After a tumultuous first season of the David Quinn era at Boston University, there was bound to be plenty of roster turnover. With a large recruiting class coming in it was expected that there would be some players from the 2013-14 team that wouldn't be returning.

Freshman forward Brendan Collier and redshirt sophomore defenseman J.D. Carrabino have been cut from the roster, according to multiple sources.

Collier, a Carolina Hurricanes draft pick out of Malden Catholic High School and the Valley Jr. Warriors (EJHL), appeared in 28 games as a rookie, potting a goal and adding three assists.

He played on one of the most feared lines in Massachusetts high school hockey in recent memory, alongside Boston College freshman Ryan Fitzgerald and Union freshman Mike Vecchione. A Charlestown, Mass. native, he played for former Merrimack head coach Chris Serino at Malden Catholic.

A seventh round selection in the 2012 draft, it is assumed Collier will transfer to another school where he will have to sit out the 2014-15 season before having three years of eligibility remaining starting with the 2015-16 season.

Carrabino, a transfer from Clarkson, played in just three games over two seasons in Potsdam, including sitting out the entire 2011-12 season. A New Caanan, Conn. native, Carrabino played prep hockey at Millbrook School before taking his game to the USHL and EJHL for two seasons.

Carrabino will likely transfer to a Division III school where he will be eligible to play immediately. Several Division III schools in Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts have already been in contact with the six-foot-six behemoth on the blue line.

The Terriers announced a seven-person incoming class and three walk-ons are supposed to be added to the mix. Jack Eichel of the US National Development Program (USNTDP) is widely considered one of the best American-born prospects in years. A likely top pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, the Chelmsford, Mass. native is the prize of the 2014 BU recruiting class.

Defensemen Jonathan MacLeod and Brandon Hickey are two BU recruits that are expected to hear their names called in the second or third rounds of the 2014 NHL Draft.

Former Terrier and LA Kings scout Steve Greeley has done a terrific job hitting the recruiting trail running in his first season as a college assistant. The South Boston native will be joined by another terrific recruiter and former Terrier in Albie O'Connell who has joined Quinn's staff, coming over from Harvard.

Ray Shero is fired in Pittsburgh, but Dan Bylsma stays for now

The Carolina Hurricanes have been very quiet so far in their search for a new head coach but there have been a few leaks out in the hockey media world indicating that Ron Francis has been busy.

We spoke a few days ago about a report in the Washington Post where Barry Trotz mentioned being contacted by the Hurricanes, Panthers, and Capitals.   There was another report mentioned yesterday in Twitter where Marc Crawford said that he had been contacted by all teams in the hunt.

George Richards, the beat writer for the Panthers, recently caught up with Kevin Dineen.  The former Carolina captain would not personally confirm or deny speaking with the Hurricanes, but according to the article, GM Dale Talon did give the Canes permission to speak with Dineen, who is still technically under contract in Florida.

Then today there is another bombshell.  Former Jack Adams and Stanley Cup winner, Dan Bylsma has been released by the Penguins this morning, along with their General Manager, Ray Shero.

UPDATE - Apparently all the hot shots on twitter got it wrong.  Bylsma was NOT fired, just Shero.  This is amazing how every media guru on twitter got this info wrong.

While Bylsma had a lot of talent to work with in Pittsburgh, he compiled the best record of any of the other candidates out there, (252-117-32 for a .670 regular season winning percentage and 43-35 record in the post season, .531).

Barry Trotz won our last poll with Kevin Dineen coming in second and John Tortorella third.  Let's try a new poll today, with fewer choices, while adding in Bylsma, and see what our Canes Country readers think now.

Anton Karlsson is a big, fast forward who has an incredible amount of positives to his game. He's young, so he isn't quite NHL ready, but with his offensive flair he could be a great pick with the Devils' first round pick.

Anton Karlsson is a speedy forward with a lot of upside. He is the brother of Erik Karlsson, but not the Ottowa Senator Erik Karlsson, the Erik Karlsson drafted 99^th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2012. He is a pain to play against and has a wide set of skill to go with his size and speed. Could he be the right pick for the Devils in the first round?

Who is Anton Karlsson?

Karlsson is a 6'2", 194 lbs forward currently playing for Florunda in the J20 SuperElit, which is the Swedish Junior League. He's a big, speedy left wing that's great on the forecheck though many scouts don't think he is ready for the NHL yet - but at just 17-years-old, that isn't too surprising.

He's done a lot for such a young player - he was the youngest player on Sweden's silver-medal WJC team, was the captain of Sweden's Five Nations team this year, and captained Sweden to a gold medal at the 2013 Under-17 WHC (he scored six goals and three assists in six games).

Karlsson is always considered one of the hardest working players on whatever team he is on. He has many positives to his game - he's a leader, an above average skater, strong passer, is great around the net, has a lethal wrist shot, is great on the rush, tough to play against... the list goes on. On top of that, Karlsson has all of these skills in a big body that doesn't get pushed around easily and is hard to knock off the puck. He can handle the puck well while moving extremely quickly and he works hard to protect his own end. He also works to keep his defensive game strong, as well - he focuses on his positioning when defending and finishes his checks well.

The biggest thing working against him is his age - he hasn't had much time to prove himself as a sure thing. There is no proof that his junior play will transition into a strong pro game, but he has every tool necessary to do just that.

He seems to have an extremely positive outlook and great character. He had this to say of his style of play,

"I am a very physical player and I love to take the positive energy to my team. I like my role in the game."

He added,

"I play a good physical game and like to take the puck to the net very fast. I want to set up good chances for my teammates."

What experts are saying about Karlsson:

Steven Hoffner of NHL.com has the Devils picking Karlsson in the first round in his most recent mock draft. In his explanation, he wrote,

"Plays both ends effectively and has strong playmaking ability which would fit in nicely in New Jersey."

You can't argue with that. His style of play seems to be exactly what the Devils look for in players, and what the team needs more of in the system.

The NHL director of European Scouting, Goran Stubb said,

"He's a physical player and effective on the forecheck. He works real hard and finishes his checks well."

Finally, Nate Sager of Yahoo! Sports Canada has a quick evaluation of Karlsson,

"Sweden's youngest player, who just turned 17 in August, emerged as a "crowd favourite" with his tenacity during the two pre-competition games. Karlsson is considered a potential top-15 pick in the NHL draft. Also, for clarity's sake, he is the younger brother of the Erik Karlsson who is also with Sweden, not the Ottawa Senators defenceman."

Video:

He's good at the shootout! Here's one of his moves:

Here's another one.

Here's a quick profile on Karlsson from Hockey Canada (his part starts around the 1:00 mark):

My opinion:

If you can't tell from my profile above, I like Anton Karlsson a lot. It may be a bit of a risky pick since he isn't the most proven player, but there is a lot of reward to be had, as well. I love his style of play and think he could end up being a steal at 30^th overall. If he is still available when the Devils are up, I'd grab him, for sure.

Karlsson seems to have a great attitude, he plays the way the Devils like to play, and has the offensive power the team desperately needs. He may not be ready for the NHL immediately, but that is the case with most 30^th overall draft picks.

Your take:

What do you think of Anton Karlsson? Do you think he would be a good first round pick? Do you think the Devils should pass on him if he is still available at 30^th overall? What are your reservations about his play? Please leave your thoughts an comments on Karlsson below. Thanks for reading!

Can the Hurricanes afford to keep Cam Ward on the roster next season?

The Carolina Hurricanes have a big question to answer before next season.  What are they going to do with Cam Ward?

Ward was injured a couple of times last year, as he was the year before, and ended up with a career worst .898 save percentage.  Anton Khudobin stepped in and played very well, so well in fact that he earned a new two-year contract as he took the number one job away from Ward later in the year, even when both goalies were healthy.

As you can see by the stats above, Justin Peters may have played well enough to deserve a shot at being the full-time backup in 2014-15, (that is a different question for another day), but Ward is still under contract while Peters is not.

As a matter of fact, Ward's contract is a big problem for the Hurricanes.  He has two more years left on it with a cap hit of $6.3 million each year, (actual cash to be paid is higher at $6.7 million next year and $6.8 the next).

Ward's salary cap hit, along with Khudobin's, put Carolina near the top of what NHL teams will spend on goalies next season.  The only team higher is the New York Rangers and that is because Henrik Lundqvist has a $8.5 million dollar hit all by himself.

The chart below shows the projected or current top two goalies for each team, along with their current salary caps.  (The UFA or RFA in parenthesis means that they need a new contract next season.)

(Salary cap info provided by (Cap Geek).

The New Jersey Devils and Dallas Stars are close, but Martin Brodeur and Tim Thomas are both due new deals next season and chances are they will make less or find themselves on another team.

The Hurricanes are widely known as a budget team, but even if they spent to the cap again next season, is this the best use of their money?

Ron Francis has a couple of options to consider.

1. He can keep Ward, rotate goalies, keep the current roster about the same as it was last year and hope for the best.

2. He can buy out Ward's contract, but that is very expensive, (almost $10 million to be paid out over four years).

3.  Perhaps the best case scenario for the club, he can try to make a trade and retain some of the contract, like Jim Rutherford has done in the past with Jussi Jokinen and Tuomo Ruutu.

The teams I would be calling would be Calgary, Vancouver, and Ottawa.  Rumors indicate that the Senators want to part ways with Jason Spezza and while the Canes do not need another number one or two center, they would probably be better off with Spezza in the mix than with Ward.

