Should we anticipate a higher or lower ceiling for the Carolina Hurricanes this season?
Uh, all right. Let’s get this party started with the head coach, Rod Bindmore. I talked to him downstairs and I asked him, “Are you ready?” I think I am. I mean, I’d rather be not ready by me and everyone else ready, you know, but I think I think, you know, everyone’s ready to play, that’s for sure. I mean, obviously, there might be some rust. There might be, you know, a little little something that you might you would expect. A lot of guys haven’t played a lot, but I think we’re all ready to roll. I mean, first handful of games are always a little bit sketchy anyway, right? In terms of system and structure and all that. Well, it’s just more it’s not even that. I think it’s more just the the intent, the mindset. You’ve been in summer mode and non games that mean nothing mode and it’s hard to really replicate that. All of a sudden, you dropped into the fire and uh you know, you don’t want to be left getting burned, if you know what I mean. I was watching last night, we had the battle of Alberta to open the season, which is wild. Uh, I mean, Colorado and LA, two teams that think they’re going to, you know, be in the Stanley Cup finals mix. And your matchup tonight? Yeah, these are two of the best teams in the East based on what people think. Your thoughts on the Devils? Yeah, well, we played them enough. We know this team, we got, you know, fortunate last year where they were missing a couple pieces. We know what that does to a team when you’re missing a couple guys. And um, so both Hughes in the lineup. Yeah. So, it’s uh we know they have that talent that’s about as high as you can get and then they you know you watch the rest of their group. They they grind it out really well. So, they’re there’s a reason people predict this team to be topnotch cuz they are. All right. I’m going to get to some other players, but I want to ask you about somebody who’s been here for a number of years. Andreetchnikov. The kind of year that I mean he was good in the playoffs. It was a different Andre we saw certainly in the first two rounds of the playoffs than we saw in the regular season. What is his next step? Yeah, I think it’s it’s that consistency of what you’re talking about. Everyone always focuses on points and goals, but that that’s part of it. It’s no different than you focus your team on wins versus some, you know, you might be playing great hockey, not winning. You got to win. You got to get on the score sheet, but it’s that impactful Andre that you’re really talking about where you notice him every game. Like, he needs to be that. And then you obviously hope the goals come with it, but that has to be the first part. Is he getting five, six shots in the game? Are there a couple breakaways? Like even in the preseason game, you had three, I think, breakaways. Doesn’t score. We got to convert one of those in the game, you win the game, but but all of a sudden you’re like, that guy was maybe your best player. That that’s kind of what we need out of him. Uh let me ask you about a couple of new guys. Let’s talk start with Kandre Miller. We didn’t see him in the preseason. I know I I spoke to him. He’s excited about, you know, the his future here. What are your, you know, your expectations of him as a player? Yeah, I’m I’m with you. I mean, I’m excited about what what he can bring um in the future for sure. I mean, young player, a great athlete. There’s a lot of upside here. So, uh I don’t want to get, you know, get blowing it too hard because I want to give him some time. He hasn’t played and new system and all that, but uh we’re excited about what he can bring cuz that skating ability is so obvious and that range. Um, it’s everything that you would want in a defenseman. So, you don’t want to say 20 20 goals, 60 points, none of that, like 40 plus minus. I mean, I would hope it be that, but that’s that’s asking a lot. The other new guy, Nick Eers. Yeah. Um, another high skill, can finish all of that. Uh, on, you know, playing with Aaho and Jarvis. Yeah. Well, that’s what he’s there for. Um, you know, they in preseason they had some chances, didn’t finish. So, we got to get we got those got to happen before they try. Right. Right. I’m hoping that that’s kind of what went on there. But no, you’re right. I mean, that’s why we we went after him, you know, can we get another guy to be more of a finisher, you know, get that chance that we seem to create the chances over the years, but can another guy to finish it? And so hopefully that’s what happens. Logan Stanovven at center. I’m curious, not that I mean you’re going to try to win the game tonight, but do you try to put him in situations that are going to test whether or not he can be well just playing you’re going to be now you’re playing against real players and um I understand where there might be a deficiency just because he hasn’t played the position. So, we got to give him some slack there. But, I think overall you’re getting, you know, your better players out there a little bit more. That’s essentially what’s happening. you’re moving them into the top role and you put them in that mix with your other better players and hopefully there’s uh some chemistry which is what in the games you played their line was always every night was creating the offense. So that’s that’s why you make that move. What is the next step for Jackson Blake? H I think oh man he’s he’s been a special player and it’s getting you know you want to look at the end of the year and not have whatever 50 points maybe can we get him to the higher right like it seemed like you watch him play you would think he had way more points cuz he’s all over it all night we got to again we talk about finish we got to get a little more on the score sheet but his impact in the game kind of like Andre’s different way he does it but he’s he’s every game that he’s played you notice him and that’s what he has to continue to do. I remember a year ago now talking about him and you saying I we just got to figure out a way to get him more ice time. Um but he and he just kept growing as a player. Let’s talk about Alexander Nikian and then we’ll wrap it up. Um I know Alex has the um the language barrier that’s going to be a problem. Uh but you know he’s itching to go and make an impact. What are your thoughts on especially the beginning of the season for him? again trying not to, you know, throw the world on him and, you know, I mean, we know there’s a good player here. Can we make him better every day is slow process, I think, but not put too much on him and just let him develop. He’s developing at this level, you know, for me. I know he’s a little bit older player as far as, you know, he’s been playing pro hockey, but it’s a different league. We’re talking maybe the third or fourth best league in the world that he’s playing, and now he’s he’s in the best league. So, it’s a huge adjustment. and then playing that position. It’s not like playing forward where you make a mistake, you got your D and your goalie to back you up. When you make mistake back there, it’s like or in your net. So, there’s just it’s such a more important position overall. And so, we got to be give him a little more leeway, I think. Oh, man. I am excited. the first uh regular season conversation with Rod Brenda Moore. I remember when we started the preseason, I said the first of uh what 113 of these regular season, pre-season, postseason, getting all the way to the Stanley Cup finals. I have budgeted for as many as 115. I don’t think all the series will go the distance. Uh-huh.
Rod Brind’Amour, Carolina Hurricanes Head Coach, joins the Adam Gold Show to discuss the Canes home opener tonight against the New Jersey Devils and the upcoming season. Who’s starting tonight against the NJ Devils?
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