Matt, i have only seen Rask a little, and Mcginn not at all, so tell me how they might fit on the team, please. about Stillman: i've seen a couple replays of the Canes playoff games from 2006 recently (never get enough of that) and i noticed what you were talking about with his long diagonal passes to a streaking Cole or Staal! really PRETTY... and if we could find someone to provide that kind of passing touch and awareness it would be awesome!
As Muller has said, he will try Skinner at 3rd line ctr, so what would you think would be the effect of adding Jared to Jordan and Ruutu's line? That could be a pretty big/ physical line, eh?!
- randycane
First, to be clear, both Rask and McGinn are long shots. While both do project as eventual NHLers, I would give Rask no more than a 30% chance to start the season in the NHL and McGinn probably more like 15%. Rask is of age where he will play in Charlotte, so there is a decent chance that he could be recalled later if injuries create a need. McGinn would head back to juniors and be gone until next summer.
So why then do I like these players if they are such long shots?
1) For McGinn it is very simply his style of play that fits Muller's style and what he is desperately trying to add to the lineup. McGinn is a bit smaller but very much plays an Erik Cole or Tuomo Ruutu type of game between hitting and more importantly just always being around and battling for the puck making life miserable for opponents. First scrimmage and preseason game should tell a lot as if he is ready for the increased speed of the NHL game yet, or if it is just way too soon.
2) For Rask, I think he is likely the most talented forward in the system who has not yet had a run at an NHL job. The other options are Canes system players who at least based on past play did not look like anything special or new signees who are similar. If Lindholm (or I guess Skinner) plays 3rd line center as expected then the challenge for Rask would be adjusting the wing at the same time as adjusting to the NHL which seems like too much to ask. But especially with a bunch of spots open sometimes talent just rises up.
I am not nearly as big on Jared Staal as some:
1) He was bottom half of the roster in Charlotte over a longer stretch. It just seems unlikely that he is suddenly that much better just from stepping into an NHL game more as a gimmick/family gift than out of pure merit. This said the opening is there and Muller would love to get a bit bigger.
2) I put him in the same category as Welsh, Sutter and Wallace (gone). Big is good but you have to be fairly mobile to work in Muller's system, and I am not sure JaStaal brings enough there.
If I can find the time, I plan to do a why/why not on Brenden Morrow that has this same issue.