In any event, it will take some extra creativity to get a deal done and Francis will be heartily challenged in his first offseason as GM, even after he hires a new coaching staff.

We will be speaking more about this again soon.

Hurricanes General Manager Ron Francis was recently quoted as "liking him at left winger."

Eric Staal has played in 769 regular season games for the Carolina Hurricanes and has racked up 668 points so far in his career.  Add in 43 more points scored in 43 career playoff games and he has done a lot of damage while wearing the sightless eye.

Most of those points were scored while playing center.

Staal has played center throughout almost all of his career and racked up 209 points in 185 OHL games as well as 77 more points in 77 AHL games, at the same position.

The exception to that was while participating in the 2010 Olympics, he played left wing mostly with Sidney Crosby as his center and Rick Nash at right wing.  Staal totaled six points in seven games as Team Canada won the gold medal.

When Jim Rutherford acquired Jordan Staal, the general consensus around the league was that the Canes had just solidified the middle of their ice for many years to come.

But something went wrong.

During the past couple of years, the Hurricanes were not as dominant at center ice as they thought they might be.  Last season, in an effort to find some type of consistent line chemistry, coach Kirk Muller moved Eric to Jordan's wing for a few games to see what would happen.

One might think that the brothers would have instant chemistry together, but nothing much happened with that combination either.  While Eric and Jordan played about 85 even strength minutes together, not very long in the grand scheme of things, Eric did not score a goal during that time, and just totaled two points overall.

The powerplay was not any better.  The Captain scored a career low, one powerplay goal all season long, and spent plenty of time playing alongside his brother.

(stats from Dobber Hockey and Extra Skater)

It seems Eric is more comfortable and plays better while at center ice, but new Carolina GM Ron Francis was recently quoted as saying that he likes him at left wing.

"Francis added he liked seeing the captain as a left winger because it makes it easier to double-shift him around the lineup. This was one of the most interesting parts of the conversation. Asked what he's looking forward to hearing from coaching candidates, the first thing he said was, "Line pairings." He wants to hear how the interviewees would structure the roster, particularly the forward lines. "It's more about finding good pairs," he said. That way you can be flexible with the third man."

The preceding was taken from Elliotte Friedman's "30 Thoughts", which is always worth a read.

Friedman also asked about Staal's future in Carolina and Francis answered, "it depends upon the budget".

When I enquired about Eric Staal's future, the GM replied, "It depends on our budget." He could say that about a few players. Those numbers should be known in the next week or so.

Now before anyone gets too excited or upset, I believe our GM was referring to Staal's future contract.  The captain's contract is up in two years, meaning he will need a new deal.  Will the Canes have the funds to re-sign him, or should they let him walk?  (Again, another topic for another day).  Staal's performance this coming season may help to determine the future "budget" numbers.

I'm not sure what Friedman refers to when he says the "numbers should be known in the next week or so."  Staal's salary for next season is already a part of the budget.  I am sure the new GM is not going to make a trade simply to remove Staal's salary from the books when he can buy out Ward or can adjust other salaries to make the numbers fit the budget in other ways.

But back to the main point of the article.  Should Eric Staal stay at center, where he has had most of the success in his career, or should he play at wing?

Here are a few more Cam Ward opinions, as the round table weighs in

My recent article about Cam Ward from earlier this week not only spurred a bit of discussion on the blog, but it also stirred up some debate among the staff of Canes Country.  We decided to put together a round table discussion about the goalie, along with some trade proposals from those of us who think a trade is possible and would be best for the club.

Just to quickly review the facts, the Hurricanes are currently on the hook for over $8.5 million of cap space next season to be used for Ward and Anton Khudobin.  That number is the second highest dollar amount committed to goaltending in the NHL, behind only the New York Rangers.

The team basically has three choices this offseason regarding Ward:

1.  They can bite the bullet and keep both goalies, knowing that the expense would restrict them money wise, as to whom they can sign to help out the forward corps or blueline.  (They are currently at $52 million with seven forwards and five defensemen signed, (including Ryan Murphy), and the Cap is projected to be about $69-$70 million.  They have several players yet to sign.) (Cap Geek)

2.  They can buy out the goalie, which would help out the cap space involved, but would cost $9 million in cash to be spread out over four years in equal payouts.

3.  They can try to trade him, knowing that they would have to eat some salary, take back another bad contract in return, (or possibly both), or throw in an asset to sweeten the deal.

(Those of us putting forth trade proposals of course recognize that Ward has a no-trade clause and the goalie would have to approve any deal before it could happen.)

Cory Lavalette - Editor

1. If Ward only had one year remaining on his contract instead of two.
2. If there weren't other quality goaltenders (Ryan Miller, Jonas Hiller, etc, according to CapGeek there are 17 who played in over 20 games last season) available via free agency.
3. If other organizations not in the market for a UFA goaltender weren't looking for the Canes to pick up an equally expensive/underperforming contract as part of a trade.
4. If a new coaching staff wasn't on the way (including reassignment of the prior goaltending coach).
5. If there was a ready replacement in the Canes' development system.

Honestly speaking, I could sit here all day and try to come up with hypothetical trades involving Cam Ward and argue why they would be good for both teams.  It’s something that I enjoy and it’s something I do every now and then in random threads.  But I’ve been looking at this since before the trade deadline, trying to figure out what is a realistic spot for Cam to go to and what could the Hurricanes get in return.  And my conclusion is, based on his performance from the past 2 seasons and his salary, there just aren’t many options for Cam Ward.

Probably the best option for Cam would be to be bought out and then go sign cheaply with a team in need of a goaltender, but that doesn’t completely work for the Carolina franchise.  Paying him $9 million over the next 4 years to play for someone else is especially tough for a "budget" franchise.  The Canes could always retain half of his salary, but that still would cost them over $6.5 million for him to play elsewhere.  Trading him is the most difficult option and keeping him as a backup is a tough pill to swallow.  Ron Francis finds himself in a very bad situation thanks to his predecessor.

So I believe Cam Ward will be back in a Hurricanes uniform next season, to the detriment of the team.  He will be unhappy with a backup role and inconsistent when he actually plays, but he will be collecting a fat paycheck.  His and other contracts will prohibit management from acquiring other players that could help balance the lineup and we will fail to see the playoffs yet again.  The Hurricanes will be looking to go into a full rebuild come sometime in 2016.

C-Leaguer - Contributor

Winnipeg for Pavelec has seemed like the logical destination for a while now to me. With that said Miller being on the market changes some things. I've been thinking that Cam might get traded in season next year as someone who outperforms expectations decides to make a move. This could still be Winnipeg. Still like to get something done at the draft, but I've been thinking that the trade deadline might be the more logical time. Canes may be more willing to keep more salary then.

Matt Krombach - Intern

With a new General Manager in place, there is no predictability to what may happen during the 2014 offseason.  Ron Francis stated that he was looking to have a new coach in place around the time of the 2014 Draft, could there also be player changes by then?

Cam Ward, as we know, didn't have the season we know he is capable of having.  In retrospect, his dismal season has led to rumors of a possible trade and the end of his tenure as a Carolina Hurricane.  The possible destinations varied from the New York Islanders to a potential landing spot competing for the number one spot with Eddie Lack in Vancouver.  However, what might be the most feasible target for Ward is 380 miles from his hometown Saskatoon in Calgary, Alberta.

After trading Jerome Iginla to the Boston BruinsPittsburgh Penguins in March of last season, the Calgary Flames made it clear that they were headed into a rebuilding stage.  They hired Brian Burke and his hair as the new general manager and have the 4th pick in this years upcoming draft.  After battling injuries and inconsistent play, a fresh start in Calgary might be the best scenario for Cam Ward.

In return the Hurricanes would receive Dennis Wideman, a viable candidate to be the Hurricanes top blueliner.  After trading Tim Gleason, the Hurricanes haven't really had a number one defenseman.  Joni Pitkanen is injured, but facing facts he just isn't what the Canes need for producing top minutes.

Both Ward and Wideman's contracts aren't the most desirable by any stretch, but the outcome on both sides would be about even.  As tough as it would be to see Ward in a different sweater, sometimes change can be the best thing.

Bob Wage - Managing Editor

Cam Ward has had some tough times for sure, not only last season, but the season before that as well.  We are talking about a goalie who had a save percentage of less than .900 after 30 games last season.  That is not exactly a small sampling.  Plus, he has been injury prone, with knee problems, a history of back problems, and now most recently groin problems.  None of this can be taken lightly for any goaltender.

While I think a buy-out is out of the question, I do believe the Canes will do whatever is possible to trade him.  Even if the Hurricanes retain $2 million a year in salary, that is still less than half of what a buy-out would cost, and then the other team has an experienced goalie for about $4.5 million a year, which is not that unreasonable.

The Islanders are out of contention now and I think Miller will end up in Vancouver, thanks to his previous relationship with their new GM, Jim Benning.  Calgary and Winnipeg are both possible destinations, although a straight up trade of Ondrej Pavelec for Ward does the Hurricanes no good.  They exchange one questionable goalie for another and while Pavelec's annual cap hit is lower, it is for three more years, not just two.  I would rather take my chances with Ward and be done with him in two seasons.

But.....

The Jets are reportedly unhappy with Evander Kane.  If Francis was to include, say Ryan Murphy with Ward for Pavelec and Kane, that is something worth consideration.  Kane has major skills plus brings a physical game the Hurricanes desperately need.

