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Hurricanes-Wild Game Postponed

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The Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild aren’t going to play tonight after all. According to several reports including Michael Russo of The Athletic, four more players from the Hurricanes have tested positive today for coronavirus and will be put into the COVID protocol. The team put Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho in the protocol yesterday. The league has officially announced the single postponement, noting that it will provide a further update tomorrow. The four players entering the protocol today are Jordan Staal, Andrei Svechnikov, Ian Cole, and Steven Lorentz.

If it weren’t postponed, the Hurricanes would be extremely shorthanded for this evening’s action. The team does not have the cap space for more than one recall, which they used on Andrew Poturalski earlier today. There is also a growing sentiment that on-ice transmission has occurred over the weekend, as several teams that played each other–Carolina, the Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, and Boston Bruins in particular–have now had players enter the protocol recently.

The Flames, Ottawa Senators, and New York Islanders are the three teams that have seen their season postponed to this point, but if the Hurricanes become the fourth, even more doubt will be placed upon NHL participation in the upcoming Olympics. The league has maintained that if postponements cause a “material disruption” to the schedule they will take the decision out of the players’ hands and withdraw from international competition.

This is also not the first time the Hurricanes have been affected by COVID absences. Brett Pesce, Tony DeAngelo, and Ethan Bear were all in the protocol at once, with the former two only expected to make their return tonight, before the game was postponed.

Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis Enter COVID Protocol

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The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis have both entered the COVID protocol. Though the team did not confirm whether or not they have tested positive, both players–plus a member of the training staff–will be remaining in Vancouver as the team travels to Minnesota, suggesting they have.

Notably, the Hurricanes played the Calgary Flames on Thursday, a team that has now been shut down due to a massive outbreak. Carolina played two more games between then and now, visiting the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks. Aho actually didn’t play in the game against Vancouver, missing it with an “illness”, but Jarvis did, playing a career-high of 17 minutes against the Canucks.

This isn’t the first time that the Hurricanes have dealt with brutal COVID-related absences either. The team lost Ethan Bear, Brett Pesce, and Tony DeAngelo all at the same time earlier this season, with the latter two only expected to make their return tomorrow night. It’s a good thing they are, too, because the Hurricanes don’t have the cap space to make any additional recalls. Like other teams, they would have been forced to play shorthanded if any other injuries cropped up. Instead, the team has sent Maxime Lajoie back to the AHL as the two defensemen rejoin the club in Minnesota.

Still, losing Aho and Jarvis will take a big bite out of the Hurricanes’ top-six. Aho is fresh off a second star of the week award after extending his multi-point game streak to five, and easily leads the team with 32 points in 26 games. Jarvis meanwhile has been a little less reliable as an offensive piece with 11 points in 20 games, but is still just 19 years old and getting his feet wet at the NHL level. The youngster hasn’t scored a goal in his last 11 games and will now face a quarantine period before he can get back on the ice if he has indeed tested positive.

Ian Cole Avoids Suspension, Earns Fine

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The Department of Player Safety has determined that Ian Cole will not receive a suspension for his hit on Mark Scheifele last night. Cole has earned a $5,000 fine instead, the maximum allowable amount under the CBA.

The Carolina Hurricanes defenseman received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for the play, while Scheifele did not exit the game or suffer a serious injury. Both of those things likely were considered in the decision of whether or not to elevate it to a suspension, like the one handed out to Neal Pionk recently. Pionk delivered a similar knee-on-knee hit against Rasmus Sandin, who suffered an injury on the play. The Winnipeg Jets defenseman was not penalized by the on-ice officials, and ended up receiving a two-game suspension.

It’s certainly good news for the Hurricanes, who are already down two key defensemen. With Cole out of the game and the Hurricanes on a long penalty kill, Jaccob Slavin ended up logging nearly 30 minutes against the Jets, including more than six shorthanded. If Cole were to also receive a suspension, the team would be dealing with a huge gap in their depth on the back end. Instead, he’ll get a fine on his record that will influence future supplementary discipline decisions and cost him a bit of money.

Pesce, DeAngelo Exit COVID Protocol; Will Not Travel To Canada

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Two key players for the Carolina Hurricanes can get back on the ice, now that they’re out of the COVID protocol, but Brett Pesce and Tony DeAngelo will not be traveling to meet the team in Canada. The Hurricanes are currently on a road trip through Western Canada, where they’ll face the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and Vancouver Canucks over the next few days. While they’re past the 10-day threshold for the league, the Canadian border requires 14 days to have passed.

It’s not clear yet if the two defensemen will join the team in Minnesota, where Carolina is set to take on the Wild next Tuesday, but getting them back to training is obviously a positive. Pesce, one of the most reliable defenders in the league, has played just 15 games this season after missing time in early November. The 27-year-old has averaged more than 21 minutes of ice time in those games, however, and is a key part of the team’s penalty kill and second powerplay unit. He has seven points on the season, after earning Norris Trophy votes in 2020-21 for registering 25 points in 55 games.

