Carolina Hurricanes: January Wish-list towards Becoming a Full Contender
With the end of the 2019 calendar year looming, let us take a look at what the Carolina Hurricanes need to cement themselves as a true contender.
It is no secret that the Carolina Hurricanes have some urgent needs to address, because they have some vital weaknesses. With the new year coming up, here’s a list of positions the Canes need to strengthen in order to mantain their playoff pace.
Number 1 is nice and simple. Goaltending. James Reimer and Petr Mrazek haven’t been good enough. There needs to be an upgrade between the pipes if there is any true hope of a long playoff run in Raleigh. At this point in the season the only realistic solution to this issue is Chicago’s Robin Lehner. He’s on an expiring deal, and if Chicago cannot re-sign him, he is a possible rental.
There is a need for another scorer. The Hurricanes have taken 1330 shots and scored just 131 goals. That’s a shooting percentage of 9.8%. For reference, the Washington Capitals shoot at 11%. With Taylor Hall of the market, someone like Tyler Toffoli is a perfect fit. A right handed scoring forward to help add more fire power to the offence. Slotting him into the top 9 should improve the team to no end.
Related Story. Should the Canes push for Tyler Toffoli?. light
One of the strengths of this team is the blue line. However, the blueline has become overcrowded. Trevor van Riemsdyk and Haydn Fleury are alternating in the final defensive spot on the blue line. One of them needs to be moved out, van Riemsdyk is a pending unrestricted free agent. Fleury is going to be passed in the depth chart by Jake Bean and Chase Priskie. Both need to be moved at some point,
Carolina have also shown a desperate need for a leader. At this point it is an open secret that Justin Williams has been training, shooting and skating hard trying to get back up to game speed. There is a good chance that the Cobourg, Ontario native will rejoin the team, and with how things have gone recently, we just have to hope that Justin can change the tide again.
In an ideal world, if Williams decides to come back, and if Carolina can find a contract that works, the 'Canes would like him back in the fold sometime next month... give him as much time as possible to get back up to speed.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) December 18, 2019
Obviously, we’d all like to have superstars, but I tried to keep this to things that have some form of realism. There is nothing here I feel that is incredibly outlandish, All of this I hope you will agree is quite plausible.
Question for Cardiac Cane readers: What would you like the Canes to do in January?
Next. Necas is Heating up again. dark