Mail Bag for 11/26/11

Hello all. Life got in the way of this blog and I haven't been able to write much in the last few months but I'm going to give this thing another crack. The first blog of the stint is going to be the mail bag, where I field questions through Twitter (@GlovesOffHockey) or e-mail at glovesoffhockey@gmail.com. Feel free to submit your questions for next Saturdays blog! Without further adieu, your questions:

Do you think coach Kevin Dineen and the Panthers can continue their play and make the playoffs or will the fizzle out come crunch time?


Matt
Westbrook, Maine

New additions Fleischmann, Versteeg and
Campbell have powered the upstart Panthers.

The Panthers have been off to a torrid start and there's no reason to think they'll slow down. While I think Washington may still be the eventual Southeast Division champion, the Panthers are still sitting pretty with a three point lead over the Caps just after Black Friday. The Panthers have been the benefactors of a big summer that saw the acquisitions of Tomas Fleischmann, Brian Campbell, and Kris Versteeg to name a few. The biggest improvement under Kevin Dineen (who I said would win the Jack Adams back in August) has been special teams. The power play (19.1%) is ninth, up from 13.1% last season which was good for last in the NHL. The penalty kill, 6th last year, is 15th this year but is still an efficient 82.3%. The next five games will give us a better picture of where the Cats really stand with match-ups against Tampa Bay tonight, followed by tilts with Carolina, Los Angeles, San Jose, and Washington. When the dust settles I think the Panthers will steal one of the bottom three playoff spots in the Eastern Conference and Dineen will win the Jack Adams.

Who is your pick for Vezina Trophy?


Blake
Limington, Maine


There's been some stellar goaltending play in the NHL this season and through two months my pick would have to be Niklas Backstrom of the Minnesota Wild. Backstrom is 7-4-2 with a 1.97 GAA and a .935 S%, backstopping the Wild to the top spot in a tightly contested Western Conference. Tim Thomas will likely be in the discussion at season's end as well, as the two-time Vezina Trophy winner is off to a white-hot start, posting a 10-4-0 record, a 1.85 GAA and a .936 S% to accompany his three shutouts. Nikolai Khabibulin is off to an impressive start in Edmonton as well, helping the the young Oilers to 6th in the West, just three points out of the top spot. Former second overall pick Kari Lehtenon has also shocked many, helping Dallas to 5th in the West with a 13-4-1 record, a 2.35 GAA and a .926 S%. My early pick, however, has to go to Backstrom, who is playing his best hockey since his rookie campaign in 2006-2007.

What's been the reason for the Bruins successful November?


Tom 
Portland, Maine


As I said in August, I expected the Bruins to start slow. But the Bruins have put up points in every game in November, their only blemish a shootout loss on Black Friday against Detroit. The Bruins success can be largely tied to Tim Thomas, who has gone 7-0 with a 1.55 GAA and a .943 S% in November. The emergence of Tyler Seguin has been monumental as well, with Seguin showing why he was a second overall pick in 2010. Seguin is on pace for 88 points after scoring just 22 in his rookie campaign. During the Bruins incredible November run, Seguin has notched 13 points (8 G, 5 A) in 11 games and has been carrying the team on his back. The biggest thing for the Bruins has been their commitment to what made them successful in their Cup-winning 2010-2011 season--playing a gritty, physical game. The Bruins, mostly void of pure goal scorers outside of Seguin and Nathan Horton, have simplified the game, gotten pucks to the net, and have had their power play clicking much more efficiently in November. When the Bruins stick to what makes them effective they are as dangerous as they come in the NHL.

Do you expect the Hurricanes will have any problems re-signing Jeff Skinner and other key pieces in a few seasons?


Mike
Brookline, Massachusetts

The Canes biggest priority in the next few seasons:
lock up Jeff Skinner long-term.

The Canes are a particularly frugal team in today's NHL under Peter Karmanos, but that doesn't mean they can't spend money. The top priority after Jeff Skinner's entry level deal expires after the 2012-2013 season will be locking the phenom up long-term. Skinner could likely fetch a Jonathan Toews-esque deal, somewhere in the 5 year/$30 million range. The Canes are well under the cap but do have some restraints. That said, Tuomo Ruutu's $3.8 million cap hit comes off the books after 2012 which will open up space for the Canes to sign Skinner and Pat Dwyer. Tomas Kaberle's $4.25 million cap hit comes off after 2014, but Kaberle will likely be moved by then and the Canes will have some extra spending money. Bryan Allen and Tim Gleason's contracts are up after the season and logic would indicate both won't be brought back to make way for young guns Justin Faulk and, in the wings, Boston College stud Brian Dumoulin on the back end. The Canes have a good, young core in place and I don't think they'll have any issues keeping it in tact.

Do you think the Canucks can make some noise again in the post-season?


Ethan
Litchfield, Maine


I do and I don't. The Canucks have proven lethal on the power play this season, clicking at an NHL-best 24.5%, which goes a long way come April. But the Canucks have been plagued by inconsistent play and are in the middle of their longest winning streak of the season--three games. But, as it has been for a while now, the Canucks success rests on one man's shoulders--Roberto Luongo. Luongo has been hampered a little by injuries this season and Cory Schneider has filled in admirably. But if this team is going to make another Cup run, Luongo will need to be the man in the pipes. Luongo has put up pedestrian numbers this season with a 2.97 GAA and a .896 S% and has many Vancouver fans calling for the relinquishing of his starting role. Schneider has been remarkable, posting a 2.02 GAA and a .927 S% to go with his two shutouts, both of which have come in the last two games while a healthy Roberto Luongo watched from the bench. The bottom line is this: despite all the offensive firepower and star-studded line-up, as Roberto Luongo goes, so go the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks will rally to make the playoffs, but I don't anticipate consecutive Finals appearances for the British Columbia boys.

That's all for this week. Hit me up with your questions and check back next week for another Mail Bag!

GOH