The Training Camp Thread

[HNIM]

Which helmet was goalie Ned wearing during opening drills? Couldn't figure that out.

I second the comment on Zykov. Saw one sweet spin move that had me pulling out the roster. I was surprised to see the size they claim for him.

I still have no idea how Faulkie got left off Team USA. None. The guy makes the game look so easy. Opening 3 on 1 drill he stole the puck at the blue line and was going the other way instantly.

 

[jeffbear]

Which helmet was goalie Ned wearing during opening drills? Couldn't figure that out.

I second the comment on Zykov. Saw one sweet spin move that had me pulling out the roster. I was surprised to see the size they claim for him.

I still have no idea how Faulkie got left off Team USA. None. The guy makes the game look so easy. Opening 3 on 1 drill he stole the puck at the blue line and was going the other way instantly.

Ned wasn't out there this morning. Booth was in plain white and Helvig had on his Kingston black and yellow kit.

 

[JamesNorthern]

OK. Caught Group A's practice and the scrimmage before I had to bug out for more coffee. Some notes on the prospects, and I'll give the vets a pass other than to note that Bickell looks bloody slow and a bit stiff and that they appear to be slotting Lindholm at center at least for now. Calum Booth held down one net and Jeremy Helvig the other. They looked like junior keepers albeit big ones. Booth did flash the glove a few times. Nice.

Props
Tolchinsky just has so much danger in his hands. Stupid skill level and very (too?) aggressive with the puck.
Zykov flashes regularly. Pretty slick in possession, good passer.
Nic Roy and Gauthier played together and looked ... let's go with predatory. Pretty mature players for their experience level.
Lucas Wallmark fit in well. Looks like a guy ready to move up in class.
McKeown and Bean stood out among the young D. Both looked very confident and polished. Bean passes with purpose and doesn't get lost in transition. McKeown moves much more fluidly than I expected. I like those kids.

Mild negatives
Josh Wesley ... scattered, rushed, just not at this level
Keegan Lowe ... rhymes with slow
Elynuik ... 6'5" I'll buy. 195? Maybe with 20 pounds of ankle weights. Somebody feed that kid.


Reminder. Not only are Aho and Teravainen still at the World Cup, but so is the coach. Brindy seemed to be filling in for the start of festivities, while Smith and Ulfie worked the position groups. This is a big group so there is a pretty wide range of skill levels. It's pretty obvious who looks like and NHLer and who looks to be heading back to junior, with few exceptions.

Thanks thanks thanks jb!

 

[ThinIce]

OK. Caught Group A's practice and the scrimmage before I had to bug out for more coffee. Some notes on the prospects, and I'll give the vets a pass other than to note that Bickell looks bloody slow and a bit stiff and that they appear to be slotting Lindholm at center at least for now. Calum Booth held down one net and Jeremy Helvig the other. They looked like junior keepers albeit big ones. Booth did flash the glove a few times. Nice.

Props
Tolchinsky just has so much danger in his hands. Stupid skill level and very (too?) aggressive with the puck.
Zykov flashes regularly. Pretty slick in possession, good passer.
Nic Roy and Gauthier played together and looked ... let's go with predatory. Pretty mature players for their experience level.
Lucas Wallmark fit in well. Looks like a guy ready to move up in class.
McKeown and Bean stood out among the young D. Both looked very confident and polished. Bean passes with purpose and doesn't get lost in transition. McKeown moves much more fluidly than I expected. I like those kids.

Mild negatives
Josh Wesley ... scattered, rushed, just not at this level
Keegan Lowe ... rhymes with slow
Elynuik ... 6'5" I'll buy. 195? Maybe with 20 pounds of ankle weights. Somebody feed that kid.


Reminder. Not only are Aho and Teravainen still at the World Cup, but so is the coach. Brindy seemed to be filling in for the start of festivities, while Smith and Ulfie worked the position groups. This is a big group so there is a pretty wide range of skill levels. It's pretty obvious who looks like and NHLer and who looks to be heading back to junior, with few exceptions.

Well done, JB. Want a job at the N&O?

 

[TheBigKahuna]

That;s like offering someone free food from the local Shoney's!

