Hurricanes coach on Teravainen, goalie issues (Podcast)

Carolina Hurricanes coach Bill Peters (beginning at the 28:00 mark) and NHL free-agent forward Sam Gagner joined the Marek Vs. Wyshynski podcast this week, as Peters discussed the team and his new contract.

We also asked him if he already had plans for Teuvo Teravainen, the potentially brilliant young forward that was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks along with Bryan Bickell in a salary dump this summer.

Peters said he sees Teravainen skating with Sebastian Aho, a Finnish rookie, and Elias Lindholm, who had 39 points in 82 games last season.

“I know exactly where I see Teravainen slotting in. I have Aho, Lindholm and Teravainen,” said Peters. “Now, where they go, I don’t know. Lindy played a little center for us last year, at the end of the year, and was very good. Teravainen was very successful in Chicago playing the off-wing, as a right winger. He also has some ability to play center. I think that’s going to be a line. That way, one guy can take faceoffs on the right side in the ‘D’ zone and the other guy can take faceoffs on the left side in the ‘D’ zone and all three are responsible defensively.

“Not that I’ve given that line any thought,” he said.

This line would give the Hurricanes three players with experience at center, and Peters said that’s where the NHL is headed right now: Having wingers who can also distribute the puck. Patrick Kane might be the prototype; Jonathan Drouin also fits the description.

“The game just continues to evolve. It’s so hard to score. It used to be the center’s job to get the puck to the wingers, but once you line up now, you’re standing in position. But once the game starts, you just play,” said Peters.

We also asked Peters about his goaltending, as Cam Ward is back on a two-year contract to compete with Eddie Lack. That was the battery last season, too, and they didn’t exactly shine between the pipes. At least statistically: Ward had a .909 save percentage in 51 games, while Lack was at .901.

“I like the two goaltenders we have. We have to play better in front of them,” said Peters.

He expects to, now that some of his young players have another year of experience. “Even in games where we’re outshooting teams 40-20, all of a sudden the breakdown we make in the neutral zone is huge, and that’s part of being young,” he said.

“The quantity of the shot was good, the quality of the shot was too high, and we can tighten that up.”

This episode of MvsW also covers the Evander Kane arrest, the Nashville Predators and Detroit Red Wings vs. the salary cap and Gary Bettman on concussions.

The Marek vs. Wyshynski Podcast is hosted by Jeff Marek of Sportsnet and Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo Sports, breaking down the NHL on a (somewhat) daily basis with their particular brand of whimsy and with guest voices from around the hockey world. MvsW streams live while its being recorded: LISTEN HERE! [And if that doesn’t work, try here.]