Writers Roundtable: Wrapping Up The Regular Season

RALEIGH, NC. -Seems like only yesterday we were taking stock after the first month of the National Hockey League's regular season.
Now, we're midway through April with the end of the regular season two weeks away and the start of the playoffs coming more clearly into focus.
As they have throughout the season Scott Burnside and Walt Ruff take stock of what is happening around the Carolina Hurricanes and beyond.

Scott Burnside: Walt, I can't believe we're staring down the end of the regular season with the playoffs set to start May 2, and what will almost certainly be home-ice advantage for the Hurricanes. We'll get to what is ahead of the Hurricanes but let's start with this; four straight playoff appearances for the team for the first time since moving to Raleigh in 1997. It's one thing to talk about building a franchise that is competitive year in and year out and yet after missing the playoffs for a decade the Hurricanes under head coach Rod Brind'Amour have made that dream a reality. What's the best way to put that accomplishment in perspective for you, Walt?
Walt Ruff: The run of four consecutive playoff appearances is special to the organization, for sure, but to have the Captain of the team that brought a Stanley Cup to Raleigh leading the charge makes it that much more incredible. It's not as if this is a coach that has had success behind the bench around the league for other teams and just made his way to North Carolina, this is a guy who played here, got his pro coaching start here and then blossomed into a Jack Adams Award winner. It's almost movie-worthy already. Imagine if the team reaches the pinnacle with him at the helm now too.

Burnside: Okay, we know what the Hurricanes will be doing on May 2 (give or take a day given the schedule-makers) and we have good reason to believe it's going to start at PNC Arena, but there is still much to be decided. Florida has opened up a big gap atop the Eastern Conference, but the bigger question with the clock ticking down to Game 82 can the Hurricanes hold off the hard-charging New York Rangers for first place in the Metropolitan Division? Inquiring minds want to know, Walt. While you're thinking on this I'll fill in my answer. Yes.
Ruff: Well, Tuesday night certainly provided optimism. I'll also say yes and that's because the team genuinely seems hungry to want to finish in the top spot. They're not content with just being in. Plus, they want to go in hot, not just cruising to the finish line.
Burnside: Maybe the better question Walt is, 'does it matter where the Hurricanes finish up in the regular season?' They're virtually assured of home-ice advantage in the first round regardless of whether they're first or second in the Metro. As of this writing, their 27 home wins sit third in the NHL, so that's a good thing. But no doubt the team's level of play has fluctuated more widely over the past three or four weeks. Does that matter? I did a little research and spoke to some hockey folks about whether it really matters if you're hitting the playoffs running hot. As you might expect history tells us there is no real pattern. Montreal was cold as ice last season and ended up in the Stanley Cup final. Teams have been rolling come playoff time and suddenly gone cold like Tampa back in 2019, when they won 62 games and were swept by 8th seed Columbus. One longtime NHLer and executive I spoke to said the important thing is the mindset and of course the overall health of a team as opposed to wins and losses down the stretch. How do you assess this team's mental preparedness for the playoff grind, does the recent level of play raise red flags for you, Walt?
Ruff:Well, to answer the first question, what the team has been saying is that it's how they're playing that matters more than where they finish. It's interesting to hear you say that the folks you spoke to say that it doesn't really matter. I had the chance to sit with Ian Cole just a few days before the team clinched and he said it was incredibly important to go in playing well, speaking on how the one St. Louis team he was on got lax after clinching and got ousted early as a result. In terms of health, it appears as if Jesperi Kotkaniemi is just days away from returning and thankfully he's the only missing piece to the puzzle right now. The lack of injuries should not be overlooked. If I had to give you a red flag, I'd say the power play. They're capable of more. The head coach and the players alike know it. It's just a matter of if they'll get it figured out before the calendar flips to May.
Burnside: Expanding on that theme, if I had to pinpoint one element of how the Hurricanes are built and why they are considered a legitimate Stanley Cup threat is their depth. As of this writing, there are 11 players in double-digits in goals scored and they'll almost certainly have five players with 20 or more goals. Has any of this surprised you this season Walt?
Ruff:The depth? Not so much of a surprise. We'd heard since training camp that this is the deepest roster that the team has had during the Brind'Amour era. Can I speak honestly for a second though? What has surprised me is how good the team's leader in goals is. Sebastian Aho has 34 goals this season, ranking in the top 20 league-wide at the moment. Some of the other players that also have 34 goals this season? Johnny Gaudreau and Alexander Barkov. Not bad company to keep. If folks haven't learned over the last few years, I think Sebastian Aho has the potential to reach a new level of national superstardom next month.

Burnside: One player I'm curious to get your take on is Max Domi. As you know
I got a chance to spend some time with Domi when he first arrived in Raleigh
the day after the
March 21 trade deadline
and I think it's fair to say there has been some experimentation from the coaching staff's side of things on how best to employ the talented winger. And I think it's also fair to say, as there often is post trade deadline, there's been a period of adjustment for Domi in figuring out how best to make his presence felt in the Hurricanes' lineup. In his first 11 games, Domi has managed just four assists. But, at the risk of falling back on a cliché, the Hurricanes didn't acquire Domi to light it up in March and April, they brought him aboard to bring the goods in May and June. Are you at all surprised with how this has unfolded and maybe what are your expectations moving forward?
Ruff: As you mentioned, Domi hasn't had a consistent spot in the lineup yet, now even centering the fourth line. Learning the ins and outs of a team takes time. He's showing what he can offer, finding what his teammates and what the team expects of him. Despite still being in the educational period, there still have been flashes of impressive play from him. From my perspective, his vision is what stood out to me the most. Several times already he's gained the zone, surveyed his options and made a dazzling cross-ice pass. The goals will come for him as he gets more comfortable with the group. I have no concerns.
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Hurricanes April Schedule
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