RALEIGH, NC – NOVEMBER 02: Carolina Hurricanes center Brian Gibbons (29) with the puck during the 3rd period of the Carolina Hurricanes game versus the New Jersey Devils on November 2nd, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Basement of the Team
Brian Gibbons’ stint with the team is most likely over. He played 11 games and was placed through waivers once Jordan Martinook made his fanfare return. During that time he did absolutely nothing but grind out whatever ice time he did have. While he played pretty decent defense, he did nothing to generate offense.
No goals, no assists in eleven games is simply not good enough to stay with the team. Not to say that he is terrible, but the team is better off without him on the roster.
Performance: 0-0-0 Underachiever
Trevor van Riemsdyk has come back from injury to supplement an already rich defensive core. The problem is that he didn’t do much once he got here other than perhaps take time away from the rookie Haydn Fleury. The only reason he is on this list today is because he drew back in against Minnesota on Saturday to mark his 10th game of the season leaving Fleury out in the wild.
Honestly it might be a good thing that he will be a UFA this offseason, perhaps there could be a solid return for him in the market even if it is just to make some cap space for Justin Williams.
Performance: 0-2-2 Underachiever
Jake Gardiner has gone a long ways from the first five weeks of the season that saw him start strong. Of the six players on this page he is one that I think will rebound the best and find himself ranked much higher on this team. This team needs to show some patience with him and let him develop his game. That said, he is absolutely trending in the wrong direction.
Good news is if he simply resets himself he can return to glory.
Performance: 1-5-6 Underachiever
Brock Mcginn is the Halley’s Comet of this team. He only shows up every 75 years, or in his case minutes of ice time, but when he does he burns bright and puts on a show. Unfortunately that isn’t very helpful to a team that is trying to compete in the hypercompetitive Metro Division. Stop teasing us with your brilliance and give us consistency!
He either needs to step up his game immensely or he might find himself on the chopping block if Carolina manages to secure another top nine forward.
Performance: 2-3-5 Underachiever
Cleanup in aisle 17! No seriously, bring a mop. Lucas Wallmark has been a mess recently after bringing some serious talent to the beginning of the season. Not unlike his partner in crime Brock McGinn, he shows flashes of excellence then disappears into the abyss and I actually completely forget that he is on the roster.
The good news for him is that with Erik Haula out of the lineup, Wallmark will get the chance to play with some bigger names and perhaps show everyone that he plays up to the talent around him.
Performance: 2-3-5 Underachieving
Oh baby flower, you are finally starting to bloom. Got your first NHL goal and soon enough you couldn’t stop scoring. Seriously though, Fleury has finally gotten some of that confidence he had in the AHL that helped him take the Charlotte Checkers all the way to an Calder Cup Championship. He is starting to show everyone why he was a first round pick.
The fact that he continues to be scratched in favor of TVR is a small crime. Perhaps he is better in small spurts, or perhaps Rod Brind’amour knows something none of us do. Whatever it is, all I know is that the more Fleury we have the better.