defense was kind of uh pretty battered at that point.
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But I I don't I mean, I know that the nature of fandom is to live and die with every shift and every period and every game, uh, every week.
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But um, yeah, I mean, I you know, I you don't worry about a team like this that I think you know has proven that once they kind of get all their ducks in a row and everything, they're they're gonna be a good team.
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So um, yeah, I mean, they're and not everything's perfect through through four games, but um I I generally I mean for the sake of fans, I didn't think anybody should be too worried after two games and um and then after the last two, I don't think everything went perfectly either in those two games.
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So um, you know, there's things to improve on, there's things to you know not worry about, all of that, but um it is what it is.
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You just uh it's a long season, and like you said, you know, in the intro, we're up to 84 instead of 82.
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So we've got you know, we've we've burned a couple early that uh that normally are there.
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Just extended preseason, that's all that was.
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Exactly.
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And and you know, we talked a little bit about this before too, Corey, that you know, the Canes have a little bit of a Stanley Cup hangover.
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They've been having fun all summer with the with the cup, and you know, all of a sudden they come to camp, it's a short camp, and then they're playing real games.
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And Rod did something that some of the other coaches chose not to do, and that's to rest his veterans for most of the exhibition games.
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Um, I mean, we saw some of the other teams, they were playing their veterans right from the get-go.
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So yeah, um, you know, and things have settled down a little bit.
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That's great.
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I think uh, you know, the first couple of games, yeah, okay.
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Um, but there are some questions, and one of them is I think is goaltending.
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Katie?
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Well, I just it feels like the canes are planning on going forward with Bussi and Kochakov, and they each have had some good moments and some strong moments, and also some moments where you go, uh, is this really what the canes want to do moving forward?
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I'm not personally worried, just like the rest of the team.
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I think that they need to get the the kinks worked out before they hit a groove, but it definitely has been bringing up a lot of chatter online as to whether or not the canes need to be looking outside of the organization for any potential help and goal.
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I'm not at that point yet, but it it's a fun, it's a fun thing for fans to talk about on X or other platforms.
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Aaron?
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Yeah, I think um I think that the the conversations about helibuck are probably what Katie's referring to the most.
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And you know, anytime a goaltender of that caliber is available and you have a team that just won the Stanley Cup, people are gonna put those two things together and say, well, you know, if they want to make that second run and they want to win a second cup in a row, this would certainly help.
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I mean, but the Canes have their price when it comes to goaltending.
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I don't if they made I I'm sure they made a serious offer to Winnipeg.
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I'm sure that they did.
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But if that didn't go anywhere, they're not gonna empty their, you know, AHL team and prospects and everything else trying to get a goaltender that they may see themselves as not really needing.
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Um I I I wouldn't be surprised if those conversations continue with a lot of teams, not just Carolina, you know, there's a lot of teams that would like that help in goal.
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Um, but you know, Winnipeg's also in a situation where this is kind of something they don't have to do at a disadvantage to themselves.
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You know, why would they give away a goaltender of helibuck's caliber for, you know, picks and prospects and things that they're not interested in getting?
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So I could see this, the helibuck situation dragging out pretty close to the trade deadline, you know, before somebody decides they're desperate enough to give Winnipeg what they really want.
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Um, I don't think that that team would be the Keynes, but I'd be interested, Corey.
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Do you think that I'm kind of on the right track there?
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Or is that you think that they're more interested in Hilibuck than we think they are?
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Um, I I mean, I think we have to weigh two things here, really, which is one, we know what Eric Tolski always says, which is until we have the 20 best players in the league, we're always going to try to get better.
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And that's the reason why you hear their name in on every single player who's available, whether or not they make a real legitimate offer, you know, and it may be that they make an offer they don't think is all that great, and somebody jumps at one of those somewhere along the line uh in one of these deals.
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But um, I think you know, you have to weigh that.
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Um, also with the idea, and you kind of mentioned it, that goal goaltending is kind of witchcraft.
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And I think I think Eric Tolski and the front office recognize that.
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I mean, we've we've heard this for how many years from the fan base about you need to get better in goaltending, you need better in goal, you need to get a goalie.
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Um they obviously proved they didn't need to get, you know, operating busted, but it's not like they went in um and made a huge move to get them.
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You know, that was uh that was just a just in case Primo gets claimed situation, uh, and he happened to get claimed, and the the rest is history.
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So um yeah, I mean, I think they'll continue to to to poke at that.
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However, you know, I don't uh I don't get the idea that they're salivating for it.
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At the same time, the way the salary cap is going, the way um their salary cap situation is, and the way they have, you know, very few players that they really need to pay in the near future.
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And you know, you can discuss whether or not the guys who are up after this year are are even going to be back.
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Um they get they have the space to make a deal for a goalie now who is suddenly not overpaid.
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Um but at the same time, like there's not a goalie in the league that you can count on to be great every year.
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Um and so there's always a risk in that.
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And I think that's kind of what what they're thinking is.
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Yeah, I mean, this year it's interesting where you've got a number of players sitting out.
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Um you've got Edison in uh in Detroit, you've got Halibach, and of course you've got Nikish in here.
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And and you know, I think one of my concerns with with Brandon Bussey is that you know last year he had a period where he wasn't that strong as well.
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Remember when we came back after uh the Olympic break and he came in and uh he was really struggling.
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And uh took him a while to find his game, and he did at the end of the season.
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So I just hope that they'll kind of work with him through this because I'm sure you know it's gonna probably take him a little while to get back on track.
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Uh Piotr is the other wild card in this, and I know Katie, you're a big fan of Piotr, and and we love Piotr, but you know, he has still, you know, he's got some things he's got to prove as well.
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So, you know, I agree with you generally.
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I don't think there's any need to make any moves, certainly not at this stage, but I think we just need to keep an eye on this because you know it's gonna be critical as time goes on that the goaltending is is you know in good shape, so to speak.
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So yeah, that's interesting.
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Um, now speaking of one of the guys that uh you know we were just talking about in Alexander Nikishan, you know, how how is this affecting the defensive core?
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So we've got uh, you know, we had Charles Alexis Lego, and we were kind of happy to see him get a shot, and that was kind of fun to see someone from Chicago getting an opportunity.
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Um, but he's gone back down, and they've called up Valamackey, uh, but they're playing Mike Royley.
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And we know that, you know, last year Mike was, you know, he was there, but uh they even used Nystrom over Mike a number of times.
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Corey, what do you think about this whole defensive situation?
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What's your what's your take on?
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Yeah, I mean the Nikkei thing is what it is.
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I mean, you've got a guy who basically has no leverage other than I'm gonna sit out, and you have a team who can look at their depth and say, okay, we have about five guys we can pick from that could play as our number six defenseman.
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Um I I wrote this and I I think it's and I understand Niketian's perspective here because he's 25.
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Is today his birthday?
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Well, no, a couple days ago was his birthday.
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Um I thought today was the third.
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I think his birthday is the third.
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Um you got a guy who's 25 whose window to earn NHL money is not um it's it's different than you know, a guy like uh, you know, a 21-year-old like Bradley Nadeau or something who, you know, all of a sudden everyone wants him up here, but hey, this kid's got a long time to to figure out what he is, and the team has time to figure it out, and there's no pressure there.
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So I understand Nikishan's point of view here in that, hey, my window's small, a bridge deal takes me to 26 or 27, and now all of a sudden I'm I'm probably only getting one big payday.
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So I get that from his perspective, but I also understand the hurricane's perspective of, you know, hey, we we have guys who can fill in and you know, we have assets to go get somebody if we feel like we need to get better and you don't want to be a part of it.
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Um there is a little bit of a timetable here because he has to do something by December.
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If he doesn't, if he's not signed, you know, then then he can't play at all during the season.
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He's actually not that kind of RFA, Corey.
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So he there is no deadline.
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Um, they don't actually have to do anything by December 1st.
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He's a is it a 10.2 C, um, as Sebastian, I can't remember his name now, um, who who writes the CBA stuff on Twitter corrected me when I said that and said that no, the type of RFA that he is, they can he can sit out all season.
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They could even bring him in in the playoffs if they signed him before then.
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So that's it, that's that was news to me.
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I didn't know that either.
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And I wasn't aware of that.
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Um so there's so there really is that doesn't give him a lot of leverage with the sitting out because the longer he misses games, you know.
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Um why why would you sit out for an entire year?
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That there's no point in doing that.
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So the leverage is all on the Kane side to do to make him do something one way or the other.
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So um Yeah, it's a tough, it's a tough situation, but they're in the you know, they have the upper hand here.
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He doesn't, and you know, you mentioned Bradley Nadeau and Felix Dangrosarum.
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None of those guys have any leverage, like they there's not a whole lot they can do.
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Um, you know, especially for those two those two forwards.
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It's like, hey, if you can go down without going through waivers, guess what's gonna happen?
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You're gonna go down.
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You know, tough luck.
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You got drafted by a good team.
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Like that's you know, that's the way these things go.
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So um, yeah, we'll see how it pans out with Nikitian.
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I mean, it feels like it's it's headed toward a separation, um, but the hurricanes don't have to have any urgency with it.
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And we'll see how um, you know, there's been reports that there was something on the table with with the Rangers.
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Uh, I don't have any insight into that.
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The the hurricanes have been really, really quiet on everything.
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Um, so anything you hear, um, you know, when we saw some reports about oh, thing was imminent and that wasn't true, it's because you know you've got different sides leaking different things, and um, but the hurricanes are quiet on this.
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And I think that you know, Tulski pretty much said, like, you know, I'm trying to respect that they don't want things in the media, and that's kind of what he's done.
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So when you hear stuff, um, you know, unless something gets a little more concrete, I think what you're hearing is other teams hoping for things or agents hoping for things or things like that.
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So uh we'll see what happens, but um, you know, I think that they have options, right?
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I mean, I know Niestrums hurt right now, and that might be the top option.
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Like, I didn't think Lego was particularly good um in the in two games, but it it's two games and the same point as the two forwards, like can send you down and let you regain some confidence and see what you can do.
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So, and Mike Riley had a great camp.
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I thought, you know, I I don't think he uh Stanley Cup answer as a number six defenseman, but I thought his camp was excellent.
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He was really, really good throughout.
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So and Alamackey was okay too.
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So and I think he's got the potential to do to do stuff.
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So they want those young guys playing.
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So if you if you don't have somebody who's jumping off the page right now, use the two veterans and see how you go and keep biting your time.
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Do you think that the islanders sorry, yeah.
