The 2011-2012 Hurricanes Thread

[Mr. America]

Yeah, I'd be happy if they traded away most of our guys for picks and prospects and just tanked. It'd be easy to take a team playing the way this team is playing.

[RedWolf]

Well apparently there was a blow up in the locker room, between Cam and Eric, it involved a broken goalie stick (thrown), Staal leaving to go be by himself in another room, only to return and leave again. Mo apparently left to check on Staal the second time.

I think it's time to remove the "C", not because of his (rumored) actions last night, but because his head isn't in it this season. The guys can't be expected to rally behind a guy who has a league leading minus 18, the guilt of hitting on his brother, and what ever else (injury?) might be distracting him. Moving him to the wing was a start, let's remove more pressure by passing the C to someone who is a bit less distracted.

Mo should be out the door in another 2-3 loses, but this team has no soul and that isn't entirely Mo's fault.

[Mr. America]

Honest to god, we are already out of the playoffs, so we might as well keep Mo. I only say this because the cap floor, which we are already near, makes it impossible to have an old timey fire sale, trading away UFA's for picks and prospects. In other words, we are out of the playoffs, and basically ****ed when it comes to doing anything for future growth.

Maybe JR can take some high paid player which would allow us to dump several upcoming UFA's for picks and prospects, IDK.

Any way you slice things, we're ****ed up

[RedWolf]

Bye Mo... (too little, too late) thanks for costing us the playoffs on your way out !

My wife and I had been talking about Mo's replacement for a while now, I wonder why it didn't go to Jeff Daniels (who my wife and I though was the logical successor). Ironic when you consider the Checkers just soundly beat the Milwaukee Admirals in consecutive games this weekend.

I wonder if JD didn't want the job or if he's pissed for being passed over?

[Mr. America]

I saw some quotes from JD, sounds like he would have definitely taken the job. JR said they really wanted to go outside the organization though, which is flipping great!

It'd be sweet to get tougher, but that'll never happen with JR around.

Anyways, I'm glad Mo's gone, but this doesn't spell any quick fixes.

[RedWolf]

So I'm not expecting any miracles either , certainly not this season, statistically the playoff are impossible (the way this team is playing) we would need to go 33-18-7 to earn 93 points. However, a new direction is far better than the course under Mo. Didn't know much about the guy so I went on a Google search. Kirk's style has my interest, now I wonder how much freedom he will have to implement it. He had a real desire to be in the NHL and that is good, but did the big show come with strings that will hamper his ability to execute?

- He's big on accountability.

He said "I just feel it comes down to one word at this level, and it's accountability. If you can get a bunch of guys that are willing to play for each other and understand that there's no free passes and you've got to earn your ice and be accountable, then I'm going to be totally fair to everybody. If you work and you play hard, then you'll play."

I'd like to think guys that can't/won't put out, will sit out, but I don't see a new coach benching Staal. I'm pretty sure even moving Eric down a line wouldn't would be career suicide, but if Eric can't be motivated with Mo's departure maybe that's exactly what he needs.

Muller "accountability" sounds like an improvement, especially for the Checkers prospects, far better than Mo and his - play the vet's too much and give prospects a few min on the 4th line. Since we aren't willing to be in the upper ranges of the salary cap, I'd rather see prospects have a shot at developing into a 1st line caliber player rather then stacking the team with a wealth of 3rd and 4th line NHL'ers and killing our draft position.

- He was free to implement "his" system in the AHL.

"I had a great conversation with (Predators coach) Barry Trotz and (assistant GM) Paul Fenton and (GM) David Poile, and they said: 'We certainly welcome you to bring in your own system that you want,' " Muller said. "That was one of the attractions about coming here - the opportunity to kind of put my own stamp on a team and my own identity. "

I'd rather Muller try his AHL system in the NHL (aggressive forecheck) than watch Mo's same old system continue to fail in the "new NHL". The system might not work (not sure our current team make up lends itself to an aggressive forecheck), but on the up side Muller shouldn't have tunnel vision and stick with a failing system year after year. Fresh thinking seems to be one of the reasons JD wasn't moved up (the other was not wanting to disrupt the Checkers), and there is no way in hell I want Derek back even as in interim coach.

Unfortunately I can't find any indication on his thoughts related to toughness, "aggressive" yes (plenty on that) but never any mention on what to do if the other team takes exception to your "aggressive forecheck".

He did play Snore-tini, but that's not exactly a good indicator. The general feedback is people were not happy to see him leave (both Preds and Habs fans) so that is a good indicator (unlike the acquisition of Limp Noodle were a majority were willing to blow JR for taking him off their hands, I find it hard to believe he is a top 6 or top 9 forward that JR referenced).

Maybe after tonight's game I think I'm going to make a list of things I would like to see improved the remainder of the season and a next season wish list. It will be interesting to see if Stall/Ward (my focus) or anyone else comes out with a new sense of urgency, since JR said player changes are next.

Interview of Muller before coming to the Canes.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/sport...621/story.html

[The Boogie Man]

not too bad of a first game, about what i expected. you can't make crappy players better overnight. muller himself said he basically just wanted effort this first game and take it from there. i thought they came out and played hard and aggressive and as the game went on got worse and worse. staal started out hitting and went away from that as soon as possible. he made a nice effort to keep the game 1-1 on the breakaway but faulk was the one to actually get his stick on the puck. i hope muller can be an asshole because thats what this team really needs. someone thats no nonsense and can motivate some content to be average players. even rutherford said so in the press conference this team so far doesn't care about winning.

i hope this team makes a transition over the rest of the this season and into next year like the flyers have done with laviolette. when he first got their the flyers had their team and way and slowly little by little laviolette has shaped it into his team playing his style even by moving some huge players along the way and playing their young talent. i hope this team can take that kind of shape and whatever system or style they go with be successful at it and give it a chance to succeed. with what we have right now i don't think theres a whole lot to work with.



and does it bother anyone else when mainly staal misses a shot, gets knocked down, thinks hes drawn a penalty etc and he just lays on the ice, stares at the ref, makes some kind of body language calling for attention while play is still going on? skinner has recently started the flopping look at me lay there while play continues thing and thats not something i hope to see develop any further.

