Carolina Hurricanes: Cardiac Mail- Goalies
I got many good questions in this week’s Cardiac Mail. Many of you had very good questions when it comes to this team’s Goaltenders.
This is the very first Cardiac Mail article. A big thanks to all our followers on twitter who contributed throughout the week with excellent questions. While I cannot answer all of them, I noticed that many people asked questions pertaining to the goaltending situation in Carolina. So instead of jumping across multiple subjects, I decided to dedicate the first Cardiac Mail strictly to the netminding in Carolina.
While the concept of good goaltending in PNC by a Carolina Hurricanes player was a foreign concept for this team for a very long time, the 2018-2019 season seems to serve as the curse breaker. For the first time in a long time the Carolina Hurricanes have average goaltending, and maybe perhaps above average goaltending, in the form of Free Agent signing Petr Mrazek and Waiver pickup Curtis McElhinney.
The unlikely duo has helped lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a playoff spot, one they aim to keep when April 6th comes and goes. Austin Vallejo, who has our first question, brings up a very good point of what this team will do with these two excellent netminders when that date comes and goes:
The best thing about the playoffs is that everyone gets to play. Trying to ride one netminder through a series is an easy way to exit the tournament early. The fact that we have two excellent netminders that pick each other up and challenge each other at all times helps this Carolina Hurricanes team to be one of the true contenders for the Stanley Cup.
As long as Coach Rod Brind’amour is smart with his deployment of the two netminders, something he has done very well throughout the season, the Carolina Hurricanes can make a deep run into June. By splitting the starts between Mrazek and McElhinney, Rod can keep the opponents from getting comfortable with either goalie’s vastly different styles.
While many argue that a team should have an identified number one goaltender to make a good run into the playoffs, perhaps the Carolina Hurricanes can break that mold by doing what has been working since Dec 31st an the start of the surge back up the rankings. After all, if it’s not broken, why fix it?
What about after the Playoffs?
There will be plenty of movement with this team once the playoffs come to an end and the July 1 deadline for players to become free agents comes around, the Carolina Hurricanes will have more than a few players to deal with as Steve Stouthamer points out:
As I understand it, the Canes will have to deal with Aho, Ferland, Mrazek and McElhinney as free agents in the off-season. First, are any other player contracts up and second, what do you think the impact of having to open the bank for Aho will have on the others? #cardiacmail
— Steve Stouthamer (@Stouthamer17) March 18, 2019
Sebastian Aho, Micheal Ferland, Petr Mrazek, and Curtis McElhinney are not the only big name free agents this summer. Saku Maenalanen, Greg McKegg, Haydn Fleury and the Captain, Justin Williams are also either restricted or unrestricted free agents come summertime. The Carolina Hurricanes will have a lot of decisions to make with them.
Down in Charlotte another big name in net will also need to signed. Alex Nedeljkovic also will be an unrestricted free agent come July 1st. I believe that he is ready for the NHL. He probably believes that he is as well. If the Carolina Hurricanes want to resign him, they will probably need to ensure that there is a spot for him.
If you had to choose between Mrazek and McElhinney, the most likely choice to keep would be Mrazek, he is younger and has made a slightly bigger impact on the Carolina Hurricanes this season. He has enough experience to lead a young Ned in the crease. The only issue I can see is the style of play that Alex Nedeljkovic plays with, which brings us to the next question from Alex Gilbert:
how would you compare Ned’s style of play in goal to recent/current Canes goaltenders? #CardiacMail
— Alex Gilbert (@AG_ringchaser84) March 19, 2019
Ned plays like he is on fire. And it works. Not much unlike Petr Mrazek and his patented “poke cezhk “, Ned is not afraid to leave his net to make a play. He challenges attackers with a ferocity and his unpredictability leaves players hesitant to try any power moves on him lest they find themselves upended by the six foot netminder. But can Carolina afford to have two such players?
Currently the “song of ice and fire” coupling of Mrazek and McElhinney has given opponents frustrations before they take on the Carolina Hurricanes as they have to prepare to take on both netminders and their separate styles. It has lent itself to much of the success this season. Can that same success be replicated if both netminders are fueled by fire?
I would say yes. This roster is young. It will get younger as guys like Williams and McElhinney slowly leave for what may possibly be positions behind the bench instead of sitting on it, and young talent from Charlotte comes up. This young talent plays better in front of a netminder with a personality like ned. Do not forget the progress of our other standout netminder in the pipeline; Callum Booth.
What about Scott Darling?
McElhinney, Mrazek and Nedelkovic are not the only netminders that the Carolina Hurricanes will have to figure out after this season ends. There is one more than more than a few have forgotten about, but not David Scott:
#CardiacMail What will happen with Darling after this season?
— David Scott (@DavidScott4444) March 18, 2019
This is up in the air really, Scott Darling is currently on a leave of absence to take care of personal issues. Are these the same issues that have plagued him in net over the last two seasons? Maybe, maybe not. Darling has crawled his way out from darker places and is the only Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) player to make it to the NHL, let alone win a Stanley Cup.
All that we know is that Scott Darling is currently being paid $4.15 Million per year for at least another two seasons. That is money and cap space that can be better used if the team decides to keep either Mrazek or McElhinney (perhaps both). But what would a buy out of the 30 year old Illinois native goaltender look like?
If the Carolina Hurricanes chose to buy out Scott Darling’s Contract at the end of this season, the cap hit and costs to the team would drop immensely. According to CapFriendly’s Buyout Calculator a Scott Darling buyout would cost the team only about $1.83 Million a year for the next four years. The cap hit would fluctuate over those four years with the first year being $1.23 Million for the first year, $2.33 Million the second year, and $1.83 Milion the final two years. That would bring some Cap breathing room to this team. Something they would need to pay guys like Ferland.
Must Read. Should the Canes consider calling up Martin Necas?. light
Once again, I want to thank all those who contributed to this week’s Cardiac Mail. For those who have asked questions that were not answered, come back next week where I will continue to answer more of these questions as well as any new questions that come up. Until then, let’s go CANES!