Recap: Canes 'Too Fancy' In Season

The Carolina Hurricanes have struggled to find their footing in the 2023-24 season, sitting near the bottom of the Metropolitan Division. Many have pointed to the team's "fancy" style of play as a major factor in their struggles, but is this a fair assessment?

The Fancy Stats

The Hurricanes are one of the most possession-oriented teams in the league, ranking in the top 10 in corsi for% and expected goals for%. This suggests that they are controlling play and generating high-quality scoring chances. However, their shooting percentage is near the bottom of the league, which has led to their offensive struggles.

The Eye Test

While the fancy stats suggest that the Hurricanes are playing well, the eye test tells a different story. The team has been criticized for being too cute with the puck, trying to make too many fancy plays instead of getting the puck to the net. This has led to a lack of sustained offensive pressure and has made it difficult for the team to score goals.

The Coach's Perspective

Head coach Rod Brind'Amour has defended his team's style of play, arguing that they are still a young team that is learning how to win. He believes that the Hurricanes have the talent to be a successful team, but they need to be more consistent in their execution.

"I think we're trying to do too much at times," Brind'Amour said. "We're trying to be too fancy. We need to simplify our game and get pucks to the net."

The Player's Perspective

The players have also spoken out about the team's struggles. Captain Jordan Staal has said that the team needs to be more "direct" in their play. He believes that they are trying to be too cute with the puck and that they need to get more pucks on net.

"We're not getting enough pucks to the net," Staal said. "We're trying to be too fancy at times. We need to get pucks on net and create some chaos."

The Expert's Perspective

Hockey experts have also weighed in on the Hurricanes' struggles. Many have agreed with the assessment that the team is trying to be too fancy with their play. They believe that the Hurricanes need to simplify their game and get more pucks to the net.

"The Hurricanes are trying to be too fancy," said ESPN hockey analyst Barry Melrose. "They're trying to make too many cute plays instead of getting the puck to the net. They need to simplify their game and get more pucks on net."

Conclusion

The Carolina Hurricanes are a talented team with a lot of potential. However, they have struggled to find their footing in the 2023-24 season. Many have pointed to the team's "fancy" style of play as a major factor in their struggles. While the fancy stats suggest that the Hurricanes are playing well, the eye test tells a different story. The team has been criticized for being too cute with the puck and for not getting enough pucks to the net. Head coach Rod Brind'Amour has defended his team's style of play, but the players and experts have agreed that the team needs to simplify their game and get more pucks on net.

It remains to be seen whether the Hurricanes will be able to make the necessary adjustments to their style of play. If they can, they have the potential to be a successful team. However, if they continue to try to be too fancy, they will likely continue to struggle.