Can the Canes Repeat? Blueprint for Back-to-Back Championships

The Hurricanes finally climbed the mountain, and now the real pressure starts: doing it again. We’re celebrating two years of Erin & Katie's in sight on stormTRacker with a special "Mailbag" episode that turns into a blueprint for a Carolina Hurricanes repeat, from contract leverage to lineup chemistry to the unglamorous details that separate contenders from champions.

We spend serious time on the biggest offseason storyline: Alexander Nikishin. Is this a trade, a standoff, or the kind of bridge deal that keeps everyone protected while the season plays out? We break down why a short extension can boost trade value, how an RFA can complicate negotiations, and why the Canes are unlikely to move a high-end defenseman for a cheap return. Then we zoom out to roster efficiency, salary cap timing, and what it means to be a Cup winner with a lineup that still grades out as strong value.

From there, we hit the on-ice swing factors that could define 2026-27. Shayne Gostisbehere’s health and the Hurricanes power play go hand in hand, and we explain why his quarterbacking changes the whole feel of the offense. We also tackle Seth Jarvis’s recovery from offseason surgery, what a realistic ramp-up can look like, and how that affects opening-night lines. And because it’s a mailbag, we get into the fun stuff too: Bradly Nadeau vs Felix Unger Sorum, rookie goal expectations, goaltending confidence in Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov, and whether PTO invites could add useful depth.

If you enjoyed the conversation, subscribe, share the show with a fellow Canes fan, and leave a review so more people can find stormTRacker. What’s the one move or development you think matters most for a repeat?

Highlights:

Nikishin’s leverage as an RFA and why a bridge deal fits both sides
• How trade value changes once a player is signed
• Why roster efficiency and contract value matter for a repeat bid
• Shane Gostisbehere’s health as a power play swing factor
• Bradley Nadeau vs Felix Unger Sorum for NHL games played
• Realistic goal expectations for Nadeau based on deployment
• Opening-night line combos without Jarvis and how Rod might experiment
• “Eating crow” on past takes, including playoff performers
• Long-term planning for a Jordan Staal replacement and what it means for Aho
• Goaltending outlook for Brandon Bussey and Pyotr Kochetkov
• PTO options for depth and what a short preseason changes

#soundthesiren #canes #hockey #erictulsky #raiseup #stormtracker23 #rodbrindamour #lockedonhurricanes #Canescast #thestormsurge #AlexanderNikishin #carolinahurricanes #Jesperi Kokaniemi #causechaos #sebastianaho #andreisvechnikov #nikolajehlers #philadelphiaflyers #nhlhockey #nhlplayoffs

Transcript

Two Years In & Big Questions

SPEAKER_01 0:31

Well, as Aaron, Katie, and I celebrate our second year together on Storm Tracker, a lot of folks are asking: can the Carolina Hurricanes repeat in 26-27? Some key questions still need to be answered if the Canes are going to repeat. Will Alexander Nikishan be with the Canes come September? Will Brandon Bussey or Piotr Kochetkov be able to carry the load in net? And who fills in for Seth Jarvis while he recovers from off-season surgery? Lots to talk about with the Canes as usual, and I'm sure Aaron and Katie will have lots to say in our special mailbag episode. Hello.

SPEAKER_06 1:20

Hi, it's great to be here after two years. I can't believe it's been that long. And you know, when you think about it, we started this podcast two years ago. We were still talking about will they ever be able to win a Stanley Cup under Rod Brindamore? And so you know that that question got answered a lot more quickly than it does for other teams. I feel pretty lucky.

SPEAKER_00 1:39

It has been a fantastic two years. It's been so good to be able to delve into the Keynes with the two of you and then with our audience more broadly and talk about lots of interesting things. And I can't help but you mentioned the Nikitian thing, and we had a Russian prospects episode that we did that was like our second or third episode at the very beginning of this podcast. Yeah. He was one of the featured players we talked about. So it's really cool to see how all of that has developed over these two years as well.

SPEAKER_01 2:11

Yeah, you know, I mean, exactly. And it's been a lot of fun. And what did you ever see that you know they'd win a cup? We might have been uh part of the uh good luck charm in that regard. And you know, just a comment. I mean, you know, over 50,000 views since we've been together on StormTracker YouTube channel, which we're delighted with this, and we've been growing the whole time. And and it such a big thanks to all the folks who've come and spent time with us. So it's fantastic. And and again, uh, you know, we're seeing good growth on the audio side too, for sure. And and a lot of folks listening on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and some of the other guys. So thanks for doing that and spending time with us. Boy, it's it's just been awesome. Storm Tracker Podcast, Mailbag. It is mailbag episode for us. Um, and let's get let's get right into it. The first question uh comes from Carolina Keynes fan, and she says it's probably going to be a popular one, but what's going on with Nikishan? Do you think he will resign with us if we trade him? Do you think we would go after another D-man or a possible high-scoring forward? Boy, there's the million-dollar questions.

SPEAKER_00 3:31

Woo,

Nikishin Contract & Trade Paths

SPEAKER_00 3:31

who wants this one? Jump right in with that because I think that the Nikkeian situation is going to evolve in a very similar way as the Natchez situation did. Natus was very vocal about the fact that he wanted a bigger role on the team and thought that his skill set deserved more ice time and more opportunities than he was getting currently. And Nikitation seems to be feeling the same way. He hasn't necessarily come out and said it, but through the report we saw from Dario with RG Sports, with him wanting a larger paycheck and um also commenting that he's perhaps not interested in returning to the Keynes, one can only surmise that's because he wants a bigger role that better suits what he sees as his biggest skills that he can offer to a team in the NHL. And so because they have such parallel starts to that trajectory, I really think that the way that it's going to turn out is a similar result where Nikishan signs a two-year extension with the Canes for something not $8 million, but definitely a substantial pay raise to what he had been making. And told, okay, we're going to give you some opportunities, we're going to get you your ice time. Here's for you to showcase what you can do so that when we get a trade proposal that we like, then we will pull the trigger there and let you move on to another team the same way that they did with Natchez and the Ev. So that's really how I see it going. And I wouldn't be surprised if that ends up being another D-man, particularly a right-handed D-man, so they can have that balance in the lineup. Of course, you never know. Injuries, play, that sort of thing could turn into a different player he would be traded for, but that's all dependent upon how the season progresses. So what do you think, Aaron? You think that it's gonna be an extension, or you think he's gonna be traded before skates hit the ice come preseason?