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Sorry, Corey, do you think that the Islanders would be at all interested in Nikishan now with the situation with Romanov that just happened to be?
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Yeah, that jumped that jumped out to me for sure with Romanoff going down.
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The question is, is what kind of window do they really think they're in?
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Do they think it's worth you know giving up multiple young assets for one young asset?
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Um and Nikishan hasn't proven yet.
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He's a top pairing defenseman.
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The the skills are there.
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Um I think you know, he's had a little bit of trouble adapting to the style the Hurricanes want to play because he's a little bit of a hit seeker and things like that.
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That's not a knock on him.
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I think that that's just what we've learned throughout, you know, the entire Brenda Moore era is if a defenseman can't, you know, or comes in, they takes a little bit of time.
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The you know, the exception was Keandra Killer, who seemed to pick it up immediately.
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Um so um, yeah, I mean I think that that certainly jumped into my mind was ooh, but then I thought the same thing of like, is that really the kind of move um the Islanders want to make, especially when they have a couple good young guys coming up to on defense?
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Uh and they obviously have Schaefer who's gonna make a boatload of money really, really soon.
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So uh you know, there's there's all those considerations in there and what kind of assets you want to give up and things like that.
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So um yeah, it piqued my interest that uh he went down.
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But then I also think, you know, what kind of window do they think they're in and what kind of value does he have to their roster right now?
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Right.
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I love just I mean, occasionally even even though he's 25 though, he is still pretty young.
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So that that wouldn't necessarily be a futures move.
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I mean, uh a right now, win right now move.
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It could still be a futures move if they were if they thought they were ready to start building around a couple of those guys.
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But you know, we'll see.
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It'll be interesting.
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No, but I think it would make sense if Tony D was involved, that's for sure, because we'd love to have Tom.
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You know that any chance I have to get Tony back in the lineup, I'm always gonna give hello, Tony D.
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No, I I mean I think you're right.
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I mean, look, um the Keishin's situation is tough because I I don't we've talked a lot about this too, Corey.
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There's there's not deals that are easily put together.
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That's the biggest single problem for him.
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Like it's not like there's a bunch of teams calling that you know have you know all the elements that you need, the tradable assets, the you know, cash base, and everything else.
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And what we've been hearing for the most part is people are you know just trying to get him on the cheap.
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So I I keep thinking he's coming back, but everybody says it's not possible.
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But uh I would not be shocked if he returned in a Keynes uniform at some point.
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That's just me.
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But uh it could certainly happen.
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How many times was was Martin Natchez out the door?
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You know, yeah, it was over and over again.
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I mean, uh on the draft floor in Vegas, everyone thought he was he was gone and then he wasn't because he didn't want to sign in Columbus, you know, pretty much is how that you know he did the GO already.
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So that's the other aspect of this that we have to consider is he has to, you know, the leverage that he does have is he doesn't have to sign a contract with anyone, right?
00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:20.160
I mean, he doesn't have to say, you know, he's in the Quinn Hughes situation right now where, hey, if you want to trade for me, that's great.
00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:21.680
That doesn't mean I have to sign with you.
00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:26.720
Now he'll be in the same boat with another team where he can't really do anything to get his way out.
00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:34.960
But I doubt that's the kind of move he wants to see happen if he can't, you know, kind of steer where he's going and sign a long-term deal and get paid.
00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:39.279
Well, does anybody know what the visa situation is for him?
00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:46.000
Well, he's in Florida, so I know, but he doesn't does he have a visa now?
00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:48.400
Yeah, I mean he's in Florida.
00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:50.000
I mean he's worked, he's no, I know.
00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:51.039
I he's working, yeah.
00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:56.319
It just strikes me as odd though, because I would have thought the visa would have been associated with his employment with the hurricanes.
00:18:56.400 --> 00:18:58.160
Maybe I'm wrong, but yeah.
00:18:58.400 --> 00:19:00.160
I mean it's I've wondered about it.
00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:05.359
Yeah, I mean, I'm sure there's I'm sure there's a window on these things and you know a timetable in a month.
00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:08.160
I don't know the exact logistics of the immigration.
00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:09.680
So I just wonder if anybody knew of it.
00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:20.319
He's not surely he's not hiding in a bunker somewhere trying to get images of him skating with uh with Teraseco, so we know he's definitely not hiding in a bunker.
00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:40.079
Um guessing somebody float a speculative trial balloon that Nikitian might consider signing a one-year deal with the Hurricanes to just to kick the negotiations down the line and give him a longer chance to make himself appealing to a club he wanted to be traded to, and then the canes would use his services in the meantime.
00:19:40.319 --> 00:20:00.480
Um, I don't know that that's coming from anywhere, you know, legit necessarily, but it would is another option that I think that they could have if they wanted to do that, you know, just a relatively inexpensive one-year deal that would give him more time to negotiate and also more time to show what he can do to the teams that are interested.
00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:10.000
So I thought the wild card though was uh Paul Theophanus, who took over as his agent, um, and he's done business with the canes.
00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:15.200
So he's you know, he did uh he did Ryapkin and he did uh Pior Kochekhov's extension.
00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:16.799
So he's a guy that they know well.
00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:18.400
Um Primo as well.
00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:19.279
What's that?
00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:21.359
Caden Primo as well.
00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:23.120
Oh, yeah, Caden Primo as well.
00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:23.440
Correct.
00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:25.279
Yes, he did Caden Primo right.
00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:28.960
Um, so he, you know, he's a maybe that changes things.
00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:32.240
That that's kind of where I'm sitting on this, is you got a new fresh person in there.
00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:37.839
And I know Eric said, you know, you know, we haven't really seen any difference because he's in there, but who knows?
00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:42.880
I don't, as you as you said rightfully too, I think, Corey, Eric doesn't say anything to anyone.
00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:48.559
So a lot of what you hear in rumors is nothing to do with anything but folks just making it up because it's not conversation.
00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:52.000
This isn't the Don Waddell era anymore, that's for sure.
00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:53.039
Oh, yeah.
00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:55.039
Don was a chatter.
00:20:55.120 --> 00:20:58.559
He loved uh out in his turtleneck and having a good conversation with the boys.
00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:02.960
Yeah.
00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:04.480
I love it.
00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:11.440
Katie, look, we're gonna look at we're gonna look at the forward side because you know the defensive side is is what it is.
00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:14.799
Uh they'll rotate until something changes there.
00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:16.240
It's probably okay.
00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:18.400
What do we think about what's happening up front?
00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:21.759
You got Will Carrier, who's now first line carrier.
00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:23.920
Used to be first line Martin Nuke.
00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:26.000
Now it's uh first line Carrier.
00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:27.359
What do we got?
00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:30.400
Well, I think their top line is going well.
00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:36.319
In fact, Aho and Svench are so hot right now, I don't think it really matters who you put next to them.
00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:47.279
The one advantage that Carrier gives that particular line is that he is somebody who will who likes to muck in the corners and get the and get it back out to his other forwards.
00:21:47.440 --> 00:22:00.640
And as many people have speculated, I've heard this in three or four different places, that having Carrier on that top line is forcing Aho to shoot more because uh Carrier is not exactly a known sniper.
00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:08.400
So um let Carrier do what Carrier does best and leave it to Aho and Svetch to produce the rest.
00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:14.799
Um, other than that, you know, I I think it's just it's just warm-ups, you know, it's just getting back on the groove.
00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:19.920
It's it's finding that that uh sweet spot again.
00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:32.000
And just I'm I'm really hoping I'm I'm feeling positive that the reason that Nadeau and Ungerstorm haven't come up yet is because they think that Jarvis is going to be back in the shorter term, right?
00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:33.440
Rather than the longer term.
00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:34.799
So what do you think, Corey?
00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:41.120
You think there's a good chance we're gonna see Jarvis maybe beginning of November rather than later on in the year?
00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:45.759
I I mean I get the feeling he definitely wants to play in Finland.
00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:55.920
So if you circle the Finland games, I think that's a probably a good I don't know if that would be his first game, but um, you know, he's even mentioned that as a goal.
00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:58.000
You know, I they gotta be careful.
00:22:58.079 --> 00:23:00.000
I mean, we'll see how how he is.
00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:01.680
And I mean he looks fine out there.
00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:04.400
You don't you don't really know, you know, in a situation like that.
00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:10.559
He looks better out there than he did the last two years when you could tell he was clearly favoring himself a lot.
00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:14.799
Um so yeah, and that so I think you know, we'll see.
00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:20.799
It's it's impossible for us to know because it's again, it's all pretty quiet on how far along is he and everything.
00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:21.920
But he's out there every day.
00:23:22.079 --> 00:23:24.079
He's pretty much just limited.
00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:27.120
The only limitation is just the battle drills and things like that.
00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:31.200
You don't want him getting hit if he's not ready for it and things like that.
00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:33.039
So for now it's Will Carrier.
00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:45.680
We always joke at the beginning of the preseason that whatever the lines are uh for the first practice of camp, that's what the rod that rod's gonna have for opening night, and that's exactly what he did, which is you know, every year it's the same thing, it's like it's like clockwork.
00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:49.359
Um and uh so that's exactly what he did.
00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:53.120
And the Eric Robinson thing, I think, didn't didn't really work out, which was fine.
00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:56.319
I mean, it is what it is, but they only really had one other choice.
00:23:56.400 --> 00:24:06.400
If you want to keep the stall line together, if you want to keep the Stankoven line together, there's really no one else to put there unless you're gonna you know dress KK or Deloria and put them on the top line.
00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:11.279
Um yeah, I mean Will's been great actually.
00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:15.279
I talked to him about it um yesterday or two days ago.
00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:16.480
No, yesterday.
00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:21.359
And um, yeah, he's I mean, he's kind of takes everything with the flow rank.
00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.559
He knows what kind of player he is.
00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:23.839
So he's he's a lot.
00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:26.240
You mentioned Martinook, and he's the same way, you know.
00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:30.480
It's Rod sees those guys as hey, here's a good way to reset how you play.
00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:37.680
This guy just goes straight and uh battles every shift and gives you you know 50 seconds every shift and then gets off the ice.
00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:41.839
And um yeah, and to your point, Aho's obviously been been hot.
00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:46.880
Uh and and you know, we'll see if that continues, but uh good to see him shooting.
00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:48.720
And I think Svetch has been really, really good.
00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:54.160
You know, the numbers aren't through anything like Aho's, but I think he's been really, really good to start the year.
00:24:55.680 --> 00:25:00.400
When have we ever seen Aho start a season like this?
00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:02.799
Uh Rod's first season.