 

[SlapShots]

I still have no idea how Faulkie got left off Team USA. None. The guy makes the game look so easy. Opening 3 on 1 drill he stole the puck at the blue line and was going the other way instantly.

Which seems to be a question many are asking in light of Team USA's flame out. Lots of players that should have been included were not and some who were, are head scratchers. I hope when we play LAK and COL this year, Faulk makes Lombardi and Torts revisit the pathetic appearance. I'm also hoping Kessel will do the same-- and Phil Kessel is not my favorite, but his tweet was pretty funny!

 

[Pucking Lamplighter]

Which seems to be a question many are asking in light of Team USA's flame out. Lots of players that should have been included were not and some who were, are head scratchers. I hope when we play LAK and COL this year, Faulk makes Lombardi and Torts revisit the pathetic appearance. I'm also hoping Kessel will do the same-- and Phil Kessel is not my favorite, but his tweet was pretty funny!

In hindsight, I'm glad Faulk missed out being selected to the suckfest that was Team USA this time. He's already got a lot of miles that will be better utilized in a Hurricanes sweater. I guarantee he won't forget the slight and should be happy to pay back Lombardi and Torts.

 

[andyt]

The Red/White scrimmage was mostly kids except for McGinn, PDG, Woods, Sutter and Carrick. White won 3-2 on a Tolchinsky penalty shot. PDG had scored earlier for Red. All penalties resulted in penalty shots. Tolchinky's was a result of a bad hit by Woods on Ganly. Probably would have been a 5 minute boarding major. Ganly either broke his collarbone or damaged his shoulder; regardless, I think his camp is over. Ryan, PDG and McGinn played together and looked good. Andrew Poturalski looked good too, good hands and quick. Helvig, Booth, Altschuller and Ned played in goal. All had their moments. Didn't really notice Gauthier. Carrick hit everything in sight and played on the right side. He could push Murphy for the 6 spot in the lineup. Red scorers were McGinn and PDG, White scorers were Lorentz, Poturalski and Tolchinsky.

Aho and Teravainen will start skating tomorrow, Saarela should arrive on Tuesday, have his physical on Wednesday and start practicing on Thursday. The Canes also returned 7 players to Juniors; Lorentz, Elynuik, Smallman, Carroll, Gleason, Booth and Helvig. Gleason was a camp invitee so we don't control his rights.

 

[jeffbear]

All penalties resulted in penalty shots.

Good. They should be practicing both taking and stopping penalties until every single player in camp is sick to bloody death of the things. I can't even count how many points this club has left laying in the gutter over the last 5-6 years simply by sucking on toast at one thing.

 

[JamesNorthern]

Thanks for the update andyt!!!

 

[andyt]

Good. They should be practicing both taking and stopping penalties until every single player in camp is sick to bloody death of the things. I can't even count how many points this club has left laying in the gutter over the last 5-6 years simply by sucking on toast at one thing.

Francis mentioned that yesterday too. Between the 1 goal and shootout losses, we left a lot of points on the table, so the goal was to at least start upgrading the offense.

 

[cmaleski2]

The entire shootout operation should be 100% wide open this season and EVERYONE should be in the mix. But sure would be great to have at least 1 player seize the opportunity and become a regular. None of the new guys with NHL experience (Teravainen, Stalberg, Stempniak, Bickell) have had much success in shootouts. Stempniak did WAY WAY back in the day, but he's not shown much over the past few years. Teravainen of course hasn't had a shot yet to really show off that skill (he failed to score in his only NHL attempt last season). Stalberg went 2 for 2 back in 10-11, 0-5 the year after and hasn't had an attempt since.

Not sure what Aho has in terms of shootout skills, we will find out eventually, Unfortunately our most dynamic shootout guy is 5 foot nothing, 100 and nothing and needs to show he can turn those incredibly flashy offensive skills into at least one 50+ point season in the AHL before he has any shot of being on the Canes roster. I was glad Peters rolled the dice and picked some spots to put Slavin and Hanifin out there. I mean why not, its not like we have anyone on the roster who has proven to be better. No more Nash or Terry....I couldn't tell you who any of our shooters will be as stands right now. We were 5 for 28 last year (Nash was 3 for 5 and Hanifin and Slavin had the other 2, both OMG game winners).

