PREDICTION: Where will the Carolina Hurricanes finish in this upcoming season?

PREDICTION: Where will the Carolina Hurricanes finish in this upcoming season?

Greg Washinsky, ESPN senior NHL writer, podcaster, Puck Super, which I believe still on Patreon, correct? Yeah, I do I do things that are not hockey on soup for contractual ESPN reasons, but I have reunited with our our friend Jeff Merrick. Yes. On his show, The Sheet twice a week for an hour as a guest. Very nice. Not a host. And and he’s awesome. And I’m I’m super happy to be doing uh Merrick versus Rashinsky again with him. Yeah, you guys are uh you guys are fun. All right, let me let’s start with the local here. Last year, and this is not a big deal to me at all, and I don’t think anybody really takes it that seriously, although your opinion does carry uh much weight, Greg Washinsky, uh picked Carolina to miss last year. You’ve gone the other way. Carolina to make it to the Stanley Cup finals. Uh give your reasons. I don’t know, the top two or three. Yeah, this is first of all, this is not contrition, so I’m not trying to suck up to to Tom Dundan so I can get, you know, Trailblazers tickets here. But I I I just I just think it’s it’s interesting the journey that this team has taken in the sense of like they they went for Gensel, he didn’t resign. Because he didn’t resign, they went for Ranton that lasted like 13 games. And and the end result of the Ranton thing is they end up with Logan Stankov. They end up with Taylor Hall through the the the totality of the of the rant and trade and then they end up with some draft capital that that ultimately helps them land um Keandre Miller. And so like as disastrous as that whole thing was for the franchise and how embarrassing it was, I think it did bear some good fruit uh for now and for the future. The reason I like them to emerge from the East is I I I love this collection of forwards. I think Stankovven is exactly the kind of player that you need to score the type of goal the Hurricanes have been chasing. I love I love Eers on this team. I think that his skill set sits perfectly for the system that they play. And I, you know, again, they’ve built out that blue line again with Miller with Miller who I think will be the next guy to go to Carolina and and find a next, you know, several next levels to his game. Um, you throw him in in a full season of Nikeshan and you’re doing pretty good for yourself. Am I worried about Freddy Anderson’s health? Undoubtedly. Am I worried about this team trying to uh hammer in a bunch of square pegs into a round hole at at at second line center with Stankovven and maybe Seth Jervis? Of course I am. But they have uh draft capital and cap flexibility for later in the season to address some of these things. And and uh and we’ll see what happens. Yeah. almost $11 million of cap space, which the Hurricanes have not had since the year they bought uh I keep forgetting his name from Toronto, which turned out to be the Seth Jarvis draft pick. They got a draft pick the Patrick Marlo. Patrick Marlo. I’ve always forgotten his name. Hurricanes legend Patrick Marlo cuz he never I mean he never drove never got to town. They made the trade. They took the first pick, then they bought him out. they let him go play for San Jose uh one more year. I I think very similarly about this team. My only fear really right now is that right now they’re uh their mix on the blue line in terms of health is not great. I worry a little bit about a slow start. Uh Miller has not played a preseason game. Slavven has not played a preseason game. Chatfield played one then missed practice the next time which was two days later. So, I’m a little concerned about the health early on, but yeah, I love the future of this blue line. Even if Nikeshan has to play a third pair all year long, I think Carolina will be fine with that. Uh, I’m not sure how much power play time Nikeshan is going to get, but he is the type of a defenseman they haven’t had. Somebody who throws his body around, who plays a little bit of a mean game. So, that that is an element that they need. Ideally, they could find that in a second center uh and maybe uh find another spot for Stan Co in the top six or in the top nine. Uh regardless, uh they they’ve got so much flexibility. I’m not so worried about Freddy’s health because he’s only got to be healthy for me, he’s only got to be healthy in April and May. Yeah, but then when he’s not healthy in April and May, then you know check off is fine. But I don’t think that we’ve seen him to be a cup a cup worthy goalie. So like I feel I say to myself, can you find can you find someone else to bring in as an insurance policy? You probably can. And then the the second line center like you know this is where you’re going to be able to go big game hunting at the trade deadline. Not to try to find your next Gensel, your next Ranton, but to find that guy who maybe has a flashy Stanley Cup ring on a singer already who can come in and be the dependable 2C behind Sebastian Aaho and then reset your lineup. Um maybe hopefully somebody with size. Yeah. I mean, let’s just let’s just throw the hook in the water. What about you Malin? Like why not that kind of player to come in and really make a difference in this lineup? Yeah. Why can’t the Hurricanes do what the Florida Panthers do every single year? Of course, Malin will probably end up with Florida. Uh, but that’s another matter altogether. Greg Washinsky of ESPN is joining us here on the Adam Gold Show. I may not just throw it out there. Um, speak real real quick about Florida before I ask you uh about the uh the biggest news that happened the other day. Um, I still think Florida is the best team. Uh, I just think that the gap is completely uh evaporated without Alexander Baroff for the year. They’ll eventually get Matthew Kachchuck back. Um, no barkoff to me means that down the middle they’re Anton Lundell and Sam Bennett on the first two lines and that’s pretty comparable to just about anybody else in the East. So, I’m not really that concerned, but they’re the the gap is gone. But I still think they’re if not the best team. There’s very little difference between whoever the best team is and them. I’m concerned because you know listen Anton Lundell is is baby Barkoff but the bottom line is that we don’t know what that chemistry looks like with him and Sam Reinhardt and so right that to Reinhardt to me is the key to the team right now like you know Kachchuck’s going to come back at some point they’re going to start the season probably with Verhi Bennett and Marshand all together which means that Reinhardt’s going to play with Lendell and Lester Rinan um he’s got to be able to show that he can drive a line and be as