Kevin Allen: Waddell believes Hurricanes will overcome Pacioretty's injury Fan base still excited about 'Canes changes

The changes may excite the casual fan base to the tune of 2000 additional season tickets, but to the savvy hockey fan it's clear their roster took a step back - with or without Pacioretty.

Define clear.

DeAngelo > Burns
Trocheck > Pacioretty
Niederreiter > Kase
Domi > Pedersen

To improve this year they need the goalies stay healthy, young players to do better than expected, veterans not to drop off in their play, and to use the LTIR money from Pacioretty to improve their roster before he returns in the first round of the playoffs. All other scenarios suggest a regression this season.

DeAngelo > Burns
Trocheck > Pacioretty
Niederreiter > Kase
Domi > Pedersen

To improve this year they need the goalies stay healthy, young players to do better than expected, veterans not to drop off in their play, and to use the LTIR money from Pacioretty to improve their roster before he returns in the first round of the playoffs. All other scenarios suggest a regression this season.
- ElbowingPenalty

lmao WHAT

Those... uh... are not direct replacements.

lmao WHAT

Those... uh... are not direct replacements.

You are correct. However, each player that left was replaced (not directly, as you say) with another player of lower quality.

When you lose a group of good players (overall) and replace them with a group of much lower quality players (again, overall) you can't expect the team to improve - unless you get exponential growth from the young players already on your roster and no regression from veterans/goalies.

I don't see that happening.

DeAngelo > Burns
Trocheck > Pacioretty
Niederreiter > Kase
Domi > Pedersen

To improve this year they need the goalies stay healthy, young players to do better than expected, veterans not to drop off in their play, and to use the LTIR money from Pacioretty to improve their roster before he returns in the first round of the playoffs. All other scenarios suggest a regression this season.
- ElbowingPenalty

Burns>TDA
Patches>Trochek
Nino>Kase
I don't care if one slug is 1 inch longer than another slug.

Burns>TDA
Patches>Trochek
Nino>Kase
I don't care if one slug is 1 inch longer than another slug.

Burns might be better in the locker room than TDA, but not on the ice. Maybe that's the reason they got him? It can't be for his defensive impact - he's only marginally better than TDA at that. But his offense is way below TDA now, which makes TDA more valuable overall.

Trocheck is consistently underrated. He's more versatile and valuable than Patches.

Fair comment about the slugs.

And good luck to your Canes. I'll stand corrected if they somehow improve their record this season.

Burns might be better in the locker room than TDA, but not on the ice. Maybe that's the reason they got him? It can't be for his defensive impact - he's only marginally better than TDA at that. But his offense is way below TDA now, which makes TDA more valuable overall.

Trocheck is consistently underrated. He's more versatile and valuable than Patches.

Fair comment about the slugs.

And good luck to your Canes. I'll stand corrected if they somehow improve their record this season.
- ElbowingPenalty

It is not about winning more regular season games. It is about playoff success. Trochek is a good player and an irritant good at drawing penalties but throughout his career has not had much playoff impact.
With regards to Burns and TDA you forget the impact that Slavin has. He always makes his defensive partner look better. TDA will not put up the same offensive numbers without a defensive partner as solid as Slavin.

It is not about winning more regular season games. It is about playoff success. Trochek is a good player and an irritant good at drawing penalties but throughout his career has not had much playoff impact.
With regards to Burns and TDA you forget the impact that Slavin has. He always makes his defensive partner look better. TDA will not put up the same offensive numbers without a defensive partner as solid as Slavin.

Agreed on Slavin. He's a beast and should be in contention for the Norris annually - if only it wasn't always handed out to one of the top offensive D-men.

As for the playoffs, I don't see the softer player (Pacioretty) being better than the hard-nosed Trocheck at this point in his career.

I hope his injury heals quickly so that he can appear in the event. io games