[RedWolf]

Originally Posted by The Boogie Man

and does it bother anyone else when mainly staal misses a shot, gets knocked down, thinks hes drawn a penalty etc and he just lays on the ice, stares at the ref, makes some kind of body language calling for attention while play is still going on? skinner has recently started the flopping look at me lay there while play continues thing and thats not something i hope to see develop any further.

Perhaps, but in Skinner's defense he's getting pounded and nobody seems to be doing anything to discourage it. At least once a game he is taking a high stick, and opponents are pretty relentless play the body. If he flops early in a game I'd agree with you, but if it's happening late after taking a games worth of hits it might be more fatigue then diving.

Looking at what Ice Tracker catches ( http://www.nhl.com/ice/icetracker.htm?id=2011020348 ) Skinner was hit 2 times and drew 2 penalties, no hits were recorded on Staal and he drew no penalties. I think Skinners skating ability is the the only thing keeping him from an injury.

Joslin has a hearing for the hit on Versteeg... why? They calling it an elbow or some BS like a push to the head, Versteeg was treated by trainers on the bench then returned to play... wonder why this isn't considered a "hockey play" anymore.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=603978

[Mr. America]

At least nothing happened to Joslin, it's a joke that he even had a "hearing".

I've been on Staal for doing his, act for awhile now. It's getting old. When he misses on breakaways, good chances, etc. he has to take a few second to feel sorry for himself. Same thing with getting hit, he takes his sweet ass time to get up, never mind getting back in the play. I have noticed a few questionable line changes too. Maybe they are coached that way, but it looks ****ty to me when guys seem more concerned about getting off the ice, than getting back on defense, or getting in to develop a good scoring chance.

[Mr. America]

It was GREAT to FINALLY see somebody step up for Skinner last night. I don't know what took so damn long for that to happen. Big props to Stewart!

This team needs some muscle or Skinner is going to get killed. I don't know what the **** happened to Gleason, and Harrison, or even Allen, but when Joslin and Stewart have done the fighting lately, it's not a good sign. I sort of give Harrison a pass since he has still been sticking his nose in the scrums and has been our most consistently solid defensemen. Can't wait till he's back in the lineup and hopefully that waste of space Kaberle is scratched.

[The Boogie Man]

I don't know what the deal is with Gleason at all. He went from my favorite to player to what is the deal man? He hasn't been very good defensively as of late and when he isn't providing physicality either I don't have much use for him. At this point he's our 4th best defensive d-man and 4th on the fighting list behind Harrison, Joslin, and Allen. After trade deadline I wouldn't be surprised to see McBain, Kaberle, and Gleason and maybe Allen as well gone.

[RedWolf]

Originally Posted by The Boogie Man

I don't know what the deal is with Gleason at all. He went from my favorite to player to what is the deal man? He hasn't been very good defensively as of late and when he isn't providing physicality either I don't have much use for him. At this point he's our 4th best defensive d-man and 4th on the fighting list behind Harrison, Joslin, and Allen. After trade deadline I wouldn't be surprised to see McBain, Kaberle, and Gleason and maybe Allen as well gone.

He might not look good, but hes the only one on the team with a positive plus-minus ( http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/stats...0112012&srt=pm ), which isn't saying much. His play does seem "neutered" when he's not playing with an edge. I thought he was actually going to fight for a moment there, someone needs to tell him the PK will survive without him.

Come trade day I don't think Kaberle will be going anywhere due to his price tag. I'd love to see them move Pitts, but since nobody wanted him during the off season he'll stay. McBain is playing good he might be easy to move. I think Allen is worth hanging on to, and Tim if he wakes up.

I'd like to see us move all the "roll players" and make some call ups. Lets thin out the forwards and pick up a playmaker. Someone who can make a tape to tape pass in the neutral zone for F's sake.

[The Boogie Man]

So on a hockey fights related question. The new conference we would be in next year with the Islanders, Devils, Rangers, Penguins, and Flyers do you think we will be forced to or will seek an enforcer?

Playing those guys night after night numerous times a year could definitely start some rough stuff and we already have spirited battles with a few of those teams. Do you think the hurricanes with the new coach Muller who dropped the gloves himself a few times during his career and the toughness of our opponents will sign an enforcer? Honestly I don't see how we can afford not to. You have to assume the team is going young next year and will be destined for another average year. Can't imagine that at some point someone wouldn't try to take liberties with us and whos to say Gleason, Harrison, or Allen are here next year either, we may have less team toughness than we have now. So what do you guys think?

I obviously hope so and would even be content for them to only be played against teams with another heavy. Gut feeling is no it won't happen. Rutherford doesn't seem to be a fan of that at all and the way the league is trending theres less and less reason to have one as much as i hate to admit it.

[Mr. America]

Of course we all want them too. I would almost be surprised to see Gleason and Allen back next season. Not that they really fight much.

Best thing we can hope for is that the Capitals bring in somebody, that the others keep their tougher players or add more and helps force JR's hand in the matter.

I can't help but think that if he gets somebody it would be some bargain bin player like Brookbank, again.

[Mr. America]

Man, if JR doesn't at least think about adding some muscle after last night's game, then we've got no hope at all. Especially when you consider that Gleason and Allen are both likely great trade bait since they are UFA's.