Calgary is going to need to do something at goalie, but they have many options. Certainly, Dennis Wideman and spare parts for Ward and spare parts is a possibility.

In my opinion, I would not rule out Edmonton.  I know they recently signed Ben Scrivens to a two-year deal, but after reading some of the reports out of the World Championships, I would not be feeling warm and fuzzy with this guy if I were running the Oilers.

Their other goalie is Viktor Fasth, who has a lot of experience in Europe, but who has a total of 37 NHL games to his credit.  Those are two big question marks in goal for them.

The Oilers have not seemed happy with Sam Gagner, who is earning $5 million a year for the next two years, while having scored just 10 goals last season.   He is not physical, (5'11) but he has a lot of skill and might make a good fit at third line center, or second line center, if Eric Staal is moved to wing.

Maybe the Canes could offer Ward, Murphy, and a draft pick and/or retain a little salary, for Gagner and Fasth?

The Hurricanes might not be able to pull off a trade, but in my opinion, they should do everything possible to try.  Ward might still have some greatness in him and we have all seen his outstanding saves as recently as last year, but consistency is his problem.  His save percentage has dropped three straight years, (.915, .908, .898), and he has not had a shutout in two seasons, (while both Khudobin and Peters did last year.)  This organization simply cannot afford the gamble to pay almost $7 million a year for a backup goalie with a history of injuries.

The Wild's biggest problem seems to be putting the puck in the net. Therefore, let's look at a guy who's game fits nicely with the Wild's defensive-conscious game, while adding a scoring punch.

There are more ways to improve the Minnesota Wild than signing Thomas Vanek, Ryan Miller, or Matt Niskanen this offseason. So, leading up to the draft, Hockey Wilderness is going to look at 15 potential trade candidates around the league for the Wild to target.

I'm on record as saying that one thing that would benefit the Wild immensely is the addition of a bona-fide, green-beret-level sniper. Andrew Ladd ain't that guy. However, I do feel he could be a beneficial trade target for the Wild. Here's why.

Andrew Who?

Andrew Ladd. He's a 28-year-old winger, who has played for the Hurricanes, Blackhawks, Thrashers, and then moved with the Thrashers to Winnipeg. He's 6'3'' and tips the scales at 205 pounds. He's won the Cup twice, with the 'Canes and the 'Hawks. He shoots lefty.

The Hockey News lists his strengths as:

Has good size for the NHL game and some scoring ability. Is tough and capable of exerting high-tempo pressure to dish out solid hits. Is a great team player and possesses all-around qualities on the port side; he slots in well alongside high-skilled linemates.

Translated, that reads: "Ladd plays a physical game, but knows how to score. He is fast-moving, but has difficulty creating his own scoring opportunities." His main 'weakness' on the same website is that his "scoring prowess lacks consistency." In other words: Ladd isn't going to be a goal machine.

That said: Ladd is a consistent producer. In every season, save 3, Ladd has had more assists than goals, and has thrice scored more than 20 goals. In 2 of those, he scored 28 and 29 goals; on a team with more talent than the Jets, those numbers could rise.

What I really like about Ladd is this: in Winnipeg, he is their "Koivu," and by that I mean both their Kaptain, and the guy who they rely on to drive their possession and play a two-way game. That's what he's had to do there. In the past 3 seasons, Ladd has posted CF%Rels of +4.4, +3.0, and +6.6. Furthermore, his Goal-For%Rel (same thing as Corsi, but now exclusively goals scored while he was on the ice) was +7.2 and +13.4 in the past two seasons. His team is scoring more goals while he is on the ice.

Another piece of the Ladd puzzle which I like is his ability to score with so many techniques; wrist shots, snap shots, deflections, tap ins... Ladd can score them all. He also shows a nice ability to elevate the puck- something Wild seemingly could not do in the (albeit small sample size) of the playoffs this year.

Why Would Winnipeg Give Him Up?

Let's not kid ourselves, while Ladd isn't the goal-scoring phenom we want, he is no slouch either. He is the captain of the Jets, and one of their central players. All that said, He frankly isn't a high enough level player for a team to truly build around. This offseason, the Jets have over 20 free agents, both UFA's and RFA's. Although they have a healthy amount of cap space, 4.4 million (Ladd's current contract) is nothing to sneeze at. They could be looking to move him for cap space reasons.

There were also rumors that Ladd might get moved before this trade deadline, though the likely destination at the time was Edmonton. The rumors centered around the fact that Ladd was not repeating his shooting per cent age of the previous season (14%).  Furthermore, the Jets are rebuilding, and while they certainly have a number of talented individuals at their core. They also have a number of promising youngsters, much like the Wild. The biggest asset that Ladd brings to Winnipeg's table is his experience. His production is consistent, but not stellar, and certainly not the level you'd want from a guy you rely on to carry the team.

Winnipeg is looking for young guys who can add to their bumper crop of promising prospects, or for veteran performers who can lead in stats as well as in experience. Ladd is neither.

What Would Ladd do for the Wild?

Without needing to concentrate on driving possession, Ladd can focus on production. He is, in many ways, a second Pominville. This chart has a lot of interesting information. While I don't necessarily trust heat maps fully, it's clear that while Pommer is capable from either dot, Ladd is truly effective around the net and from the left playoff spot. However, think back to Nino's 2 snipes on Varlamov in round 1 of the playoffs- both were from the right dot. Imagine these two guys torturing a goalie from both dots, with a center to hold possession, and D-men throwing pucks from the blue line. Obviously that's a best-case scenario.

Another possibility: Ladd is a stationary scorer from the spot, or a dirty goal-scorer around the net. Ladd's big body can be a great presence, which can be an asset also. Granlund controls play, and is a main puck-mover. Ladd is around the net or playoff spot, with Coyle on the other end, or Fontaine adding his offensive abilities.

My point is this: Ladd's skill set is useful, especially if he doesn't need to be the main possessive force on a team. The Wild's superior blue line relieves some of the defensive duties Ladd faces in Winnipeg. His skills can be put to use, and while he's not the ideal pickup for the Wild, he can make the team better. Furthermore, Ladd brings valuable experience to the Wild, and can be a great guy for our younger players to be around. Nino and Coyle are built similarly to Ladd, and could learn from him. Lastly, he's not yet to the "decline" part of his years in the NHL; he is not a youngster, but nor is he past 30.

Ladd's Contract Situation

This is the largest snag in a trade scenario. Ladd grew up a Jets fan, and as such worked in a modified no-trade clause when he signed his contract, which doesn't expire until 2016. The specific language of the MNTC is not available, but it's a safe bet that Ladd would need to approve of all trades. That could happen for a few different reasons. As I mentioned above, the Jets are moving towards a younger core, and Ladd is not the skill level they need for a veteran player. In addition, Ladd has already gotten on the nerves of the GM in Winnipeg; an NTC does not protect from a buyout, and Winnipeg has both amnesty buyouts left. If the GM is dissatisfied enough with Ladd's play, that is an option. Furthermore, Ladd could be reassigned to the minors, where he would go to waivers and could be picked up- moving around his NTC.

Neither a buyout nor reassignment is particularly likely, however. If Ladd is not picked up while on waivers, the Jets would then be paying someone 4.4 million dollars to play in the AHL... yikes. In addition, the Jets don't have anyone to fill Ladd's role, yet. Therefore, to get them to go for the deal, the Wild would likely need to offer them someone to play on the left wing. Coyle as shown a lot of promise there, and plays a similar style to Ladd, but is younger. On the other hand, Zucker or Fontaine could be offered as a younger, more mobile option if the Jets wanted to go that route.

A last option would be for the Wild to re-sign Moulson and trade him for Ladd (or Winni could simply pick him up after trading for another player, or straight picks). Moulson would provide the Jets a player who could focus on scoring, and can constantly produce more than Ladd has- something their GM seems interested in.

In order for Ladd to go for this type deal, the Wild would need to offer him something, even if that something is simply a chance to be on a better team, in a city that is very passionate about their hockey.

This hurdle is not easily cleared- again- there's a reason Ladd is an honorable mention. This trade wouldn't be a quick affair, but it could be very beneficial.

Lines for Ladd

This or this are potential configurations if the Wild were to trade Coyle (and a pick or 2) for Ladd. Another option would be trading Fontaine or Zucker instead of Coyle, in which case simply shuffle those players around. Which lines Ladd plays on is completely up to Coach Yeo and his staff to see how creative they can be. He is a bit of a jack of all trades, and a master of none, but that provides flexibility. He cannot play off the left wing, but anything we need doing on that wing, Ladd can do. He has been effective in Winnipeg both on the penalty kill as well the power play, and could fill parts of those roles at all.

In short: Ladd is a player who provides Yeo with many more options for offensive styles, systems, and strategies. He is no one's first choice, but if the Wilder were to find a way to pick him up, they'd be adding a solid player with a range of skills to help win games. As exciting as our young prospects are, they are just that: prospects. It's great to say Nino re-emerged in the playoffs, and that Erik Haula looks to be the "teen wolf" of hockey, but until they show that in the regular season, it's all guesswork. Ladd brings experience, consistency, and experience. The balance of experience and young guns is vital, and as Tony stated last week: the Wild need to win now.

The sixth player from the Canes' 2012 draft to sign with the team did so today on a three-year deal.

No, not that one. (Get used to saying that.)