SPEAKER_06 5:34

I think they made a good faith effort to trade him based on some of the rumors that we heard. Um, I wouldn't be surprised. Um there's, you know, he's got family members involved in this too. His girlfriend is expecting their first child, and she is a uh synchronized swimmer, I believe, from Russia. So this is this is something that, you know, these these sometimes these decisions don't just come from my role, my ice time, my money, but it's also what does do they need to do for the sake of the entire family? I think that they did, like I said, they you know, we know the Rangers had a conversation. They they weren't ready to um agree to the amount of money, but that was something that that they were, you know, talking to. And so for the Keynes to be willing even to allow him to be traded, you know, within the conference and everything, and it's like, okay, um, they're they're doing they did their best, I think, to try to to find him a place that he could go to right away. If that doesn't happen, you gotta fall back, and you gotta fall back, like Katie said, to let's get the bridge deal done. Because the problem, I mean, we see a lot of proposals going on with the St. Louis Blues. I mean, a lot of blues fans are talking about, well, we could get this guy. The problem is the Blues aren't gonna want to trade for him unsigned. Even though he's an RFA, he could drag his heels, he could refuse to come to camp, he could sit in Russia, he could, you know, just stay there and practice and practice and and not come back, and they don't want to be in that situation. So I don't see any way they can get a trade done unless they can get an extension signed with Nikishan first. That's where the bridge deal, like Katie said with Natus, that's what they were doing. You know, a bridge deal is basically a way of saying, well, this is the contract. If someone trades for you, they know they've got at least one more year that they can negotiate with you, and they're not looking at losing you for nothing and giving up assets for the privilege of doing that. So that's what I see.

SPEAKER_01 7:13

Yeah, Adam Gold uh, you know, he said today it's looking like a bridge deal. So you know, he's pretty close to the Keynes. I mean, Daria uh Tugold Saba, who was on the RG side, she's she's pretty good. And she did a great interview of Nikisha, I thought it was kind of fun. Um, and you know, you learn more about him uh with each one of these interviews. So yeah, he's he he's planning to take the cup uh in the US, which is kind of fun, just before camp, I guess he's gonna pick up the cup and get out. He doesn't know whether he's doing it at Raleigh, I guess, or if he's gonna go to Florida. But but he's gonna have some fun with his family. And he did mention his family in that article, Aaron. So I think you're right on it. Um yeah, uh look, the situation is one where the canes aren't going to give him up for little, so we know that for sure. I think they would like to just sign him uh you know to a deal, and the bridge deal would be the best for all parties concerned. Uh what would a bridge look like? That's interesting.

SPEAKER_00 8:16

Ooh, that's a good question. Um again, I think it needs to be something two years and not quite as high as he's asking. You know, six to seven million dollars uh AAV.

SPEAKER_03 8:33

So you're thinking two and not three.

SPEAKER_00 8:36

Yeah, because it gives it gives them the opportunity to sign him or to trade him this year, and then it gives the receiving team, like Aaron said, an extra year to um to try and convince him to to stay in it that they want that he wants that team to be his long-term home.

SPEAKER_04 8:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:55

Yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_01 8:57

So so do we kind of think, I mean, as we sit here, do we kind of think then that he's gonna be a camp?

SPEAKER_06 9:05

If they sign him to a bridge deal before um hand, I do think he will, because I think like like what Katie's saying is that you know, and what you said just a minute ago, they're not gonna give him for nothing. They're gonna want a decent return. You know, this is somebody that they've they were excited about bringing over. He we we all see the talent. The talent is there, you know. He's going to be a menace wherever he ends up. Yeah. I can understand from his thinking, I don't want to wait five years to have a chance to be uh in the top four, you know, because you've got Slavin and Miller ahead of him now. So that wasn't the case when he first was acquired by the Canes. They didn't have Keandre Miller. So if there's not a slot, you can't really blame him for wanting to move on. But you also know the Canes are gonna say, okay, we know how much this player is worth, though. We're not giving him away for the return you might get for a third-pair defenseman because he really isn't a third-pair defenseman either. We know that. So No.

unknown 9:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 9:58

A two-year bridge gives them a chance to maximize the trade return just like they did with Natus. You know, they want they just was included in a lot of conversations about Pederson back in the day, and then ended up being moved for Brandon.

SPEAKER_01 10:09

So well, you know, you're right. And you know, the thing about it though is that uh things change a lot during the season, as we know. Oh yeah. I mean, I you know, I think the conversation is probably don't worry, you're gonna play.

unknown 10:21

Right.

SPEAKER_01 10:21

There'll be injuries, there'll be all kinds of situations that'll take place. You know, maybe players aren't playing as well and he can move up. And you know, I think a lot of this is blown out of out of proportion. They just need to get a bridge deal done, which was probably the best way to go in the first place. Because you know, the agent's gonna want him to get the maximum dollars. The bridge gets them the way to do that. And for the canes, it allows them to kind of bring him along as as they want to. And and you know, we've got some contracts coming up at the end of this year, right? So, you know, it kind of this all makes sense to me. I don't see any I just don't see a situation where he should get traded.

SPEAKER_00 10:56

I don't I don't see that the thing is the canes have hold all the cards. You know, he wasn't eligible for arbitration, that sort of thing. So he either plays for them according to their terms, or he he misses out and he has what until December 1st to accept a contract, or he's out of luck for the entire season. So ultimately, both sides are gonna be flexible. I think the canes are gonna work with him, but at the same time, they're not going to just trade him away for peanuts. They are going to do what they feel is best for the team overall while still taking into consideration his wants and needs. I I really trust that the way that this ends up working out will be good for both player and team in the line.

SPEAKER_06 11:42

A couple of the long-term contracts we've seen signed, including the that huge one for Macklin Solavrini, you know. Um, one of the interesting things somebody pointed out the other day is a lot of these guys are, you know, they're signing with their current team, they're happy to sign, they're getting these deals, they're signing for five years because the cap rising as much as it is, is not making any of these young guys want seven-year deals, which of course now they can't do eight, they have to do seven, but um you know the middle of September. They can do oh, okay, they can still do eight, but yeah, but then nobody wants an eight-year this year.

SPEAKER_01 12:12

Well, there was an interesting article in the Athletic recently, and they were talking about you know, some of these some of the deals that have been done by the teams and the Keynes, I mean, they got in just before the deals they did are crazy.

SPEAKER_06 12:25

I think that segues nicely into the next question we've got, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_01 12:28

Well, okay, yeah. Mark Hosen, yeah, absolutely. Mark Hosen uh says efficiency of roster and Gosta Sper staying healthy and still think they will keep Nikisha. Okay, so he's kind of looking at the whole piece here. Do you want to who wants to grab that one?

SPEAKER_06 12:47

I'll jump in. Uh the the uh the roster efficiency, um, you know, they they are the best in the league, according to the athletics dumb Lucius Shushin. I can never say his name. I'm sorry about that. I try. But um but uh you know they they are they are at the top, they have the best roster in terms of their how their contracts uh you know look and how everything looks. And that's you know, despite two contracts in the negative, a slight negative for Carrier, and of course the big negative

Why A Bridge Deal Makes Sense for Alexander Nikishin

SPEAKER_06 13:16

for Kokinyemi, but even that negative is not as big as some of the negatives for teams that have you know many, many contracts in the red. That that's it. Everybody else is you know extremely good value, and you know, the the teams are you know, it's for a team that is a not just a contender, but the the current Stanley Cup champion, this is unheard of. You don't have a team that just won the Stanley Cup that has a contract list where everybody is a good contract, you know, minus those two that we mentioned. And they aren't losing anybody, and nobody was yet, they didn't have any UFAs, they didn't have, I mean, except for Freddie Anderson. And I mean, we will miss Freddie for sure, but you know that that is that is where they are. So it's unreal how well positioned the Keynes are from that standpoint, as far as maybe repeating or something. Um, and I know we already talked about Nikishan. Um, go staying healthy is gonna be important. He only played 55 games last season.

