Cardiac Cane
Fansided

The Carolina Hurricanes’ Defense is a Budding Juggernaut

By Jeb Bohn

RALEIGH, NC - OCTOBER 12: Carolina Hurricanes Defenceman Dougie Hamilton (19) has fun in an interview with FOX Sports during warmups before a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Carolina Hurricanes on October 12, 2019 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by John McCreary/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - OCTOBER 12: Carolina Hurricanes Defenceman Dougie Hamilton (19) has fun in an interview with FOX Sports during warmups before a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Carolina Hurricanes on October 12, 2019 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by John McCreary/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce of the Carolina Hurricanes
RALEIGH, NC – MAY 03: Jaccob Slavin #74 and teammate Brett Pesce #22 of the Carolina Hurricanes enter the ice during intoductions prior to Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round aainst the New York Islanders during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 3, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Final Thoughts

Okay, why is it that I think Haydn Fleury becomes the #7 once Trevor van Riemsdyk re-enters the lineup?  Obviously, Slavin, Pesce, and Hamilton aren’t coming out.  Edmundson has played very well so far and made a very formidable pairing along with Pesce.  That leaves Gardiner and Fleury.  While I don’t like to play the game of “they’re not paying him to sit in the press box (or minors)”, Gardiner was not brought in to be a #7, nor has his play dictated such.

More from Cardiac Cane

Should van Riemsdyk get up to game speed quickly and suffer no setbacks, I give him a slight edge over Fleury.  It’s unfortunate since Fleury has done everything asked of him and carried himself as a true professional but, at the end of the day, the Hurricanes have to ice the best team that they possibly can.  Personally, I’m just happy that it’s not my call.

Getting back to the defense as a whole, most fans that I’ve interacted with are thrilled with the way that things have been going.  Yes, the start that the Hurricanes are off to can skew that, but there is legitimate reason to be excited about the blueline.  The returning players are doing everything that’s been expected while the new additions are fitting in nicely.

The defense has, for stretches, looked completely dominant.  Not only have they been able to dictate the play and control the opposition, but they’ve also been able to drive the offense.

The scary thing is that they still have room to improve.

Must Read. Hurricanes make history with victory over Islanders. light

What are your thoughts on the Hurricanes defense so far this season?  Who sits when TVR re-enters the lineup?

Home/Analysis