The Hurricanes on Tuesday signed left wing Erik Karlsson to a three year deal, becoming the sixth player from the 2012 draft to sign an entry-level contract with the team. Karlsson, 19, was a member of the host Swedish junior team that won silver in the 2014 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, alongside now-teammate Elias Lindholm. His first year in Sweden's top league was rather unimpressive, tallying six points in 41 games at the senior level, although he did find success at the lower levels and with the Swedish junior team.

Karlsson will again appear at the Canes' post-draft prospect camp, and will likely earn a training camp spot but he is eligible to play with the Charlotte Checkers next season, which is where he is expected to end up to start the year. The press release from the team follows.

HURRICANES SIGN KARLSSON TO ENTRY-LEVEL DEAL

Winger teamed with Lindholm on silver-medal-winning Swedish WJC squad

RALEIGH, NC – Ron Francis, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has signed left wing Erik Karlsson to a three-year, entry level contract. On the NHL level, Karlsson will be paid $550,000 in the first year, $600,000 in the second year and $650,000 in the third year. He will receive $60,000 in the American Hockey League (AHL) in year one, and $65,000 in years two and three. Karlsson also receives a signing bonus of $185,000.

"Erik played well at the World Juniors, and has shown improvement each year since he was drafted,"said Francis. "He has good speed and adds to our team’s organizational depth at forward."

Karlsson, 19, spent most of the 2013-14 season with Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), totaling five goals and one assist (6 points) in 41 games. The Lerum, Sweden, native added one goal in six playoff games, as the Indians fell to Linkopings in the SHL quarterfinals. Karlsson (6’0", 180 lbs.) also totaled 15 points (5g, 10a) in 9 games with Frolunda Jr., and represented Sweden at the 2014 World Junior Championships, totaling three assists and a plus-1 rating in seven games as host Sweden captured the silver medal. He was selected by the Hurricanes in the fourth round, 99^thoverall, in the 2012 NHL Draft.

With the head coaching position still vacant, John Tortorella's fiery personality and experience could be what the franchise needs to end their post-season drought.

When Jim Rutherford stepped down from General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, the franchise embarked on a new era.  A press conference with Rutherford, Hurricanes Owner Peter Karmanos, and Hurricanes Legend Ron Francis initiated the sequence into the Ron Francis reign as new General Manager of the franchise.  Alongside Francis will sit Assistant General Manager Brian Tatum and Assistant GM and Director of Hockey Operations Mike Velucci.

As the Francis era began, it didn’t take long for the new chief of staff to take action on what had been a tumultuous past few seasons prior to his hiring.The rookieGM made a clean sweep of the coaching staff, firing head coach Kirk Muller and his assistants John McLean and Dave Lewis.

Rumor has it that Francis’ top candidates for the head coaching position are former teammates including Kevin Dineen and Ulf Samuelsson.However, Francis told the News and Observer "It’s an open search.I don’t have anyone in mind. I have a few names I put on a list, and we’ll go forward looking to see who is the best fit for our team."

The Carolina Hurricanes have a past history of bringing back familiar faces to the franchise such as Paul Maurice’s immortal return in the 2008-09 season.

With the recent unsatisfying performance of the team, there may be one candidate that is slightly overlooked.We’ve seen his famous/infamous/hilarious post-game press conferences and interviews. There was a line brawl halfway through the season in his first year behind the bench in the Pacific Northwest.And he might be one of the most censored sports figures on television.That man is John Tortorella.

His resume includes three division titles,  the Jack Adams Award, and a Stanley Cup ring.Although Tortorella isn’t included in Francis’ former interaction as a player, he may be the best fit.

What makes Tortorella different from most coaches is the way he goes about saying what is on his mind.In the past there have been times where his lip and various actions got him in trouble and was disciplined for it.However, the personalities seem to be a little bland in the Hurricanes’ locker room since Ray Whitney and Chad LaRose departed.The addition of Tortorella may add a little more glow and flavor to the franchise.

It is no secret that the Carolina Hurricanes are not one of the top recognized franchises in the NHL.Placing Tortorella behind the bench might change that not only because of his personality, but his ability to win and put a team into playoff contention.There is a similarity in the roster the Hurricanes have at the moment and the 2003-2004 Tampa Bay Lightning roster that Tortorella won the Stanley Cup with.A core roster with star players and experience in the league that have the ability to get the job done.With the right mindset and a coach’s will power to put the team in playoff contention, the tables could soon turn for the Hurricanes.

The issue here is going into next season with the right mindset.It is also crucial that the Hurricanes start the season on time.Most teams who make it to the finals, whether it be conference or Stanley cup, have an outstanding player who finishes within the top tier of the leagues’ best scoring.Eric Staal hasn’t had one of those seasons since 05-06.What Tortorella has that Kirk Muller didn’t is the ability to call players out without any hesitation.His ability to tell players what he wants from them or what they are doing wrong and having the courage to bench them if need be can make a light bulb go off in a players head. We’ve all seen what kind of seasons Eric Staal and Alex Semin are capable of producing and Tortorella’s fiery nature and brutally honest opinion could be the one that brings them back to what they are capable of producing.

So his track record isn’t exactly clean, but his fire and intensity could be exactly what the Hurricanes need to put them back in to Stanley Cup contention.His lifetime winning percentage is .538 and he has made numerous trips to the Playoffs with the Rangers and the Lighting.  He is a guy with experience under his belt and determination to have a winning team.  We know what to expect from Tortorella, media attention and W's.  Who wouldn't want this guy coaching their team?

If Ron Francis wants to go in a different direction, this would surely be different.

Prospects development camp to be held at PNC Arena again this year

Fans will once again be able to enjoy watching the prospects of the Carolina Hurricanes at the PNC this summer as the team announced that this year's Summerfest will be between July 23 and 26.

Usually, the current year's draft picks attend as well as some picks and prospects from previous years.  Last year's inaugural event at the arena was a success and this one should be as well.  Previously, the prospects would skate at local practice rinks.

Undrafted invitee, Sergey Tolchinsky, stood out and earned himself a contract with the team last year.  Elias Lindholm, Victor Rask, Ryan Murphy, and others also attended.  Who will make a name for himself this summer?

We will have more info about this as it becomes available.  The team's presser is below:

CANES SUMMERFEST SET FOR JULY 23-26 AT PNC ARENA

Prospects Development Camp, ‘Canes Elite Players Camp and Summerfest Celebration highlight mid-summer celebration of Hurricanes hockey

RALEIGH, NC – Ron Francis, Vice President and General Manager for the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team will hold Hurricanes Summerfest – a mid-summer celebration of Hurricanes hockey – from July 23-26 at PNC Arena. Hurricanes Summerfest will focus around the team’s Prospects Development Camp and ‘Canes Elite Players Camp, and will wrap up on Saturday, July 26, with the Summerfest Celebration.

The team’s Prospects Development Camp will see most or all of the Hurricanes’ 2014 draft class, some of the team’s previously-drafted players and other camp invitees descend on Raleigh for a week of training. Beginning on Monday, July 21, fans can enjoy exclusive coverage of the Prospects Development Camp’s on-ice sessions on www.CarolinaHurricanes.com, and the camp’s on-ice sessions will be open to the public beginning on Wednesday, July 23. A complete roster and a detailed schedule for the Prospects Development Camp will be released in early July. The week will wrap up with a game and skills competition on Saturday at noon as part of the Hurricanes Summerfest Celebration.

The ‘Canes Elite Players Camp will take place in conjunction with the Prospects Development Camp and is open to U-18, U-16 and U-14 AAA and AA players. Participants will use the NHL ice and facilities at PNC Arena, and will receive nearly-identical training and instruction from Hurricanes coaches and staff as do the players at the Prospects Development Camp.

Players in the U-12 AAA and AA, U-10 AA and U-8 advanced levels can register for the ‘Canes Power Skating Clinic, to be held from July 22-26 at PNC Arena. For one hour per day, participants will receive power skating instruction from elite skating coach Kim Muir. Muir has an extensive background that includes mentoring players from the Hurricanes’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.

From July 25-26, hockey coaches from all levels can learn directly from Hurricanes staff at the ‘Canes Coaches’ Clinic. Coaches will discuss the proper way to devise a practice plan, teach team systems and offer tips on implementing systems and coaching special teams.

Details and registration information for the ‘Canes Elite Players Camp, ‘Canes Power Skating Clinic and the ‘Canes Coaches’ Clinic can be found at http://www.CarolinaHurricanes.com/summerfestcamps. 

Encompassed in Hurricanes Summerfest will be the team’s annual Select-A-Seat nights, when season-ticket holders choose their seats for the upcoming season. Hurricanes Summerfest will wrap up on Saturday, July 26, with a Summerfest Celebration complete with a final ‘Canes practice and skills session, more than 20 inflatables, games and other experiences, free giveaways, guest speakers and autograph opportunities with Prospects Development Camp players. Admission and parking are free, and most of the activities will take place inside PNC Arena.

Further information surrounding Hurricanes Summerfest will be made available in the coming weeks at www.CarolinaHurricanes.com. For information about 2014-15 Hurricanes ticket packages, please call 1-866-NHL-CANES (1-866-645-2263) or visit www.CarolinaHurricanes.com/tickets.

If Ron Francis wants to build a bigger, more physical team to compete with Eastern Conference foes, then here are some players that might help achieve that goal.