SPEAKER_05 14:09

Yes.

SPEAKER_06 14:10

Um, he had 50 points in 55 games. He was doing great when he was playing. Um, but when you look over his 12 seasons so far in the NHL, um he's played at least 76 games out of um six of those 12 years. And a couple of the years where he didn't hit 76 were the COVID-shortened seasons. So you look at all of that, he doesn't have a history of being a player who's injured and out all the time. It was an unusual year, I think, for him. So yeah, having a fully healthy Shane Gostasper for the entire year.

SPEAKER_01 14:38

Yeah, it's an important year for him, too, because the contract. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:43

Yeah. I I mean, if we had a healthy ghost being able to run that power play, think about how long it took the power play to get going last season. It was in the bottom of the league for the first couple of months, and then Stahl goes on the power play and it just starts clicking. And part of the reason it's clicking is ghost hit a groove. And he was so good at that quarterback position and being able to direct traffic and see plays develop and know who was going to be open. It didn't matter which group he played with, he was usually with the first group, but sometimes he'd go out there with the second group if that first line had been out as the penalty was called and were gassed. And and he could work with any of them. And so it's really, really key for him to be healthy because if the canes are going to defend their Stanley Cup title well and strong in the regular season, they are going to need a really good power play. And that starts with Ghost and foremost, because we've seen it doesn't really matter which group is out there, one or two, they both are capable of getting the job done. But ghost is the one that really drives that play and helps that um helps that go smoothly and create lots of opportunities, not just the first chance, but also a second chance, third chance, and so on. So you've got gotta have ghost, gotta have him firing.

SPEAKER_01 16:06

Yeah, I mean 50 points in 55 games is like over 70 on a on an AD each season. I mean, that's incredible, right? Like that's just that's that's I don't think the canes have had that. I don't remember the canes having that for a long, long time if they did.

SPEAKER_00 16:20

Um I mean it's it's a critical kayel makar patterned his game when he was in college off of Shanghai's despair. When Kale McCart needed inspiration for how he should play the game, especially as an offensively minded defenseman, he looked to Ghost. So ghost is important. It's he's not just some third-pairing defenseman. He is going to be a key member of the Canes. And isn't this the last year of his current contract?

SPEAKER_03 16:55

It is, it is. I was gonna mention that. Yes, this is his last year.

SPEAKER_00 17:03

And so if he shows, hey, I'm good, I'm healthy, I'm producing, I'm a key member of this team, he is more likely to get at that extension that he's looking for to stay in Raleigh rather than the canes saying, thanks, Ghost, but you're a little on the wrong side of the aging curve, and we need to look to the future. So that that that is something important to take into consideration as him being on that last year of his contract.

SPEAKER_01 17:29

Okay, good good question. And I think uh yeah, all thumbs up for uh for what's happening with the canes on that side. Let's go to uh an area I really enjoy, some Chicago Wolves guys. Um here's Reese and uh between Bradley Nadeau and Felix Unger Sorm, who do you think plays the most games for the Hurricanes? And you can say neither if you think both are just trade chips, but I think they're both intriguing players in interesting situations. Hmm, well, I'll kick this one off. Um Felix Ungersorm, he came back from you know a tough year last year. He had a tremendous year, he led the Wolsen scoring, and and you know, if you listen to the comments from the coaching staff, and we've had them on the podcast, and they they rave about Felix. And he the big thing he did, which will help him get into the NHL, is he strengthened up quite a bit. That was the big thing with uh Jack Ronzel. Uh, the uh strength and conditioning coach spent a lot of time with him, and I think that's really key. So he's ready, like he's ready to go. And I think it's a great question from Reese because you know, a lot of folks are thinking it's obviously Bradley Nadeau, but you know what? Felix is gonna he's gonna push. He's very close as well. So, uh, either one of these guys.

SPEAKER_03 18:49

Where are you guys on this?

SPEAKER_06 18:52

I think that if we're talking about the immediate future, now if we're talking about career uh over their entire career, how many games will they play for the Hurricanes? I think that's really unknowable at this point. You could have them leave for another team and come back. You never know the way things work out with the Canes. And we saw that with Freddie Anderson. Um so we we don't really know um as far as that goes. But as far as the immediate future, I think that the immediate future answer is pretty clearly going to be Nadeau because he is he is pushing for the NHL spot, but he's also in that make or break it kind of year. He has played as long as you know a player really should play in the AHL if they're going to have an NHL career. Um the type of player that he is, the type of scorer that he is, it's kind of now or never for him. Um and it's not that that is a a huge position for him to be in right now, you know, where he has to either make the roster, be there opening night to fill in that spot we talked about for Seth Jarvis, you know, or I mean in in some way or another, whether he's actually up there or whether we are treated to another round of first slide Martinook. Um my joke, I know.

SPEAKER_07 19:54

But uh hey, first slide Martinick, first line Martinick isn't a joke anymore. First slide Martinook won a Stanley Cup, you know? So yeah, we can't say that anymore.

SPEAKER_06 20:05

So no, it's it's but I mean that's just it. We don't know exactly where Nadeau would slide in, but he does have a better chance of sliding in on this roster than Ungerswarm right now. And I think that Unger Swarm also, that being that he's only just 20, he's not at the make or break year yet. He is easy to send back and forth up from, you know, if he needs to come up from Chicago and play a few games. I would love to see him get one of those little chances maybe during the year as injuries and illnesses happen. Maybe there's, you know, a round of flu in the locker room like there sometimes is, and he gets a chance to come up and play a few games. I would love to see him get that chance. But I think it's gonna be Nadeau's year, one way or the other.

SPEAKER_00 20:42

I I definitely think it'll be Nado's year as well. But I love the fact that Unger Storm has made a case for himself because he was hot a few training camps ago, and then it seems like he cooled off, and he is proof that you know we we were very doubtful about whether or not Stenkhoven could do could make the switch from winger to center. And we see why in what happened with Unger Storm, a lot of the reasons that he stumbled last season is because they were trying him out at center and seeing whether or not he could make that shift from winger to center. And it did not work. And last season he was able to go back to the position that he knew the best and was the most comfortable in, and he once again blossomed and show what he was able to do. Which means I think he would be the more likely candidate for being a trade chip at some point in the future. Not now, not as the season gets rolling, but he would be somebody else that could um another team that's that's not as competitive as the canes could say, hey, we've got a spot for him in our lineup. We have the time and the patience and the ability to develop somebody who has NHL skill but is still somewhat raw, and would be able to find that sort of deal available. I think Nadeau is definitely a lot more likely to find himself in the lineup. But where that is would be the big mystery and knowing how successful his would be, because if he is playing fourth nine minutes, uh I don't know that it's gonna go as well as all of us think that it should be able to go and want to go. If he is literally filling in for Jarvis, getting to play up on that top line with Aho and Svetch, then it's a whole different ballgame as far as what he's able to do. So it's just all a question of what the coaching staff intends to do with him should he be on the opening day roster.