good offensively as he’s been without Barkoff there. And quite frankly, when you look at his numbers in the last two seasons without Barkoff next to him, offensively they’re they’re nothing special. Defensively, they’re fine. Offensively, they’re nothing special. So, look, Kachchuck’s going to be out until December, maybe even January. Some people have said Bararkov’s going to be out until the playoffs. Like, this is this is not easy. I mean, they should be thanking their their their lucky stars in the Eastern Conference because I think even if they drop to the wild card, they’re still going to be better than everybody else in their division and everybody else in the Metro as far as wild card teams. But this is going to be the toughest invitation to get if you’re Paul Maurice uh to the postseason party. And you know, it’d be a shame if the three repeat uh bid ended with them missing the playoffs, but given the you know, the severity of these injuries to their lineup, it could happen. I think they finish uh I think they finish third. I think Tampa finishes first. And we get 500 penalty minutes in the first two games of the of the of the of the conference, I guess the division finals, uh if you will. Greg Washinsky, before I ask you about Conor McDavid and that contract, I mean, what do you do? What is there anything the league can do based on 508 penalty minutes in two preseason games between those two teams? Yeah, lean into it and be happy you’ve got yourself an actual rivalry. Yeah. Don’t do a damn thing to make it make it to to try to dull the dull the impact of this of the of these matchups. Like, you know, for years the league has tried to sell rivalries that aren’t really rivalries. we finally get one that looks like one where there’s palpable hate and oh by the way it’s two really great hockey teams that you know have superstar players and have won Stanley Cups recently like the only thing holding it back from being something the league probably like puts on a billboard is the fact that it’s not you know Philly and Pittsburgh like it is two two places that don’t have the same level of robust fan support as as traditional markets do unfortunately but um you know this is great for hockey I mean I I’ve been saying since it happened that this is the kind of thing where you you treat it like it’s a a marquee college football matchup and be like, “Hey, casual fan, watch the b watch the battle of Florida. It’s going to pop off. Just something will happen.” Pret pretend pretend you’re mad. Uh and then go uh thank you very much. It does remind me of Colorado Detroit back in the uh back in the mid 90s. Um all right, Conor McDavid, two years, $12.5 million average annual value. Uh, like I’m sure that the players association isn’t thrilled, but then again, I don’t think anybody’s going to look at that contract as a comparable. It’s more likely that Carill Capri off’s contract becomes the benchmark for what those type of players will get. Uh, but what does that say? Certainly, it’s good for Edmonton. What it what it gets is annoying for players because like for years in contract negotiations with general managers, the GM would inevitably talk about taking a little bit less in order to help give the team cap flexibility and build a winner around that player. Used to be the Sydney Crosby contract was the comp and now it’s going to be McDavid where not only does he take a million and a half less than what Dry Cidle makes against the Cap to be the highest payer on the highest paid player on the team but but he also only takes a two-year term. So they’re not locked into anything, you know, beyond that. So like it’s going to be annoying for players that are going to have to hear this argument from GMs and they’re and you know I’m sure Kell Mar is going to hear this argument from you know Chris McFarland about about what his salary should be commiserate to what the avalanche need to build a champion out there and so that becomes annoying as far as the NHLPA. I mean where it gets annoying is for the agents that you know a rising tide raises all boats and and you know the bottom line is that they make the most of their money off the top tier players and their salaries. So, anytime you get a guy like McDavid taking less, even though I’m sure he’ll break the bank in in 2028, um it’s it’s just it’s never really a fun time if you’re an agent. Yeah, it it is bad for the agents, but uh man, if you’re uh if you’re Stan Bowman and Edmonton, it gives you it it doesn’t necessarily change your calculus this year because his contract is already uh baked in, but next year and the year after. Uh, of course it also means you have to negotiate another contract with Conor McDavid or you don’t keep him uh after two more years beyond this one. All right, I’ll let you go here. Greg Washinsky, today as we sit here, I know you’ve got the Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup finals. Who is opposite them? I got Colorado come out of the West, which when I first made that pick, I thought was a hipster pick. Turns out like they have top three odds on the sports books and a lot of people thinking that they could make it out. I think the trade deadline that they had last year will will bear will bear fruit this year. I think obviously McKinnon and and Mar are both hungry to get back and play for a cup. They’ve had some playoff difficulty since they won the cup a few years ago. I think McKenzie Blackwood has solved their problems in goal. um if he can stay healthy and they still and they’re another team just like Carolina that has absolutely no compunction about making a big splash at the trade deadline and make their team even better. So, you know, Dallas, I think could be good. Uh obviously, we know Vegas and and Edmonton are going to be good, but it just feels like maybe it’s it’s Colorado’s time to stop bubbling under the surface and and break out and and and challenge for another cup. And by the way, my prediction would be a lot a lot better. I’m sure we’re going to say the same thing. My prediction would be a lot better if if a a nice gentleman uh from Cole Harbor decides to leave Pittsburgh and join his friend in Colorado. Ah yeah. Well, we we want him here. If he leaves there, we want him here. But that’s another matter altogether. I would also love to see if Martine Nas finishes the season in Colorado. Uh I would love to see Nas on that stage. Uh I absolutely adore him as a guy. Um so I want him I want him to get all the success in the world. Same with you, Greg Washinsky. Uh appreciate your time. I know I’ll see you eventually uh down the road. Appreciate it. Washinsky on Twitter. Uh follow everything he does uh right there, sir. Talk to you soon. Much appreciated. Nice.

