Andersen wasn’t tested a ton (which, let’s be real, isn’t atypical behind the Hurricanes’ blue line), but looked quick and steady, which is now expected from the big Dane. If there were any concerns about rust, lingering injuries, or a decline, the first two games have brought a bit of a relief. OUTSET MEDIA GAMES FULLNonetheless, the Hurricanes, as a Stanley Cup contender, want Andersen and Raanta to be “the guys” this season – because they’re veterans who likely give the team the best chance to win consistently, and also because Kochetkov getting a full season in Chicago as the #1 is likely best for his development.įrederik Andersen, Carolina Hurricanes ( Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers) The injury bug reared its ugly head late last season luckily, Pyotr Kochetkov was ready to step in and bore the weight admirably. However, injuries have always been the bugaboo for both Andersen and his backup, Antti Raanta. While Nedeljkovic is still a promising young goaltender with the potential to backstop the Detroit Red Wings for a long time, it’s highly unlikely they’d have gotten the same production last season had he been pressed into the workhorse, #1 role that Andersen carried a majority of the year. Raanta, Andersen Razor-Sharp Earlyįrederik Andersen proved the Hurricanes were right to move on from Alex Nedeljkovic last season. We’ve been talking for years about the organization’s drafting, and another wave of homegrown young talent is knocking on the door. It’s an envious position to be in and further proof of how well-positioned this organization is for the long haul. They can dress four quality lines that can contribute in every area and are equipped with a laundry list of players that the team will be comfortable throwing out if and when injuries come up. Related: Hurricanes Training Camp: Roster Predictions, Surprises, Gardiner & Bear All have shown flashes of promise and will be fun to watch develop. That’s not to mention other prospects on display this preseason, who might be a bit further away, such as Alexander Pashin, Noel Gunler, and the speedy, wicked-shooting Justin Robidas. He may be ready for the NHL sooner than expected, but a top-six role with the Wolves is in the cards for now. He contributes in every area, plays the two-way game that Rod Brind’Amour will love right away, and scored a goal against the Panthers. Similarly, Vasili Ponomarev’s name has been brought up time and again by the staff and media. The Hurricanes just need to see a step forward from him, and his vision and hands have shown up early on. He could fill a role at some point if called upon he’s a serious pest to play against, is excellent at winning board battles and creating turnovers, and consistently made plays in the offensive end. Jamieson Rees looks the part, as he did last preseason before a late-camp injury slowed him down. While youngsters around the league are vying for an NHL role, instead, the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League (AHL) will be getting a large influx of legitimate talent at the outset of the season.Ĭarolina Hurricanes prospect Vasily Ponomaryov, with his junior team, the Shawinigan Cataractes (Photo: Olivier Croteau) Similarly, Jack Drury is a good bet to fill one of the open center spots, and Dylan Coghlan, more on him later, looks like a legit piece on the back end.īeyond them, though, well… the Hurricanes have a difficult lineup to crack. OUTSET MEDIA GAMES PROFESSIONALAfter that, it’s a good bet that Calvin de Haan and Derek Stepan will make the team, even though both veterans are technically on professional tryouts (PTOs) at the moment. The Hurricanes didn’t dress any skater who is a complete lock to be on the opening night roster – the one exception is free-agent signing Ondrej Kase. There’s a Whole Lot of NHL Talent in the Hurricanes’ System Nonetheless, we can gauge where things stand less than two weeks before opening night. The small sample size of preseason games makes it dangerous to draw any strong conclusions, so here we’ll just look at general aspects of the team rather than claiming who is going to win the Hart Trophy or score 100 points. There are a handful of takeaways worth mentioning as the regular season draws closer. It showcased the team’s impressive depth and young talent on the rise. The latter tilt was particularly impressive, considering they headed to Sunrise, Florida, with very few NHL regulars in the lineup and handled a Panthers squad carrying most of their regular-season lineup by a score of 5-2. The Carolina Hurricanes continue to be an absolute force in the preseason, winning their first two games over the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers comfortably.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |