CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • April 29, 2021 Hurricanes playoff predictions, Alex Nedeljkovic’s RFA status explained, injuries: Bag of Jerks By Sara Civian The Hurricanes haven’t had it easy, and yeah, there are a few teams around the league that have had to deal with less Well, folks, the Hurricanes became the first team in the injury adversity this season, but it’s generally been worse Central Division to clinch a playoff berth Monday night, and than usual for most of the NHL. And you can bet there are we’ve entered a strange new world in which they’re the ones dozens of players playing through minor injuries that waiting on an opponent. might’ve sidelined them in a normal situation. They just so happened to score five goals vs. Dallas the You have three rounds in the ring against Tripp Tracy. You night after clinching, proving they aren’t just going to coast each get to choose a weapon. What weapon do you choose into the postseason. Was this a pressure-off-type situation? and who wins? Same question but with Shane Trillis and “I don’t know,” captain Jordan Staal said after scoring two Abby Labardown? — Andrew M. goals. “I don’t think it really changed a ton. I think we just had I’m defeating Tripp with the precise Taco Bell order of: some better jump and guys were sharper tonight than the previous night. And vice versa for their team. It was nice to 1. Two Mexican pizzas see that ‘x’ beside our name in the standings, but I don’t think it changed a ton to the start of this game.” 2. Three hard tacos If nothing else, it fired up an old friend … 3. Three soft tacos Let’s reflect on the majority of the regular season and look 4. Three steak soft tacos ahead to the playoffs in this month’s Bag of Jerks. 5. Three beef meximelts I love the “next man up” philosophy, but at some point, you 6. One burrito supreme run out of top-level talent to go far in the playoffs. Have the Hurricanes been especially decimated with injuries this year I’m bringing LabarDown into a ring full of dirty dishes. She compared to the league as a whole, or has everyone will simply get stressed out and distracted and wash them all consistently had an entire top line’s worth of talent on the IL? and then I will attack. — Nathan J. Shane is the only one who genuinely scares me in this I raise you one Max McCormick in the middle of a two-game situation. If that man has a weakness, I have never seen it. goal streak, and hey, the one and only Morgan Geekie Those of us in the North will begin paying closer attention to seems to be heating up at the right time. the Canes come playoff time. What should we keep an eye In all seriousness, you obviously raise a valid question, but on in Carolina? (Other than your excellent and funny writing, the Hurricanes are definitely NOT alone in this aspect this cheers) — Julian B. season, and the leaguewide injury bug was always a threat Cheers, Julian! during such a condensed schedule. A subscriber actually responded to this question in the Take the Canes’ most recent opponent, Dallas, for example. mailbag saying, “Backcheck, forecheck and Trocheck,” and I They’re out No. 1 goalie Ben Bishop, star center Tyler couldn’t have said it better myself. The true danger of this Seguin and forward Alexander Radulov for the season, team is in the reliability of its depth. Of course, you have your among others. Roope Hintz is also nursing something and point-per-game Sebastian Aho, your elusive Martin Necas, even though he’s always great, you can tell he isn’t 100 your equal parts competitive and clutch Vincent Trocheck, percent in his skating. your rookie goalie full of promise in Alex Nedeljkovic and I’d take the Hurricanes’ situation over this any day, especially your heating-up Andrei Svechnikov, but everything this team with Teuvo Teravainen’s return Tuesday night. does starts with strong defense. “He’d been hinting at (returning),” head coach Rod This has always been an extremely dangerous team at even Brind’Amour said. “I talked to him yesterday and he kind of strength, but now you also have the league-best 27.7 power- said, ‘Well, let’s see how I do in the morning.’ He skated by play percentage and No. 3 84.3 penalty-kill percentage. himself, really, and then gave us the thumbs up. Obviously, There’s not one specific thing you can point to as a far-and- that’s huge for us. I thought he was good. Obviously, he had away No. 1 reason for this team’s success except for the one little gaffe there that I’m sure he’d like to have back. collective resiliency, and that’s why I like their odds for a But other than that, I thought as long as he was out, he was deep playoff run. good.” What is your bold prediction for most surprising Canes player of the playoffs? — Stephanie H. CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS • April 29, 2021 Well, maybe McCormick just needed to actually get in one video of the collision with McCormick again. I don’t think we (1) hockey game to be this guy, eh? can blame Mrazek or his thumb for needing surgery. Maybe “surprising” isn’t the right word for this, but I have a Then we have to think about everything we just discussed as feeling Svechnikov is going to have a great playoff run after Mrazek is currently dealing with a minor lower-body tweak. his trials and tribulations this season. He’s had a pretty Why not let Nedeljkovic get in these games and avoid Group strong past three games with confident play and four assists. 6 UFA status? I just have a feeling that overcoming this regular season will give him a new sense of maturity and confidence. He’s been Plus, Brind’Amour has said that Mrazek actually could play if “fighting it” a lot this season and that’ll make you stronger he had to right now, but since the Canes have the luxury of eventually — if you let it. Nedeljkovic’s breakout season and Reimer as extra backup, they haven’t had to rush him back. I’d also assume they’re Canes win the Cup! Jordan Staal snatches it from Bettman in trying to make sure Mrazek is 5,000 percent ready to go for honor of RB’A and screams as the crowd goes wild. He looks the playoffs. at his teammates and signals for a player to skate to him for the first handoff of the Stanley Cup. That player is …? — Perks of clinching with a few weeks left in the regular Peter W. season? Interesting potential scenario here. Barring unusual I’m currently on team “Sign Mrazek and Nedeljkovic next circumstances, this will usually be the most veteran player season.” without a Cup, and James Reimer has meant a lot to this When are people around the league going to start to team regardless of how many games he may or may not play acknowledge Ned? Like, I get it that he won’t possibly win this postseason. There are not many “veteran” players on the Calder, but he could get a mention, right? Is he a this team other than Reimer and Staal at this point. I’m legitimately good goalie, or are there still too few games and guessing it will be Reimer. too many unknowns? — Emily L. Do you think the Hurricanes could re-sign Petr Mrazek and I basically agree with your premise here. He definitely Nedeljkovic? If not, which one will they choose? — Taylor W. deserves a mention, but as you said, he’s played too few Please explain the league rule/nuances affecting Ned, games to make a serious run at it. The fact that it’s only a regarding how many remaining starts in net he needs for the regular-season award makes even less of a case for it, Canes to make him an RFA? — Jeff T. though, and the Hurricanes’ defense is so darn good that compared with the too few games, someone like Kirill These questions tie into each other, and my short answer for Kaprizov, who is elevating his linemates, gets an edge. the first question is, “Yes, they will be able to,” because of the long answer to the second question. You might enjoy this week’s article from our Dom Luszczyszyn that has Nedeljkovic very high in the Calder Nedeljkovic is in a relatively unique situation because of his race. age-to-professional minutes/NHL-minutes-played ratio and his expiring contract extension. As a 25-year-old goalie who Regardless of awards, I think it’s safe to say he’s a has completed at least three professional seasons legitimately good goalie at this point. He’s had to prove (consisting of at least 11 games while 18/19 years old and/or himself over and over and he rarely fails a test. at least one game while 20 or older), he will become what is Has Rod ever explained why he likes two defensemen on the called a Group 6 Unrestricted Free Agent if he doesn’t have second power-play unit? Feel like Jake Gardiner or Jake at least 27 NHL games with at least 30 minutes logged in Bean could run it by himself.