Some common issues for the Carolina Hurricanes in the Kirk Muller era have been a lack of size and a lack of physicality.  In each of the past 3 seasons, the Canes have ranked in the bottom 5 in average size and in the bottom half of the NHL in total hits.  While the size issue can be attributed to Jim Rutherford and his affinity toward smaller players, playing a physical brand of hockey is generally more about a mindset than physical attributes. Just look at Paul Maurice's last 2 full seasons in Carolina.  Those teams were smaller than the current squad (they were ranked as the smallest NHL team in 09/10), but yet they finished 4th & 5th in the league in total hits.  Of course those teams had players like Tuomo Ruutu in his heyday, a healthy Tim Gleason, a feisty Chad LaRose and Erik Cole.  But even the likes of Eric Staal was averaging a hit per game for those teams.  So what changed, what made Carolina become a less physical team?

I think the answer is two-fold, the coach's style of play and the players themselves.  In 10/11, the Hurricanes had 7 players that averaged over 1.5 hits per game, of course 6 of those guys averaged more than 2.0 hits per game.  In 13/14, Carolina had 8 players that averaged over 1.5 hits per game, yet they had 321 less total hits.  The leaders of last year group were Ruutu at 2.95 hits per game and Gleason at 2.82 hits per game.  Both of these guys were trading and now 3 of the remaining 6 are set for some form of free agency this summer.  So if Ron Francis really wants to build a bigger, more physical team, he has some work to do this summer.  He needs to find a coach that employees a physical style of play and he needs to find some players that want to play a physical brand of hockey.

So what I've done is compile a list of free agents (both UFA & RFA) this summer that averaged at least 1.5 hits per game.  I have included their physical attributes, some statistics for evaluating the players and their cap number from last season.  I have included the RFA's (in bold & italics), because I feel there are some very intriguing players in that group, that might be available through trades.  I have also picked out a couple of players that I think are worth considering and written a little summary about them.  But what do you think?  Do any of these players intrigue you?  Are any of these guys worth the Canes pursuing this offseason?

Cody Franson - D - Franson is an interesting case.  He's a big defenseman that will deliver hits, but he also seems to be more comfortable in the offensive zone than the defensive zone.  It also seems that Leafs fan wouldn't exactly be upset if Franson is not back with the team next season, so maybe he's available in trade.  His offensive numbers are good, but his +/- was the worst on the team.  His 5-on-5 Corsi numbers also look pretty poor at 44.9%, but that was actually 3rd best on the Leafs last season.  The main reason I think he should be looked at is his PP ability and his shot.  These are things I think the Canes could use next season.

Blake Comeau - RW/LW - I think most people would shake their head at this suggestion, but hear me out.  Comeau averaged over 3 hits per game last year and around 2 hits per game the previous 2 seasons.  He also has some offensive abilities, scoring 17 & 24 goals for the Islanders a few years ago.  Comeau can also contribute a little on the PK, has pretty decent possession numbers and looks like he'd come cheap.  Might be worth a look as a 4th liner that could provide some physicality and maybe a little more now & then?

Steve Ott - C/LW - This would seem like a pretty good fit for the Hurricanes.  Ott could probably be signed for around $3 million per year and he could assume 1 or 2 spots, depending on how the coaching staff organizes the roster.  Ott could potentially center a line with Jeff Skinner&Elias Lindholm, providing a physical veteran presence that can clear room for the young players.  Or maybe he could line up beside Jordan Staal, helping make a beefier shutdown line?  Ott can really play a number of roles and in about every situation.  His biggest drawbacks are his somewhat limited offensive abilities and his style of play generally leads to a lot of penalty minutes.

Ryan Callahan - RW - I think Callahan would be a great fit in the top 6 for this team.  He provides toughness, leadership, defensive responsibility and some scoring.  The only issue in my eyes is the contract amount and length.  I just don't think Carolina could or should do what its been rumored he wants.

Tommy Wingels - RW - The more I learn about Wingels, the more I like him.  This is a guy that can play up and down the lineup, can shoot, works his tail off and throws his body around.  He's a guy that does a little bit of everything and also does the little things to help you win games.  He contributes on both special teams and seems to be able to work with anybody.  This is the type of guy the Hurricanes need in their lineup, but I'm not sure San Jose would let him go.

Chris Kreider - LW - Kreider is another RFA that I really don't think will be available, but you just never know.  His stock seems to be on the rise with a very good playoff performance, but he's been good in his rookie year.  He's got size, speed, goal scorer ability and plays a responsible two-way game.  For some reason, when I watch him play, he reminds me of a young version of Erik Cole.  I think he would be a great fit in the Canes top 6.

Nikolai Kulemin - LW/RW - Here's a case where a change of scenery might do a player some good.  Kulemin is a talented two-way winger that plays physical and can contribute offensively.  But for whatever reason, things have been a struggle in Toronto the past couple of seasons.  He's probably not the 30 goal scorer he was in 10/11, but he should score around 20 a season and play a solid two-way game.  Just look what happens when he plays international for Russia, his numbers increase.  I think Kulemin might be a solid 2nd/3rd liner for the Canes, but the question is how much competition there will be for him and how much will he cost?

Nino Neiderreiter - RW - I was mentioning last offseason that the Canes should try to acquire this guy and I still feel that way.  But I don't see that happening without some significant trade occurring between Minnesota and Carolina.  Nino is a power forward that could probably instantly play in the Canes top 6.  His physical style, along with his offensive abilities, are one piece the Hurricanes are missing.

Devin Setoguchi - RW - I'll probably get killed here, but I think signing Setoguchi should be in the conversation for Carolina this offseason.  He's a guy with speed, someone that will throw his body around and can put the puck in the back of the net.  Is he inconsistent, yes, but he could be a nice reward if the price is right.  If he could be signed for around $2 million, I would probably take the risk for a season.

Brian Boyle - C/LW - If Francis wants size, they don't get much bigger than Boyle.  This guy is huge and very versatile.  He generally plays a bottom 6 center position, head a PK unit, can be a net presence on the PP and can even take a shift on defense.  Now he's probably not going to score much and his price tag could be a little much for a 3rd/4th line center, but he does help the team in multiple ways.  Honestly, I don't think he's leaving New York, but we'll see what happens to their cap situation.

Jamie McGinn - LW/RW - I'm a pretty big fan of McGinn and would love to see the Canes acquire him.  He's a physical player that can score some goals and can move up & down the lineup.  He really a complimentary piece, as he does better with skilled linemates, but he can provide things other than scoring.  I think Colorado would move him if they could get a decent middle pairing LHD, but that not exactly what the Canes have stocked.  I guess my hope is that eventually he would like to play with his younger brother and will come to Carolina.  A future line of BMcGinn/JStaal/JMcGinn would be great to see.

Benoit Pouliot - LW - Pouliot is a player that I have generally overlooked, but he has some skill and has seemed to pick up his physical play this season.  He's also a pretty effective possession player and has averaged 0.207 goals per game over the past 3 seasons (a 17 goal per season pace).  At $1.3 million, that's good bang for your buck.  Pouliot was also pretty good on the PP this year, scoring 7 PP goals.  I'm sure he'll probably see a raise coming his way, but as long as it isn't too pricey, I would consider making him an offer.

Marcel Goc - C - If the Canes are looking for a good 3rd line center, Goc might be their man.  He plays an all-around game, can chip in some offensively, goes against top lines, wins faceoffs and will deliver some hits.  His only downside is that he usually misses some time due to injury.  But if you take into account his solid possession numbers and coming off a $1.7 million salary, he might be a wise investment.  He could the Canes a legit 3rd line center and take some of the defensive responsibilities off of Jordan.

Derick Brassard - C - While Brassard is actually a RFA, I think he could possibly end up as a cap casualty for the Rangers due to all the people they need to resign over the next 2 years.  He's actual current salary is $3.7 million and is probably going to be looking for something in the $4.5 to $5 million range.  That's a lot of money for, according to TOI, New York's 3rd line center.  He really is a solid all-around center that seems to finally be coming into his own.  If the plan is to move Eric to wing this year, I could imagine acquire Brassard to play the #1 center role.  I don't think he's a true #1, but it might work.

David Moss - RW - Moss is a guy that just hasn't really found his place.  He's got size and a shot, but it just hasn't come together for him and given that he's 32, it might not.  But he does have some scoring & hitting ability in limited ice time, so if he comes down from the $2.1 million he made last season, I would consider giving him a look.  He plays a significant role on the PK and has good possession numbers.  I think he could be a guy that rotates between the 3rd & 4th line and one that can provide some secondary scoring.

So what do you think.  Do any of these guys I listed make since for the Canes?  Or are there other free agents on this list that you have an interest in?  Again, this list is only free agents that averaged over 1.5 hits per game.  There are other quality players out there, but I was trying to focus on the physical element.  Hope you enjoyed the read and I look forward to seeing your thoughts.

Later rounds helped salvage what could have been a very disappointing draft for the Flames.

The Flames had seven picks in 2008. Among those selected were Greg Nemisz (mercifully let go from the Flames’ organization last season when he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for Kevin Westgarth. He played 14 games for the Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate), Mitch Wahl (in the AHL? ECHL? Austria? He’s playing somewhere, presumably), Nick Larson (ECHL), Ryley Grantham (AHL… CHL… ECHL… somewhere), and Alexander Deilert (Sweden).

The Flames’ 2008 draft is the merit of some deserved scorn. The most likely place you’re going to draft an NHLer is in the first round. The Flames picked Greg Nemisz. He played 15 games and had one assist.

