Don't be a Complaniac: Fixing The Carolina Hurricanes is Not as Easy as You Think!

Do you remember the scene in Batman 89, when the Joker played by Jack Nicholson proclaims “This town needs an enema!” Well as a Carolina Hurricanes fan its safe to say this team needs a thorough cleaning out as well

The 2018-2019 is halfway to its completion , and having endured a brutal December the Canes find themselves towards the cellar of the Eastern Conference, with their hot start in the rear view mirror the actual team has shown its sometimes ugly face, as fans in Raleigh witness for the first time what a TRUE rebuild looks like. However, this is the internet and there is no shortage of misinformed opinions on how to turn this around. So, lets address these ridiculous opinions head on and explain just why they will not work in the National Hockey League.

Fire Rod Brindamour and hire Joel Quennville

• Joel Quennville is undeniably a Hall of Fame Coach! The three-time Stanley Cup Winner came available after being unceremoniously dumped by the Chicago Blackhawks. So naturally the Complaniacs jumped on the “Fire Brindamour Hire Coach Q” bandwagon. This idea is ridiculous for many reasons, the biggest one being. For the past couple of seasons in Chicago Coach Q struggled to win a meaningful game with 3 of the Top 100 players in NHL History (Kane, Keith, and Toews) . Including being swept out of the 2017 playoffs by the eight seed Nashville Predators. If his system was not working with the talent afforded him in Chicago what makes people think it would work in Raleigh? I went on the record when Brindamour was hired with my doubts that he was the right man for the job, and the verdict is still out on that. However, the fact that people think it’s as simple as bringing in a winning coach and the team turns around are sadly misinformed fans.

“They should bring the Checkers Up to the NHL”

The AHL affiliate of the Hurricanes, the Charlotte Checkers are playing great! Leading the AHL and playing on a torrid pace the team is the odds on favorite to hoist the Calder Cup at seasons end. So naturally Complainiacs are demanding we bring all these players from the AHL and send people they deem unworthy down. Now without explaining the logistics of the Waiver Wire, and one and two-way contracts to people who think its as easy as “sending a player down” lets explain why this idea is asinine.

Historically the teams that struggle the most in the NHL are the youngest teams, often loaded with rookies ( sound familiar) so wouldn’t that be a lateral move to what the team is icing now? Also bringing a player such as Alex Nedeljkovic up to Raleigh to be cannon fodder for the snipers in the NHL would more than likely kill his confidence and ruin what has been deemed the future goaltender in Raleigh. Finally, success in the AHL does not necessarily transition to the NHL! Valentin Zykov’s struggles are a recent indicator of this, and we all remember and are likely followed on Twitter by Zach Boychuk.  So, assuming fixing this team is as simple as a few roster moves is a moot point.

“This is all because we traded Jeff Skinner, and Elias Lindholm”

Jeff Skinner wanted out! It may not be pleasant to accept that, but he had to approve the trade. Elias Lindholm wanted to much money, especially for a man who went 28 games between goals last season.

With that being said, stop and look at the lines both men are playing on. Jeff Skinner is on a line with Jack Eichel, and Sam Reinhart. Lindholm plays with Johnny Gaudreau, and Sean Monahan. On lines like that one would be hard pressed not to put up inflated numbers. Players of that caliber simply don’t exist on the current Carolina roster so for one to think that Skinner or Lindholm would be performing on that level in Carolina is a delusional fact, and completely forgetful of history. Would goal production be up for the team? Slightly, but not enough to make a significant dent in the team’s overall performance.

“It is all because of goaltending”

Scott Darling was bad, as previously discussed ad nauseum, but in 11 of the teams 37 games this season the team has scored 1 goal or less eleven times including 3 shut outs. Meaning Martin Brodeur would struggle to win games behind this team when they simply can not score. I will not even address the powerplay which I would be generous in calling God-awful. Goaltending has been an issue yes, but it’s far from the sole issue plaguing this team.

“It is all because of management……….”

For a fan base that seemed rather quiet while Peter Karmanos, Jim Rutherford and later Ron Francis continually forced the bare minimum as a “rebuild”. There has been a lot of unfair criticism of Tom Dundon, and Don Waddell. ( Before you blame Waddell for the Atlanta Thrashers debacle, please read and make yourself aware that when you have eleven owners to answer to as a GM you are doomed to fail) These gentleman have had the reigns for a calendar year, 1 draft, 1 free agency period, 37 games and 0 trade deadlines. To expect a full roster shakeup is shortsighted and foolish. When you are in a true rebuild which in all reality this team is in for the first year they take time, and I would expect 2-3 years in this rebuild before they ice a true contender for anything more than the last wildcard.

“We should have gone after…….”

Trading and signing free agents is a complex process. It is not the military where it is as simple as assigning orders and said player showing up. Not only that putting a “star” on a team does not guarantee on ice success. If that was the case every Stanley Cup Final for the past three years would have been Sidney Crosby’s Penguin’s vs Connor McDavid’s Oilers. There needs to be a chemistry between teammates and line mates or a team will struggle and inevitably fail. ( see 2003-2004 Red Wings) It is about finding players that fit the vision and direction of the team, not making the team fit the player. Alexander Semin's and Scott Darling's nightmare contracts serves as the basis of proof for this fact.

The point is this team needs a lot of work, the start of the season was a taste of what can eventually happen. However, patience is needed from the fan base, before I hear “we have been patient for ten years” remember this is the first true year of a rebuild, and there are many bright spots on the team when you look. Aho is playing well at Center, Svechnikov is developing at an acceptable pace, and it looks like the team has found a reliable number one goaltender in Petr Mrazek, couple that with the future looking bright in Charlotte. I would strongly suggest giving it two years before bringing out the doom and gloom I have seen of late. Thanks for reading Have a Happy and Safe New Year, and as always Redvolution!

The Caniac Collector