This is true. The only variable will be the few AHL guys and mixing and matching the lines beyond the Nadeau/Unger Sorum/Blake line.Well, in theory the AHLers in Canes camp won't be playing a different system and Wolves coaches are in camp with the Canes.
Unless either Boom or Morrow can play their off side with Orlov also departing. And I think Chatty played a bit on his off side last year but under very limited circumstances?Yeah, I don't think Morrow was ever going to be the 7th D on the big club. They signed Stillman to be that guy, I'm pretty sure. If he's banged up the next in line would probably be Smith ... maybe Ryan.
The general idea with Morrow is to get him ready for the Top 6 next season ... ours or somebody else's. Problem being that with Boom coming next year and only Burns moving out, you've still got two right sided vets signed for multiple years. I'm hoping Morrow can eventually shove his way into the mix for the Canes, but if not you want him good and seasoned so you can get a good return for him.
Both Walker and Ghost have played a fair amount on their off side, as has Orlov. In fact he's spent about as much time on the right as on the left. I thought he actually played better last season when he was on the right side, albeit infrequently and always with Skjei. Chatfield has always looked like a bit of a lost puppy to me on his weak side. From what I understand, Morrow never played LD in college. No idea about Boom, but Russians tend to mix it up in development. So, maybe. We're starting to move back into that weird "too many RD" territory again. I swear this is the only freaking NHL franchise that ever seems to have that issue.Unless either Boom or Morrow can play their off side with Orlov also departing. And I think Chatty played a bit on his off side last year but under very limited circumstances?
Yeah. Barring injury, I think that's pretty much where they're heading for the roster. Robinson, Jost and Lemieux slug it out to avoid being the 13th forward and Smith, Ryan and Stillman (should he rejoin the group) slug it out to be the 7th D. I don't think they keep a young forward unless they force their way into the Top 9 and I don't think any of the young D were ever making this roster so long as the vets were healthy. If Carrier can't get healthy then maybe one of the young forwards might get a spell on the roster to open the season ... maybe. Knowing Brindy, if any of the kids have a real shot, then he'll give them some chances with the vets in the last couple of pre season games.No changes to the C1 group today, although Ryan left early after tweaking something. RBA said they’ll see where that leads.
Jarvis - Aho - Roslovic
Svechnikov - Kotkaniemi - Necas
Martinook - Staal - Carrier
Lemieux - Drury - Robinson/Jost
Slavin - Burns
Orlov - Chatfield
Gostisbehere - Walker
Smith - Ryan
Andersen | Kochetkov
Stillman has been in a yellow jersey the entire camp. It would probably take something catastrophic happening to Smith and Ryan for him to make the team at this point. Same with Morrow, whatever chance he had of sticking with the Canws has evaporated with all the practice time he’s missed. I also don’t see a spot for Blake, as good as he’s been, unless Roslovic slides down to the bottom 6. And it sounds like they really like Carrier on Staal’s line, so he’d have to go all the way down to Drury’s line.Yeah. Barring injury, I think that's pretty much where they're heading for the roster. Robinson, Jost and Lemieux slug it out to avoid being the 13th forward and Smith, Ryan and Stillman (should he rejoin the group) slug it out to be the 7th D. I don't think they keep a young forward unless they force their way into the Top 9 and I don't think any of the young D were ever making this roster so long as the vets were healthy. If Carrier can't get healthy then maybe one of the young forwards might get a spell on the roster to open the season ... maybe. Knowing Brindy, if any of the kids have a real shot, then he'll give them some chances with the vets in the last couple of pre season games.
Yeah, I'm thinking a Carrier injury is about the only shot Blake would have. Which is fine. Go have a great learning year in the A and we'll see what next year looks like. I doubt Carolina goes so heavy on the bottom 6 again after this season ... because I'm FAR from convinced this whole thing is gonna work like they think it will.Stillman has been in a yellow jersey the entire camp. It would probably take something catastrophic happening to Smith and Ryan for him to make the team at this point. Same with Morrow, whatever chance he had of sticking with the Canws has evaporated with all the practice time he’s missed. I also don’t see a spot for Blake, as good as he’s been, unless Roslovic slides down to the bottom 6. And it sounds like they really like Carrier on Staal’s line, so he’d have to go all the way down to Drury’s line.
FWIW Ty Smith as your seventh defenseman is downright scary when you think about how easy it is to get defensemen nicked up in this league in your starting six...Ty Smith is a shrimp and basically AHL fodder...hell, go find a more capable seventh DMan on waivers over that guy. I thought a guy like Riley Stillman was a very capable seventh defenseman if he would have been able to compete in camp for a spot. Lots of cuts coming in the next week or so around the league, hopefully the Canes have a Plan B for someone other than Smith in that role if they might find something better between now and then.Stillman has been in a yellow jersey the entire camp. It would probably take something catastrophic happening to Smith and Ryan for him to make the team at this point. Same with Morrow, whatever chance he had of sticking with the Canws has evaporated with all the practice time he’s missed. I also don’t see a spot for Blake, as good as he’s been, unless Roslovic slides down to the bottom 6. And it sounds like they really like Carrier on Staal’s line, so he’d have to go all the way down to Drury’s line.