SPEAKER_01 22:31

No, I you know, last podcast, you know, I went nuts and said Nadeau's on the team.

SPEAKER_04 22:37

So I know what I said.

SPEAKER_01 22:40

But here's the thing. Um I I you know the fourth line question, you know, I think we we kind of said, hey, he maybe that's not the best place for him. For sure. He's he's a guy that brings tremendous elite offensive skill, for sure. But the thing that he did this year, he actually he's improved his defensive game immensely. He went from a minus 20 to a plus 16 this year. Like he was killing penalties, he was doing a lot of heavy lifting

Roster Efficiency & Ghost’s Health

SPEAKER_01 23:06

defensively. So he's a guy that can play on a fourth line. He can go and do that work. He the other thing he did too was he became a much heavier player. And I think I think he helped himself a ton this year because he gave himself the the flexibility to play anywhere the canes would want to put him. And that's why I'm really excited. That's why I think he could really make the team.

SPEAKER_00 23:27

Because that'll be key. It'll be key to where Jackson Blake started, right?

unknown 23:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 23:33

When Blake started the team, he started on the fourth line and he had to earn that trust. So same same thing for Nadeau. He might have to start there.

SPEAKER_01 23:40

Which is fine. I'm okay with that. That's fine. Um, you know, originally I kind of said, hey, I don't think I want to see him there, but you know what? He's he's just recreated himself. He's he's he's become a full, you know, kind of complete player. And uh, and so he can he should definitely be in the lineup. And man oh man, uh I'll be a very disappointed guy if he got. And I know the Nadeaux will be not happy either. Anyway, uh great stuff. Uh we're not expecting a trade at this stage, at least I'm not. I don't see that in the short term. I think both of these guys will be at camp, and I think Bradley Nadeau will start the season with the Kings. So, okay. Matthew Powell says, okay, if Nadeau plays, I'll say he scores 30 goals. How many goals do you think he'll score? That's a great question.

SPEAKER_06 24:29

I'm gonna be way more conservative and say, you know, that if if he if he abs gets the absolute best, you know, maximum everything, he'll he'll probably hit 20. And the reason I say that is because we don't know how many games he will play, because Seth Jarvis will come back at some point. And then you have that question, you know, if you have to send someone down to Chicago, it's better to send players that don't have to clear waivers. So it even though that wouldn't be great for Nadeau at that point, if he had to come back and forth between Chicago and uh the NHL for a while, he may be stuck in the position of having to do that if they have if they can't send anyone else down. If he plays a full season, I still think he's gonna be started in that in that range. And that that's because, first of all, scoring in the NHL is very different from scoring in the AHL. Secondly, um, he won't be, even if he stays with the the Keynes a full season, he won't probably be on the top line with the Aho and Spechnikov once Jarvis returns. So we know that he's not gonna get that kind of deployment. He's not gonna get first power play deployment, you know. So a lot of his goals have have come from the power play as well. So I think that it's realistic not to put that kind of pressure on a young guy. Now he could surprise us and do way more. But realistically, looking at where he's gonna be and you know, um the fact that he might, like you said, take some shifts on the fourth line. Um it's just more I think it's more realistic to put him in the 20 marker rather than the 30 marker. And that doesn't mean it couldn't be 23. It doesn't mean it couldn't be, you know, something like that. But I don't think he I see him hitting 30.

unknown 25:55

Okay.

SPEAKER_06 25:56

What do you think, Katie?

SPEAKER_00 25:57

I'm gonna be much I'm gonna even be more conservative than that. I looked up Jackson Blake's rookie numbers because Rod loved Blake. Rod played Blake. He started on Blake that first year went from the fourth line to the second line to the third line up to the top line. He was all over the place and he scored 17 goals and had 17 assists. I think the Doe ends up in that same range. Probably good. I still think that there are gonna be times where even if he's with the team, he's gonna be the extra forward. And so I'm gonna say probably just 15 goals. And you know, piggybacking on what you said with you know, he's not gonna get the power play time, probably, because the Canes have a full complement of individuals for the power play that are much more experienced. Okay, he might he might eventually gain that trust the same way that Blake has quickly gained that trust, and it'll be interesting then to see how Brenda Moore works out the ice time around that of everybody else. But for right now, I'm saying conservatively 15 goals, and and that would still be great. That'd be a great contribution to get from someone like him moving forward. I don't think that you know we need to expect him to become a superstar right away. Let him be a role player and a contributor and get his feet wet and be surrounded by that support cast to really help him grow into what he needs to be as an NHL.

SPEAKER_01 27:23

Yeah, I mean I agree. I've got him 15 to 20 right in that range. I think that's where he should be.

SPEAKER_07 27:30

Imagine your bet there.

SPEAKER_01 27:33

You know, here's the thing, guys, is that the team's loaded. I mean, you know, there's not a lot of room for him to get unless there's injuries through the season. Um, he did score three goals in 12 games, but he played a lot of ice in those games because a lot of players were sitting out, right? So he definitely can score in the big leagues. We know that he's he's he's got the talent to do it. But I think the way he's gonna be deployed, and I totally agree, and you know, Rod likes to bring them along slowly, as you know. Um, you know, just kind of let them find their way, and and uh, you know, I think he's gonna do the same thing with Bradley. And and that's great. Hey, if he's in there and he gets 15 to 20 goals, hey, what's he gonna do the year after the year after the year after? So I'm with you guys 100%. I think that's what it's gonna be. And by the way, Matthew, if he scores 30, I'll be the happiest guy in the globe.

SPEAKER_06 28:22

I think if he scores 30, we should send him some send Matthews like some kind of a Star Trek or merch or something.

SPEAKER_01 28:29

Yeah, that's true.

SPEAKER_07 28:30

Give him a little gift reward.

SPEAKER_01 28:32

That's a great question. Hey, Cody uh at you know has has some interesting ones too. So Cody said, Look, renewed thoughts on replacing stall down the line. Okay, that's his first one. We'll touch on that. Starting lines in Paris for season opener. Okay, I think that's pretty easy. And here's the big one: any crows the pod would like to eat.

SPEAKER_04 28:57

I love that one. Oh, I'm gonna jump in with that with that last question.

SPEAKER_00 29:07

That last question I'll say right now. I've already eaten my crow because that is on the Stenhoven question. When we made that bet at the beginning of the playoffs, is whether or not Stenkhoven was going to be 2C. I had my hair and pigtails because I lost that bet with Aaron. So I I have already managed that, but I don't think anybody, anybody realistically expected that line and Sankhoven in the middle of it to be as they were. I mean, they were on fire, and that's going to be one of the things that I am so looking forward to with this season is seeing did they just get hot at the right time or did something click and that this is going to be maybe not exactly the new norm, but closer to the norm than their regular season production last year was. That is going to be one of the really interesting storylines for me because if that second line can be that effective or close to that effective in the regular season, it is going to be huge for the game.