It gets worse when you look back on the draft list. Selected right after Nemisz? Buffalo'sTyler Ennis, who has 267 NHL games and 166 points under his belt. After Ennis? Washington'sJohn Carlson, with his 316 NHL games and 134 points. But no… Greg Nemisz.

That said, was the 2008 NHL draft a failure? The first round went about as poorly as you can ask. In the end, Flames essentially drafted Kevin Westgarth. Love or hate Westgarth, we can all agree he’s not a first rounder.

Two for seven: 29%

But the Flames did get two NHLers out of the 2008 draft. From seven picks, it’s about what you can expect.

In the third round, at 78^th overall, the Flames selected Lance Bouma.

Lance Bouma is not the kind of player you break bank for. He’s not integral to a team’s success. You can win or without him, and any impact he has is unlikely to make a big difference in the grand scheme of things.

But he’s still a good player to have. He played his first full season for the Flames last season, scoring five goals and 15 points, and looks like he’ll be a regular fourth liner capable of playing higher roles in case of injury from time to time, much like he was this season. Among the Flames’ younger players, he got some of the most difficult zone starts at 38.6%. The Flames tended to be outshot while he was on the ice, but he could play a regular shift.

If you want greater context, look at Joe Colborne. He and Bouma are the same age, and while Colborne scored 13 more points, he did it while being placed in a far more favourable situation, with more offensive zone starts and better linemates. Colborne is more skilled than Bouma, but his CF% was only marginally better: 45.4% compared to Bouma’s 43.5%.

So while Bouma isn’t going to make or break games, he’s still developing into a steady fourth line player for the team that drafted him.

A higher quality player

The Flames’ other NHLer?

Fourth rounder. 114^th overall. TJ Brodie, who was partnered with Mark Giordano over the past season to form one of the NHL’s best defence pairings.

He’ll be 24 to start next season, and he’s already working towards establishing himself as a legitimate top-pairing defenceman. He’s smart. He’s a great skater. And he’s just getting started.

"TJ doesn't know how good he is." - #Flames coach Bob Hartley on TJ Brodie's play this season (VIDEO) ~ http://t.co/wFxDDkHvz6

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) January 26, 2014

Brodie spent the season starting more in the defensive than offensive zone. He faced the toughest competition out of all Flames except for his defence partner (his TOI% QoC – the competition as judged by time on ice, since better players play more minutes – was 29.5; only Gio beat him at 29.6). He and Gio were the only defencemen to have corsi ratings above 50% as well. And when you correct for the fact that he was on a bad team using CF% rel, he was the second best defenceman in the league; again, only behind Gio.

He also doubled his career high in goals, and more than doubled his career high in points. Brodie set new records this season with four goals and 31 points, 22 of which were at even strength. He doesn’t need to rely on the powerplay to score goals, and it’s reasonable to expect he only gets better.

An established defenceman we can compare him to is Duncan Keith. Now, I’m not saying Brodie will become Keith (although that would be awesome!), but they play similar styles. We can compare their earliest seasons as well:

* Lockout season, fewer games played.

Mind, Keith had less ice time, more shots, and a lower shooting percentage in his 23-year-old season than Brodie did. But at the very least, there’s reason to be excited, isn’t there?

Was 2008 a good year?

If, out of seven picks, you can get one regular NHLer, plus another guy who plays a handful of games, you’ve drafted about on average.

The Flames did slightly better than that. Lance Bouma is going to be an NHL regular. He isn’t going to be a particularly high quality one, but at 24, he’s already played more than 100 NHL games.

Quality is more important than quantity. Despite screwing up the first round, Calgary still managed to walk away with a very high quality NHLer: they may have drafted a top pairing defenceman in the fourth round. No matter how you slice it, that’s really, really good. Brodie was one of the biggest reasons we, as Flames fans, could walk away from this past season happy and filled with hope. He was a top pairing d-man at age 23, and he probably hasn’t even reached his ceiling yet.

On December 29, 2013, Andrew Alberts was playing in his 10th game of the season against the Calgary Flames. About 2:40 into the game, this happens:

The initial point of contact looks ok, body to body. But then Brian McGrattan gets his hand(s) and stick up into Alberts' face right after initial contact. That looks to be where the damage was done. It was reckless on the big Flames forward's part. He was ejected from the game after Tom Sestito made him answer the bell. The NHL Department Of Justice did not punish McGrattan at all.

Today, as The Vancouver Sun reports, Alberts is still feeling the effects of it, some 5 months later, and he is wondering if his playing career is over. And there are some heartbreaking stories and quotes in that article. Alberts had begged to go out on the ice prior to the Canucks' final game of the season (which trainer Mike Burnstein obliged) so that he could go out on NHL ice for perhaps the last time.

McGrattan never called Alberts to apologize or see how he was doing. He did defend his own actions though. Alberts told the Sun:

"I don’t think that’s in his nature. I think there should have been some supplemental discipline. If I’m Sidney Crosby, it’s probably a 15-game suspension. The frustrating part is I’m working my ass off trying to be on the team and get in the lineup, something like that happens and the guy gets off free and now here I am just hoping I can have one day without headaches.

"I’ve kind of just let it go because there’s no point in dwelling on what happened. I just want to get healthy again to the point where I’m not having issues and can just have a normal day around the house. That’s where my focus is right now."

Filthy.

He's right about the Crosby concept, by the way. I mean, Zack Kassian got 8 games for his high stick on Sam Gagner. I guess you have to suffer a broken jaw or get stretchered off to garner suspension points. Tough guy Alberts skated off on his own after the McGrattan hit. Optics. Whatever. The end result is the same. His career is in jeopardy.

Alberts becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, one day after he turns 33 years-old. The writing seems to be on the wall.

The Canucks acquired Alberts from the Carolina Hurricanes for a 3rd round draft pick in March of 2010. They re-signed him twice in his 5-year tenure here. Sure, he looked slower than the competition many nights, and he at times took bad penalties. But I like guys like A-Train. Not flashy, but a real lunchpail kinda guy. The nickname "A-Train" is fitting, right Pavel Datsyuk?

No, that does not happen very often to Datsyuk.

He didn't score many goals, but let's look at the ones he did bag:

His first goal as a Canuck:

His second goal as a Canuck came against his former team:

His third goal, against the Sharks again:

His final goal as a Canuck (March 30, 2012):

Take care of yourself Mr. Alberts. Hope you get well soon.

With the 7th pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, the Carolina Hurricanes select from the Niagara Ice Dogs, LW Brendan Perlini.

The 2014 NHL Entry Draft is 24 days away and the Wild are looking to find that next NHL star to raise their franchise to the next level. Hockey Wilderness is counting down the days with a daily mock draft. We are at pick number 7 today.

Hurricanes Prospect Pool

Hockey's Future ranks the Carolina Hurricanes system at 29th in the league. And this is including Elias Lindholm, a great two-way center prospect, as well as Ryan Murphy, who is a dynamic offensive-defenseman prospect. Both of these players saw substantial time in the NHL, so they'll be leaving the system soon. While Brock McGinn broke out as a goal-scorer, and there seems to be good depth on the defense, there doesn't seems to be a dearth of game-breaking talent currently in the system. Transactions like the Jordan Staal trade didn't help in this regard.

But before you start to think that Carolina is a dead-ringer for the Minnesota Wild's situation pre-Chuck Fletcher, it's important to know that there's more elite talent outside of Lindholm and Murphy. It just happens to be in the NHL, not the minors. Jeff Skinner is only 22, and he's one of the most prolific shooters in the league, as well as a two-time 30 goal scorer. Justin Faulk is also 22 years old, and his mobility makes him a fixture on the Hurricanes blue-line.

That said, new Hurricanes GM and NHL Hitz 20-03 terror Ron Francis needs to keep infusing young talent into his prospect pool. So, with the 7th pick in the Hockey Wilderness Staff Mock Draft, the Carolina Hurricanes select Brendan Perlini.

The Pick: Brendan Perlini

There are a lot of good prospects on the board, so why did I pick Brendan Perlini? It's not because his Twitter handles has "Bubz" in it, but it was a pleasant surprise to this "The Wire" fan.

Let's start with Perlini's size. He's 6'3", 205 pounds, which is massive for an 18-year-old. That's size that is firmly in power-forward territory. But Perlini isn't a lumberer by any stretch of the imagination, he has speed that makes Corey Pronman declare Perlini having "probably the best size-to-skating ratio in the draft".

Watching Perlini highlights, he just screams out at you "I'm a finisher!" Not only is he able to use his size, speed, and shot to score in just about every way imaginable, these skills create scoring opportunities for his teammates when the puck doesn't go in the net. But while he stands out as a natural goal-scorer, he is lauded for his ability as an all-around offensive player, as well as his ability to possess the puck.

The knock on him is that his two-way game isn't quite where it needs to be as of yet. But it isn't from a lack of trying, he seems to be quite coachable. From Niagara IceDogs assistant coach David Bell raves about his willingness to learn, saying "A lot of guys, all they want to talk about is points.... [He asks] ''where should I have been on that goal against?' or 'where should I have been on that penalty kill?'" That's exactly what anyone wants to hear from their draft pick.

Where Would He Fit on the Wild?

People have talked at length about the Wild's inability to get a high draft pick when they were bad. Yes, the Wild would pick in the 7-10 range, but the Wild are going are going to miss the "good" old days this year, as they'll miss out on talents like Perlini.

At least the Wild have that whole "Winning a playoff round" thing to fall back on, amirite?!

