With all of Carolina's top-nine forwards back for this season, and no new arrivals in that group, which players would fit the best on either side of Eric Staal?
Ray Whitney and Tuomo Ruutu, who will probably start there? Or some other combination of Erik Cole, Chad LaRose, Sergei Samsonov, Jussi Jokinen and Scott Walker?
Fire away.
Luke has worked for The N&O since 2000. He covered the Carolina Hurricanes and the NHL before becoming a sports columnist in August 2008. A native of Evanston, Ill., he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He can be reached at (919) 829-8947, @LukeDeCock on Twitter or
Comments
during any course of a
Tue, 08/18/2009 - 21:49 — jejohn8during any course of a season players need to find and remem ber their teamates tendencies so when it comes time when it really matters (playoffs) they will know .
So, right now the point is moot.
Sigh...
Tue, 08/18/2009 - 12:25 — esteban1949gee A day late...yet again...But i would heartily agree with louis12580...and seeing how the Canes did some swapping around a the needs arose,that shouldn't be a problem.Also as a side note, seeing Jussi is best at center ( according to the stats) he has never been afraid of a wing spot, as he proved that during this past season. Jussie has found his "Home' as it were, and i have all the confidence in the world that if Mo Or Ronnie asked him to do so...he'd do it...But like others here said, let's wait and see if JR can work some magic...one more time !!
Go Canes !!
JR still has not found a
Mon, 08/17/2009 - 13:15 — mokimanoJR still has not found a true scoring winger to enhance and elevate the skill level of Eric Staal...yeah a top line winger costs quite a bit of coin...but Cole and Ruutu are still nothing close to a tandem like Crosby-Malkin...Ovechkin-Semin, Kane and Toews, etc...maybe Boychuk or Bowman can someday be Staal's sniper on the wing...but for now...I still think the Canes are lacking a true #1 winger to play alongside Staal from the current bunch of forwards in the mix. Maybe a guy like Larose can be placed with Staal and Cole and form a decent offensive punch on a top line...maybe Ruutu can be a 30 goal guy on Staal's wing if he stays healthy...but the Canes still truly lack a bonafide sniper that can finish all those chances that Staal and his size and talent create.
Whatever groups are used, it
Mon, 08/17/2009 - 11:42 — lewpulsWhatever groups are used, it might help the power play to use the same groups as PP units.
Certain players may work better with one another than others... Cullen and LaRose, perhaps. Whether Staal-Cole is one of these pairs now I do not know.
What About
Mon, 08/17/2009 - 10:22 — WAStoutWhat about keeping Ruu, Juice, and Sammy together....thought they were pretty lethal against NJ & Boston during their shifts together...
Controversial Idea
Mon, 08/17/2009 - 09:54 — HockeydogI agree with louis12580. The whole idea of Staal and Cole working off each other is overrated. Ruutu can do what Cole can for the most part and brings more on a nightly basis.
Cole is best suited to a 3rd line role with Brind'Amour and someone else.
Now for the controversy. Historically Staal scores more than he assists and while he has improved is not great in the face-off circle. I suggest that the Canes try him at wing. Jokinen is good in the circle and as creative a setup man as Staal. Let Staal do what he does best, use his size in front of the net and shoot his wicked wrister from ironically the same area of the ice Jeff O'Neill used to be so deadly from. Another irony is that Staal can use his size and speed in a similar manner as Cole (when he is having a good day) to rush the puck.
I think the Canes can do well with Staal centering, but in my humble opinion it would be worth at least a look.
Interesting
Tue, 08/18/2009 - 08:55 — GoShelfBut not likely though, moving Staal to wing and Jokinen to center doesn't really strengthen our first line, it puts a third line center on our first line and moves Staal to the wing where he's probably never played for any period of time. The only guy on our team that is significantly better than Staal in the faceoff circle is Brindy and that doesn't make sense moving him. The only way we really improve our first line is by bringing in a marquee winger, which we all know what the cost of that will be - a diminished 2nd and 3rd line, so I think our real strength lies with our ability to get offense from all four lines, which most teams can't boast. So if that means our first line is not as potent, so be it. A lot of teams rely on most of their scoring from their top 2 lines, we don't have to. It's nice to have the ability to win games and not have the first line come up with at least 2 goals.