00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:09.279
Rod's first season as coach, Aho had I think seven goals in October and a ton of points.
00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:11.039
So he has done this before.
00:25:11.120 --> 00:25:16.400
Uh I know he's traditionally a slow starter, but he has had uh, I think it was Rod's first season.
00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:24.799
Um yeah, it's not and Rod's been saying it that he's a slow starter, but he has done this before, and we've obviously seen him get hot before.
00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:27.120
Um right now it's it's going well.
00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:38.720
And um, yeah, a little confidence on the you know, on his on his goal last night with the you know being able to score in the clear, which isn't always the easiest thing for him.
00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:40.799
Yeah.
00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:46.319
Now, Aaron, we've got a fourth line now that's uh kind of been rebuilt a little bit.
00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:55.359
We laughed a lot about uh Nicholas Delorier starting off the season and kind of hopeful that there'd be a switch there, and there was, and uh, and KK came in.
00:25:55.440 --> 00:25:57.279
So Ko Kinami gets on that line.
00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:59.759
I thought that line was pretty darn effective.
00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:02.000
They were pretty effective against Montreal.
00:26:02.079 --> 00:26:08.799
Um, I think that they're just you know, they're trying to build that heavy, hard to play against, and then, you know, um they they produced a couple of goals.
00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:16.400
Um first one that we weren't sure if it was, you know, Chatfield or or uh Robbie, and then we all saw the replay.
00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:17.759
I love those kinds of goals.
00:26:17.920 --> 00:26:20.240
They when the hip does all the work, those are great.
00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:29.599
Um and then um during the line change, it was actually Carrier who was out with Robinson and Jekkowski, and they got that when Jaikowski got his goal, you know.
00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:43.039
So that that was they were doing the right things, and they were definitely um, you know, I think they were making up a little bit for, you know, the the hiccup, which, you know, KK was definitely involved in that on that first goal um that Bullduk scored.
00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:55.279
But you know, once they realized that that was the line they were going to be matched again, I think they settled in, you know, because Phil Denoa is a great um checking center and has been his whole career, but he's gotten uh quite a bit older.
00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:58.960
He's not as as quick on the on the pace as he used to be.
00:26:59.039 --> 00:27:04.319
So if you can get your timing right, you know, you can get ahead of that that line and and you know get in there and do the work.
00:27:04.400 --> 00:27:06.400
And they they were doing that, I think, pretty well.
00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:12.400
The biggest problem last night for the fourth line, you know, they here they like I said, they produced two goals.
00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:19.440
They had very little five on five ice time because the second period was entirely played on the power plane kill.
00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:21.039
That was the craziest second period.
00:27:21.120 --> 00:27:25.680
The Montreal, I was actually watching the Montreal broadcast because um I really like their play-by-play guy.
00:27:25.759 --> 00:27:28.319
It's fun to get to do that every now and again.
00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:35.440
And um they were just as just as frustrated with that as Keynes fans.
00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:40.559
You know, I think there were some Keynes fans that thought that the referees were just putting their thumb on the scale and just punishing the the Keynes.
00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:43.279
But when you looked at the penalties and how they shook out, that wasn't the case.
00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:45.120
They were just calling everything.
00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:45.599
Yes.
00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:46.960
They were calling everything.
00:27:47.120 --> 00:27:56.559
And, you know, that's frustrating for teams trying to get into the flow of a game, trying to figure out, you know, how do we get more effective at five on five?
00:27:56.720 --> 00:28:08.240
And, you know, it's it's really funny because that you know that that period was just, I think it was 90% special teams, which it's good that the Kane special teams were as good as they were because they were fantastic.
00:28:08.400 --> 00:28:11.759
They were, you know, just setting the standard the entire time.
00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:20.000
Um, but you know, I thought it was interesting in the post-game that Rod said he really liked the first two periods and he wasn't as crazy about the third.
00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:24.880
And you know, a lot of fans were would would put it the opposite and say, well, it's the third when they took over and won the game.
00:28:25.120 --> 00:28:31.440
But um, looking at natural stat trick, like uh Katie has taught me to do, you know, the the the possession numbers went down in the third.
00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:33.920
They weren't actually playing as well in the third.
00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:37.759
If that game had gone on two or three more periods, Montreal might have had a chance.
00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:39.839
But they did not.
00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:42.960
So I think the fourth line is going to continue to come together.
00:28:43.120 --> 00:28:48.160
I don't think it wouldn't surprise me to see pieces moved around as time goes on.
00:28:48.240 --> 00:29:01.759
And especially the one concern I've had with Carrier is that, you know, I mean, he's great and he's playing great right now, but I worry about the longevity because he the style that he plays is so physically hard on the body.
00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:03.920
He's been out with injury before.
00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:07.599
And right now, because he's playing on the top line, he's averaging.
00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:17.599
I think when I checked, it was around 12 and a half to 13 minutes of ice time, which is still not, you know, it's not the 20 that Aho's playing because Aho's, of course, on the power play and the penalty kill.
00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:21.920
But it that's it's a bit more than he usually does on the fourth line.
00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:35.120
So um I think that at some point they may decide to try Robinson back up there because they might say, you know, we don't want uh Will Carrie to get injured or to be out of commission for a more important part of the season, you know.
00:29:35.359 --> 00:29:37.680
So we'll see what how what they decide to do about that.
00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:42.640
But that's my only thought about the the fourth line maybe being in flux as they move pieces up and down.
00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:49.039
Yeah, I mean Robinson looked uh he looked great, but I have really been impressed with Mark Jankowski.
00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:54.880
Uh I think as a fourth line center, he's he's really growing into the position.
00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:59.200
And, you know, he he kind of grows on you like you know when we first got him.
00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:00.079
Oh, okay.
00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:02.880
Um, but now I I like him when he hits the ice.
00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:08.559
In fact, I'm excited to see what he gets on the ice because he's he's one of those guys that can score the odd goal.
00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:12.160
And you know, I mean his backhand was pretty slick last night, but he scored.
00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:15.279
Remember when he had all those goals his first 10 games or something?
00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:18.000
Some stupid number.
00:30:18.160 --> 00:30:19.920
But but I think he's done a great job.
00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:24.960
And you know, if Robinson's back on his game, then you know the fourth line starts to become interesting.
00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:30.160
And I was I was not happy about the fourth line at all when you've got Nicholas Delorier out there.
00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:36.799
Their offensive opportunities were virtually nil, and they didn't really add much to the team.
00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:43.680
And so I was I was kind of excited when we all of a sudden had a fourth line that could go in and you know actually score a goal.
00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:44.880
Oh my god.
00:30:45.120 --> 00:30:46.880
So anyway, that's that's interesting.
00:30:47.039 --> 00:30:51.839
So so back to Nadeau and Unger Sorm as we wrap up the forward side.
00:30:51.920 --> 00:30:53.920
I think the rest of the forwards are fine.
00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:57.120
Um, I guess we just think they're gonna stay in Chicago.
00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:58.480
Is that fair?
00:30:59.680 --> 00:31:01.039
I I think we're gonna see them.
00:31:01.120 --> 00:31:05.039
I mean, you you know, you're talking about who's gonna play, you know, on the fourth line.
00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:16.960
I think you know, there's a pretty good chance we see one or both of them at some point pretty soon, just uh, you know, give them a chance to play a little bit, even if it's not a okay, you're called up and now you're in an HL or for life.
00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:19.120
You know, you can give them a little taste of things.
00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:22.799
Uh, you don't want to mess with things when they're going well per se.
00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:28.880
Um, but you know, those first two games of the year, you know, you mentioned that maybe DeLaurier slowed down the fourth line.
00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:35.759
I know he's not a big uh, you know, play driver or anything, but really the whole team didn't play well those first two games.
00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:41.200
Um so it's hard to pin it on one guy and say, oh, you're the reason the team didn't play well.
00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:44.480
They very well may have played well last night with him in the lineup.
00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:47.359
Um, you know, given the way that the whole team was playing.
00:31:47.440 --> 00:31:52.480
And it's so important for them to be rolling and kind of, you know, you kind of get wave after wave of stuff.
00:31:52.559 --> 00:32:04.160
And when things aren't going well at the top of the lineup, and we know Aho's been scoring and stuff, but when things aren't going well, you know, in the top three lines, then the fourth line is all of a sudden, you know, like, yeah, this is kind of tough.
00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:09.839
And, you know, the obviously, I think Florida and Washington both have good fourth lines.
00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:14.079
I mean, I think so, you know, both both teams are trying.
00:32:14.319 --> 00:32:19.519
So, um, but I think I think you know, we're gonna get a chance to see those guys and we'll see what happens with them.
00:32:19.599 --> 00:32:28.079
I, you know, uh, like I said, they got the option to move them up and down as they see fit, and um, you want to give the guys who are on your roster a chance to play too.
00:32:28.160 --> 00:32:29.920
You know, Kok and Yummy had a really good camp.
00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:34.319
I mean, I said that online and somebody was like, no, he didn't, and I was like, I don't know.
00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:41.359
I was, you know, other than the little stretch there where I wasn't at camp because of some family stuff, um he looked good.
00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:45.839
He had a good camp, and you know, his attitude is always so good, like he's not a guy to rock the boat.
00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:47.279
The Laurier's the same way.
00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:49.680
I got that's not a guy who's in the press box.
00:32:49.920 --> 00:32:50.880
K doesn't either.
00:32:50.960 --> 00:32:52.559
They're both really good guys.
00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:55.039
Um, yeah, they want to play, of course they do.
00:32:55.279 --> 00:33:08.000
But um I think you're lucky in that the two guys, and even and even Mike Riley, you know, when he's not in the lineup, all those guys, you know, know what their role is at this moment and know that if you get going, Rod will give you a chance.
00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:12.880
So um I'm happy to see KK getting a shot, and I think he played, like I said, good in camp.
00:33:13.120 --> 00:33:19.120
A couple, you know, head scratching moments in his two games so far, uh, but a couple really good moments, too.
00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:23.200
And we have to remember he hasn't played an NHL game for like six months.
00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:26.640
So um, you know, I think uh well.
00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:33.519
Counting the two games he's just played, he's played eight games, eight eight NHL games since February 6th of last year.
00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:36.480
So this isn't just a brief time of him not playing.
00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:41.519
So, you know, you you talk about a lot of times when a player's been out that long, they send them for conditioning stints.
00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:44.880
So, you know, it the he's these first few games are kind of that for him.
00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:46.559
So we'll see where it goes from there.
00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:50.640
But you know, um, it's it's nice to have DeLore available.
