The Dundonhead Era begins

[Bosc]

There's been plenty of noise here on the Wet Coast about moving the Cannots' affiliate to Abbotsford. But the Cannots' Head Office remain committed to Utica for whatever reason. We're just as perplexed here as well. Perhaps the Kraken being down the road might influence a change in perspective as far as that goes.

I've been to Utica. There is nothing redeeming about that place! There are quite a few meth houses like 1/4 mile from their arena.

Exactly. Motivation to gtfo.

[E.L.]

The Canucks must really love Robert Esche.

The old heart of the AHL, for better or worse, is the shrinking contigent of rust belt teams. They've been around so long I can't imagine the league without Utica, Bingo, Rochester, WBS and Hershey. Then again I could say the same about Albany and they're gone.

[Pokecheque]

I'm pretty sure I've never seen an owner get so fickle over his team's attire. As soon as Dundon arrived he expressed his displeasure about the team's away jerseys, prompting them to call in advance so they could wear red on the road. Then they redesign the away jersey to say CANES in big letters (not an improvement). Then this year they up and decide to wear their third jerseys and matching helmets/pants full time, which now means they have two sets of pants, black for home, red for the road, which seems like an unnecessary thing to do.

Their Reverse Retro is...interesting, though IMO it makes them look like the Blackhawks.

[Pokecheque]

Some interesting drama surrounding defensive prospect Alexander Nikishin. Turns out he has indeed signed his first NHL contract, but the Canes haven't registered it because they want him to play in the AHL on a PTO.

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Now, having a young player gets some shakedown time in the AHL is pretty normal, though I don't recall a situation where said player signed his NHL ELC and the club just kinda shoved it in a drawer. Unfortunately for Eric Tulsky & Co., Nikishin's agent is throwing a big stink about it.

[Pokecheque]

Canes are done, once again just can't get past the ECF.

A strange season for sure. They trade away two players in Drury and Necas for Rantanen, only to learn he wouldn't re-sign (and stunk while there), so they flip him for Logan Stankoven, who's a much better fit but also nowhere near the gamebreaker they were hoping to get in Rantanen. I guess if it makes them feel any better, Rantanen, despite a monster first two rounds, has two assists to his name in the current WCF.

This team is good, they just seem unable to attain greatness. No one who can just take over the game when it matters most, no superstars.

[E.L.]

It brings me no joy to say they struck out big time on Kotkaniemi. A healthy scratch at times during the playoffs. They extended him with the idea he could at worst be a solid 3C and could grow into a 2C. He’s a 4C. Hasn’t developed at all since arriving in the league. They can still buy him out at the 25 and under rate.

[E.L.]

Carolina has 30M in cap space and they want a star. If Marner just wants to get paid, this is a great landing spot.

[BLUE]

Would rather see Marner go out west. Elliot seemed to think he ends up in Vegas.