I remember the first time I met chris. His video room is back by the coaches offices and across from the laundry. I was bringing over laundry from the visitors room during the first training camp in Raleigh. I went in that video room and had a million questions for him. Back then we would record games for any visiting teams coming in and they would provide game tape for us of their last few opponents. It was surprising how much info they shared. I used to stand there while he was making the tapes so I could run it out to the bus before the visiting team left for the airport. I am sure it is much less cumbersome than it was in 1997. He was the hardest wokrking man on staff. No doubt.Scott Burnside has a great article about video coach Chris Huffine.
Burnside: The Tale of Huffine's Tapes | Carolina Hurricanes
"There's no one better. I know that for a fact. There may be guys as good, but nobody's better. Can't be. Because he won't' stop until he gets it right. Any little thing."www.nhl.com
I feel like Stepan probably did have options, but maybe not on competitive teams. I've got a feeling that Pederson is bound for Chicago to be the designated call-up forward. He's on a $750K contract, so he's not going to kill the payroll in Chicago if he's slumming it ... and he's split time between the AHL and NHL for his entire career. Thus the PTO for Stepan. He's a known quantity and so long as he can kinda/sorta keep up with the younglings then he should be able to old man his way into a roster spot.Good for us, bummer for him. I would have thought SOMEONE would have been impressed enough with his level of play to have him find a 1 year $1.5 million contract somewhere. He showed some game with us.
Unless he completely forgot how to play hockey in the offseason OR the Canes make some other move or someone in this organization really really really steps up, now that Stepan is being brought back on a PTO, I would put the chances of Stepan being offered a 1 year, NHL minimum deal by the Canes at quite a bit better than 50-50. Why?
Svech-Aho-Jarvis
Turbo-KK-Necas
Kase-Staal-Fast
Martinook-Drury-Pederson
As we noted before, that lineup is missing a + right handed faceoff guy. Derek Stepan was 55.9% last season. Now I say that and I throw out that 55.9% stat ( 65.6% shorthanded), but the truth is that before last season with the Canes, Stepan had NEVER BEEN BETTER THAN 50%. But he has been much better than Necas over the past 3 seasons.
I would much rather have Derek Stepan instead of Lane Pederson in that lineup above. Now when Pacioretty comes back, unless Drury hasn't panned out, Stepan would likely be back to the 13th/14th forward role again. But before that point I think he would be a good hedge as a right handed faceoff guy, especially in the Dzone.
Welcome aboard! Have you been on previous versions of this board, I thought there was someone with a similar name. If not, I’m sure you and our other resident Badger, @dwind, will have plenty to talk about.Hello I’m new here. I just want to know if anyone else is as concerned as I am about the upcoming season. After getting Burns & Patches, I was quite fired up. I still thought we needed a bit more scoring depth. Now with Patches out, there seems to be too much hope in KK & Necas to make up for the loss of Nino and Vinnie. I’m afraid if nothing is done before the season starts, we may see a 10-10 start or worse. We have a over abundance of defenseman, I’m hoping DW has something up his sleeve before training camp opens. Who to get? I have no clue. I’m just hoping something is done. We have (as of today), a worse lineup than last year.
I think you are remembering me. Great to have another Badger around !!Welcome aboard! Have you been on previous versions of this board, I thought there was someone with a similar name. If not, I’m sure you and our other resident Badger, @dwind, will have plenty to talk about.
Badgers don’t have to be reasonable.All Badgers are welcome ... within reason.
Seriously, welcome to the nuthouse. Summer is a great time to jump in.