Despite their regular-season dominance, the Carolina Hurricanes are facing familiar playoff doubts. Can they overcome goaltending woes and offensive droughts and make a long Stanley Cup run?<\/p>\n
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Video Transcript<\/p>\n
Which of them has the most to prove in this year’s playoffs, Michael?<\/p>\n
Which of them has the most to prove in this year’s playoffs, Michael?<\/p>\n
sorry, was Minnesota one of those teams?<\/p>\n
sorry, was Minnesota one of those teams?<\/p>\n
Yes.<\/p>\n
Yes.<\/p>\n
Yep.<\/p>\n
Yep.<\/p>\n
Okay, definitely the Minnesota Wild.<\/p>\n
Okay, definitely the Minnesota Wild.<\/p>\n
And I think, you know, they went big with Kirill Kaprizov’s contract.<\/p>\n
And I think, you know, they went big with Kirill Kaprizov’s contract.<\/p>\n
Sure did.<\/p>\n
Sure did.<\/p>\n
They went even bigger in acquiring Quinn Hughes, and I think that’s a team that, you know, Ryan alluded to earlier with the goaltending.<\/p>\n
They went even bigger in acquiring Quinn Hughes, and I think that’s a team that, you know, Ryan alluded to earlier with the goaltending.<\/p>\n
I don’t see any weak spots in Minnesota’s roster.<\/p>\n
I don’t see any weak spots in Minnesota’s roster.<\/p>\n
Now, the only weak spot is you play in the Central Division, and we, we know, we’ve talked to death about how tough it is in the Central.<\/p>\n
Now, the only weak spot is you play in the Central Division, and we, we know, we’ve talked to death about how tough it is in the Central.<\/p>\n
But, you know, I don’t see any reason why Minnesota can’t emerge.<\/p>\n
But, you know, I don’t see any reason why Minnesota can’t emerge.<\/p>\n
You know, if we’re talking about why Colorado can emerge or why Dallas can emerge, you know, the same thing applies to Minnesota.<\/p>\n
You know, if we’re talking about why Colorado can emerge or why Dallas can emerge, you know, the same thing applies to Minnesota.<\/p>\n
I think whether you finish one, two, and three in the standings, the expectations are the same.<\/p>\n
I think whether you finish one, two, and three in the standings, the expectations are the same.<\/p>\n
If you want to prove to Quinn Hughes that, you know, he needs to stay long-term in Minnesota and potentially recruit his brothers there instead of them going to New Jersey- you know, going deep in the playoffs this year is gonna go a long way.<\/p>\n
If you want to prove to Quinn Hughes that, you know, he needs to stay long-term in Minnesota and potentially recruit his brothers there instead of them going to New Jersey- you know, going deep in the playoffs this year is gonna go a long way.<\/p>\n
So for me, that’s why you need to go deep.<\/p>\n
So for me, that’s why you need to go deep.<\/p>\n
Yeah.<\/p>\n
Yeah.<\/p>\n
Minnesota’s a good- It’s a, it’s an obvious answer.<\/p>\n
Minnesota’s a good- It’s a, it’s an obvious answer.<\/p>\n
Ryan, is there another team that jumps out to you?<\/p>\n
Ryan, is there another team that jumps out to you?<\/p>\n
Yeah, the Carolina Hurricanes.<\/p>\n
Yeah, the Carolina Hurricanes.<\/p>\n
Uh- Gotta get past that hump.<\/p>\n
Uh- Gotta get past that hump.<\/p>\n
Go.<\/p>\n
Go.<\/p>\n
Gotta get over that hump, yeah.<\/p>\n
Gotta get over that hump, yeah.<\/p>\n
Rod Brind’Amour has, had some tremendous teams, during his tenure in Carolina, but they have not made it to the Stanley Cup Final.<\/p>\n
Rod Brind’Amour has, had some tremendous teams, during his tenure in Carolina, but they have not made it to the Stanley Cup Final.<\/p>\n
And- in the East, it’s funny, it’s like I know that the East is stronger than the West this year, but I also feel that there are fewer, like, real contenders in the East.<\/p>\n
And- in the East, it’s funny, it’s like I know that the East is stronger than the West this year, but I also feel that there are fewer, like, real contenders in the East.<\/p>\n
Like, we talked about the Central- Yeah and the West.<\/p>\n
Like, we talked about the Central- Yeah and the West.<\/p>\n
Like, all three of those teams could easily win the Stanley Cup.<\/p>\n
Like, all three of those teams could easily win the Stanley Cup.<\/p>\n
Like, Edmonton could win the Stanley Cup.<\/p>\n
Like, Edmonton could win the Stanley Cup.<\/p>\n
If Vegas gets goaltending, they could win the Stanley Cup.<\/p>\n
If Vegas gets goaltending, they could win the Stanley Cup.<\/p>\n
Yeah.<\/p>\n
Yeah.<\/p>\n
But in the East, it really feels, it’s like Tampa Bay, Carolina, and then a bunch of teams that it’ll be interesting to see what they do.<\/p>\n
But in the East, it really feels, it’s like Tampa Bay, Carolina, and then a bunch of teams that it’ll be interesting to see what they do.<\/p>\n
Buffalo, Montreal- Right and what have you.<\/p>\n
Buffalo, Montreal- Right and what have you.<\/p>\n
That’s true.<\/p>\n
That’s true.<\/p>\n
but it’s like the path is there, Carolina.<\/p>\n
but it’s like the path is there, Carolina.<\/p>\n
Like, you gotta do it, you know?<\/p>\n
Like, you gotta do it, you know?<\/p>\n
Um- Yeah and, and so- some of the guys have to step up in the playoffs.<\/p>\n
Um- Yeah and, and so- some of the guys have to step up in the playoffs.<\/p>\n
Like Ondrej Svechnikov, like he needs to score goals when it matters.<\/p>\n
Like Ondrej Svechnikov, like he needs to score goals when it matters.<\/p>\n
I mean, the whole team- Yeah needs to score when it matters, and that means not just in the first round.<\/p>\n
I mean, the whole team- Yeah needs to score when it matters, and that means not just in the first round.<\/p>\n
Yeah.<\/p>\n
Yeah.<\/p>\n
And that’s what they need to prove.<\/p>\n
And that’s what they need to prove.<\/p>\n
And if they, if they can do that, and, and as long as Brandon Bussey is, is still excellent in net- Yes which is an X factor because- Yeah he’s never played in the NHL playoffs.<\/p>\n
And if they, if they can do that, and, and as long as Brandon Bussey is, is still excellent in net- Yes which is an X factor because- Yeah he’s never played in the NHL playoffs.<\/p>\n
Mm-hmm.<\/p>\n
Mm-hmm.<\/p>\n
they should have a chance to, go to the final.<\/p>\n
they should have a chance to, go to the final.<\/p>\n
It won’t be easy, but this is probably the best path they’ve had.<\/p>\n
It won’t be easy, but this is probably the best path they’ve had.<\/p>\n