Carolina Hurricanes Coach Bill Peters on Media Circuit
Carolina Hurricanes GM Ron Francis gave Head Coach, Bill Peters, an extension that keeps him on the bench until the 2018-2019 season. Right after signing the new three year contract extension, Bill Peters, has been making his rounds with the media.
In a time where hockey news has been light, the Hurricanes made a big splash and created headlines with the new deal. Peters appeared on NHL tonight and the Sportsnet podcast Marek vs Wshynski.
During these appearances Peters laid out some of his plans for the upcoming season and what he wants the team to focus on. Among his top priorities are increasing aggressiveness in the neutral zone and improving scoring.
“You can teach scoring to a certain degree…the two biggest things that we need to work on is the power play and net front presence.”
The biggest focuses for coaching staff to work on with the team is getting the puck off of the stick quicker. Quick releases will keep plays going and create second and third chance opportunities that will help generate more goals.
Potential Line Combinations
On the July 28th edition of the Marek vs Wyshynski podcast Peters spoke more in depth about how the roster is taking shape. Peters has projected a line of Teravainen – Lindholm – Aho, which is most likely the THIRD line.
In case you were wondering, that’s an average age of 20.33 years old and features three players who can play center. With that line, depending on the zone and situation each player can take a faceoff, when players are on their strong side.
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Peters enjoys the flexibility and wants the line to play more freely, “If they’re really into it, whoever got back first can play down low and fill slots.” This could make the third line the most dynamic line on the team. With their speed and creativity you never know what could come out of a line when each player can play each position on the ice.
One of the other lines will most likely be Nordstrom–Staal–Nestrasil, due to their sustained success last year. The other line in the top six line would then be Stempniak-Rask-Skinner, with the fourth line would be Bickell–McClement–Stalberg.
Goalie Situation
There was a lot of speculation about the goaltending situation since last offseason when the Hurricanes acquire Eddie Lack. Peters addressed the current situation of the Carolina Hurricanes goaltenders on both programs.
Both Ron Francis and Bill Peters think that goaltending will improve through the team getting more mature. “We’ve gotta play better in front of them numbers aren’t perfect, but some of the breakdowns that we had in front of them aren’t perfect either.” With another year under the young players belts, they will see the game at a slower speed.
Players that were making decisions just a second late will be able to make those decisions at the right time this season. This will lead to less breakdowns and catastrophic turnovers that last season led to goals.
The hope is that with better play up front the goaltenders will be exposed to less opportunities and will be able to play at a higher level. I hope this is the case because goaltending was one of the bigest weaknesses last season.
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In both of his interviews Peters was adamant that he wants to see this team succeed and make the playoffs. For the first time in years the team is on the rise and the playoffs are within grasp. For Peters and the fans, lets hope the team performs to their best abilities and challenges for a playoff birth next season.