There's something about the Carolina Hurricanes and the State Fair trip that brings the injury bug out at the worst possible time. Last season, the defensemen and the bottom of the forward group dealt with a laundry list of ailments, beginning before they'd even hit the road when Jaccob Slavin got hurt. This year, the forwards are feeling it once more, and it's starting to get out of hand.
Never mind that Seth Jarvis was already out to begin the season. Jordan Staal was hurt before the trip, missing the game in Philadelphia last week before the team announced that he'd be out for a month or two. Then, Taylor Hall exited the win over Washington ahead of the road trip, and he's likely out for a few weeks with an upper-body concern.
Another name was added to that list on Sunday when Mark Jankowski was sidelined with a lower-body injury, ruling him out against his former team. After the game, Rod Brind'Amour told the media that Jankowski was sent back to Raleigh for further evaluation, signaling the likely end of his trip. Jankowski is tied for the team lead in goals after scoring in the six games before his injury.
The Hurricanes already called up Bradly Nadeau and Felix Unger Sorum to combat the first two injuries, but Jankowski's injury forced Jordan Martinook back to the middle in Calgary. Martinook went 5-for-12 in the dot during a rough night for the team in that area (25-for-58, 43.1 percent). The team is hovering right at 50 percent this season, but they've won just 48.1 percent since Staal's injury.
The sliver of good news is that Jarvis might be close to returning. He's with the team on the road, and Brind'Amour seemed optimistic that he'll make his return at some point this week. I'll believe it when I see it, though I'll take the head coach at his word. It'll be a massive deal for the group, likely planting him back on the top line and the top power play.
However, Jarvis's return doesn't get to the root of the issue. The Canes will still be down two of their five centers. Jesperi Kotkaniemi has slotted in nicely on the fourth line for the last few contests, scoring goals in his last two. Martinook isn't a realistic solution to the problem. He was a band-aid for one game, but the team needs to promote from within to address it.
It would likely come down to Justin Robidas and Skyler Brind'Amour, each of whom provides a different set of skills to the equation. Robidas is the more productive option of the two, recording three points in four NHL games. He's smaller but very skilled as a righty. Brind'Amour would probably be better in the dot and provides more size than Robidas. He's also coming off a strong weekend.
I don't think there's any way the team doesn't bring in another body before facing Vancouver on Tuesday night. If it means sending Unger Sorum or Nadeau down to get a center on the roster, the team needs to do it. They can't afford to lose another forward, let alone one of their remaining centers. The team must rely on its organizational depth to get through this rough health patch.
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