Matt Karash: Hurricanes Game Day Preview: @Washington -- Eric Staal challenge game?

1st

Jordan Staal has been an absolute animal so far. His ability to take the toughest defensive assignments and still maintain a positive possession rating should open things up for other teammates to find success. Time for those other lines to carry the offensive load.

I think Semin still plays with a little bit of an edge against the organization that let him go. I'm hoping for a good game from him tonight.

I think Semin still plays with a little bit of an edge against the organization that let him go. I'm hoping for a good game from him tonight.
- Barbecued Hockey

No doubt there will be extra motivation there for Semin. Look no further than Jussi Jokinen from the other night. Players love to stick it to their former teams.

Jordan Staal has been an absolute animal so far. His ability to take the toughest defensive assignments and still maintain a positive possession rating should open things up for other teammates to find success. Time for those other lines to carry the offensive load.
- Ryan_Wilson

He looked especially good in the 1st 2 home games eating up all of the hard minutes. Key is for 1st line and/or the power play (mostly the same set of players) to start scoring, so the team is not trying to scrape up 2 goals the hard way with secondary scoring.

Can you tell Shero that he should at least pay the full contract himself after Jussi's outburst on Tuesday?

Khudobin gets the start tonight. Will be interesting to see what Muller does with the goalies of Khudobin stands on his head tonight and improves to 2-0. Do you just rotate them evenly until Ward takes off?

Khudobin gets the start tonight. Will be interesting to see what Muller does with the goalies of Khudobin stands on his head tonight and improves to 2-0. Do you just rotate them evenly until Ward takes off?
- Gossler1

Khudobin is a star in the making, believe me. This guy is the real deal and will be a starting goalie as early as next year. He will challenge Ward this year as solid performances earn more starts.

The key for the Canes is to stay out of the penalty box. The Caps power play is lethal to win this game there can be no bad penalties.

I'm curious about your motivation for wanting Lindholm to move to center?
Is it because you want to move Nash? Has he got a rep for winning F/O's?
I think Semin's lack of production is ALL about his injured hand/ wrist, do you have any more info on that? I'm surprised that Muller doesn't sit him if that injury really is his problem...?

I'm curious about your motivation for wanting Lindholm to move to center?
Is it because you want to move Nash? Has he got a rep for winning F/O's?
I think Semin's lack of production is ALL about his injured hand/ wrist, do you have any more info on that? I'm surprised that Muller doesn't sit him if that injury really is his problem...?
- randycane

Semin should be motivated for this game tonight but the knock on Semin is that he is soft and only plays when he feels motivated. Semin cannot play his game even with a minor injury, a toothache will put him off. He dissapeared in DC so many times in his time there that not even his coach knew what his problem was. He would be day to day for weeks and nobody ever knew what his problem was, seriously at this was quoted several times by Bruce Boudreau. Skill wise and when he is on his game Semin is better than OV but consistency is a real issue for him.

Semin should be motivated for this game tonight but the knock on Semin is that he is soft and only plays when he feels motivated. Semin cannot play his game even with a minor injury, a toothache will put him off. He dissapeared in DC so many times in his time there that not even his coach knew what his problem was. He would be day to day for weeks and nobody ever knew what his problem was, seriously at this was quoted several times by Bruce Boudreau. Skill wise and when he is on his game Semin is better than OV but consistency is a real issue for him.
- flyerdude17

I don't buy any of that garbage about Semin! Last year he was consistently good and played hard all season! If he plays injured and doesn't score, it proves nothing about being soft, or not trying! There's been no evidence that i've seen that confirms those criticisms...none! He wants to play, it's up to the coach to decide whether he's able to perform with his injury, or not!

I'm curious about your motivation for wanting Lindholm to move to center?
Is it because you want to move Nash? Has he got a rep for winning F/O's?
I think Semin's lack of production is ALL about his injured hand/ wrist, do you have any more info on that? I'm surprised that Muller doesn't sit him if that injury really is his problem...?
- randycane

So first, I like Riley Nash and his play so far this season. The faceoffs are a problem because they make it challenging/risky to roll lines in certain situations and also to get him on the ice for 2nd unit PK, but that aside he has been decent defensively and has good enough wheels to skate with Skinner. This said, I just have not seen anything to suggest that his scoring potential is more than good 4th line quantity. If he puts up 9 goals and 18 assists at C4 that is great production. If he does it in C3 slot, it is light. It would be easier to work with this if the Canes did not already have a couple players that are a bit overslotted in terms of scoring production (i.e. Dwyer, maybe Dvorak if he slows down) such that the team needs to get fairly consistent offense from the 3rd line. It is not clear from his limited training camp and limited role so far that Lindholm will be able to do more at the age of 18, but the potential is and eventual expectation is there. And I would not expect him to be a downgrade defensively. So at some point when he gets comfortable and up to speed if he is not already, I think Muller should and will give this a shot. The team gets deeper if he can bring a little bit more offensively to this slot next to Skinner without a hit defensively.

OK, Matt, thanks, but have you seen any evidence Lindholm is ready for the added responsibility of Centering a line, and taking F?O's?
I'm not qualified to make that call, and i really haven't paid enough attention to have a valid opinion on that kind of thing. How would you rate Sutter vs Nash on F/O's and other things?

OK, Matt, thanks, but have you seen any evidence Lindholm is ready for the added responsibility of Centering a line, and taking F?O's?
I'm not qualified to make that call, and i really haven't paid enough attention to have a valid opinion on that kind of thing. How would you rate Sutter vs Nash on F/O's and other things?
- randycane

As far as evidence, I think he reads and thinks the game well. That is not to say that he will not make mistakes, but he is not going to be in the category of young player with a ton of physical skill who has little idea how to play situations correctly. So all that means is that he should be okay defensively which is about the same as Nash.

As far as readiness to step into a bigger role, I have nothing for evidence and no idea for certain. I just think that at some point Muller will want to fish for a bit more upside to the roster within the current set of players. As long as I am right on the defensive acumen being at least okay, the risk is minimal in giving him a look centering the 3rd line or I guess possibly at RW on 2nd or 3rd line. Ruutu is obviously the other near-term upgrade that pushes someone down a notch.

I don't buy any of that garbage about Semin! Last year he was consistently good and played hard all season! If he plays injured and doesn't score, it proves nothing about being soft, or not trying! There's been no evidence that i've seen that confirms those criticisms...none! He wants to play, it's up to the coach to decide whether he's able to perform with his injury, or not!
- randycane

Sorry Randy but I had OV, Backstrom and Semin in a keeper league for about three years and Semin drove me crazy half the time. I loved him when he was on but he had more mystery injuries than anyone I have ever know. I mean lots of guys have injuries but they are legite. Semin is super talented but could also be called something like "Mr. Softee" I am a Canes fan and always hope for a Canes win except against my god awful flyers.