DeAngelo meanwhile is still third on the team in scoring despite missing the last few matches, as he racked up 19 points in his first 20 games of the season. Six of those came on the powerplay, where he logs more ice time than any other player on the Hurricanes. A talented offensive player, he’s been a strong fit for the team after the departure of Dougie Hamilton in the offseason.

The Hurricanes went through a short rough patch, losing three in a row as they adjusted to life without some of their regular defensemen, but have gotten back in the win column of late. Last night they defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4-2, but it required Jaccob Slavin to log nearly 30 minutes of ice time (including more than six minutes on the penalty kill) to do it. He’ll be as happy as anyone to see some of his defense group get back, as soon as the team returns to the U.S.

Rod Brind'Amour Fined $25,000 For Inappropriate Conduct

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What Your Team Is Thankful For: Carolina Hurricanes

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As the holiday season approaches, PHR will take a look at what teams are thankful for as the season heads towards the one-quarter mark. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We’ll examine what’s gone well in the early going and what could improve as the season rolls on for the Carolina Hurricanes.

What are the Hurricanes most thankful for?

Healthy (and effective) goaltending.

Over the last several seasons, the Hurricanes have been one of the best defensive teams in the league, limiting other teams to some of the lowest shot totals in the NHL. In 2018-19 they ranked third in shots against, in 2019-20 they were second, and in 2020-21 they were eighth. With that kind of effort it would follow that any number of starting goaltenders in the league would be able to find success in Carolina, the only problem has been the health of the ones they actually chose.

Petr Mrazek and James Reimer were good, but not very reliable options for the team, with the former playing just 12 games for them last season despite being the expected starter. This year it’s been a different story, at least for Frederik Andersen, who has backstopped the team 15 times in 20 games and looks as sharp as ever. Andersen has a .932 save percentage in those appearances, a number that would be far and away his career high should he maintain it all year. While they did need Alex Lyon to come up for a few days while backup Antti Raanta dealt with a minor injury, the starters role has been locked in so far. That certainly wasn’t a guarantee before the year started, so you can imagine how thankful head coach Rod Brind’Amour is through the first two months.

Who are the Hurricanes most thankful for?

Jaccob Slavin.

The biggest reason for that outstanding defensive play is Slavin, who is an all-situations superstar for the Hurricanes–even if he doesn’t get quite as much press as some of his flashier counterparts around the league. There are 58 defensemen who have played more at even-strength so far this season, but just six of them own a better goals-for percentage during those minutes. Among those who have played at least 350 minutes, he ranks 11th in the entire league with 22 goals scored and just 14 against. His possession stats during that even-strength ice time put him in the top-five in the league, but that’s not at all where his contribution ends for the Hurricanes.

There is no player, forward or defenseman, who has logged more short-handed ice time this season than Slavin, who averages nearly four minutes a game on the penalty kill. The Hurricanes have taken more penalties than anyone else in the league this year, allowing 79 powerplays against in 20 games. Despite all that time though, he’s been on the ice for just three powerplay goals against, an incredible statistic that is the biggest reason why the Hurricanes penalty kill is ranked third in the league–and why their penchant for penalties hasn’t killed their record.

What would the Hurricanes be even more thankful for?

A return on their offer sheet investment.

No one expected Jesperi Kotkaniemi to be worth $6.1MM this season, but when the Hurricanes signed him to an offer sheet worth that much, essentially buying him off the Montreal Canadiens, there was still hope he could become at least a regular contributor. Instead, Kotkaneimi has moved further and further down the lineup, seeing less than ten minutes of action in four of his last eight games. Through the first month of the season he had just three points, certainly not acceptable for a player making that much on a contending team.

The bounces have turned for him the last few nights, with two goals and three points in his last two games, but that will have to become a trend for this move to seem like a successful one. Remember, not only are the Hurricanes paying Kotkaniemi much more than he’s worth this year, but they also gave up first and third-round picks to get him.

What should be on the Hurricanes’ Holiday Wish List?

A top-six winger.

There’s really not that much the Hurricanes need. They’re deep up front with four lines that can all compete, have one of the best defensive groups in the NHL (at least when three of them aren’t on the COVID list) and have two goaltenders that have both shown the ability to play as above-average starters. The only real question mark is 19-year-old Seth Jarvis, who is expected to once again be in the top-six tonight next to Andrei Svechnikov and Vincent Trocheck.

It’s not that Jarvis lacks the talent to play there; the 2020 first-round pick is going to be in the Hurricanes lineup for years to come. But after some flashes of inconsistency, it may be prudent to go get another winger for that spot before the playoffs. The NHL season is a long grind, and though the bottom-six for the Hurricanes is a strong group, they’re not loaded with goal-scoring talent. If Jarvis has any signs of slowing down, adding another top-six option on an expiring contract might be the best way to go.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Pesce, DeAngelo, McKegg Added To COVID Protocol

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The Carolina Hurricanes have lost another two defensemen, as both Brett Pesce and Tony DeAngelo have been added to the COVID protocol. The two will remain in Raleigh while the rest of the team travels to Dallas, suggesting they won’t be available tomorrow night at the very least. If the pair has tested positive–which the Hurricanes did not confirm–and have experienced any symptoms, they will be held out for a minimum of ten days.