00:33:50.799 --> 00:34:00.480
I think I think he probably kept he did his job, I think, versus Florida in the sense that he kept any of the kind of Florida shenanigans from really starting up and getting going.
00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:06.559
There was no reason for them to get things going when they knew that he was gonna be the guy to go to and tamper things down.
00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:12.079
So when he's needed in that role, I have no problem with him being in the lineup.
00:34:12.319 --> 00:34:28.480
When he's not needed in that role, I feel like the big biggest issue is his speed, and that's where his course numbers start falling off the bottom of the page, is because he just doesn't have the speed to keep up with the play and and be, you know, doing those puck possession things that Rod is so keen on every player being able to do.
00:34:28.719 --> 00:34:30.639
But that's not a knock against him.
00:34:30.719 --> 00:34:34.159
That's that's because that's not his game, you know, especially at this point in his career.
00:34:34.319 --> 00:34:36.880
So when he's in the lineup, you know why he's there, you know.
00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:37.679
And we could see him.
00:34:37.759 --> 00:34:50.959
I don't know if we'll see him again against Washington when they come back or if that's kind of out of everybody's system now that those first couple games are over and everybody's had their season openers and you know, everything's coming back down from those emotional highs.
00:34:51.039 --> 00:34:51.919
So we'll we'll see.
00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:57.599
But I wouldn't be surprised either way if they decided, you know, hey, we're playing the Capitals again, so let's get him in there, you know.
00:34:57.919 --> 00:35:07.039
And you know, Eric did make the point during his uh preseason presser of hey, we had guys come back and lose 20 to 25 pounds.
00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:11.039
Yeah, there's only one guy who looks like he lost 20 to 25 pounds.
00:35:11.199 --> 00:35:22.159
So that's I think yes, I know again, I know DeLore is not a play driver, but um I think there was a commitment in the offseason to him realizing I need to get faster and all that.
00:35:22.239 --> 00:35:27.279
And I, you know, again, hard to judge on two games, especially that first game was disjointed.
00:35:27.359 --> 00:35:29.679
I think both teams were were absolutely terrible.
00:35:30.079 --> 00:35:37.119
Um awful way to start the NFL season.
00:35:37.359 --> 00:35:41.599
Um, so you know, I think um, you know, we'll see what happens with that.
00:35:41.679 --> 00:35:43.599
Like we know we know what he is, and he knows what he is.
00:35:43.839 --> 00:35:45.039
I think that's the big thing.
00:35:45.279 --> 00:35:46.399
Yep, yep.
00:35:48.239 --> 00:35:55.679
Yeah, and and you know, I think uh he's loved by the coaching staff and and uh by management for sure.
00:35:55.759 --> 00:36:02.159
So we know he's he's definitely playing another role, like in the room and so on, that uh that they really appreciate.
00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:03.199
So it's great stuff.
00:36:03.359 --> 00:36:06.479
Um okay, absolutely fantastic guy.
00:36:06.639 --> 00:36:08.239
I mean, just the nicest guy you'd ever meet.
00:36:08.319 --> 00:36:11.199
You wouldn't know he punches people in the face for a living.
00:36:16.799 --> 00:36:19.039
Hulking tough guys, and they're the nicest people you ever met.
00:36:19.119 --> 00:36:19.439
It's funny.
00:36:20.319 --> 00:36:21.839
He's just a lovely man to talk to.
00:36:21.919 --> 00:36:24.479
I love I think throughout the playoffs, just see him in the press box.
00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:25.119
We just chat.
00:36:25.199 --> 00:36:28.479
He's he's just an absolute gem, just as just as sweet as can be.
00:36:28.799 --> 00:36:31.439
Well, this is this is good information for me as well, Corey.
00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:32.079
That's great.
00:36:32.239 --> 00:36:36.559
Um, okay, so uh, you know, interesting first four games.
00:36:36.639 --> 00:36:39.759
What uh what have the canes been doing really well?
00:36:40.159 --> 00:36:42.079
Katie, why don't you kick that one on?
00:36:42.799 --> 00:36:45.359
Well, I've really enjoyed their special team work.
00:36:45.519 --> 00:36:51.039
They were that second period yesterday, they put on a a clinic on the penalty kill.
00:36:53.039 --> 00:36:58.959
It's just gotta be a cheat code to be able to send out Slaven to start a penalty kill and to follow him up with Miller.
00:36:59.199 --> 00:37:03.359
I mean, those two just were taking care of business left and right yesterday.
00:37:03.519 --> 00:37:05.439
So I've been enjoying watching them.
00:37:05.519 --> 00:37:16.399
Of course, we call it the power kill because of the fact that the Kings are just as much of a threat on offense as as they can't as any team is when you're down a man.
00:37:16.719 --> 00:37:34.159
Um, I think I looked it up it, I think last season it was something like when AHO was on the ice during the penalty kill, the Kanes had over a 30% coursey forward advantage, which I mean, when you when you're getting the offensive chances a third of the time and you're down a man, that's some incredible work.
00:37:34.239 --> 00:37:37.039
And they picked right up where they left off this season.
00:37:37.199 --> 00:37:45.919
It's I've really enjoyed seeing Stankhoven fill in for Jarvis because it's helped keep that that drive and that offensive punch alongside Aho.
00:37:46.239 --> 00:37:50.479
And I mean, if there's anything we know about Stankhoven, we've learned with him, he's just a gamer.
00:37:50.719 --> 00:37:51.679
Hey, give this a try.
00:37:51.839 --> 00:37:53.679
Sure, no problem, coach, put me in.
00:37:53.839 --> 00:37:55.519
I'm gonna give it the best of my ability.
00:37:55.599 --> 00:38:00.159
And if it doesn't work the first time, I'll go back and do it the second and the third, and so on and so on.
00:38:00.319 --> 00:38:06.239
So there's just been so much to like about the penalty kill, the power play too.
00:38:06.399 --> 00:38:10.000
Um, Aho, of course, having the majority of the power play goals.
00:38:10.159 --> 00:38:18.239
He he's moving, and that's what I really like to see from Aho is that you never know where he is going to be at any given time during the pet the power play.
00:38:18.399 --> 00:38:23.679
He might be on the left, he might be darting into the middle, he might be curling around the back of the net.
00:38:23.919 --> 00:38:33.919
And so when the penalty kill has a hard time keeping track of their biggest playmaker, um, that leaves him available for the different scoring opportunities as well.
00:38:34.239 --> 00:38:35.279
What about you, Corey?
00:38:35.359 --> 00:38:38.799
What stood out to you about the power play from the Kanes so far?
00:38:39.439 --> 00:38:45.439
Well, before we jump to the power play, the I I like that you mentioned Spankhoven and you know he asked to do that.
00:38:45.599 --> 00:38:48.879
He didn't, it wasn't just uh Rod going to him.
00:38:48.959 --> 00:38:53.839
And he, you know, he I from what I understand, he was the one who said, Hey, I want to give this a shot.
00:38:54.000 --> 00:38:57.599
Um, and you love to see that, you know, Jarvis was the same way.
00:38:57.679 --> 00:39:06.479
Like, you know, these kids that just want to be a sponge and want to go out there and um and work hard, and that you know, the penalty killers love the penalty kill.
00:39:06.559 --> 00:39:12.000
They don't love it when there's a penalty and they have to go do it, but those guys love doing it, and it's good to see a young guy doing it.
00:39:12.079 --> 00:39:15.359
So I'm glad you mentioned him because uh it's a work in progress.
00:39:15.439 --> 00:39:20.639
But I, you know, the way his motor is, he's a perfect fit uh until Jarvis gets back, right?
00:39:20.719 --> 00:39:22.479
And it's always nice to have another guy.
00:39:22.559 --> 00:39:29.199
I mean, you look at the defense, and like all those guys can um, you know, can kill penalties pretty much if they have to.
00:39:29.279 --> 00:39:32.159
So even even Gosta Spare can kill penalties if he has to.
00:39:32.319 --> 00:39:35.279
Um the power play, I think, you know, you've got a really good first unit.
00:39:35.359 --> 00:39:50.159
The second unit, um you know, it's uh, you know, I DeAndre Miller had a good little stretch there in the postseason when he was um when he was on the power play, you know, quarterbacking that second unit uh when Nikician got hurt, and then a little bit after that.
00:39:50.319 --> 00:39:54.879
But um it just doesn't snap around quite like it does with with Gostas Bear.
00:39:54.959 --> 00:39:57.359
Um and healers can do amazing things.
00:39:57.599 --> 00:40:00.879
I mean, his pass uh the other night just filthy.
00:40:01.039 --> 00:40:04.479
Um you know, so he's so good at you know the vision he has there.
00:40:04.639 --> 00:40:06.000
And Blake has fit in nicely.
00:40:06.079 --> 00:40:09.839
I'm glad to see that's worked out because Jarvis is the guy you're gonna miss.
00:40:09.919 --> 00:40:21.759
I mean, he's so good in all as the fact that they've been able, you know, we mentioned Stankhoven jumping in, we mentioned Blake jumping in on Power Play One, uh, then we mentioned the guys who were filling in with Aho and Svetch.
00:40:21.919 --> 00:40:24.000
Um, it's amazing that they've been able to do this.
00:40:24.079 --> 00:40:34.879
You know, I I've been joking with with someone about um, you know, well, the Panthers, you know, got beat by such and such the other night, but uh, but it doesn't count because Barkov didn't play.
00:40:35.039 --> 00:40:41.119
So um the Kurans have you know played a lot of last season without Jacob Slavin.
00:40:41.199 --> 00:40:45.359
They played last play a lot of this season or a good chunk of it to start without Seth Jarvis.
00:40:45.439 --> 00:40:47.279
Those are not small pieces.
00:40:47.519 --> 00:40:54.959
Um in all aspects, you know, Slavin obviously not on the power play, but um Jarvis is a huge, huge piece.
00:40:55.039 --> 00:41:01.039
He's as important as Aho as far as a guy who's in all situations all the time, even end of game.
00:41:01.119 --> 00:41:04.479
You know, hey, Jarvis, go get out there end of game, let's close this out.
00:41:04.639 --> 00:41:09.679
So uh I'd love to see that you've got guys filling in for him in all these different roles.
00:41:10.559 --> 00:41:15.359
Well, those two guys uh both Olympians, so yeah, they're they're pretty good players.
00:41:15.599 --> 00:41:29.199
Um we talked a lot about uh Jacob Slavin last year being out, and and you know, it was incredible how the Canes were able to, you know, fill in and use some of the youngsters like Nistro and and of course Mike Riley to fill in.