Bringing in an Additional Forward -- teams hitting salary cap
Tue, 08/18/2009 - 09:43 — abramsdougI would never bet against Jim Rutherford and his ability to find diamonds in the rough. For example, Boston is trying to figure out how to keep Philip Kessel and that will likely mean some player has to be moved off the Bruins. As much as the Bruins like Blake Wheeler, he might be a player the Bruins can't keep. San Jose did not re-sign Marcel Goc -- and he might well provide some help to the team at a reasonable price. There are other more offensively minded free agents still available. Afinogenov has been discusse at various times throughout the Canes Now blog. Give the Hurricanes' budget constraints and the numerous contracts coming due next year, particularly Cam Ward's, the Hurricanes need to find an impact forward who is also affordable. I would not be surprised for Jim Rutherford to wait to see if Boychuk or Bowman could rise to the challenge and contribute offensively earlier than otherwise would have been expected.
No Doubt
Tue, 08/18/2009 - 12:12 — GoShelfIt's clear that there are a number of teams that are right up against the cap and don't have the ability to make any moves without dumping salary, so yes there are opportunities out there. I like the way the team is now and don't think any tinkering is required. I'd rather have budget room around the all-star break than be right up against now with adding another forward (Afinogenov, Goc, Niedermayer, etc.). With all the different things that can happen in the course of the year, it will be nice to have a little money left if we need. If you doing well at the trade deadline JR shouldn't have any problems with justifying the cost to P.Karmanos.
2009-2010 depth chart/lines
Mon, 08/17/2009 - 14:16 — abramsdougI am hoping that Jim Rutherford has one more forward to add to the team. In particular, I would really like to see Taylor Pyatt signed by the Hurricanes. I think Jim Rutherford has done a masterful job in the off-season; but to me the powerplay remains a potential weakness for the Hurricanes. Given the team as it is today, I'd start off trying to see how the chemistry works with the following lines and would then mix and match depending on how reality compared with theory:
Ruutu/Staal/Cole
Whitney/Cullen/LaRose
Samsonov/Sutter/Jokinen
Walker/Brind’Amour/Kostopoulos
I would start with putting Ruutu and Cole on the Staal line to see whether teams could defend Staal when they had to deal with the physicality and strength of Ruutu and Cole. I am not certain if Sutter is ready to be a third line center; but I would like to see how he does with players who pass well and have excellent hockey intellect. I would have a fourth line that had experience and tremendous grit, so like 2005-2006, the Hurricanes could roll four lines (and could play the fourth line as a third line depending on the team and the situation). It would be fantastic if Brind'Amour could return to his 2005-2006 style and productivity -- if so, I'd switch Brind'Amour and Sutter. To me, the Hurricanes still need the 6'4" 235 lb forward to bang in front of the net -- especially on powerplays.
We need more magic....
Mon, 08/17/2009 - 21:10 — AN0NYM0USPyatt might be a good pickup, but he only had 10 goals and 19 pts last year. Tanguay only had 41 points last year, but if he is healthy he could be a steal if he is healthy and willing to significantly lower his asking price. Other UFAs still out there include Comrie, Sykora and Satan. Lets see if JR can pull a rabbit out of his hat.....
Staal
Mon, 08/17/2009 - 08:32 — GoShelfI think you definately keep Whitney and Staal together, as far as a the other winger you probably rotate Cole & Ruutu, whoever is going better. '09 Playoffs taught us that we don't need to keep set lines and we can have success rotating our forwards based on matchups/who's playing better.
line mates
Mon, 08/17/2009 - 08:22 — louis12580I, for one, would like to see Ruutu and Whitney with Staal. It is time for Staal to get over having to have Cole with him on the line. Ruutu can do what Cole does and is younger so give him the time with Eric to develop the same chemistry. If it doesn't work, then make the changes necessary.