We'll keep this one short and to the point: which of the Canes' young guys will have the biggest impact this season?
It shapes up as an important season for so many, especially the likes of Zach Boychuk and Drayson Bowman, Jiri Tlusty and Jamie McBain. But it could be Jeff Skinner or Zac Dalpe, or recent trade acquisitions Riley Nash, Bobby Sanguinetti or Jon Matsumoto.
Odds are, someone will have a breakout season for the Canes. But who?
The floor is open.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
article
Thu, 08/12/2010 - 21:47 — louis12580In case some of you 'Canes fans are interested, there's an article on the site thefourthperiod.com. It's their offseason report on the 'Canes. As for the subject at hand, I suspect that Riley Nash will be the intriguing player this year. Any player who can average a point a game playing for Cornell has to have a lot of offensive potential. They are a notoriously defensive minded team and play in a defensive minded league in the E.C.A.C. It is going to be a very interesting training camp which will lend itself to some very spirited competition amongst the newcomers.
I'm gonna go with...
Wed, 08/11/2010 - 16:15 — robotron2084Skinner. I think he winds up playing on Staal's wing. He will not only be productive in his own right but will elevate Staal's game by giving him the scoring threat that Staal has never really had on his line. It could be a combination on par with when the Canes had Francis and O'Neill.
Biggest Impact
Wed, 08/11/2010 - 11:15 — HockeydogI think Nash will have the biggest impact this season simply because the team only has 2 full time centermen with NHL experiance, and needs someone to fill the 3rd line role. If he can hold his own and keep that 3rd line center position from being a problem then he'd have more impact than McBain haveing a solid year because the team already has blueliners with offensive ability. So I am basing "biggest impact " based on which player can fill a hole in the lineup. We need someone to step up at center. My guess is Nash will be the guy but if another of the young guns ends up solidifying that 3rd line center spot then he'd provide a big positive impact.
On a limb, with Skinner...
Mon, 08/09/2010 - 14:26 — penaltykiller74I didn't really know of Skinner before the draft, but he definitely seems to have the hockey gods shining on him right now.
Saw this blog on Yahoo Canada today.
http //ca.sports.yahoo.com/juniorhockey/blog/buzzing_the_net/post/Shades-of-Sid-in-Hurricanes-hopeful-Skinner-;_ylt=AtWUXth4hODdTyAGidvkslJ.ppJ4?urn=juniorhockey-261171
It will be nice to see how he does in training camp.
Make sure you put the ":" back in the address after the "http".
Young Canes Prospects
Mon, 08/09/2010 - 13:01 — abramsdougIn part it depends on what is meant by a "break-out" year. I think Boychuk will score 18 to 20 goals and will stick the entire season. I think McBain will be impressive with at least 10 goals. I predict Dalpe will win the hearts of Caniacs with his play. Nash, too, is going to spend much of the season with the Hurricanes and will surprise and delight fans who have not followed him. With respect to Bowman, I expect him to get some time at Carolina; but probably it will be after the trade deadline. Bowman has a natural scoring ability that is as good as any young Hurricanes propsect. I expect at least Samsonov, if not Samsonov and Kostopoulos or Cole to be moved at the trade deadline. There is just too much young talent at forward to hold them back. Bowman played the point on the powerplay in the 7 to 5 win against Tampa; and he could take a fourth line spot and get power play time. I also expect Carson and Sanguinetti to have very solid years for the Hurricanes. With respect to Skinner, Caniacs will be begging for him to stay; but I don't know how that happens unless a veteran is traded. I can't see the Hurricanes waiving Samsonov, for example.
Additionally, as one considers the young forward talent the Hurricanes have amassed, Tlusty, Osala, and Jared Staal have to be considered. Tlusty has a one way contract and is slotted for a roster spot on the top nine lines. Also included for consideration are Samson, Terry, and Dodge. In short, the talent at forward vastly exceeds the number of roster spots that are available. It gives the Hurricanes organization the most depth it has ever had.
One thing is clear: the training camp will be highly, highly competitive; and the Canes will have very talented, young, fast, motivated forwards trying to prove themselves invaluable to the team; and all of which makes for exciting Hurricanes hockey.