Nadeau vs Unger Sorum NHL Chances

SPEAKER_00 30:17

I am here for every moment of that.

SPEAKER_01 30:21

Oh man.

SPEAKER_00 30:22

That would be fun.

SPEAKER_01 30:24

On your crow point, uh, we actually have to go deeper because we were trying to pick up a centerman, as you recall at the trade tabline, because we didn't think.

SPEAKER_07 30:32

Yes, we we thought we thought they needed another center. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:35

We were all over, you know, Robert Thomas and most of King. Yeah, so yeah, we we fell on that sort. Um, well, we might as well finish the crow discussion. Uh there's a couple of folks like I certainly look back and and Freddie Anderson, you know, we we were not so happy about Fred, and we thought, oh boy, you know, he's kind of maybe done, you know, like in so many words, and all he does is come into the playoffs and and just rock it. So yeah, I think I think we can take one on Fred. Was there anybody on your side, uh, Aaron, that you kind of think?

SPEAKER_06 31:09

I mean, I was I was also worried about, you know, second COVID, but and I also think that the I was a little bit, you know, waiting to not so much worried, but just waiting to see how Blake would do because he was not very good in the playoffs the first season. Yeah, yeah, exactly. And you never really know how that's gonna go. Some players are, you know, that they're they're great in the regular season and then they just get in the playoffs and they get a little overwhelmed. And you know, there are players that were like that their entire career. I I I remember um in Montreal, Tomas Tatar. Tatar is a great regular season player, was a great regular season player, and had just nothing in the playoffs. So I was waiting to see that with Blake. I didn't think it would be that bad, but I wasn't sure if if he was going to be the weak link on that line, and he certainly was not. He was actually fantastic, and I think he was driving playing a lot of the time. Yeah, yeah. So so that's my crow. I'll I'll eat crow on Jackson Blake.

SPEAKER_01 32:00

The other one for you, I was I thought you might bring it up, was KK because we thought he would have a better season.

SPEAKER_06 32:05

Um, that's okay, that's for the whole season, but you know, honestly, there it's still completely inexplicable what happened to him last season. And I think that you you can't predict something like that. You just can't, you know, because you don't you're not involved in the decision making that says, you know, hey, this guy's been playing for us for four years now as as this regular steady player, and we've decided we like him better in the press box. I mean, who who who goes into the season thinking that's gonna happen? So that's how that worked out, and you know, we're we're still waiting to see what will be resolved with that, but we've had enough of that discussion.

SPEAKER_01 32:35

I think we can deal with the starting lines pretty quickly. That's one that we should.

SPEAKER_06 32:38

Oh, yeah, yeah. No, we'll do that one next. Yeah. Okay. So starting lines exactly as in the playoffs, except for Jarvis, probably. Pretty much.

SPEAKER_00 32:48

And just the goal ticket. Because I'm not sure they're gonna trust whoever they have filling in for Jarvis to be the top line or so. Maybe move Ealers up to the top line, and then if it's Nadeau like we talked about, no better mentor in Rod Brendamore's eyes than Jordan Stahl to help a young kid along. So put put Nadeau with uh with Stahl and Martinook and let him let him learn alongside the the vets. But other than that, starting line, starting pairs, and starting goalie Brandon Bussey, and let's hit the ice skating fast.

SPEAKER_06 33:25

Yeah, I'm actually gonna disagree with you, Katie. I don't think I don't think Rod splits up Eeler's install. I don't. I think that he likes what the two of them produced together both in the regular season and the playoffs, and I think he would rather move Martin Nook up to that top line if he had to, to begin with. Um, just like he has done in the past, or you know, or he'll actually give Nadeau a shot there and say, well, it's you know, but I think your perspective shifts a little bit when you've won the cup. Those first games are not gonna seem all that crucial, especially with such a short preseason. So he he could give Nadeau.

SPEAKER_00 33:59

I love what you say, because Nadeau and Ealers together with Nadeau's shot and Ealers uh vision and passing skills. Well, that could be an option, that could be an opportunity too.

SPEAKER_07 34:09

That could be so nice that's a spiritual thing.

SPEAKER_06 34:13

I think it's either gonna be it's either gonna be Spech Aho Nadeau just for funsies for the first five to ten games to see how it goes. Because they're not that critical.

SPEAKER_00 34:24

Well, he's won now.

SPEAKER_07 34:26

He's won the cup with his team, he doesn't have to be so stressed all the time. But anyway, if not that, if not that, Ealer's stall Nadeau could be really, really interesting.

SPEAKER_06 34:38

So let's see. I'm I'm gonna see what they do at training camp with that. But other than that, we're gonna see everything exactly the same.

SPEAKER_01 34:45

Yeah, and don't forget last year or the first ten games. I mean, uh Stachnikov did nothing. I mean, you know, they got off those close to the top line anyway. That's true. But I mean, imagine if they put Nadeau and Ealers together and then they have the you know the uh spank open line and then they've got A'Hose line. This is just ridiculous.

SPEAKER_06 35:04

I mean it's it is no matter there's really no bad way to arrange the lines, and the only thing that could possibly impact them at all, really, would be if they did, in fact, trade Nikitian, then they have to put somebody else. For sure. And you know, um they don't have to get a defenseman back because we know what they've got in Chicago, they could bring up Lego.

SPEAKER_01 35:22

Yeah, and and actually in the conversation with Spiros the other day, of course, he was you know, he felt very strongly that both uh Charles Alexis Lego and Joel Nistro could jump in and do that job. So that's kind of nice. Um okay, last one. I don't think this is gonna be too easy in this regard, but renewed thoughts on replacing Stahl down the line. Well, we don't think Stahl is leaving anytime soon. That's the first thing. But when he goes, are there any air appearance in our view?

SPEAKER_00 35:52

I I've said this before and I will say it again. I think while he doesn't have the same size as Stahl, I think that Aho will be the Stahl replacement.

SPEAKER_04 36:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 36:03

That said, that is assuming that Rod Brindemore is still the head coach of the Canes. There has been some rumbling on Twitter X that has said that when Stahl retires, that's when Brindamore is going to say, I have achieved what I have wanted to achieve. We have won a cup, maybe more, hopefully more, with Stahl's captain, Stahl's my guy, Stahl's retiring. I am going to step out of my role, maybe take on more of an advisor role, something in the front office with the team. Something that gives him the freedom to coach his younger son, to be able to be more involved with his family, to be more of a Raleigh established uh figure rather than somebody who has all of the responsibilities and demands of being the Keynes head coach. So that's kind of where I'm seeing it go. But I definitely do not see Stahl retiring after this season when his contract's up. I think he signs an extension that will be at least a two, if not three or four year extension. Yeah, that would probably take him past 40, but he is in such good condition and he has enough humility that if all of a sudden he was playing for the team and he was the fourth line center instead of the second or third line center, he would be okay with that because he just loves the game and he loves his team and he wants to do whatever is best for the boys. As many, many interviews that that have happened before and after the win of the Stanley Cup have demonstrated. So I don't think this is anything we have to worry about anytime soon.

