OG Fans - December 11, 2024

Yes, it’s come to this – a mailbag column. Sometimes there isn’t anything overly interesting to expand upon in a week, so I might send out a call for topics or questions over on Bluesky (come follow me over there!) for some of that sweet sweet content. So, let’s see what we’ve got.

How serious should Tulsky be looking for a replacement? PK has been inconsistent. Both he and Freddie have trouble staying healthy. Should it be a stop gap or a more permanent solution?

It’s easy to get frustrated at Pyotr Kochetkov, especially with a save percentage below .900, but part of that low save percentage has to do with playing for a Hurricanes team that often doesn’t give up that many shots. As any youth hockey goaltending parent will tell you after their kid gives up a goal after watching his team put like 15 shots on the opposing goalie after sitting in their zone for four straight minutes, a lack of action can be one of a goalie’s worst enemies. Kochetkov’s only two losses this season before his concussion against Columbus were in games he saw less than 20 shots. Seriously – he was 3-2 in those games, while he was 8-0 where he saw 20 or more. His first three games back from his concussion saw some struggles (only 61 saves on 72 shots for a .847 save percentage), but he seemed more like himself last night against San Jose. Right now, he’s a league average goalie who can occasionally steal a game, which – and I don’t know if this is someone who lived through the Peters era talking – can be all you really need sometimes. Not everybody has access to a Connor Hellebuyck.

I do think that there is a need for another goaltender. Dustin Tokarski, who the Canes called up to swap out Spencer Martin, is essentially an older Spencer Martin. He was playing great in Chicago and has NHL experience, so he could see a spot start while he’s up, but Brind’Amour sees him as a #2 (much like Martin), so Kochetkov is going to get the heavy load of starts until Freddie Andersen gets back, which could be six weeks, or it could be never. If it’s never, Kochetkov is looking at a Cam Ward 2010-11 style workload, which pretty much broke Cam so maybe you don’t want to do that.

The urgency has died down a little bit now that Kochetkov is back, and Tulsky isn’t going to be pressured into selling the cow to get the magic beans, so if/when (and I’d assume when) the trade comes, it will likely come out of nowhere. I don’t think there’s a player available that would be an improvement on Kochetkov now that Shesterkin is signed (he was never going anywhere anyway), so you have to look for a 1B that can be PK’s wonder twin for at least the rest of this season, and view Andersen coming back as a bonus. Mackenzie Blackwood was probably by #1 target (which I went over two weeks ago), but the Colorado Avalanche read this newsletter and dumped their starting goaltender for him, which was the right move for them. Unless for some reason the price comes down for Vejmelka in Utah or Varlamov on the Island (if he’s even available), it’s probably going to be something like Ottawa’s Anton Forsberg for Yaniv Perets and a 4th unless Eric Tulsky can make half of John Gibson’s contract disappear.

If KK lost a faceoff and his man to give up a goal with six seconds left in a period like Jack [Drury], would he be healthy scratched for one week or two?

The RBA line blend-o-matic seems like it’s been in high gear ever since Jarvis came back, despite seemingly having a flow. Generally the Canes work best with two “skill” lines, the Staal/shutdown line, and whatever’s left over on the fourth. But, with Jarvis and now Svechnikov getting thrown in the Staal line, Drury and Kotkaniemi swapping places, Roslovic going from first to fourth line it’s difficult to get a hold on what’s going on.

Kotkaniemi’s very short leach with Brind’Amour might seem targeted. KK had a no good, very bad game against Columbus, which saw him only get five shifts after the first period, and has been anchored to the fourth line since. This isn’t the first time this has happened, as Drury creeped up into the second line to center Necas and Michael Bunting (remember him?) last season, then stayed anchored down low during the Kuznetsov experiment.

Yet it really might just be less a dislike of Kotkaniemi and more being enamored with Drury. Even before the line switch, Drury has been getting special teams time both on the PK (with Eric Robinson) and on the second power play line, coincidentally with Kotkaniemi. Kotkaniemi was seen as a middle six center who as a worst-case scenario would be the heir apparent to Staal, centering a shutdown defensive line. Yet, it’s Drury that’s been getting kill minutes, not Kotkaniemi, and he just ended up getting rewarded with Necas and whomever the oracle tells RBA to play on their wing. We’ve been told ever since they were drafted that Kotkaniemi was a future star because he was a 3rd overall selection while Drury was skilled but “had a low ceiling”, but this isn’t 2018 anymore. That said, this argument might be moot as Drury left last night’s game against San Jose with an “upper body injury” that Brind’Amour implied could have him “out for a while.”