Carolina Hurricanes: A farewell ode to Phil di Giuseppe

Tuesday was a bittersweet day for fans of the Carolina Hurricanes. A day after seeing the Canes devour the Philadelphia Flyers 3-1 at PNC Arena, and seeing THAT Andrei Svechnikov Storm Surge, fans saw former top six prospect Phil Di Giuseppe claimed from waivers by the Nashville Predators.

What can be said about Phil Di Giuseppe, more affectionately known as PDG to Carolina Hurricanes fans? He was highly-touted in his early days with the team, and fans once harbored hoped of PDG becoming a solid scoring middle six forward. Alas, he never scaled those lofty heights, instead teasing us with moments of excellence. And now we say goodbye to Phil as he makes his way to the Western Conference, and the powerhouse that is the Nashville Predators.

Phil Di Giuseppe’s story

Di Giuseppe was was drafted 38th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, in a draft which saw the Canes select Brock McGinn, Trevor Carrick and Jaccob Slavin. He ended up playing 147 games for the Canes, scoring 14 goals and adding 27 assists for a total of 41 points. Sadly, his rookie season in 2015/16 was his best for the Canes, where 17 points and ATOI of 14:16 in just 41 games had Canes fans believing that, perhaps, PDG was indeed going to turn out as a top six forward who would fulfill his playmaking potential.

As we wrote several weeks ago, Di Giuseppe’s career has continued to stall ever since that promising rookie season. Diminishing offensive returns of 7pts and 13pts, followed by just 4pts this season, were met with diminishing time on ice, falling each season to just 9:55 this season.

Phil Di Giuseppe has talent – even making the NHL makes him one of the best hockey players in the world – but he has never quite lived up to his billing as a potential top six playmaker.

In tribute to his time with the Carolina Hurricanes, I have penned this in tribute (hoedown style):

"Phil Di Giuseppe, he tried his very bestTo score goals for our Hurricanes, that was his main questWe liked him when he was here, though he rarely turned our headsWe hope he scores lots more goals, now that he’s with the Preds (now he’s with the Preds)"

Where does he fit in with the Nashville Predators?

The Nashville Predators are one of the NHL’s elite teams, packed with stellar goaltending, possibly the only defense in the league better than the Canes’, and a host of forward options. He will join a team looking to win its first Stanley Cup, after suffering several recent playoff disappointments which include losing the 2017 Stanley Cup Final to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Di Giuseppe joins a team that is built to win. They have just won their second in a row, coming off a torrid six-game losing streak. It appears that the Preds see PDG as a low-risk change-up. But where will he play?

Inevitably, it will be a fourth line role, as the Preds have so much scoring talent in their top nine. The most expendable forward from their current lineup is Zac Rinaldo, who is playing just 7:10 per game this season with the Preds and who brings very little scoring to the team. While he hits well – more than two per game on average – his Corsi For is just 43.3% this season, compared to Phil Di Giuseppe with double the points, more hits, and a Corsi For of 52%. PDG is an upgrade on Rinaldo in every conceivable way, and so a fourth-line role is likely. A shot at playing playoff hockey is also on the cards.

There is no doubt that Carolina Hurricanes fans never got to see the best from Phil Di Giuseppe. Now that he’s playing out west, Canes fans will surely be keeping half an eye on his performances – as we will here at Cardiac Cane. Farewell Phil, and thanks for the memories!