00:41:29.359 --> 00:41:33.919
Uh but it's great to have Jacob back, and he's starting to look like the old Jacob.
00:41:34.000 --> 00:41:45.039
And we we talked a little bit about this earlier, too, Corey, that you know, it takes a while for these guys uh to really get back and get in the group, but he's starting to look like the Jacob Slavan we know and love.
00:41:45.279 --> 00:41:45.919
Incredible.
00:41:46.000 --> 00:41:48.000
I mean, he played a great game last night.
00:41:48.079 --> 00:41:50.559
And and Jalen Chatfield as well, his partner.
00:41:50.719 --> 00:41:53.599
I think I thought those guys were just off the charts last night.
00:41:53.919 --> 00:41:59.759
So, you know, you look at you you look at uh you know something like uh a Seth Jarvis being out.
00:41:59.839 --> 00:42:07.119
We had that with Slavin last year, but the way the team plays, it's it's not quite the same impact, I think.
00:42:07.279 --> 00:42:09.039
Would you agree with that, Corey?
00:42:09.599 --> 00:42:16.159
Yeah, and I mean that's basically what Will Carrier told me when I was like, hey, it's kind of a neat moment for you to play on the top line.
00:42:16.239 --> 00:42:20.639
You know, you know what, you know what kind of player you are, you know what your role has been throughout your career.
00:42:20.719 --> 00:42:22.159
He's been a bottom six guy.
00:42:22.319 --> 00:42:25.679
Um hey, you get to be on the top line and you get to go to Montreal and do it.
00:42:25.759 --> 00:42:26.319
That's pretty cool.
00:42:26.479 --> 00:42:29.519
And he was like, he basically was like, eh, it doesn't matter.
00:42:29.599 --> 00:42:31.839
We all play the same, everybody can play anywhere.
00:42:32.079 --> 00:42:44.079
Um, so to your point, that's exactly how the team feels is you know, hey, if Mark Jankowski's got to step up and center the top line because Sebastian Aho needs stitches or something, all right, good, go do it.
00:42:44.159 --> 00:42:48.000
If if Will Carey's got to fill in while Jarvis is out, all right, I'll go do it.
00:42:48.079 --> 00:42:49.359
And nothing really changes.
00:42:49.519 --> 00:43:08.239
So um, yeah, I mean, I think that to you you're you're spot on with that, that you know, the team plays, you know, like such clockwork everywhere throughout the lineup, on forwards, on defense, on the power play, on the penalty kill, that um those tangible parts are important, which is why we've seen how some guys just don't fit it, right?
00:43:08.319 --> 00:43:14.159
I mean, we saw Michael Hunting got signed by Philadelphia yesterday, and he's a guy that just didn't fit.
00:43:14.239 --> 00:43:18.079
It wasn't like he had a bad attitude, it wasn't like he wasn't trying, it just didn't work out.
00:43:18.239 --> 00:43:20.719
And um, so you move on, you know, no big deal.
00:43:20.799 --> 00:43:22.000
Like, hey, thanks for coming.
00:43:22.079 --> 00:43:23.119
You know, we're gonna move on.
00:43:23.279 --> 00:43:24.239
This didn't work.
00:43:25.439 --> 00:43:26.159
Well, for sure.
00:43:26.239 --> 00:43:41.439
And and you know, the the canes are are they're just they're relentless in their game, they play hard, they come out, and and uh and I think it brings us to to maybe the next part of the discussion, which is you know, we we know what we have in the hurricanes.
00:43:41.679 --> 00:43:47.359
What else do we have in this this uh metro division and in the east that uh we should be thinking about?
00:43:47.599 --> 00:43:58.079
Because you know, this this uh this year is gonna be uh an opportunity for the Canes to take another shot at a Stanley Cup, and a lot of folks think they'll be right there.
00:43:58.319 --> 00:43:59.919
So let's look at the metro.
00:44:00.079 --> 00:44:07.679
Is there anybody, any of the teams in the metro that anyone is concerned about as as far as you know being a problem for the Keynes?
00:44:09.679 --> 00:44:10.159
Anyone?
00:44:10.399 --> 00:44:10.559
Okay.
00:44:14.479 --> 00:44:32.000
I guess I mean the the the common the common opinion, of course, is that the Washington Capitals are the biggest competition because of all of the additions that they had with Tuck and Cairo and others, and that that just loads them up up front and that they're gonna be this super strong offensive power.
00:44:32.559 --> 00:44:36.799
I mean, they certainly took the Kanes lunch money in that one particular game.
00:44:36.879 --> 00:44:38.799
But it was the second game of the season.
00:44:39.039 --> 00:44:46.639
So that doesn't mean that what happened now is going to bear any fruit later on in the season or in the playoffs.
00:44:46.799 --> 00:44:50.079
But um, and you definitely can't discount Logan Thompson.
00:44:50.239 --> 00:44:52.239
Logan Thompson is a phenomenal player.
00:44:52.639 --> 00:44:54.319
He's extremely talented.
00:44:54.559 --> 00:44:58.879
Um, he's uh Bussy's counterpart with being the Southpaw.
00:44:59.199 --> 00:45:04.079
Um, and so I I definitely think that creates some difficulty.
00:45:04.159 --> 00:45:08.079
But I'm not I'm not super sold on their blue line overall.
00:45:08.239 --> 00:45:11.279
I think that that's where they really can get broken down.
00:45:11.439 --> 00:45:19.839
And if you get the canes and their proper rhythm and their fore check, like they brought against Montreal and gave all sorts of headaches to Montreal's defense.
00:45:20.000 --> 00:45:22.079
Um, I think it becomes a different story.
00:45:22.319 --> 00:45:32.719
So yeah, I I mean share Washington, because I just don't think I don't think the Metro is nearly as competitive as some of the other as some of the other divisions.
00:45:32.879 --> 00:45:35.039
Um New York has kind of surprised me though.
00:45:35.119 --> 00:45:36.879
They've gotten off to a hot start.
00:45:37.199 --> 00:45:43.279
And you definitely can't discount a team when you have somebody like Sh Shisterkin uh in the net.
00:45:43.439 --> 00:45:46.479
So those are kind of the two that have stood out to me so far.
00:45:46.639 --> 00:45:47.759
How about you, Aaron?
00:45:48.159 --> 00:45:49.599
I actually would say the exact same.
00:45:49.679 --> 00:45:56.879
I I think that, you know, as much as I'm enjoying the uh the uh woes and travails of the devils, I I I've never really believed.
00:45:57.119 --> 00:46:05.599
I mean, I know that every year there's people out there on the in the um national media that really, really want the New Jersey Devils to be a strong contender.
00:46:05.679 --> 00:46:08.479
And every year it seems like you know, they're just not there.
00:46:08.639 --> 00:46:11.599
They're not they don't have the pieces that they need to get there.
00:46:11.759 --> 00:46:15.439
Um the Flyers are in a world of hurt at the moment.
00:46:15.599 --> 00:46:18.959
And you know, after making the playoffs last year, I don't see them even.
00:46:19.119 --> 00:46:27.119
I think that I'd be surprised if they if they clawed their way to a wild card at all, you know, they're just they're not there, and um, and nobody else is really all that scary.
00:46:27.279 --> 00:46:38.079
I mean, sure, you could have a a a sudden resurgence of Sydney Crosby and he single-handedly drags the the uh the penguins into contention, but I don't think that they would get very far.
00:46:38.559 --> 00:46:40.159
Um they didn't last year either.
00:46:40.239 --> 00:46:52.159
So nobody in the metro, to me, other than the Capitals and to a certain extent the Rangers are are I could see that being the one, two, three with the canes at the top when the Metro division wraps up its business.
00:46:52.639 --> 00:46:54.639
Corey, your thoughts on the Metro?
00:46:55.039 --> 00:47:04.239
Well, to bounce back to Philly and to our goalie discussion, I mean, this was the perfect example of just because the goalie is good one year doesn't mean he's gonna be phenomenal the next year.
00:47:04.399 --> 00:47:08.159
Now it's early, so let's not act like Dan Vladar is gonna be terrible all year.
00:47:08.319 --> 00:47:12.479
But did anybody really come into this season and think, well, Dan Vlad Vladar has figured it out.
00:47:12.639 --> 00:47:14.639
He's gonna be a great goalie from now on.
00:47:14.879 --> 00:47:20.719
No, you kind of gotta think like, hey, we'll see how this goes, kind of situation, right?
00:47:20.959 --> 00:47:28.079
Um, I I have not been a big fan of Chris Drury throughout his career as GM, but I think he did a good job this offseason.
00:47:28.239 --> 00:47:28.479
He did.
00:47:28.639 --> 00:47:31.839
Um Dorothyev is an amazing goal scorer.
00:47:32.079 --> 00:47:33.759
Um just really good.
00:47:34.000 --> 00:47:36.879
Um, Sean Derzy is a really underrated player.
00:47:37.039 --> 00:47:39.439
I really like um what he brings.
00:47:39.519 --> 00:47:42.879
They did a good job kind of reworking their defense a bit, which is a problem.
00:47:42.959 --> 00:47:49.599
You know, I know everyone talks about Adam Fox all the time, um, but he's not really a shutdown guy in any way.
00:47:49.759 --> 00:47:52.239
Um so you need guys that can defend a little bit.
00:47:52.399 --> 00:47:54.079
And uh so I liked those two moves.
00:47:54.159 --> 00:47:59.119
And you know, you mentioned Shisterkin, Katie, and um yeah, he's awesome.
00:47:59.279 --> 00:48:03.279
I mean, yeah, if it's Shisterkin and the Devils, we're talking about the Devils instead.
00:48:03.439 --> 00:48:04.879
Instead, they have Jake Allen.
00:48:05.359 --> 00:48:09.919
Um so and then we, you know, I don't think anybody mentioned Columbus or the Islanders.
00:48:10.159 --> 00:48:15.199
The Islanders, you know, they have Sorokin, but I don't think they're kind of in a weird spot, I think.
00:48:15.439 --> 00:48:18.479
Um they you know, obviously they have a couple of young guys.
00:48:18.639 --> 00:48:21.199
Um, but I I like Columbus's roster.
00:48:21.279 --> 00:48:22.879
I just I need to see him figure it out.
00:48:22.959 --> 00:48:24.959
We'll see what Matthew Nice can do.
00:48:25.199 --> 00:48:27.839
Um, but I like some of their pieces.