But were Perlini to fall down to 18 (or if the Wild were to trade up to obtain his rights), he'd add a big goal-scorer to their ranks. Something that outside of Nino Niederreiter- and maybe Charlie Coyle- the Wild do not have. Though he wouldn't just fit in with the Wild. I don't know if anyone in the NHL thinks: "Big, skilled, fast goal-scorers? Nope! Got plenty of those!"

Rutherford is a candidate to be Pens GM and the Leafs seem to want The Captain

Yesterday, Twitter was a buzz with multiple reports that the Pittsburgh Penguins had talked with Jim Rutherford about their open GM position.  Of course, Rutherford would neither confirm or deny the reports with local media, since technically he is still under contract for two more years in Carolina.

Before some of you scoff at the idea of Rutherford managing another franchise, I did get the feeling during my last interview with him that he still yearned for more.

I left the arena thinking that while the former general manager might be proud and happy today, perhaps we have not yet heard the last of him as a general manager in this league.

The above quote is from my article "No Regrets For Jim Rutherford" posted about a month ago.  After talking about being a competitor his entire life and perhaps not being able to turn that off, he refused to answer whether or not he would accept a job at another team.  Also, when asked at lunch if he was still living in the area, he replied, "for now".

As for his partial ownership of the Hurricanes, that is something that can be changed if necessary.

Another candidate is Pierre McGuire.  Now that would be interesting.

----

In other news, there have been a few rumors out of Toronto about the Maple Leafs trading for Eric Staal.  This is most likely just wishful thinking by some media types, but it's interesting just the same.

Perhaps an earlier quote from Ron Francis stating that keeping Staal would "depend upon the budget", has got everyone's imagination running wild.  (Once again, I think he was referring to two years from now, not this summer, but I could always be wrong.)

The first one I read was an even swap of Captain for Captain, Staal for Dion Phaneuf.  In my opinion, this would be a bad move for the Canes and is very unlikely.  According to Cap Geek, Phanuef is under contract for $7 million a year until 2021.   No thanks.

The next scenario came from Ray Ferraro, who was quoted by "Hopesmoke" on Twitter from TSN Radio.

Ferraro's proposed Leaf package for E.Staal is one of Bozak/Kadri, another young roster player and a top end prospect

This might be something Francis might entertain, especially if the budget is a concern.

Let's see what the Toronto press comes up with next.

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In even more news, it seems that the Hurricanes are in the process of making some major changes to their game time production.  "Ron the Ref" said his goodbyes on Twitter last night, after being informed that he would be let go.

Ron has been with the organization for 16 years.

We will follow up on this and see what more we can find out, but from what we have seen on the Twitter, more changes are a coming.

(For the record, I saw this on Twitter conversation late last night but it seems @Section_328 was first to break the news.  Good work by them!)

Assuming the rumbling on twitter hold true, it appears that the Penguins have indeed settled on their new General Manager, former Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford.

The Pittsburgh Penguins appear to have concluded their search for a new General Manager, and have decided on former Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford.

The Announcement

Jim Rutherford is going to be announced as the new GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins. #TSN

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 6, 2014

Now confirmed: Jim Rutherford will be Pens' new GM.

— Chip Alexander (@ice_chip) June 6, 2014

The #Pens will hold a news conference today at 1pm -SK

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) June 6, 2014

The Reactions

There were better options than Shero. But this is exactly why I worried about firing him. Rutherford is worse and now we're fucked.

— Lyle Kossis (@LyleKossis) June 6, 2014

@trunkzilla Same thought. I cannot believe this is actually happening.

— Lyle Kossis (@LyleKossis) June 6, 2014

@LyleKossis No clue. I make hiring decisions all the time and I can't see how this is a good idea.

— Natasha Andjelkovic (@trunkzilla) June 6, 2014

https://t.co/bEplMUfr2z

— Meesh (@HockeyMeesh) June 6, 2014

Hey, remember the guy Ray Shero fleeced in the Jussi Jokinen deal? He's going to be the Pens new GM. This should go well.

— Chris Mack (@THEChrisMack) June 6, 2014

Pens ownership complained about lack of postseason success...... Since the 2002-2003 season, the Hurricanes have made the playoffs TWICE.

— Lyle Kossis (@LyleKossis) June 6, 2014

He paid Jussi Jokinen to score goals for another team....

— Jaime Dillen-Seibel (@DhyphenS) June 6, 2014

Ray Shero: 8 seasons as GM, 8 playoff trips. Jim Rutherford: 20 seasons as GM, 5 playoff trips.

— Adam Kimelman (@NHLAdamK) June 6, 2014

I'm grasping at straws b/c on the surface, this doesn't make a ton of sense.

— Eric Majeski (@LGP_netwolf) June 6, 2014

Bylsma won't be coach MT @LouisJean_TVA J'ai demandé à une source si Bylsma allait demeurer l'entraîneur des Sa réponse: "Non". À suivre.

— Lyle Kossis (@LyleKossis) June 6, 2014

Shero, Bylsma out, Rutherford in, Botterill, Fitzgerald and Guerin promoted.

Friday, the Penguins announced the hiring of former Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford to the same position. Rutherford's hiring ends three weeks of speculation as to who would replace Ray Shero at the top of the Penguins' hockey operations department.

Rutherford led the Hurricanes as the only GM in team history until stepping down from that post earlier this year.

Rutherford's hiring wasn't the only move made on Friday. Here's the rest of the shakeup.

Jason Botterill was retained by the team, promoted to Associate General Manager from former post as Assistant General Manager.

Tom Fitzgerald was retained and promoted to Assistant General Manager. So, too, was Bill Guerin, who will serve as the team's second Assistant GM alongside Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald had previously been the team's Assistant to the GM since 2009. Guerin worked as a Player Development Coach within the organization. He is only a few seasons removed from having been with the Penguins as a player, and is already an assistant GM (that is stratospheric).

As mentioned elsewhere, head coach Dan Bylsma is out, and there has been no word on what will happen to his assistant coaches until the new bench boss is named.

The last big vacancy to be filled is at head coach, where there are three other NHL teams (Florida, Vancouver, Carolina) currently without a coach.

Clearly, Rutherford's hiring was made in an effort to help groom the Penguins' internal GM candidates for future work in that role. Botterill seems to be closest to making the jump, but Guerin's light-speed rise from former player to Assistant GM has to raise the eyebrows.

We'll have more from Rutherford's presser as the transcript becomes available.

In the meantime, we've got the under on the number of minutes and seconds it'll take Bylsma to get a new job.

Henrik Lundqvist made his second-fewest number of regular season starts since his rookie year, which may be helping him in this Rangers deep postseason run.

Cam Talbot has been a different kind of spectator come the Stanley Cup round. The 27-year-old undrafted rookie, who performed in such stellar fashion during the regular season, has been out with an undisclosed injury, changing his status from backup to scratch.

While it was never the Rangers' hope to see Talbot on the ice these last four-to-seven games, it's perfectly fine, as the Alabama-Hunstville alumnus has already made a huge impact for the Blueshirts, and even continues to do so while watching in a suit and tie.

That's because, for only the second time in his career, excluding his rookie season and a lockout shortened 2012-13 campaign, Henrik Lundqvist started fewer than 68 games. The King has been a workhorse in between the pipes for the Rangers his entire career, not only racking up wins and top-tier numbers, but also consistently starting more than any other goalie in the league. His 574 games played since 2005 ranks first among NHL netminders. Marc-Andre Fleury is second on that list at 510, a full 64 games behind Lundqvist. To put that into context, only three goalies played 64 or more games this regular season, so Lundqvist has essentially played an entire year's worth of hockey more than the second-closest puck stopper, and then there's a dramatic drop-off as the list goes on.

With that being said, this has again been a lighter year for Lundqvist. His 63 starts are nothing to scoff at, but by his standards, Lundqvist was rested more than usual. How that came about was a little bit of coaching, and a lot of uncharacteristic struggles. At one point, Talbot even started three consecutive games, making it the only time other than twice during his rookie season Lundqvist sat and watched a stretch that long. (Keeping in mind, one of those breaks was due to the flu.) Lundqvist's cold play forced him to the bench, but also decreased his mileage.

There's more to the puzzle, of course. Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault set a target number of games for his backup Talbot, a range he was slotted into. Plus this was an Olympic year, and with Lundqvist's home country making it all the way to the gold medal game, the Swedish-born goalie played as many minutes as a player could in Sochi while avoiding overtimes.

But interestingly enough, when asked about the fatigue factor of the Olympics, Lundqvist turned the situation seem positive.

"Mentally, it's almost like a break because it's such a different environment. Different teammates, preparations are different," he told Blueshirt Banter back in January. "I remember every time you come back, you're excited to be back in New York and start playing again."

Lundqvist would never admit to fatigue in year's past, and this Rangers team is as good as any he's played on top to bottom. But still, it's interesting to look at Lundqvist's pre-playoff workload, and compare it to some other successful goalies during that timeframe.

The chart below breaks down the number of games Lundqvist has played each season he's been in the league, and how the Rangers fared overall each season.

** - denotes lockout shortened season

Lundqvist has already played more combined hockey since the regular season started this year than any other stretch in his career, but that's in large thanks to the Rangers reaching the Cup. It's also worth noting that his total games played before this postseason is one of the lowest numbers of his career, and it still came in an Olympic year.

Examine each of the Stanley Cup winning goalies since Lundqvist entered the league, and for the most part, you'll notice a trend: fewer than 60 games played before the postseason.