Are the Canes really that
Tue, 08/10/2010 - 13:04 — ctillAre the Canes really that loaded? I'd like to think so, and I'm sure that JR and Mo hope so, but I'm not so sure. Washington certainly is loaded. Every team gets the same number of draft picks, and there are a lot of teams whose records over the last 10 years have been worse than Carolina's, so they had a chance to get better athletes. We'll have to see whether the young Canes are really better than the young players on all the other teams.
Yes! The Canes are finally
Thu, 08/12/2010 - 11:40 — rocheccwYes! The Canes are finally loaded at the prospect level.
Just look at this Hockey futures article:
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/12275/jamie_mcbain_earns_top_spot_among_carolina_hurricanes_prospects/
Don't forget to add the : between the http & //.
But this article compares
Thu, 08/12/2010 - 12:41 — ctillBut this article compares the current young Canes against young Canes of previous seasons. Everybody agrees that the Canes have more young talent than they used to. The same Hockey's Future website ranks the Canes organization overall as #17 in the league. That's my point. Just because the current young Canes are better than Bayda, Zigomanis, Aucoin, Tanabe, etc doesn't mean that the Canes have more young talent than other teams in the league.
Checkers
Mon, 08/09/2010 - 11:57 — CaniacG4While it would be great to see someone have a breakout year for the Canes, as a Checkers STH I want to see some of the talent kept in Charlotte for our first AHL Season
Checkers
Tue, 08/10/2010 - 09:23 — abramsdougCheckers fans are really in for a treat. They will have a tremendously talented and motivated team. The Checkers are stacked with NHL-ready or very nearly NHL-ready players. Terry, Samson, Dodge, Bellemore, and Rodney are somewhat over-looked by they are all legitimate NHL quality players. When one starts talking about players like Dalpe, Bowman, and Osala being in Charlotte at least for some of the year, they are high level NHL prospects. The Checkers coaches are also excellent and have the team playing exciting hockey that is great to watch.
BTW
Tue, 08/10/2010 - 09:15 — wxray1Come join us in Raleigh for a few games. I'm sure you'll be surprised by the Canes fans that will do likewise on trips to see the Checkers.
I live on the other side of
Tue, 08/10/2010 - 20:43 — CaniacG4I live on the other side of Charlotte ( In Lincolnton) so Raleigh is about 4 hours away for me. I do Go to two games a year, one in the fall and one in the spring, its just too far to go to anymore
Yeah, I understand. But
Tue, 08/10/2010 - 09:13 — wxray1Yeah, I understand. But look at the bright side. There is a whole raft of young talent that has to be shared between the AHL and the parent team. You'll get a share of the excitement one way or another.
Your other option is to be like the Durham Bulls (AAA baseball) or even some of the other AHL teams that have loads of very talented older guys that never can never be perpetual major leaguers, but rather they shine at the highest level of the minors. The D-Bulls are full of players like that. In hockey, one player comes to mind: Keith Aucoin. Former Cane who plays in the Washington organization, mostly with the AHL Hershey Bears with his occasional pop up to the parent team.
Durham Bulls
Tue, 08/10/2010 - 17:00 — NCBuff_CaniacAll due respect, Wxray, but I hope the Checkers are exactly like the Durham Bulls have been over the last several years. The Bulls have not been stocked with "loads of very talented older guys that never can be perpetual major leaguers" unless you consider the many former Bulls like Evan Longoria, David Price, Carl Crawford, Aubrey Huff, Delmon Young, Ben Zobrist not to mention current Bulls like Jeremy Hellickson (actually he was just called up for the second time this season and he is only 23, if I remember correctly) Jose Lobaton, Omar Luna, Anderson Leslie (from Cuba), JJ Furmaniak, and some others. True there are some Bulls who have been career minor leaguers and some who hav elots of big league experience who are on the down side of their careers, but to say the Bulls have been stocked (or are stocked currently) with a bunch of has beens and never weres, is flat out wrong. If the Checkers have as much success at developing major league talent as the Bulls have had, the Canes prospects are bright indeed.
