Carolina Hurricanes: Reasons Not to Panic Yet This Season
The Carolina Hurricanes have had a rough couple of weeks, but as Caniacs we should not worry because the Canes have depth, optimism, and fun on their side.
Right after an amazing road trip where the Canes tallied up 13 out of 14 possible play off points (counting the home games before the trip), the Canes have gathered only 4 out of the last 14 possible points.
Frustrating? Yes. Worrisome, no. Hang in there and buckle up. There have been face palm moments all season but the seem to be heightened the last few games. As Caniacs there is some stress on social media that needs to be addressed, so here we go.
1. Depth
Could this be the deepest roster since 06′? Yes, it very well could be. Every single one way player on this team has at least three points this season. Even with a couple of injuries here and there, the call ups have some points too. The only exception is Brian Gibbons who has played 15 games with the Canes and while he doesn’t have an NHL point he provides consistent grit on the ice.
So top to bottom this sounds good right? Well let’s look at the top.
The @Canes are the only team in the @NHL that has 4 players with 37+ points each#LetsGoCanes pic.twitter.com/t43oYDZa7V
— Bally Sports: Canes (@CanesOnBally) January 6, 2020
You are reading this correct, the only NHL team with 4 players having 37 points or more through the halfway mark of the season.
- Teuvo Teravainen: 8 goals, 33 assists
- Andrei Svechnikov: 18 goals, 23 assists
- Sebastian Aho: 23 goals, 14 assists
- Dougie Hamilton: 13 goals, 24 assists
Aho is 8th in the NHL for goals and 2nd in the Metro behind only Ovechkin. Teravainen is tied for 7th in the entire NHL for assists and 2nd in the Metro only behind John Carlson. Svechnikov is 20th in the entire NHL for points and Hamilton is the 4th in all blue liners for points at this point.
The Rookie
Martin Necas is also having quite a rookie year and is actually very much in the running for the Calder Award.
Calder Trophy picks at 1/4 mark:
— Pete Jensen 🏒 (@NHLJensen) November 20, 2019
1. Makar
2. Demko
3. Q. Hughes
4. J. Hughes
5. Necas
Story via @mikemorrealeNHL: https://t.co/opNVszWNdd
With 23 points in only 38 games, Necas is making a serious campaign for Calder. Besides the numbers, Necas is an absolute wizard with the puck. He has speed and talent, but more importantly amazing hockey IQ. This skill set will sneak up on opponents and these points will continue to climb for the rookie.
Must Read. Carolina Hurricanes: Why Martin Necas Deserves Rookie of the Year. light
Ok, That is a lot of stats and numbers so let’s break down the intangibles now.
2. Optimism
Let’s start with the schedule, here is how the Canes have fared so far:
- against the Atlantic: 10-5-0
- against the West: 11-3-1
- against the Metro: 3-8-1
The Metro is tough, it’s awful and full of talent. For some reason the Metro has been the Canes kryptonite this year so far. BUT, the Canes have 22 games from now until the end of February, and only 5 of these games are from the Metro. Take a deep breath, things will be ok!
R.E.M Line
Ryan, Erik, and Martin. This line has been amazing. They have totaled 59 points out of 42 games this season. This is quite an amazing stat considering that Necas has only played in 38 games and Haula in 23. The chemistry for the new guys all on one line is amazing and has only grown. Expect big things from a quietly best third line in the NHL before the end of February.
Justin Williams
Could Williams return to the roster, and what would this mean?
There have been a lot of rumors on social media about Williams the last couple of days. Some saying he will sign with the Canes in the coming days and others saying don’t count on it.
The roster as is is a solid and deep roster as seen above, so what would the Willy return mean? The leadership and charisma of Williams would come with the contract. He might replace a slump player he also might rotate for injury sake. Either way a Williams return is a good thing, but not necessary. The more we know, the more you will know, so keep the focus and faith in the boys on the ice as of now.
3. FUN
This is the key here ladies and gents. When dealing with sports you HAVE to take a wholistic look at a team. That means top to bottom organization. While the 2010’s were a scary time for hockey in Raleigh, tremendous strides have been made that we should all be proud of.
From the Storm Surge, to Summer fest, to autograph sessions the Canes have increased fan engagement massively since Tom Dundon showed up in Raleigh. The Canes are always finding new ways to engage with the fans and it pays dividends with being up attendance over 20% and season ticket sales skyrocketing from last year.
The Canes also stay involved in the community.
Sometimes puppies join us at practice just because 🐶 pic.twitter.com/x5jzgYzCvJ
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) January 4, 2020
More from Cardiac Cane
- 2023 Southeast Rookie Showcase: Takeaways from the Canes’ Strong Showing in Florida
- Week Two Coverage Of College Hockey In NC
- Derek Stepan Ends His On Ice Career As A Hurricane
- The Southeast Rookie Showcase Will Be a Good Look at Carolina’s Future
- Noesen Ready To Provide Depth For Canes
Not only did these cute pups bless your twitter timeline a few days ago but soon they will bless the families of injured vets as service dogs. The Canes have gone above and beyond with their non profit responsibilities making them more of a pleasure than a chore.
It shows the guys love this team and this town, they love to play for us. So take a deep breath and consider all things. Yes losing is no the most fun, but this team has come so far, and for us. So let’s keep packing PNC for them, and get back on track.
Rest easy Caniacs, we aren’t going anywhere, and neither should you.
Question for CC Readers: what is your biggest fear, and hope moving forward?
dark. Next. Carolina Hurricanes: Takeaways from Home Loss vs. Tampa Bay