** - denotes lockout shortened season

Each of these year's and Stanley Cup wining goalies are unique. Osgood and Niemi were not near the top of the list as far as Conn Smythe candidates the years their respective teams won. Ward was a hot rookie who replaced a struggling Martin Gerber in the first round before buoying the Hurricanes through the Finals. Fleury and Quick—the two goalies to have played in more than 60 games before the postseason to go on to win the Cup—held similar importance to their teams as Lundqvist, although probably not as much.

What can be said is, statistically, Lundqvist is having one of his better playoff runs. Comparably to this stretch is his postseason, which, came after that other year with fewer than 68 games played. Maybe those two standout runs in three years are just a sign of an improving Rangers team inching closer to a Cup, or maybe Lundqvist finally got the rest he needed to sustain a high level into mid-June.

We take a look at who came out ahead, and behind, with Friday's news of a new GM and a fired head coach.

Friday was a good day for me to be traveling, right? Of course, the big news broke, with the Pittsburgh Penguins naming Jim Rutherford the new general manager, and Rutherford summarily announcing that Dan Bylsma has been fired, as well as new positions within the organization.

Who's come out looking good, and who has taken steps back? Let's analyze.

The Who	Stock change	Comments
Jim Rutherford		No doubt the biggest winner, Rutherford went from resigning as Carolina Hurricanes GM five weeks ago, to now being rewarded as the head decision maker for a team that boasts Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and other key building blocks already in place. Not bad for a 65-year-old manager who even charitably hasn't had much success recently, missing the last five postseasons in Carolina.
Dan Bylsma		The other shoe was always going to drop after the Shero firing, but still a sad end for Bylsma, who leaves a great job that he had a pretty good record in (recent playoffs aside). He's a good coach and better guy, he won't be unemployed for long.
The treatment of Dan Bylsma		Probably the worst thing about this whole situation. The Pens told Bob McKenzie that they were going to fire Bylsma, then "reconsidered" at the last minute. Why? Everyone knew Bylsma was gone, but the Penguins executives let this guy hang in the wind for weeks; meanwhile, other jobs that Bylsma conceivably could have been a strong candidate for (like the Washington Capitals gig) got filled. Maybe there are reasons for how the Pens treated Bylsma, but none of the obvious ones seem like good ones.
David Morehouse		Rutherford, unlike Shero, directly reports to Morehouse. And with ownership content to linger in the background with joint press releases, Morehouse is now the face and voice of Penguins management.
Current assistant coaches		Except for maybe goalie coach Mike Bales (whom the Pens would be wise to retain for his work with Marc-Andre Fleury) the rest of the assistant coaches are now at the mercy of the new head coach. They, especially Tony Granato and Todd Reirden, are almost certainly not going to return to the team.
Jason Botterill		Botterill received a promotion from assistant GM to associate GM, but interviewed for the full-time GM job and didn't get it. So it's a step forward, but not the full one. With Rutherford being 65 years old and admitting he's not long for this job, Botterill is the main choice to be groomed for the job long-term, if his performance can convince management that he's ready for it.
Tom Fitzgerald		He drops the Dwight Schrute-esque "assitant to the GM" job title and is now a full assistant GM. Fitzgerald will still report to Botterill, so he's not #1 in the pecking order for the next wave of management candidates, but he now represents a viable candidate for the job in the future, which is more than most thought he would be coming into the process.
Bill Guerin		Drops the player development role and gets a promotion to be an assistant GM too. Guerin's role was described as being a "go-between" from management to the players. Given Guerin's solid rapport with the players (including the most important one), it should be a natural fit. And, the last guy Rutherford had in this role, Ron Francis, ended up getting groomed for the head GM job. Guerin would have to leapfrog the more established peers in Botterill and Fitzgerald, but who knows how the future will sort out.
Pierre McGuire		He may (or may not) have been offered the Pens GM job, but he was a legitimate candidate for said job, which improves his stock and reputation around the league for future jobs that will open up.
Pens fans who wanted to see Rob Scuderi out		It was probably bound to happen no matter who the new GM was (also, there's no sense in publicly lessening the already low trade value) but GMJR didn't throw Scuderi under the bus. "I know he didn't play as well here last year, but you can't always go based on one year," he said. "Sometimes, it's one year off, and then they're back on track. He's a key factor in this."
Kris Letang		Rutherford said he had no "urgency" to deal Letang, who sees a $7.25 million cap hit and limited no-trade clause kick in this summer. Unless GMJR changes course quickly, it appears Letang will be sticking around for the start of his new contract.
Marc-Andre Fleury		Rutherford said of his new goalie: "I think he's a very good goalie. He's coming off probably his best and most consistent year over the last four years, which to me is a very good sign." Yep, from the manager who signed Cam Ward to a 5-year, $6.3 million/year deal back in 2010. Fleury is in the last year of his contract and could sign a new deal with the Pens as soon as July 1.
Patience		In the big picture, in the past month the Penguins have fired their GM (that's NHL GM of the year in 2013) and their winningest head coach in team history. Under Shero and Bylsma the team never missed the playoffs, finishing no worse than second in the division and winning it in three of the last four years. And they were fired for what? Poor playoff performances? Lack of direction and adjustments? It's a huge risk to take and a sign that ownership may be many things but patient is certainly not one of them. Rutherford and his new coach would be wise to take note.

The Canes will have several good options when they choose at number seven

With the seventh overall pick at the NHL Entry Draft on June 27, the Carolina Hurricanes have an excellent chance to make their team better.

The last time the team picked at number seven, back in 2010 they selected Jeff Skinner.  As Skinner went on to win the Calder Trophy the following season, that choice was obviously a big win for the scouting staff.  But is there another "Jeff Skinner" in this year's draft?  We will see.

In the 2014 Draft, there is a general consensus among the experts about the top five players.  After that, the field is pretty wide open.

Like Seth Jones last year, Aaron Ekblad is the top defenseman in this class and he is very highly rated.  Will he go at number one, two, or three?  Will Florida trade the top pick?    Of course there are many questions as to who might end up with the top five players, but it is highly unlikely any of them will fall to the Canes.

Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Leon Draisaitl, and Michael DalColle are the top rated forwards.  Although some mock drafts have one of them slip to six, it would be a big surprise if any of them slipped to seven.

Then there is a group of forwards who have some size and have scored plenty of points in the juniors.  Nick Ritchie, Jake Virtanen, and Brendan Perlini are each over six feet and they each have ample skill with the ability to light the lamp.

William Nylander and Kasperi Kapanen are the top rated European skaters.  Some mocks have them in the top seven but many do not.

The next highest rated defenseman is Haydn Fleury, who at 6'2 has NHL size. Fleury has improved a lot in this past year and he is rated by some to be in the top 10.

Then there is the wildcard, Nicholaj Ehlers.  This speedster is the fastest skater in this draft and reportedly would have been the fastest in last year's draft as well.  He scored 49 goals this past season, but he's not the biggest of skaters, as he is reported to be 5'11.

Let's just say for argument sake, that the top five skaters are chosen in the top five places.  Next up would be Vancouver, who has the sixth pick.  Who will they select?

Many are pushing for the Canucks to choose Virtanen, who is the hometown boy, so to speak.  But the forward just had shoulder surgery and will be out until October or so, although it is not supposed to be a serious surgery and he should have a full recovery.

There is not much to dislike like about Virtanen, who was the fastest skater in the prospects competition earlier this year.   At 6'1 and 190, he has decent size and uses it well as he is well-noted to be a physical player.

He sounds like the perfect selection for the Canes and if the Canucks do not choose him, Carolina very well might.  But if Vancouver does pick him, who's next and what should the Hurricanes do?

Many like Nick Ritchie because of his size, (6'2, 230) and his physical nature.  But he's not going to win any races up and down the ice and one concern is his skating.  Can the big man keep up with NHL competition?

Brendan Perlini fits the bill with speed and size, but he is not known to be physical.  Still, at 6'3 and 205, he is highly rated by many and could be a good fit.

William Nylander should also be in this discussion.  At times he has shown the skill of a superstar but then one scout said that he is a "lightweight, under-sized forward who will also have strength issues."

If the Canes wanted to go with defense in this draft, Fleury would be the man.  He's projected to be a shut-down guy in the league, plus has some skill to boot.

Finally, there is Ehlers who scored 49 goals and 55 assists this past season.  He is absolutely explosive at times, has high-end skill, and has been compared to Pavel Bure, Peter Forsberg, and Patrick Kane, all rolled into one.   The last time the Canes gambled on a  player who scored 50 goals, he went on to win the Calder.  They might be willing to give that a try again.

We will be discussing each of these prospects a bit more on the blog, as well as any new information that might come up before the draft.

There is a ton of draft information online, but one of the interesting sites to check is My NHL Draft, who not only provides their own mock draft, but they provide scouting reports from various sources and other mock drafts as well.  They also have a combination of the rankings pooled into one, which combines several of the rating gurus out there to come up with their "Consensus Ranking".

This ranking has Perlini at number six, Ehlers number seven, Ritchie at number nine, and Virtanen at number 13.

Will the Canes go for Ehler who provides scoring and speed?  Or Ritchie, who is a banger but who does not have the speed?  Or Perlini who has size and speed but who is not physical?  Or Fleury, the top defenseman after Ekblad?  Or Nylander or Kapanen, the top Euros?  Or Virtanen, who is injured for now?