SPEAKER_03 37:41

I agree.

SPEAKER_06 37:43

I think I think the only thing that I would say is that they probably have a list in front office of people that they would like to bring in to be that third line center if and when Stahl's not playing that role, whether he's um retired or whether he's, like Katie says, accepted that he needs to be a fourth line guy. Because right now you look at the roster, and even looking at Chicago, I know a lot of people have a lot of hopes about young Charlie Serato, but it's a little early to be putting those kinds of hopes on. Yeah. So um, so I I think

Projecting Nadeau’s Goal Total

SPEAKER_06 38:11

that they have a list and they think it's probably, you know, uh names of people that I'm not even gonna start saying them because they're all under contract with their teams, and their teams are very happy with them. These are not people that are available right now. I can tell you that if you can probably think of some of them yourselves. But those are the guys they would go after. They would they would use whatever um the leverage they have in terms of people they have to trade, you know, or um things that they can exploit, situations that they can get in there and and make something happen. And they're gonna do that at the right time when they start feeling like Stahl can't handle the role. But I think Stahl's got another he that he's 38 this season, he will be 38 when the season starts. He's gonna have at least one more fully effective year before we start seeing major age-related regression. Barring injury, because you always have to say that. Barring injury, he's gonna have one more fully effective year. So no worries right now, but for the future, they they already know who they want. And like Katie said, if if uh if Rod is also retiring around that point, they don't necessarily have to worry about bringing in someone who's an exact stall clone. There aren't any. Um, but they're still gonna need someone who's gonna be able to be coached by Rod for those transitional years where Stalls may be on the fourth line. So it has to be somebody that Rod would want there in that role. And there are a lot of those guys.

SPEAKER_01 39:32

We we talked about uh, you know, St. Louis had interest in Niketian, and you know, one of the things that's been said repeatedly is that the Keynes ask is uh Robert Thomas. And he's the kind of guy that could come in and and you know take a center spot for the canes, which would be ideal, because then Aho could slip down to the more defensive role that uh that would be required. So uh I think you're right. I think whatever happens is gonna be something that uh you know canes will have a plan, they'll find a centerman. I I believe they're gonna have to acquire someone. I think you're right, Eric. I don't think uh at this stage we don't see that person in the canes uh organization and yeah, so that's fun. Uh yeah, I think uh the big guy is gonna be around for a while. And uh and I think we can enjoy him. And you know what? The way he played this at the end of this last season, I mean it's uh there's no telling how long he can be playing. I mean, that's the other thing. You look at Brent Burns and some of these other guys, and they're going forever right now. Like he's back again this year. So it's uh in case you know well, he's still delivering some good work. Okay. Um couple of quick questions. Uh Stephen Keynes and Dodge said, what is the one position or player that the Canes need or could use to help them repeat as Stanley Cup champion?

SPEAKER_03 40:52

Do they need anything?

SPEAKER_00 40:54

I don't think we know right now. I mean, uh that's more of a trade deadline question because they're so strong. Everybody but Anderson's coming back. I mean, unless Nikisha moves on, but I don't think anybody's too worried about that position. They'll either get somebody good back in the trade or that or we know Lego, we know Nystrom. So at this point, I don't know that they really need somebody now. It's just where is the team at come the come February since I think that isn't the trade deadline like March? It's early. March 1st. Early March. March 1st. Yeah, early. So where where are they at at that point in time? And then they can make more surgical decisions when it comes to the roster. But right now, I think they look great. I am so excited for this season to get started.

SPEAKER_06 41:47

I think the only thing I would say, Katie, is that if they were looking, you know, and and um you you always remember that uh Eric always says, I'm always looking to make the team better. So he's always looking, you know. Um, I think that the two positions he's probably looking at and has his eye on, one of them people aren't gonna like. But the first one, um, I think that they're gonna be looking for a new partner for Jacob Slavin. I think that they're gonna be keeping their eyes open on the trade market, keeping their eyes open as people become available, especially those right-handed defensemen. We all love Jalen Chatfield. I think that their relationship off the ice is terrific. They're great friends and they're, you know, they work well, they play well together. But as Katie, if I can use one of your phrases, they're samey, samey. They're both defensive defensemen, neither one of them produces much. And when you have a pair that takes that much ice time, you need them to be racking up those assists because that's the how they facilitate the offense for um the forward lines that are out there. So sooner or later that will become an issue. I don't, it wasn't an issue last year. It it certainly wasn't an issue in the playoffs. Um, it will become an issue going forward when you're up against teams that have these guys like Lane Hudson, for instance, and you know, some of these guys that really drive a lot of offense from the back end. So ultimately, that's one position I think they'll be looking to upgrade at eventually. Again, like you said, not immediate, not this year, maybe not even trade.

SPEAKER_01 43:09

Oh, sure, go ahead. Okay, the difference the Kanes have is that they've got an offensive juggernaut on their third pair. That's that's good. So they're they're able to deliver offense, you know, without that group doing a lot of offense.

SPEAKER_06 43:23

And and the other thing is But they play the third pair is gonna play 13 to 15 minutes a game. But but but Slavin and Chatfield are playing 20 to 24.

SPEAKER_01 43:31

Yeah, but when you get 50 points from you know, in 55 games from uh you know, but how many of those were on the power play?

SPEAKER_06 43:38

Let's be real.

SPEAKER_01 43:39

So but that that's the other comment though, let me just say one other thing is that you know that Slavin, it was a tough year for him all round. Right. And he's normally a 30-plus point guy. Okay, so he does deliver some offense. And this year, because of his injury situation, he was really hampered, I think, tremendously at being able to rush, get into the play, and and do the things he normally does. So yeah.

SPEAKER_06 44:03

Other question, though, is that this is Chat Field's last year on his contract.

SPEAKER_01 44:06

Yes, it is.

SPEAKER_06 44:07

So this is where they have to they also have to assess how happy he is with the idea of re signing, what he would resign for, whether he's willing to look at you know what what you know kind of money and and all the rest of it. So if that they're gonna be that is something they're gonna be keeping in mind. And the other one that people, like I said, might not be happy with me about is I do think down the road, because it's not gonna be this year necessarily, and it might not even be next year, they're gonna need an upgrade on that stall line right now. Right wing as much as we all love Jordan Martinock. They're they're they're gonna come to the point where they need someone who can play with Stahl and Ealers better. And like Katie said, if you if they try to dough there and it works, you know, then you don't even have to worry about it. Um so that's just that's and then you know, obviously they're gonna pick up depth, but we all know that.