Durham Bulls
Tue, 08/10/2010 - 17:00 — NCBuff_CaniacAll due respect, Wxray, but I hope the Checkers are exactly like the Durham Bulls have been over the last several years. The Bulls have not been stocked with "loads of very talented older guys that never can be perpetual major leaguers" unless you consider the many former Bulls like Evan Longoria, David Price, Carl Crawford, Aubrey Huff, Delmon Young, Ben Zobrist not to mention current Bulls like Jeremy Hellickson (actually he was just called up for the second time this season and he is only 23, if I remember correctly) Jose Lobaton, Omar Luna, Anderson Leslie (from Cuba), JJ Furmaniak, and some others. True there are some Bulls who have been career minor leaguers and some who hav elots of big league experience who are on the down side of their careers, but to say the Bulls have been stocked (or are stocked currently) with a bunch of has beens and never weres, is flat out wrong. If the Checkers have as much success at developing major league talent as the Bulls have had, the Canes prospects are bright indeed.
McBain and Boychuk
Mon, 08/09/2010 - 09:29 — ctillI think McBain and Boychuk are the most likely to contribute materially in 2010-11, but nobody really knows. That's what makes next season so interesting. Whitney seemed impressed by Boychuk -- "he's going to take my job someday" or words to that effect -- even though Boychuk had only 3 goals in 31 games, some admittedly with low TOI. Tlusty and Bowman didn't show me much last season.
Probably McBain has the best
Mon, 08/09/2010 - 08:32 — GoShelfProbably McBain has the best shot at making an immediate impact, with the way he ended last season he probably makes the most sense. However, if Skinner gets more than 9 games and plays 1st line minutes with Staal and Jokinen expect him to score goals, he 's done it at every other level.
So many young players, so
Mon, 08/09/2010 - 08:18 — mokimanoSo many young players, so many open roster spots...the competition is bound to be fierce. Rutherford said he will not hesitate to ship guys back and forth from Charlotte to the Canes all season to get a look from any and all the prospects that deserve a chance to show what they can do, alot of these young players that are on a two way contract do not have to clear waivers to go back and forth...so the likes of Bowman, Boychuk, Dalpe, Osala, Samson, Nash and Sanguinetti may get their chance to have a breakout season, if they struggle they will be back with the Checkers...but you have to think at least a couple of these guys will be ready to shine. I like the chances of Bowman to finally show that goal scoring prowess he had in Spokane, Osala has the size and minor league experience to bang on the wing, Boychuk has all the skill in the world now he has to show that he has gotten stronger and tougher on the puck to play at teh NHL level, Sanguinetti has tons of offensive skill...but can his defensive game hold up to play a regular shift with the Canes?
I think one of Bowman or Boychuk has a breakout season and scores 20 to 25 goals, one of Zac Dalpe or Riley Nash sticks all season long and plays the third line center position with the Canes.
SO MANY YOUNG PLAYERS ,SO
Tue, 08/10/2010 - 08:10 — hellfishI agree ,with there shot and power play skills Bowman/Boychuk will lead the pack ,Mcbain is already slotted in ,but Bowman has a "it" factor on the power play and with Ray Whitney moving on a big shot and vision will make it hard for JR to send Bowman to Charlotte.
They were alot of call-ups last year but, Bowman showed he can score plus stay at home defensively and not chase the puck. None of the other call-ups could show they can score on a regular basis except Bowman or Boychuk and keeping with the developement schedule the rest except Oskala will be in the minors most of the year if JR keeps his "status quo" on NHL/AHL time.
Skinner or Dalpe/Nash depending if JR signs a 3rd line center or not could come on as well ,also I thought Samson would be more of a threat offensively but just could'nt put it in the net for some reason or other...Hey Charlotte could win it all next year with all the tallent they will have.
Who will "shine" ?
Mon, 08/09/2010 - 07:04 — esteban1949I feel that McBain can & could lead the pack and sadly if there are injuries then players like Dalpe,Osala,Nash,Sanquinetti &mats will get a giood shot and making a case to remain and help the Canes a very respectable team this season...at least on paper that is all we the fans have until the 10-11 season starts...and training camp is what 38 days away now ???
If It Ain't Hockey,It Ain't Nothing!! THe new Checkers 3rd Jersey Rocks !!