00:48:28.000 --> 00:48:37.759
Um you know, the Varonkov thing is really weird because I felt like it's gonna be a pretty good piece, and it looks like he and uh he and Rick bonus maybe don't see eye to eye.
00:48:37.839 --> 00:48:40.000
And um, but he's a good net front guy.
00:48:40.079 --> 00:48:43.759
There's a couple guys there I really like, and you know, the goaltending we'll see.
00:48:43.919 --> 00:48:47.279
Jack Greeves, you know, has been good uh so far.
00:48:47.519 --> 00:48:49.119
Again, that's another question mark.
00:48:49.279 --> 00:49:00.559
But um, yeah, I mean it's a it's an interesting division because I could see three of these teams battling for a playoff spot, and I could say three of those teams say the same thing, and they don't even, you know, they have a team.
00:49:00.799 --> 00:49:02.479
So um there's some weird ones.
00:49:02.559 --> 00:49:09.279
You know, the penguins is are a weird one, the devils are weird is a weird one, the islanders are a weird one, um, even the rangers.
00:49:09.359 --> 00:49:21.359
So it's uh it's a you know, it's good for Carolina because I think it's Carolina and Washington, um, with maybe the Rangers knocking on the door a little bit if they can stay consistent and healthy, and JT Miller keeps his head screwed on straight.
00:49:21.599 --> 00:49:27.919
Yeah, I mean you talk about Sisterkin, he not only stops goals, but he scores them.
00:49:28.639 --> 00:49:29.279
Yeah.
00:49:30.559 --> 00:49:31.119
That was fun.
00:49:32.079 --> 00:49:32.959
That was a hoot.
00:49:33.199 --> 00:49:34.319
Yeah, that was a hoot.
00:49:34.399 --> 00:49:35.119
Uh, you know what?
00:49:35.199 --> 00:49:40.719
I mean, most of the pundits are kind of, you know, they're on the fence on both of them with the team from the track.
00:49:40.959 --> 00:49:46.559
I don't think there's any question that the rest of the crew is not expected to challenge to any great extent.
00:49:46.959 --> 00:49:51.359
You know, most of them are in the murky middle, uh, and that's where they're gonna end up.
00:49:51.519 --> 00:49:56.159
So I think it's a two-horse race, and uh, and so that's the situation in the metro.
00:49:56.239 --> 00:49:58.000
Now let's talk about the east a little bit.
00:49:58.079 --> 00:50:09.599
It gets a little bit more interesting because, of course, we've got uh the Panthers uh that are gonna be there, and of course, the Canadians on your side too, Aaron, that uh that will be there.
00:50:09.679 --> 00:50:12.479
And Tampa's always a team that you've got to keep your eye on.
00:50:12.719 --> 00:50:15.839
So what about what about the East in general?
00:50:16.000 --> 00:50:22.799
Where do we think, as we look today early on, where do we think the challenges are gonna come from and who do we have to be mindful of?
00:50:22.959 --> 00:50:24.559
Why don't you kick it off, Aaron?
00:50:25.439 --> 00:50:38.000
Well, you know, I think you, you know, we all we all know that there's that mindset out there among fan bases that the Canes didn't have to play the Panthers last year, and that's why they won the Stanley Cup.
00:50:38.159 --> 00:50:40.000
It's a silly narrative, but it's out there.
00:50:40.479 --> 00:50:47.599
Um I think that the Panthers will be a team that the Canes will at times have to, you know, step up for.
00:50:47.839 --> 00:50:54.000
I just think that right now they're they've already had you know two significant injury bit bits hit the team.
00:50:54.159 --> 00:50:59.439
Um Barkov's not gonna be out as long as as they thought, but he's still gonna be out until probably December.
00:50:59.599 --> 00:51:05.279
Um that doesn't give them a lot of runway to to build up, you know, uh win streaks and things.
00:51:05.439 --> 00:51:07.679
And then they've now also lost uh Marshan.
00:51:07.919 --> 00:51:17.439
And I don't know that we know how long he's gonna be out yet, or I haven't seen anything, but um but that's another injury that they that they really probably don't want to have, you know.
00:51:17.679 --> 00:51:26.079
So it's always the the risk when you're at the the the wrong end of the father time scale when you have too many older players.
00:51:26.159 --> 00:51:32.719
And and so we we talked about that I think uh last year a little bit with the Panthers, that that they were getting close to that point.
00:51:32.879 --> 00:51:35.279
So um, but they will certainly be.
00:51:35.359 --> 00:51:37.039
I mean, obviously they're gonna challenge.
00:51:37.119 --> 00:51:41.279
They're gonna if is if they can get their health more or less back to normal, they're gonna try, you know.
00:51:41.519 --> 00:51:43.279
Um now their goaltending is interesting.
00:51:43.439 --> 00:51:45.839
Markstrom is not Barrowski.
00:51:46.799 --> 00:51:59.039
Markstrom can be a guy who locks it down and you can't get, you know, a paper airplane past him, and he can be a guy who looks like he would let in, you know, just about anything you throw at him.
00:51:59.119 --> 00:52:06.079
So it just or he takes those adventures outside the net, you know, and and goes wandering out into the um zone like a forward.
00:52:06.479 --> 00:52:09.519
It's just it's you never know what you're gonna get from one game to the next with him.
00:52:09.599 --> 00:52:12.559
And I think that the Panthers aren't gonna be used to that as much.
00:52:12.799 --> 00:52:16.319
Um the Habs, I honestly think are gonna take a little step back this year.
00:52:16.559 --> 00:52:20.159
I I think they have to take a step back in order to take a step forward.
00:52:20.399 --> 00:52:20.559
Okay.
00:52:20.719 --> 00:52:24.879
Um, I don't think anyone really expected them to make the Eastern Conference final last year.
00:52:24.959 --> 00:52:33.679
I think that was unexpected, and I think that it had a lot to do with like uh Corey was talking about with when you don't know about what goaltenders are gonna do because Dobish was unbelievable.
00:52:33.919 --> 00:52:36.159
And you know, he's gonna come back down to earth a little bit too.
00:52:36.239 --> 00:52:41.599
And I mean he's still gonna be really good, but you don't know that you're gonna get that same caliber all year from him.
00:52:41.839 --> 00:52:45.359
And then um the lightning, like you said, Tom, we can't count them out.
00:52:45.839 --> 00:52:49.919
They can't count any team out that's coached by John Cooper, as far as I'm concerned.
00:52:53.119 --> 00:52:54.319
I agree, Katie.
00:52:54.479 --> 00:52:55.599
What are you thinking?
00:52:56.559 --> 00:53:07.359
Um, I know most people disagree with me, but I just have a feeling that the senators are going to make a lot of noise this year and that they are being counted out by a lot of people.
00:53:07.439 --> 00:53:12.399
They no longer have the distraction that is Brady Kachuk in their locker room.
00:53:12.559 --> 00:53:13.919
They have a lot of young talent.
00:53:14.079 --> 00:53:18.799
And every time last year, I went to go look up defensive metrics for the Keynes.
00:53:19.039 --> 00:53:23.759
The senators were always in the top three of those metrics.
00:53:24.079 --> 00:53:37.119
And the reason that they struggled last year was because Omark couldn't get it together for half of the first half of the season until he took some time, got himself straight, and then worked his way back into shape with the team.
00:53:37.279 --> 00:53:40.319
And once he worked his way back into shape, they got really hot.
00:53:40.399 --> 00:53:44.959
It's what put them into the playoffs, it's what put them into a position to get a wild card spot.
00:53:45.039 --> 00:53:52.479
And then fortunately for them, though, by that time they ran into the canes in the first round and the canes took care of business, but it was a challenging series.
00:53:52.559 --> 00:53:56.639
This was a Rodemore style, it was a sweep that wasn't really a sweep.
00:53:56.799 --> 00:53:57.039
Right.
00:53:57.359 --> 00:53:59.919
Because yeah, because of how well they played.
00:54:00.159 --> 00:54:04.559
They hadn't had those injuries specifically to you know on the defense and that sort of thing.
00:54:04.639 --> 00:54:08.799
I think it would have been a much, much tougher series for the Canes to win.
00:54:08.879 --> 00:54:11.599
I still think the Canes would have won it, but it would have been tougher.
00:54:11.679 --> 00:54:18.479
So when it comes to the rest of the East, I think that the Senators are going to sneak up on a lot of people.
00:54:18.639 --> 00:54:28.639
I I know Omark got dinged up, I think was the official turn of phrase the other night, and uh because of which they got handed their first loss of the season.
00:54:28.719 --> 00:54:33.759
But as long as it's just a short-term absence for him, he's looked pretty good to start the season.
00:54:33.839 --> 00:54:41.039
So I think I think we're gonna I think we're gonna hear a lot of noise from the centers and they're gonna make their presence known in the Atlantic and in the East overall.
00:54:42.639 --> 00:54:43.519
Corey.
00:54:44.639 --> 00:54:47.759
Yeah, I mean, obviously the Panthers have injury trouble.
00:54:48.000 --> 00:55:01.439
Um they kind of went the lightning route of maybe leaning a little too much into we're gonna be, you know, Brian Burke truculent in this offseason, you know, Brady Kachuk, Rand Hagudis, Garnet Hathaway.
00:55:03.119 --> 00:55:05.599
None of those guys have a point yet this year.
00:55:05.839 --> 00:55:14.639
Um that won't be that won't last all year, but um, you know, I look at their roster and they're they're not as good as they were two years ago.
00:55:14.719 --> 00:55:19.759
I mean, the the third pairing on defense is really, really scary.
00:55:19.839 --> 00:55:25.679
You know, Radko Gudis and Dmitry Kulikov is not uh feared pairing by any means.
00:55:26.000 --> 00:55:28.719
And they don't they don't have the assets to go, you know.
00:55:28.799 --> 00:55:34.719
I saw as soon as Barkoff went down, there were 700 people saying, oh, they're gonna go trade for Dylan Larkin now.
00:55:34.959 --> 00:55:36.159
They don't have the asset.
00:55:36.319 --> 00:55:42.079
I mean, there's a reason they didn't participate in the prospect showcase.
00:55:42.239 --> 00:55:43.759
They don't have prospects.
00:55:44.799 --> 00:55:45.359
Wow.
00:55:45.759 --> 00:55:54.959
Um, so I mean, you're gonna hit that tipping point when you keep, you know, pushing your cup your chips in year after year after year, eventually you're gonna run out of them.
00:55:55.039 --> 00:55:57.279
And so that's a tough situation for them.