Greg Wyshynski, ESPN Senior NHL Writer, joins the Adam Gold Show to discuss the Carolina Hurricanes upcoming season and other teams around the NHL. Who will be the key for the Florida Panthers with all their current injuries?

Find us anywhere!

The Fan App for iPhones: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/99-9-the-fan/id6749218703
The Fan App for Androids: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bal.thefan&pcampaignid=web_share&pli=1
Website: https://www.999thefan.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/999thefan
X (Formerly Twitter): https://x.com/999TheFan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@999thefan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/999thefan/
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/99.9TheFan

This podcast is presented by Hempie’s, North Carolina’s premium hemp dispensary. Order online at https://www.hempies.co

#hurricanes #nhl #hockey #prohockey #professionalhockey #canes #carolinahurricanes #carolina #kochetkov #andreisvechnikov #sebastianaho #jaccobslavin #stefannoesen #teuvoteravainen #pyotrkochetkov #JalenChatfield #MartinNecas #Marty #TonyDeAngelo #AnttiRaanta #JackDrury #JordanStaal #JordanMartinook #BradySkjei #letsgocanes #causechaos #nhlplayoffs #stanleycup #stanleycupplayoffs #sports #999thefan #takewarning #raiseup #BrindAmour #stanleycup #erictulsky #stankoven #jankoski