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Every article, I try to include a poll question for readers to vote on, then review the results from the week’s polls every weekend. Here are this week’s poll results and my thoughts on how they turned out.
QUESTION: When do you think Joey Keane will win a permanent roster spot with the Hurricanes?
(Votes: 49)
2021-22: 45%
2023-23 or later: 27%
2020-21: 14%
Never: 14%
Like 86 per cent of readers, I certainly think Joey Keane will end up in the Hurricanes lineup at some point. His stats are great and being named to the AHL All-Rookie Team certainly adds fuel to the fire. That said, I doubt he’ll be up with the Hurricanes next season. Considering Keane is 20 years old has spent just one year in the AHL, he’ll almost certainly be back in the AHL and likely competing for a spot on the bottom-pairing in 2021-22.
QUESTION: If Brett Pesce were to return in the playoffs, who would be scratched?
(Votes: 108)
Gardiner: 57%
Edmundson: 26%
Someone else: 17%
Yep, this is where I’m at. Gardiner was just finding his game at the end of the season and can provide huge offensive upside but it comes at the equally huge risk of his defensive shortcomings. Something that does surprise me is the 17 per cent that voted for someone else. I’m assuming this means Sami Vatanen, who has yet to actually play a game for the Hurricanes, would be the odd man out. I can see where people would be coming from on this and as discussed in the comments of that article, he’d only be getting comfortable with the team's systems for the first time in the playoffs, which certainly isn’t ideal. I’m still in support of starting Vatanen based on the upside he could bring and then adjusting if needed, but I also understand that argument.
QUESTION: Do you think the Hurricanes will win their qualifying round series against the Rangers?
(Votes: 72)
No: 61%
Yes: 39%
I mean, based on Carolina’s history against New York, the concerns are justified. That said, I’m a bit more optimistic about it. The Hurricanes ran into hot goaltending and did outplay the Rangers by quite a margin in three of their four games this season. Again though, I’d feel a lot more comfortable if it was a different team.
QUESTION: What’s your long-term projection for Jake Bean?
(Votes: 160)
Top-four defenseman: 72%
Top-pairing defenseman: 17%
Bottom-pairing defenseman: 7%
Doesn’t make/stay in the NHL: 4%
I wasn’t expecting to see such high numbers, as 89 per cent of voters believe Bean will be a top-four defenseman. I agree, I just didn’t think numbers would be as high. Based on what he’s already accomplished in the AHL, I can’t imagine him not becoming a quality NHL defender. That said, we’ll have to see how effectively his game will translate to the NHL next season.
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OTHER HURRICANES ARTICLES FROM MAY
How does Martin Necas compare against other forwards from the 2017 draft?
Reviewing this week's polls (May 2): Hurricanes Edition
Morgan Geekie should have a spot with the Hurricanes next season
Projecting the Hurricanes’ lineup next season: Defense/Goalies
Projecting the Hurricanes’ lineup next season: Forwards
Reviewing this week's polls (May 9): Hurricanes Edition
Alex Nedeljkovic will need to bounce back next season
Was trading for Brady Skjei the right move?
Hurricanes are seeing the rewards of stockpiling draft picks
Reviewing last week's polls (May 19): Hurricanes Edition
SHORT READ: Joey Keane named to AHL All-Rookie Team
Hurricanes could have an abundance of depth on defense for playoffs
SHORT READ: Hurricanes to play Rangers in best-of-five qualifying round
SHORT READ: Jake Bean named AHL Defenseman of the Year 
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