The State Fair road trip is one of my least favorite times of the year, mostly because of the start times for the games. This year's trip actually isn't that bad, with only two starts at 9 pm or later. Of course, they're during the middle of the week, so that's less than ideal. Nevertheless, the trip serves as a good early-season bonding moment for the group as they hit the road for over a week.
The Carolina Hurricanes are rolling at the moment, winning six straight games after a 0-1-1 start. They've beaten up on a few of the lesser teams in the league, but their 4-2 victory over the Capitals on Tuesday was a good measuring-stick game for the group. Almost everyone is on a heater, led by Sebastian Aho (6 goals, 7 assists) and Andrei Svechnikov (6 goals, 5 assists).
However, that isn't the case for everyone. There are a few players struggling to garner momentum, though they are few and far between. As the team heads out for the next five games, I'll be keeping a close eye on a few Hurricanes. The hope is that time around the team will get them moving on the right track as the team seeks continued success away from home.
1. Nikolaj Ehlers
To his credit, Nikolaj Ehlers is producing at a better clip through eight games than a year ago, albeit by one assist. His start this season has been very similar thus far, which is a bit surprising. Ehlers has just four assists heading into the first stop of the trip, his old stomping grounds in Winnipeg. Coming off a career year in his first season with the Hurricanes, I expected a little more from him to begin the year.
His numbers are indicative of how much the third line has struggled offensively. While he has four helpers, three of them have come on the power play, giving him just one point at 5-on-5. Ehlers isn't shooting the puck a lot, registering just 15 shots. He didn't score his first goal until his 12th game as a Hurricane, so I'm not overly concerned yet. I would like that to change soon, though.
Injuries to Jordan Staal and Taylor Hall add an interesting wrinkle to the trip. The extent of Hall's injury is unknown, but we know that Staal won't be playing for the next month or two. Will this allow the team a little more freedom to try Ehlers in different spots? If Hall can't go, I'd like to see him get a chance next to Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake. Whatever the case, we need to see Ehlers come to life.
2. Brandon Bussi
The starts for the Hurricanes' netminders have been split down the middle to begin the year. Pyotr Kochetkov has looked phenomenal. Brandon Bussi has had moments. Through four starts, Bussi is 2-1-1 with a sub-3.00 GAA and an .871 save percentage. He's put forth two very good starts and two subpar outings. Fortunately, his last start, a 22-save performance in Chicago, was excellent.
I'm confident that his win over the Blackhawks is a positive turning point for him, but Kochetkov is starting to feel like he is taking control of the crease. It's a healthy competition between the two goalies, and it only serves to help the team if they both keep playing well. The order of the starts this weekend in Winnipeg and Calgary should give us an indication as to who will start more.
The starter in Winnipeg is likely to get three starts, presumably against Vancouver and St. Louis, while the other will face Calgary and Edmonton, though that presumption is far from guaranteed. I want to see the version of Bussi that took the league by storm last season. He showed glimpses of that against Florida and Chicago, but I want it consistently. This is a big trip for Bussi.
3. Bradly Nadeau
Many fans felt that Bradly Nadeau or Felix Unger Sorum should've made the team out of training camp, but neither did. Starting the season in Chicago, it was only a matter of time before one of them got the call. With the injuries to the forward group this week, Nadeau was the first prospect to have his number called, officially joining the team on Wednesday.
The Chicago Wolves have gotten off to an abysmal start, dropping all four games and scoring just five times in those losses. Nadeau has a goal and is -6 to start the year, so it hasn't been a banner few weekends for the sniper. However, he's with the big club now. Sporadic trips over the last two years haven't allowed him to fully find his footing in the NHL, so I'm curious how he fares this time.
The Hurricanes didn't practice on Wednesday, having just finished a stretch of five games in eight days, so the three-day break allowed for a little rest. However, that means it's unclear where Nadeau will slot in. I'd anticipate some time on the power play, but he could realistically fall anywhere in the Bottom 9 of the lineup. Nadeau has earned this chance, and he needs to make the most of it.
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