Hurricanes 2024 review

[yave1964]

PRESEASON OUTLOOK Pretty much everyone felt they were on the short list to win the NHL if everything went right. They bombed the year before because the offense went south in the postseason, I tyhought they did enough to address that and it was IMHO to be a problem.

 

FINAL RECORD 52-23-7 109 points, 2nd in the Metro. Easily got past the Islanders in the first round, lost in six to the Rangers.

 

STRANGE STAT OF THE YEAR Andrei Svechnikov had a bizarre stat line in wins/losses.  In games that he appeared in where the Canes won, Svech appeared in 40 games scoring 45 points and 19 goals, an absolute force. he was even in plus/minus and a power play force.

HOWEVER in the 19 losses that he appeared in he had ZERO goals. Literally 7 assists and zero goals in 19 losses, and in those 19 losses he was a minus 15. great in victory, absolutely not even a factor, in fact a huge liability.

 

HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR Good god did they get hot late. They kind of stumbled around early but added Jake Guentzel before the deadline and he caught fire and the team took his lead. March 7th they stomped the Canadiens 4-1 in a game that wasnt even that close, and in the final quarter of the season they went 16-3-1 Andersen and Kochetkov split the net and both played incredible during that stretch.

 

LOW POINT OF THE YEAR Kind of a hangover to start the year, they started slow, they lost a few, won a few didnt look like a realistic cup contender early. Bottom of the barrell is December 4th when they lost to the Jets 2-1 until Christmas, they went 3-5-3. Surprisingly they actually lost 6 straight one goal games as the team showed lack of toughness and agression to win the gritty games. 

 

WHAT WENT RIGHT Andersen was injured but was brilliant when playing going 13-2-0 and a microscopic 1.84 goals against. Kochetkov carried much of the net going 23-13-4 and a fantastic 2.33 goals against. Aho upped his game, 89 points and a faceoff king. Seth Jarvis came into his own with 33 goals. Necas was solid, Terravainen had a nice bounce back year after a sub par 2023. Svechnikov was good. Skjei, Burns and Slaving all contributed offensively and Slavin put up Norris worthy defense. Guentzel was fantastic after coming from Pittsburgh. Martinook, Staal and Noessen contributed secondary offense while selflessly playing brilliant defense among the forwards. Chatfield was great as a shotblocker. The defense in general was just amazing, they smothered shooters forcing them out and the Hurricanes were among the very best in least amount of shots allowed per game. Pesce was a fantastic defender.

 

WHAT WENT WRONG Orlov was okay, not great for the pay he was given. Raanta was ok but was injured and was nothing really. KotKaniemi did little and might be bought out. Jack Drury did not progress, Jesper Fast actrually regressed. Kuznetsov came over from Washington and had 2 hot games and then did literally nothing. Tony DeAngelo was a very poor signing as was Michael Bunting.

 

FREE AGENTS Problems gallore. Pesce is a UFA and although he dont score much his defnese is brilliant, he will command a hefty sum. Brady Skjei is better offensively and no slouch on the back end and will command even more. They would like Guentzel to return but likely dont have the cap hit. Martinook, Noessen and Terravainen are UFA maybe one can be retained.

  Then you throw in Seth Jarvis as a RFA who will command at least a five year bridge deal and they are in trouble with the cap with players who they want to keep. Martin Necas might be dealt to free up space to resign Guentzel and Sjkei, Waddell has them up against the cap with a ton of free agents who they can ill afford to lose. And the next year they have a ton of UFAs that matter as well. The window is likely closed.

 

TOP PROSPECTS I really like Alexander Nichushkin as a man mountain on defense, a bit slow but uses his size and plays sound defense. They like Scott Morrow but he is a few years away. First rounder Bradly Nadeau may move into the bottom six with scoring upside, he has a chance to be better than that and may move into the second line, although unlikely this year. They didnt have an AHL club last season so most of their prospects played in the KHL or stayed in Juniors or college. Very few look ready to step up this year coming.

 

OFFSEASON QUESTION MARKS 

How many free agents can they resign? A lot of them will likely be playing elsewhere as they are up against the cap.

Will Martin Necas be dealt to free up space? The Canes seem to be talking crap about him and seem close to moving on.

Will they trade Andersen? He has one year at 3.4 million per, a sweetheart of a deal and Kochetkov will probably take the reins if he is dealt.

 

Man this team likely has watched its window closed, they are in deep trouble with free agents and the cap and next year more key free agents are due. Waddell got out at the right time.