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3 Players The Carolina Hurricanes Need More From Down The Stretch

By Alex Ohari

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 08: Ryan Dzingel #18 of the Carolina Hurricanes looks on against the Florida Panthers during the second period at BB&T Center on October 08, 2019 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
SUNRISE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 08: Ryan Dzingel #18 of the Carolina Hurricanes looks on against the Florida Panthers during the second period at BB&T Center on October 08, 2019 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 09: Justin Williams #14 of the Carolina Hurricanes stretches prior to Game One of the Eastern Conference Final against the Boston Bruins during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 09, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 09: Justin Williams #14 of the Carolina Hurricanes stretches prior to Game One of the Eastern Conference Final against the Boston Bruins during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 09, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Justin Williams

Criticizing Justin Williams is something that a lot of fans refuse to do because of his history with the team. Fortunately, I’m not one of those people. So far since Williams’ return to the team, it looks like we were sold magic beans about his impact. Honestly, he looks like a shell of himself.

The stats don’t paint the picture much better. If you take away his shootout winning goals (which, sure, were important) the guy has been practically invisible most nights, and is eating up minutes on the PP1 despite doing virtually nothing impactful for the unit.

After putting up 3 points in his first 3 games back in the mix, he’s hit a wall since then, with just two assists in the past 11 games – with both of them coming in the same game. His 5 points have come across 3 games total, so he is pointless in 11 of 14 games.

Despite the sub-par results, Williams is still playing on the top PP unit, and he’s averaging over 2:30 a night on the man advantage. He’s got just 1 point in his last 12 games on the PP1, and that group as a whole has experienced a serious drop-off in production with Williams (and Jaccob Slavin) as a part of it.

After the heart-and-soul effort from Williams to lead the Canes through the first 2 rounds of the playoffs last year, a lot of people assumed Williams would come back and be the difference maker he was last season. Mr. Game 7. Mr. Clutch. This guy:

In Williams’ defense, he’s playing with Jordan Staal and Warren Foegele so it’s not like he’s with premier offensive linemates, and he’s done an OK job as a forechecker, but he’s starting over 54% of his shifts in the attacking zone and isn’t getting favourable results to show for it. He’s also taken away a role and minutes from Ryan Dzingel, who’s being criminally misused at this point.

If the Canes want to get in the playoffs, they don’t need the Williams of last season. They just need the Williams of this season to be …. better. And if he can’t do that, he should be replaced on the top PP unit by a guy like Dzingel or Marty Necas, who have more to offer in that regard.

But. If the Canes CAN get to the playoffs, there’s no questioning the need or experience of #14 at that point. They just need some production from the former Captain.

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