While this season hardly had a disappointing result, reaching the conference finals, the team is also in a tight spot heading forward. The cup window is still open for business, but the question remains what to do beyond the next season or two financially.
Heading to arbitration are Mikko Koivu, Jussi Jokinen, Andrew Alberts, and Chad LaRose. Although it seems likely that the team will walk from the award for LaRose if they win their arbitration case with Jokinen. On the other hand, taking Koivu to arbitration is likely to be a huge cost-saving measure for the team, although the result is certainly unknown at the current moment. They may be forced to use their franchise tag on him depending on the result.
Also of note is that the team has many quality young players. Joni Pitkanen, Brandon Sutter, and Zach Boychuk are all due large increases in salary for next season, but without question they help form the core that will be the future of the Hurricanes. Along with Cam Ward, Casey Borer, Eric Staal, and Mikko Koivu of course.
The defense is pretty simple, either Andrew Alberts or Jamie McBain will get the nod. Up front, it's another matter entirely. Any number of players could be on their way in and out. The fourth line is the simplest to figure out, with it likely consisting of veteran Tom Kostopoulos, Tim Conboy, and probably defensive specialist Nicolas Blanchard. Beyond that is where it gets murky depending on the outcome of the arbitration hearings. Teemu Pulkkinen is likely to be in the lineup as a rookie this coming season, but the rest is still up in the air. If the Canes win their arbitration hearing with Jussi Jokinen, it's likely that Ray Whitney will be allowed to hit free agency. If they win with LaRose but lose with Jokinen, it's likely they'll play him on the 4th line and keep Blanchard in the minors.
It's all up in the air right now, and for a cap strapped team, that's never a good thing. Thankfully some relief in that department should be coming as soon as the 2012-13.
Canes Changes Coming?
Moderator: SharksGM
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DaveG-Canes
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- Joined: Sun Sep 20, 2009 12:39 am
Re: Canes Changes Coming?
A look at the AHL:
The Canes AHL affiliate had a disappointing season, although they have done an excellent job this year developing some role players for long term use by the big club. That said don't expect too many losses for next season aside from a few players heading up to the big club if necessary. Pat Dwyer and Harrison Reed are both expected to become UFAs, whereas we're expecting as many as 3 to join the big club in Jamie McBain, Tim Conboy, and Nicolas Blanchard. Where the many changes will happen though is in the prospects that are expected to be signed. Kevin Gravel and Bohumil Jank are expected to be the teams two underagers if they boost this coming offseason, and both should be on the fast track to the top with a one or two season stop in the AHL. Rasmus Rissanen, Tommi Kivisto, and Brian Dumoulin are expected to join them on the blueline as well.
Up front should see some serious changes too with the possibility of an entirely new line coming up. Arvid Stromberg, Mattias Lindstrom, Artem Voronin, Andreas Dahlstrom... and maybe even the highly touted Teemu Pulkkinen. And maybe even a Benjamin Conz sighting in net. Any way you look at it, that's 11 new faces for the AHL team, and there's a good chance that all 11 will see a decent bit of playing time this coming season. Here's a preliminary look at the expected lines for both the Canes and the Checkers:
Carolina Hurricanes:
Teemu Pulkkinen - Eric Staal - Tuomo Ruutu
Dustin Penner - Brandon Sutter - Mikko Koivu
Matt Cullen - Zach Boychuk - Ray Whitney/Jussi Jokinen
Tom Kostopoulos - Nic Blanchard - Tim Conboy
Joni Pitkanen - Casey Borer
Anton Babchuk - Tim Gleason
Joe Corvo - Andrew Alberts/Jamie McBain
Cam Ward
Justin Peters
Charlotte Checkers:
Drayson Bowman - Artem Voronin - Arvid Stromberg
Mike Angelidis - Zac Dalpe - Matthew Pistilli
Chris Terry - Philippe Paradis - Nick Dodge
Justin McCrae - Stefan Chaput - Matt Kennedy
Kevin Gravel - Bohumil Jank
Jay Harrison - Brett Bellemore
Brett Carson - Brian Dumoulin
Mike Murphy
Magnus Akerlund
The Canes AHL affiliate had a disappointing season, although they have done an excellent job this year developing some role players for long term use by the big club. That said don't expect too many losses for next season aside from a few players heading up to the big club if necessary. Pat Dwyer and Harrison Reed are both expected to become UFAs, whereas we're expecting as many as 3 to join the big club in Jamie McBain, Tim Conboy, and Nicolas Blanchard. Where the many changes will happen though is in the prospects that are expected to be signed. Kevin Gravel and Bohumil Jank are expected to be the teams two underagers if they boost this coming offseason, and both should be on the fast track to the top with a one or two season stop in the AHL. Rasmus Rissanen, Tommi Kivisto, and Brian Dumoulin are expected to join them on the blueline as well.
Up front should see some serious changes too with the possibility of an entirely new line coming up. Arvid Stromberg, Mattias Lindstrom, Artem Voronin, Andreas Dahlstrom... and maybe even the highly touted Teemu Pulkkinen. And maybe even a Benjamin Conz sighting in net. Any way you look at it, that's 11 new faces for the AHL team, and there's a good chance that all 11 will see a decent bit of playing time this coming season. Here's a preliminary look at the expected lines for both the Canes and the Checkers:
Carolina Hurricanes:
Teemu Pulkkinen - Eric Staal - Tuomo Ruutu
Dustin Penner - Brandon Sutter - Mikko Koivu
Matt Cullen - Zach Boychuk - Ray Whitney/Jussi Jokinen
Tom Kostopoulos - Nic Blanchard - Tim Conboy
Joni Pitkanen - Casey Borer
Anton Babchuk - Tim Gleason
Joe Corvo - Andrew Alberts/Jamie McBain
Cam Ward
Justin Peters
Charlotte Checkers:
Drayson Bowman - Artem Voronin - Arvid Stromberg
Mike Angelidis - Zac Dalpe - Matthew Pistilli
Chris Terry - Philippe Paradis - Nick Dodge
Justin McCrae - Stefan Chaput - Matt Kennedy
Kevin Gravel - Bohumil Jank
Jay Harrison - Brett Bellemore
Brett Carson - Brian Dumoulin
Mike Murphy
Magnus Akerlund