1. Get Brett Pesce back into the lineup
Getting Brett Pesce back on the first defensive pairing alongside Jaccob Slavin is something that should happen naturally before the contest with the Panthers. The entire team runs off the line with Slavin and Pesce.
They’re valuable in both zones with the offensive prowess of Slavin and the shutdown ability from Pesce that often goes under the radar. The value of Pesce should now be fully recognized from Carolina fans in his absence.
While most of the problems for the Canes over the past few games were not on defense, getting a top notch player like Pesce back always helps. He’s missed two games in a row due to going through concussion protocol.
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We’ll see what happens when the Canes get not only Pesce back, but another injured player in Lee Stempniak. Injuries have not bugged the Canes that much, but even one can change the dynamic of an entire team.