 

[jeffbear]

Francis mentioned that yesterday too. Between the 1 goal and shootout losses, we left a lot of points on the table, so the goal was to at least start upgrading the offense.

Last season, and pretty much every season that has featured Ward as the starter, the goaltending against penalty shots has been absolutely abysmal. Those guys need the work as much as or more than the shooters.

 

[cmaleski2]

Cam actually had a good season last year by his standards..... a .714 Sv% in the shootouts. If you filter by goalies who faced 10 shootout shots or more Cam was 14th out of 34 last season. He actually is no longer next to last in the NHL in terms of active regulars for career shootout Sv% now. He is now ahead of Dubnyk, Pavelec, Mike Smith, Mason, Schneider and Nik Backstrom who still brings up the rear.

Yes there is still room for improvement, but Cam at least brought 'average' into his shootout play last year for only the 2nd time in his career. Nothing will save his career W/L mark in the shootouts of course, which is a combination of his below average career shootout Sv% and the Canes abject failures at scoring shootout goals. 15 Wins, 35 Losses in the shootout. That .300 win percentage as you would expect is dead frigging last in terms of active regular goalies (its dead last in NHL history too considering goalies with at least 10 decisions). Corey Schneider is next to last with .333, Steve Mason is at .339, Ben Scrivins is at .384 and Jimmy Howard is at .404 amongst active somewhat regular goalies.

Henrik Lundqvist actually has more career shootout losses than Cam Ward (38) but he's won 53 shootouts in his career.

 

[andyt]

The team shootout save % was also .714, tied for 9th. The shooting % was .178, second worst behind only Buffalo. The 5 shootout goals were tied for 4th worst. In 2014-15, our shooting % was .205, 4th worst in the league but the save % of .757 was 6th best. Goaltending has been better then average the last 2 years, but shooting is woeful.

 

[jeffbear]

Again ... my gripe about Ward (and Lack based on a much smaller sample size) is his crap sense of timing. His overall numbers are what they are, but anybody who can remember him stopping a shootout attempt when they REALLY needed him to in order to keep them alive is a lonely, lonely soul. Because you're likely the only one who remembers such a rare, rare event. If you've just GOT to have a stop, I want no part of either of those two.

 

[tfahs]

Again ... my gripe about Ward (and Lack based on a much smaller sample size) is his crap sense of timing. His overall numbers are what they are, but anybody who can remember him stopping a shootout attempt when they REALLY needed him to in order to keep them alive is a lonely, lonely soul. Because you're likely the only one who remembers such a rare, rare event. If you've just GOT to have a stop, I want no part of either of those two.

The irony of Cam's shootout struggles is that he stopped Mario, Sid, and Palffy in a shootout in his very first NHL start.

 

[cmaleski2]

my gripe about Ward (and Lack based on a much smaller sample size) is his crap sense of timing. His overall numbers are what they are, but anybody who can remember him stopping a shootout attempt when they REALLY needed him to in order to keep them alive is a lonely, lonely soul.

I suspect you are right, JB. If you are specifically looking at 'Cam has to make this save to prevent a shootout loss' moments it would be an interesting (time consuming) exercise to see what his Save% is there (its probably terrible like the rest of his career shootout numbers). Then again the Canes put our goalies in situations in the shootout where our goalie HAS to make a stop to prevent a loss (instead of making a stop to seal a win) more often than most teams because we can't score shootout goals. You can extend that to game situations too, ie the Jack Eichel breakaway with seconds left in OT last season. You just KNEW that Cam was not going to make a save there.

 

[HNIM]

The irony of Cam's shootout struggles is that he stopped Mario, Sid, and Palffy in a shootout in his very first NHL start.

... in 2005. Eleven years ago. That's the loneliness that JB is talking about.

 

[LJG]

Good. They should be practicing both taking and stopping penalties until every single player in camp is sick to bloody death of the things. I can't even count how many points this club has left laying in the gutter over the last 5-6 years simply by sucking on toast at one thing.

5-6 years???' Being a bit gracious there. Our SO has been shit on a shingle since that one magic year.