00:55:57.519 --> 00:56:07.599
Um, you mentioned the goaltending, and yeah, I mean, Markstrom, I mean, we know Andre Svechnikov lives rent-free in Jacob Markstrom's head.
00:56:08.000 --> 00:56:10.399
Um the the dovish thing.
00:56:10.479 --> 00:56:11.359
We'll see how he does.
00:56:11.439 --> 00:56:12.639
He was great last year.
00:56:12.879 --> 00:56:17.839
We're you know, 18 months removed from Sam Montenbeau is the next Patrick Waugh.
00:56:18.000 --> 00:56:21.359
So that's true, is all witchcraft.
00:56:21.439 --> 00:56:24.399
And they've you know, they've got a young kid, that's follower, that they're excited about too.
00:56:24.959 --> 00:56:26.079
What you just don't know.
00:56:26.239 --> 00:56:28.959
The one guy you do know about is Vasilevsky, right?
00:56:29.199 --> 00:56:33.119
Um so certainly concerns me.
00:56:33.279 --> 00:56:39.039
Um, as far as a guy you have to get through, he hasn't been as good as he was when the lightning were at their peak.
00:56:39.279 --> 00:56:41.439
Did they get better this offseason?
00:56:41.759 --> 00:56:42.479
I don't know.
00:56:42.639 --> 00:56:45.279
Um, John Carlson's a nice addition, I guess.
00:56:45.439 --> 00:56:51.359
Um you know, I think he would have fit well in Carolina on, you know, in lesser minutes.
00:56:51.519 --> 00:57:06.239
Um but you know, you lose Nick Paul, and uh, you know, again, you start pushing assets out, uh, it gets hard to replenish them, and you start paying guys a lot of money, and it gets hard to find guys that are gonna you know fit in those roles.
00:57:06.319 --> 00:57:10.000
Florida losing Evan Rodriguez is one of my favorite players in the whole league.
00:57:10.559 --> 00:57:11.279
He's a golf man.
00:57:16.559 --> 00:57:17.519
And he's gone.
00:57:17.759 --> 00:57:21.439
So um yeah, I mean, Ottawa, I think Ottawa's really structurally good.
00:57:21.599 --> 00:57:32.559
We'll see if they can stay healthy and we'll see if they, you know, if they can, you know, kind of keep it all together without uh, you know, other than Stutzula, without a major star player.
00:57:32.799 --> 00:57:34.239
Um, we'll see what happens.
00:57:34.319 --> 00:57:35.759
But I I like the way they play.
00:57:35.839 --> 00:57:37.439
I thought, you know, you're just you're spot on.
00:57:37.519 --> 00:57:40.959
That wasn't like a dominant four-game sweep of a series.
00:57:41.119 --> 00:57:44.639
They were probably, I mean, you could argue that was the toughest opponent they faced.
00:57:45.359 --> 00:57:47.839
Oh, definitely beyond Vegas, even beyond Vegas.
00:57:48.000 --> 00:57:53.039
I mean, um, because the goaltending was good, and we know Omar can be good if his head's screwed on, right?
00:57:53.359 --> 00:57:58.799
Um, so you know, last year was a weird one for everything that was going on in that locker room.
00:57:58.959 --> 00:58:07.759
So we'll see what happens if they can kind of keep it all together, and um, you know, so it's a it's an interesting, interesting conference all around.
00:58:07.839 --> 00:58:16.799
The hurricanes are the one team, other than the um the McKeishan situation, where you look and you're like, well, there's not like a gigantic, huge question mark.
00:58:16.879 --> 00:58:25.519
We can say, you know, can Brandon Busy and Piotr Kachekov figure it out, but I was the first one to admit, like, man, how is Busty going to handle jumping into a Stanley Cup final?
00:58:25.679 --> 00:58:26.719
And the kid just did it.
00:58:26.799 --> 00:58:34.159
So, you know, you got to give him at least a little bit of benefit of the doubt for the way he played after not playing for two months last year.
00:58:34.879 --> 00:58:39.039
No, but he also played so very well in this during the season, he was incredible.
00:58:39.119 --> 00:58:43.039
We saw him make so many saves that were just circus saves they were insane.
00:58:43.519 --> 00:58:48.719
And uh, you know, it's all about, and you know this well too, Corey, it's all about confidence with goaltenders.
00:58:48.959 --> 00:58:54.799
You know, when they get that swagger lookout, and this guy, boy, when he gets it, he's he's as good as it gets.
00:58:54.959 --> 00:58:57.039
So yeah, I'm kind of with you.
00:58:57.199 --> 00:59:01.199
Um I met uh John Cooper at uh the prospect showcase.
00:59:01.279 --> 00:59:05.439
So uh, you know, I have to you know give some props to him and his his club for sure.
00:59:05.519 --> 00:59:14.639
I mean, I've always liked TAPA and and the way they play the game, uh, but I think they're they might be a little bit light in the talent side, and I think that's what's gonna get them this year.
00:59:14.719 --> 00:59:15.919
They're just not deep enough.
00:59:16.159 --> 00:59:23.919
And they they rely on a couple of key guys, you know, with uh, you know, point and Kucherov and those kind of guys and cancel to really drive it for them.
00:59:24.000 --> 00:59:25.759
So I'm not as concerned about them.
00:59:25.919 --> 00:59:29.519
The Panthers, look, Pierre LeBron, I know you probably know this too, Corey.
00:59:29.599 --> 00:59:39.039
He did that uh that survey of of uh executives and coaches, and and it was really for the cup itself, was really skewed to the Panthers.
00:59:39.279 --> 00:59:40.719
Like it was incredible.
00:59:40.879 --> 00:59:44.959
Um, and they, you know, the Canes were well down uh in the boat.
00:59:45.119 --> 00:59:52.399
So it's interesting that that uh you know some of these folks who are supposedly in the know just don't think the canes are gonna run back and do it again.
00:59:52.559 --> 00:59:55.599
Um Dan Rosen, NHL Network, we see him a lot.
00:59:55.679 --> 00:59:58.479
He said the Canes are one of seven teams that could win the Cups.
00:59:58.559 --> 01:00:03.199
So, you know, just some interesting sidelines uh and side stories to all of this.
01:00:03.519 --> 01:00:12.719
But hey, as I sit here today, after looking at you know the teams and I'm watching all the highlights that I can to see what's going on with some of these other teams.
01:00:12.879 --> 01:00:15.519
I really like the Keynes chances for this year.
01:00:16.639 --> 01:00:28.159
You know, none of us mentioned the Maple Leafs, and other than the Radish signing, which I thought was a little bit off the wall, I don't hate where they're at right now if Gavin McKenna can be good and the goaltending can hold up.
01:00:28.399 --> 01:00:30.959
Um we'll see what happens with Babrowski.
01:00:31.199 --> 01:00:40.559
I mean, he's kind of fallen into that realm of like, can you count on him to be great, or are we gonna deal with the absolute roller coaster and they can get into the playoffs?
01:00:41.039 --> 01:00:44.079
Does anybody want to face Sergei Babrowski in the playoffs?
01:00:44.319 --> 01:00:47.119
I I don't think I would, um even at this age.
01:00:47.279 --> 01:00:49.199
So I I don't hate where they're at.
01:00:49.279 --> 01:00:52.559
I mean, I don't know if William Neilender gets enough credit for being as good as he is.
01:00:52.719 --> 01:00:53.359
Oh, he's a great player.
01:00:54.239 --> 01:01:05.359
If Austin Matthews can be healthy and good, um, you know, John Tavares is still playing well at his age, you know, he's done a really good job at aging well for a player who doesn't skate well.
01:01:05.519 --> 01:01:07.839
So um I'm really intrigued by them too.
01:01:07.919 --> 01:01:09.599
Morgan Riley's off to a good start this year.
01:01:09.679 --> 01:01:13.919
So yeah, but their defensive core in general, Corey, no, it's terrible.
01:01:14.239 --> 01:01:16.000
Like, I think that's where they get caught.
01:01:16.319 --> 01:01:21.359
I mean, no, they tried to try to get all summer, and he's he's gonna come back to Earth for sure.
01:01:21.599 --> 01:01:32.319
I mean, you know, if you've watched and seen some of the I watched a little bit of the game the other night with them, and and their defensive core is just it, there's no way uh that they're gonna be able to get into the tough games, in my view.
01:01:32.479 --> 01:01:33.519
They've got the guys up front.
01:01:33.599 --> 01:01:35.679
I mean, getting Marchenko was a great move for them.
01:01:35.919 --> 01:01:37.679
Boy, he's you know, he's gonna add old friends.
01:01:37.759 --> 01:01:39.279
And and you know, I'm kind of like you.
01:01:39.359 --> 01:01:42.879
I was kind of watching with interest with the Leafs, but I just don't think the decours are.
01:01:42.959 --> 01:01:44.959
I just don't think I don't think so.
01:01:45.199 --> 01:01:52.639
Um hopefully they get in the playoffs so that all the fans, the Lee fans, can can have a happier year this year.
01:01:52.719 --> 01:01:54.239
But uh, but we'll see.
01:01:54.399 --> 01:01:58.959
Um, yeah, it's gonna be interesting as all of this uh kind of plays out, right?
01:01:59.199 --> 01:02:04.319
So we've got some uh some games coming up uh in the next few weeks that are kind of interesting.
01:02:04.479 --> 01:02:07.359
The Canes have got uh got some interesting foes.
01:02:07.519 --> 01:02:13.279
Um let's uh let's wrap it up with some closing comments uh as we look forward to to the next couple of weeks.
01:02:13.359 --> 01:02:15.039
Aaron, why don't you kick it off?
01:02:15.759 --> 01:02:18.799
Well, I just want to see them build on what they've done in these last two games.
01:02:18.959 --> 01:02:28.559
Um I think that we're you know what we it's such a difference when you see the Canes playing Canes hockey versus when you see the Canes playing, I think that's hockey, you know, like they were in the first two.
01:02:29.119 --> 01:02:31.199
I mean, it it just it's like night and day.
01:02:31.279 --> 01:02:37.439
I don't know exactly what caused that switch to flip that, you know, made them suddenly start looking, you know, more like themselves.
01:02:37.759 --> 01:02:43.919
But it seemed like um the first two, they just they just didn't quite have it.
01:02:44.079 --> 01:02:51.439
And I mean, and we're talking about a game against, you know, the first one against Florida where, you know, we're talking zero-zero in regulation and then it's an overtime goal.
01:02:51.679 --> 01:02:57.359
Those can be games that Rod Brendamore absolutely loves when they're when it happens for the right reasons.
