The Canes finished a respectable 12th in scoring last season with 2.82 goals per game but had just three players -- Eric Staal, Jeff Skinner and Erik Cole — score 20 or more goals.
Now, Cole is gone. Cole had 26 goals, including a team-high nine game-winners.
Question: How many 20-or-more goal scorers will the Canes have this season, and who will they be?
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
Re: PI sailren quest
Mon, 09/05/2011 - 03:20 — henerVery high appreciated.Welcome to <a href="http://www.ralphlaurenmall.net">ralphlaurenmall</a>, your reliable online marketplace. Please review the following basic rules that govern your use of the <a href="http://www.ralphlaurenmall.net">Ralph Lauren Polol</a>. Please note that your use of the <a href="http://www.ralphlaurenmall.net">ralphlaurenmall</a>. constitutes your unconditional agreement to follow and be bound by these Terms of Use. Although you may "bookmark" a particular portion of this Site and thereby bypass this Agreement, your use of this Site still binds you to these Terms of Use <a href="http://www.ralphlaurenmall.net">ralphlaurenmall</a>. reserves the right to update or modify these Terms of Use at any time without prior notice to you. Your use of the Site following any such change constitutes your unconditional agreement to follow and be bound by these Terms of Use as changed. For this reason, we encourage you to review these Terms of Use whenever you use this Site.also welcome to our <a href="http://www.timberlanmall.net/">timberlandmall </a>and <a href="http://www.echristianlouboutins.net/">christianlouboutins</a>.
Myself Personally
Wed, 08/31/2011 - 14:18 — esteban1949The "normal" faces who are on the ice at that time will be scoring and as AD has pointed out we as fans have the "reasonalble' expectations from those who did produce for the team last season...other than that...I'll just sitback and wait 7 see...after all I'm excited enough as it is...
If It Ain't Hockey,It Ain't Nothing!! Go Canes & Checkers !!
20 Goal Scorers for Canes
Wed, 08/31/2011 - 19:47 — abramsdougThere is no question that the Hurricanes have to more than replace as a group the 26 goals scored by Cole last season. Here's an estimate by forward lines, using the depth chart at www carolina hurricanes com
Skinner (32) Staal (35) Stewart (20)[could easily be 25 to 28]
Dalpe (18) Ruutu (22) Jokinen (24)
Ponikarovsky (20) Sutter (18) LaRose (15)
Tlusty (12) Brent (15) Dwyer (14)
I believe the improved power play and improved offensive zone possession time due to improved faceoffs will yield more goals. I also am convinced that the improved puck movement out of the defensive zone by defensemen such as Pitkanen, McBain, Kaberle, and Joslin will create more offense. I think having Stewart and Ponikarovsky crashing the net with authority is going to help the Hurricanes offensively. Dalpe's addition will also add speed and offensive skill to the Hurricanes. If Boychuk or Bowman could make the jump to the NHL, it would further improve the offense.
Cole has been great for the Hurricanes; but the addition of Stewart and Ponikarovksy adds very much needed size and physicality. It's a new era for the Hurricanes. One door closes and another door opens.
To be assured of making the
Mon, 08/29/2011 - 12:54 — ctillTo be assured of making the playoffs, the Canes need perhaps 10 more regular season goals than last year. A better PP would provide that. (The bigger question for the Canes is whether the team will give up fewer goals than last season.)
The Canes need five players at 20+. Staal and Skinner for sure. If Sutter gets powerplay time, he could score 20. Jokinen and Ruutu can. Like hockey101, I'm hopeful that Dalpe will make a big splash -- although 20 might be expecting too much.
Not sure that Kaberle can directly replace Corvo's 11 of last season, but McBain and Pitkanen can and should score more.
I AGREE
Mon, 08/29/2011 - 11:37 — hockey101I agree with louis12580 on who will score 20+ goals this year. Hopefully we can get a little more from LaRose this season as well as if Zac Dalpe makes the team he will be I think the big surprise this year.
Goal Scoring
Mon, 08/29/2011 - 10:04 — louis12580Staal and Skinner are pretty much no brainers. As for others who can/might score 20 goals, that's a different matter. I feel that Ruutu, Jokinen, Stewart, and Ponikarovsky are all capable of reaching the 20 goal plateau. The caveat being that they are used in the right situations. Much of it comes down to a pet peeve of mine with Mo's coaching style. It's not the "system" that bugs me, it's his constant line shuffling. Keep a line together for more than 5 games, at least your top two and, for the most part, the third. Stewart and Ponikarovsky are big boys and can crash the net, so let them. Maybe on the power play one of them will be out there to stand in front of the goalie, like Holmstrom does. Now their gluteal region might not be as big as his, but the ability to occupy another teams defenseman can lead to better scoring opportunities. Keeping Skins and Finns together will make all of them better and probably allow them to score at least 20 goals. That also helps the "first" line tremendously, the ability of making the other team honest in how they match up their lines with ours. Take pressure off Staal's line and see what can happen.