SPEAKER_01 44:51

So yeah, I mean, I think you're right, Aaron. And I mean for sure, I mean Martinuk at some point I think should move down to the fourth line. I mean, I've said this for a while. Um he would be a great fourth liner, he's the kind of guy that could uh you know slip up in the line and defeated and so on. But I think I think he's he's edging towards that. He did, you know, he did some great work at the end of the year, but you know, time's catching up on him as well. So um, okay. Uh the second question, just uh to finish up for Steve, is the Bussy Kochekov combination of healthy enough to repeat? Katie, what do you got on that?

SPEAKER_00 45:31

I think we don't know is the correct answer, but man, I hope so. I want that to work so well. I mean Aaron mentioned guys on their last year of their of their contracts. We've talked about a lot of them. Kochekov is another one. Busy's just starting his extension, but Kochekov is on the last year of that four-year extension that he signed. So it's a big year for him, and he needs to he needs to show that he had a very strong potential to be a better than just a backup goalie. He needs to, um in an ideal world, they platoon, they switch starts between the two of them. They are a an ideal tandem, and that they both can play strong. And I I mean that's what I want more than anything. Y'all know I love Koach Hekov. He is my favorite player on the team. I love his his energy

Opening Night Lines & Eating Some Crow

SPEAKER_00 46:26

and his spunk and his playstyle, even though sometimes it gets a little too too crazy and can go. I love that spirit that he brings to the position. And I hate, I would hate to see for the canes to for you know for that to not work out on the canes and him to end up going elsewhere. I would still root for him, um provided he's not on a certain couple of teams. But I want it to work. In my mind, it should work. It makes all the sense in the world that it will work, but don't know, we'll have to see. There just aren't a lot of goalies out there better than the two of them that are available. So they're gonna the canes will definitely give it every possible chance for this to work.

SPEAKER_01 47:15

Yeah, I mean Bosse was near the top last year and wins, so we know he can do it.

SPEAKER_00 47:20

And new reality. Don't know.

SPEAKER_01 47:26

I think he's gonna be fine, and he played great the playoffs. So I I I fully expect Bussi's gonna be fine. Um, Kochakov, I'd love to see him rebound. Really, just like you. We're all pulling for that. Yeah, wouldn't that be amazing? I mean, he's a guy that at different times. I don't you know, remember we talked about him at different points where he had these runs where he was ridiculous. Like just he, you know, winning a bunch of games in a row and his goals against average was sub-1 or something. It was incredible. So he's a guy we know that when he's healthy, he can play. So yeah, I think they're good enough. I don't think there's any changes coming there. Um, and I don't think there will be a lot of movement on the canes to get extra goalies. I don't think they're gonna need that if they can sign uh Caden Primo. He's he's uh an RFA right now, but I'm sure they'll get that done. He's I think he's fine. So I think the goaltending's good. And it kind of segues into another quick topic. Uh uh Eric KA had something on PTOs. Uh he said, Do you think the Kings might target some PTOs, some individuals to come in on on uh tryouts, professional tryouts? Um you know what interesting, just as I before we go into this, um when I was thinking about this, I thought, well, what have they done on the PTO side, right? So last year, remember what they did last year? Yeah. They had some PTOs, right? Right. And what happened with uh Giovanni Smith? Didn't he just sign overseas? No, but they signed him last year. Remember? So he did he had a great he had a great camp. They signed Giovanni Smith, a two-way deal, you know, and he was gonna go to Chicago and be ready to come up and be a bit of an aggressor or whatever. So they had guys there. I mean, they had uh Oliver Shillington. Remember uh Katie, he was in last year. Um and and Shillington came in. So they had some guys last year, and you know, the year before, Skylar Brindamore was on a PTO and he signed. So, I mean, they have been bringing guys in that have been interesting. I mean, a couple of years ago, this was funny. I did a podcast on the PTOs alone because there were seven in uh there were seven PTOs. It's insane. And you know, they did it because they ended up having uh they had two games on the same day, right? So they had to make sure they had enough players uh in the camp to do the two games. And I mean they all they didn't sign any of them, of course. And there were there were a couple of guys that had played some NHL stuff, but nothing significant. Um yeah, back to the point. Um I think they'll target PTOs. Well, okay, you know, when you think about it, this is kind of a weird year, but you look at the UFAs that are out there, right? And you know, one of the things that I've thought about is do they want another Sanderman? I mean, it depends on what happens with uh Kokiniami, of course, but you know, would they want to look at uh maybe a veteran centerman or do they want some guys that could go down to Chicago? Like Tyson Jost, right, Katie? Yeah, he's still unsigned.

SPEAKER_00 50:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 50:29

I mean, he would be ideal.

SPEAKER_00 50:31

He knows he knows the team, he knows the system, that would be fantastic.

SPEAKER_01 50:35

Yeah, I mean, there's guys like Tyson Jost, I think he'd be a good one. Um, you know, there's guys like Luke Glandini and Thomas Nosh. Those guys are they're low-cost guys, they're veterans, they can fill in, you know. I mean, I don't, you know, you're not gonna get a great guy. Mike Ryan isn't the one signed. Could he be re-signed in some way? I don't know. Could he come in as a PTO? Who knows? Um, and the one that I laugh about, and this is this is something for you, Aaron. Patrick Miney.

SPEAKER_06 51:07

There has been talk about him coming in on some teams, but not the canes. The canes have not had any uh interest whatsoever, and I don't think that they would do that unless, you know, just for fun. Yeah, he's he's uh you know he may be going the PTO route this year, which is interesting, but if if he does, I think it'll be for teams that are really starved for offense, you know, because the canes certainly aren't. Um and to me, the one thing that might make them say, well, gosh, we really don't need to bring in too many guys on PTOs unless you know they just have a couple, maybe, is that there's only four preseason games. And typically in the past, they have had to bring in a lot of people. There are only four preseason games. They're gonna want to bring up some guys from Chicago. They have some guys that that can, you know, I mean, you you know, we'll we'll jump right back onto the Kook Kanyeemi question. One good thing Kook Kinyemi brings to the roster right now is he has uh he meets the veteran player requirement for preseason games. He can play all four of them if they want to bring up a lot of guys from Chicago, and you'll still have some veteran presence there. So they don't have to put in regular roster players and risk them getting injured in these four games. And I think the other teams are gonna be in the same position. I mean, you think about Canes usually end up playing uh, you know, Florida a bunch, and and uh that you know they were injured a lot last year, so their guys are not gonna want to come out and be super aggressive and and uh sure you know you're not gonna have a bunch of goons on both sides. So there's there may not be the need that there was in the past when you had six games or more, you know, to deal with just four games.

SPEAKER_01 52:36

I think they might be players that could end up in Chicago, maybe a couple of veterans that they could sign. That's true.

SPEAKER_06 52:49

That is true. The Chicago's guys might know that.

SPEAKER_01 52:52

Sure, on the forward side, not defensively, because they're voting on the blue. But uh yeah, and and you know, a bit of a segue from your comment about uh the toughness in in preseason was that uh a big question was raised by the pumpkin eater. Uh I thought this was kind of funny. Um, and he said, who would win a fight between Nick DeLaurie and Colorado's Zach LaRue?