01:02:57.439 --> 01:02:59.359
But that one didn't happen for the right reasons.
01:02:59.439 --> 01:03:03.199
I mean, that was just two teams that didn't seem to know where they were on the ice.
01:03:03.279 --> 01:03:07.119
And so, so that was, like Corey said, one of the most frustrating ways to start the season.
01:03:07.279 --> 01:03:13.519
But um, but I think that what we've seen these last two games is much more how we want to see them play.
01:03:13.599 --> 01:03:16.319
Um, there's definitely things that still need to be fixed.
01:03:16.399 --> 01:03:19.759
Um, some of the five-on-five stuff, you know.
01:03:19.839 --> 01:03:25.519
Um I think that the power play is doing well, but I think it's got another level to get to.
01:03:25.919 --> 01:03:32.159
Um so and the PK just needs to keep doing what it's doing because they're already, I think they're already operating at mid-season form.
01:03:32.559 --> 01:03:37.279
So um, but I'm I want to see as as they take on these next few opponents.
01:03:37.439 --> 01:03:39.519
Um, the Canucks are gonna be an interesting one.
01:03:39.599 --> 01:03:43.839
Um, they've actually had a decent start for for where they are right now.
01:03:44.079 --> 01:03:54.319
And it seems like there've been times when they just seem to have the Keynes number, and I'm not sure why that is, but there's times when they've come into town and you know, you think, oh, it's the Canucks, and then it really doesn't go the canes way.
01:03:54.479 --> 01:03:58.639
So I'm hoping for a really good game, you know, from the Canes against Vancouver.
01:03:58.719 --> 01:04:00.479
And so we'll see how that goes.
01:04:00.719 --> 01:04:05.279
But uh, but you know, I'm optimistic about their chances to repeat.
01:04:05.439 --> 01:04:11.119
And I know that that's the hardest thing in the world to to do to actually repeat a Stanley Cup.
01:04:11.279 --> 01:04:26.799
Um, but if they can stay healthy and if there's no major issues with the roster, then I don't see any reason why they wouldn't just watching these first few games and other teams, and even with the improvements other teams have made, I just don't I think the Keynes are the class right now.
01:04:27.039 --> 01:04:28.799
So we'll hopefully that's true.
01:04:29.039 --> 01:04:30.559
We'll see how it goes.
01:04:31.279 --> 01:04:31.679
Katie.
01:04:32.879 --> 01:04:47.759
Yeah, I mean, this next stretch is against a bunch of teams that the Canes really should be just sharpening their blades upon, you know, using these games as an opportunity to really hone their craft in Vancouver, Chicago, Philly.
01:04:47.919 --> 01:04:55.039
I mean, there there isn't one more home game against Washington, but then after that, Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver again.
01:04:55.279 --> 01:05:04.559
I mean, this is prime opportunity for them to just really start uh rounding into form and really focusing on the on the small details.
01:05:04.639 --> 01:05:18.079
They don't need to overlook these teams by any stretch of the imagination, but it really is an opportunity for them to open up a nice uh a nice gap at the top of the metro or even the top of the east for themselves moving forward.
01:05:18.159 --> 01:05:20.239
They don't they don't care who comes out of the west.
01:05:20.319 --> 01:05:23.679
That's that's a whole other ball of wax they don't have to deal with.
01:05:23.759 --> 01:05:36.559
But when it comes to the East, I think these next few weeks are gonna be a prime opportunity for them to establish themselves and put themselves in a position where they're not having to struggle to maintain their their dominance.
01:05:37.599 --> 01:05:38.959
Absolutely.
01:05:39.279 --> 01:05:40.159
Corey.
01:05:40.639 --> 01:05:44.319
Yeah, I mean, this was a hard schedule for the first four games, right?
01:05:44.399 --> 01:05:53.759
I know the Flyers are playing terrible right now, but you know, Florida, Washington, Montreal is not an easy stretch of game.
01:05:54.479 --> 01:06:11.519
Uh you know, Katie just laid out who the opponents are, and there's no reason you shouldn't go on the road here, and you got a couple games at home, but um, you got a chance to really go, you know, and really, you know, stack some points here and and kind of get your season uh off in the right direction.
01:06:11.599 --> 01:06:20.639
And then, you know, if you can be atop the standings in the division or in the conference, and then you get Seth Jarvis back, like things are looking pretty good for you, right?
01:06:20.799 --> 01:06:22.239
I'm actually going to be in St.
01:06:22.399 --> 01:06:22.719
Louis.
01:06:22.799 --> 01:06:32.079
Like my buddies and I always go on a trip every year, and we always plan it during the state fair road trip because I I obviously I don't travel with the team except during the playoff.
01:06:32.719 --> 01:06:34.479
But um we decided to go to St.
01:06:34.639 --> 01:06:37.679
Louis and then the schedule came out and it's the weekend we're there.
01:06:37.839 --> 01:06:40.479
So uh I'm just gonna be I'm just gonna be in the stands.
01:06:40.559 --> 01:06:44.159
I'm not gonna you know hang out with my buddies for that weekend, but uh never been there.
01:06:44.239 --> 01:06:48.000
So that's a team that for whatever reason misdified the hurricanes last year.
01:06:48.159 --> 01:06:51.199
But um yeah, I mean the Washington game will be a big one.
01:06:51.359 --> 01:06:51.599
We'll see.
01:06:51.679 --> 01:06:55.519
That'll be Ovechkin's last game at Lenovo Center unless there's a playoff game.
01:06:55.599 --> 01:06:59.039
So that'll be uh maybe they'll give him a rocky chair or something.
01:06:59.279 --> 01:07:04.559
Um the schedule lines up well for them.
01:07:04.639 --> 01:07:17.039
Of you know, you get to play Vancouver twice, you get to play an Edmonton team that looks like an absolute disaster right now, like just a dumpster fire of like obviously all the town in the world, but good lord.
01:07:17.199 --> 01:07:21.199
Um, that looks like you you ate hockey sometimes.
01:07:21.439 --> 01:07:26.719
And um, you know, so we'll see what happens with all that, but the schedule lines up pretty well for them.
01:07:26.879 --> 01:07:38.479
Road games are never easy, but man, the way they handled Montreal on the road gives you a lot of hope that they, you know, they kind of figured it out after a little bit of a you know short preseason stumbling.
01:07:38.559 --> 01:07:40.799
But I know a lot of people are talking about the Stanley Cup hangover.
01:07:40.959 --> 01:07:52.479
Sebastian Aho actually told me like, I actually feel better this year because I didn't have as much time off, and I feel like I didn't lose as much of my sharpness as maybe I I would have otherwise.
01:07:52.719 --> 01:07:58.719
So uh we'll see how that goes as you get into game 70 and you know, you get into this break.
01:07:59.119 --> 01:08:00.879
We'll see if he still feels that way.
01:08:01.039 --> 01:08:08.000
But um, so yeah, I mean I I you know the short preseason, the short camp was all really weird, I think.
01:08:08.079 --> 01:08:11.439
I think I thought Taylor Hall played really poorly the first few games of the year.
01:08:11.839 --> 01:08:21.600
And then he gets a weird goal last night, and then he gets a second one, and now all of a sudden you're like, man, if he gets going, I feel like the other two guys on that line have already been playing pretty well.
01:08:21.840 --> 01:08:28.239
Um if that line gets rolling again, you got a chance to do some damage here, get out in front of the division in the conference a little bit.
01:08:28.399 --> 01:08:36.479
Uh, and then, like I said, if you get Jarvis back before Finland, um now you're you're kind of off and running unless the injuries hit you somewhere, you know?
01:08:37.199 --> 01:08:49.760
Well, we we talked a little bit about uh the whole idea of running it back this year, and and one of the things we said was there are a number of players who can actually go up a level in terms of their play.
01:08:49.920 --> 01:09:00.000
Um in some cases they were not playing, like uh Jacob Slavin, and then other cases we look at the guys like Blake and Stankhoven and some of the others, and we know they're gonna get better.
01:09:00.239 --> 01:09:06.319
That's that's impressive stuff, and I think that's one of the reasons we're pretty bullish about uh what the Canes can do this year.
01:09:06.479 --> 01:09:09.439
So lots lots to be happy about as we kick off the year.
01:09:09.519 --> 01:09:13.760
And and Corey, listen, we are so thankful that you spent time with us today.
01:09:13.920 --> 01:09:18.319
You gave us a lot of great information and great insight.
01:09:18.399 --> 01:09:21.439
And and uh boy, boy, it's been it's been a lot of fun.
01:09:21.920 --> 01:09:23.039
Yeah, thanks for having me.
01:09:23.119 --> 01:09:23.840
It's been super fun.
01:09:23.920 --> 01:09:26.399
I appreciate you guys uh wanting me around.
01:09:26.559 --> 01:09:27.920
So uh thank you.
01:09:28.079 --> 01:09:32.800
And uh yeah, let's just not all panic too much four games into the year.
01:09:33.279 --> 01:09:35.039
Well, you know, a little recreational panic.
01:09:35.119 --> 01:09:38.079
I mean, otherwise, I mean fans have to have that, right?
01:09:39.199 --> 01:09:40.719
Get the blood flowing a little bit.
01:09:40.880 --> 01:09:44.079
Um, fans have to be fans, as you know.
01:09:44.159 --> 01:09:44.800
Well, that's right.
01:09:44.880 --> 01:09:45.840
Well, that's great, Corey.
01:09:46.000 --> 01:09:49.519
We will definitely have you back for sure because uh this will be a long season.
01:09:49.599 --> 01:09:52.960
We've got more games and more to talk about this year.
01:09:53.119 --> 01:09:54.960
So uh we'll look forward to that for sure.
01:09:55.279 --> 01:10:02.800
Um and uh ladies, as always, fantastic to have you on and and uh your great insights and always a lot of fun.
01:10:02.880 --> 01:10:05.039
So uh thanks so much for that.
01:10:05.279 --> 01:10:11.599
Uh for those of you who have been watching or listening, we really appreciate you making Stormtracker part of your day.
01:10:11.760 --> 01:10:13.279
Uh, we'd love to hear from you.
01:10:13.439 --> 01:10:22.239
So if you have questions or comments or anything you'd like to say, please leave them in the comment section or send them our way and we'll respond just as quickly as we can.
01:10:22.559 --> 01:10:29.760
As always, we're delighted you spent time with us today, and we look forward to getting together with you real soon right here on Storm Tracker.
01:10:31.679 --> 01:10:32.960
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01:10:33.119 --> 01:10:38.399
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