The New York Rangers also have an unavailable player, as Greg McKegg will not skate today after entering the protocol. Like the Hurricanes, the Rangers have not confirmed whether or not McKegg tested positive for coronavirus, only that he will miss today’s practice with a COVID-related absence.

Ethan Bear had already been unavailable for the Hurricanes after entering the protocol a week ago, meaning a huge swathe of the team’s defense corps is now out of the lineup. The Hurricanes had been using Brendan Smith more than they likely expected, but now will also likely have to make some additional recalls. Like with the San Jose Sharks, New York Islanders, and Ottawa Senators, who have all faced severe outbreaks this season, the Hurricanes aren’t likely to receive any help from the league in terms of postponements unless things get much worse.

Already the Hurricanes had been faltering a bit of late, losing the Metropolitan Division lead after a 6-3-1 run. If they want to catch the Washington Capitals (who have played two more games) in the coming days, they’ll have to do it with a defense group that isn’t quite as established. Pesce logs more ice time than anyone not named Jaccob Slavin, while DeAngelo has been one of the best point-producing defensemen in the league this season with 19 in 20 games.

Hurricanes Have Shown Interest In John Klingberg

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The Hurricanes have inquired about the availability of Stars defenseman John Klingberg, Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek reports (video link).  The 29-year-old is in the final year of his contract and a report earlier in the season suggested that he was seeking a max-term eight-year extension worth over $60MM, a price tag that Dallas clearly hasn’t been willing to meet yet.  He’s off to a quiet start to his season with no goals and seven assists in 15 games although his track record suggests he’ll turn things around offensively.  The fit in Carolina is interesting as they’re already using LTIR and don’t have the cap space to take on Klingberg’s $4.25MM AAV; they’d need Dallas to retain or to send close to matching money the other way.  They already have a strong back end and Klingberg would certainly give them a big boost but it’s the type of trade that is more plausible closer to the trade deadline than this early in the season.

Andrei Svechnikov Fined For Kneeing Scott Laughton

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Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov is a little lighter in the wallet today after the Department of Player Safety announced that they have fined him $5K for a kneeing incident on Philadelphia center Scott Laughton on Friday.  It is the maximum fine allowable in the CBA.  There was no penalty called when it occurred early in the second period while Svechnikov added a goal late in the third period.  It’s the first time the 21-year-old has been fined in his young career and the money will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Hurricanes’ Eric Gelinas, Wild’s Ivan Lodnia Clear Unconditional Waivers

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Nov 23: After both players cleared waivers, they are now able to have their contracts terminated and sign overseas. Gelinas technically was recalled to the NHL before terminating it but is headed back to Rogle where he played last season. As for Lodnia, Michael Russo of The Athletic understood that a few weeks ago the young forward was linked to Finland, but nothing has yet surfaced regarding his next destination.

Nov 21: Two NHL seasons and contracts (and possibly careers) could soon be coming to an end. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that a pair of names have been placed on unconditional waivers today for the purpose of contract termination. They are veteran defenseman Eric Gelinas of the Carolina Hurricanes and young forward Ivan Lodnia of the Minnesota Wild.

Gelinas, a name that should be familiar to NHL fans, is an experienced defender in the league with nearly 200 games to his credit with the New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche. However, he spent the past three seasons in Europe before returning with a one-year contract with the Hurricanes this off-season. Given the defensive depth in Carolina though, Gelinas has yet to see a return to the NHL level and very well might not have played for anyone other than the AHL’s Chicago Wolves this season. As a result, he is seeking a contract termination so that he can pursue greater opportunities elsewhere. One of the best offensive defensemen in Sweden last year, Gelinas is likely to head back to the SHL if he clears waivers.

Lodnia, 22, is a different case. The young forward is in his first pro season in North America after playing in the KHL on loan last year. A 2017 third-round pick and long-time OHL standout, Lodnia is considered a good prospect and likely expected to be treated as such by the Wild. Instead, Minnesota’s depth forced them to assign Lodnia to the ECHL to begin the year. When he opted not to report, Lodnia was suspended and as a result, has not played a single game this season. Enough is enough apparently, as the two sides are moving toward a contract termination. It is unclear if the Wild have tried to trade Lodnia and, if so, if his refusal to report has been a turn-off to potential suitors. An interested club could still grab Lodnia on waivers, but typically unconditional placements go untouched. He could potentially sign with another NHL team, or AHL team, but there is also the chance that he returns to Europe instead. It’s a strange twist to what once seemed like a budding NHL career that now may never be.

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