SPEAKER_06 53:16

I think it would have to go. I would I looked at their stats, I looked up their career fights, and I think I would have to give the decision to DeLaurier because he's a lot bigger, he's a lot stronger, he's gonna hit harder. Uh Nick DeLaurier um would probably be able to take down Zach LaRue. Um the only thing with with uh LaRue is he's kind of crazy. So you never you have to account for that in a fight, you know. He might be willing to go. But really realistically, you look at the list of people that DeLaurier has fought, you've got some big, heavyweight guys that he's gone up against, and uh Zach has not gone up against those kind of guys. So I think I think it would be D L.

SPEAKER_00 53:53

I know I disappeared during the PTO thing. The one name that I

Replacing Jordan Staal Someday

SPEAKER_00 53:56

did want to bring up real quick that if they don't have confidence in Nadeau being able to provide what they want, um somebody who's unsigned and is known for his offense but has been really down on his luck is somebody that Aaron and I are both familiar with because he has played for both of our teams, and that's Jonathan Druin. He but okay, I know, I know Tom, but here's the thing is when he is surrounded by the right kind of player like he showed when he was with Colorado, he can be effective. He really brought his game to another level with the Aves, and that included defensively, not just offensively, because there's a big concern that in a broad Rod Brindamore system you have to be able to be trusted with the puck, and he was very good defensively when he was playing for the Aves in that kind of a role. I am not saying I think that the Canes should sign him to a PTO or that they will sign him to a PTO or that he would necessarily be effective, but he would be a name out there that could fit that. I'm a filling in for Jarvis until Jarvis is able to return type player.

SPEAKER_01 55:07

And Katie, I'll tell you this that back to Cody's comment. I'll eat the crow if they if they bring him on a PTO. I just he was a great player at different points. I really liked him, but he to me he's he's declined exponentially. So yeah. Let's uh let's wrap up with uh some quick closing comments. Uh as we think about what's coming up in the next month. What are we thinking in terms of the hurricanes? Aaron?

SPEAKER_06 55:37

Well, I mean, we've just had a great conversation about all the things we think that's gonna, you know, that are gonna happen and gonna do, but we always have to make remember that Eric Cholsky is sometimes a surprising guy. You know, he doesn't he does not do things based on well, we have these deadlines or we have this that we have to do. So we we don't know if he's gonna end up making a trade, if he's gonna end up making some moves, or if he's just gonna, if this is it. We haven't had the we're finished for the season kind of conversation with Tolski. Not really. So, and I don't know that we'll get that because he he doesn't really see it that way. He doesn't see the off-season as the only time you can make these changes and adjustments, as we know from recent experience. So um it will be interesting to see if they go into the playoffs. I mean, sorry, if they go into the season, the preseason, you can change that. The playoffs. Okay, am I? You know, um, it has been a lot lately. But yeah, um, if they go into the preseason with this roster that they currently have, I think we we're on the right track for all of that, you know. Um, the other thing that I think I'm gonna be seeing, you know, looking for and seeing is that, you know, one of the things that may affect what they do as far as Nadeau or anybody else's, how long it takes Seth Jarvis not just to come back into the lineup, but to really get back up to speed. And I I was gonna share this with you guys real quickly. Um, I looked it up. Cole Caulfield did have that exact surgery or pretty close to it on you know, for the torn um put labrum in the shoulder. And um when he came back, he he he he was shut down in the middle of the season. So he missed about half the season, and then he had the entire um summer to recover. And when he came back, you know, his first the first half of that season, he only had 11 goals. And that's oh yeah, that's a small number for Caulfield. It took him till the second half of the season to start really getting back up to speed. So I think we all have to be bearing that in mind and being really patient with Jarvis's recovery. I hate when fans on the internet start going, you know, what's wrong with this guy? Why he's finally back and he's not doing anything. We could see that with Jarvis, and that might also alter where he plays in the lineup. He might actually be the one next to Wheeler's install because he might not be able to handle the heavy minutes until a certain point in his recovery. So that's the only thing that I wanted to add in and say, as we're going forward into the season, that's something I hope we're all kind of watching.

SPEAKER_00 57:49

Yeah, that's a really good idea. How about you, Katie? I'm just I'm just I I'm I think I think you posted this the other day, Aaron, that I am on X all the time because I'm like something the moment that I decide to step away is gonna be the moment that something happens and miss it. And so I I think that's what a lot of August is gonna be for me. Um I have enjoyed my summer vacation a lot, but getting back into school will perhaps give me a good dose of reality once um I have another week off before I have to head back. So um that might give me a good dose of reality and help pass the time. But it's just what I'm really gonna soak in more than anything is all of the different pictures and videos of the canes enjoying their day with

Goalie Tandem, PTO Targets & Wrap

SPEAKER_00 58:36

the cup. That's yeah, that's been fun so far. It really Freddie in Legoland and Elon in his yellow sports car with the cup and fishy eating his mom's salmon soup out of the cup. And Blake, I think, was had it um today, and it's just been so cool to see all of those pictures. And so that that has been a nice treat to have. It's really, really helped to pass the time this summer so far. And we've got we've got a lot of the teams still to go, so there's still plenty of guys who are gonna have lots of adventures with the cup before the preseason gets rolling. So I am I am looking forward to that to help pass the time.

SPEAKER_01 59:29

Uh Juha Yaska and Alexei Himosalmi were celebrating with Yesperi Kokaniami. Nice. Yay, so it was uh they were having a great time over there, so it was kind of fun. So it was.

SPEAKER_00 59:44

I love the fact that KK took the cup out on a jet ski, and the cup was wearing its own life jacket.

SPEAKER_07 59:53

I think I think after the Panthers took it into the ocean, they kind of made a new role. The cup can only go in the water if it's wearing a life jacket.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:02

I mean, you know, Okiniami, that's that's great, right? To see him celebrating that way, you know, given everything that took place. I think it's just wonderful. And maybe, you know what? He might come back and maybe it'll be renewed energy, and who knows. And and he's certainly having fun with it. So so kudos to him and so on. But uh, yeah, hey, great questions. Spirit of conversation, deepers.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:25

Yep, everybody, for those questions. Yes, absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:29

That was those were great questions for all. And several were on point, so it's kind of fun that they were things we wanted to talk about as well. So thanks, thanks to the crew for sending those in. But uh again, uh, for anybody that's been watching or listening, this has been a hoop. I hope you've had as much fun as we have because uh it's it's been great fun. And of course, uh, you know, if you like the episode, we always appreciate it. If you press the like button, that's great for us. Uh, if you have comments or you want to say anything about what we think is gonna happen with the canes, fire away down below. We'd love to hear from you. And of course, uh, if you want to be alerted of future episodes of Stormtracker and uh catch uh future episodes of myself and uh Aaron and Katie battling away. That's always great fun. Um please uh uh press the uh subscribe and bell buttons and we'll make sure you're made aware as soon as they're available. As always, Aaron, Katie, and I thank you so much for spending time with us, and we look forward to getting together with you real soon right here. Let's talk.