The Carolina Hurricanes will be taking the ice Tuesday night against the Dallas Stars with a few new faces on the roster. Two players will be tying up their laces for their first-ever game as a Hurricane and another long-time face will be getting a shot in his first game of the season.
Of the three players that Carolina acquired from an active trade deadline, two will be hitting the ice. Vincent Trocheck and Brady Skjei are set to take the ice and according to head coach Rod Brind’Amour, they’ll be given a lot of minutes and used in all situations.
“It’s tough when you get new guys in and throw a lot at them,” Brind’Amour said. “Whole new systems and everything. But we want really quality people here so I’m excited about that. We know they’re good hockey players. With whole new systems, we don’t want to expect too much out of them tonight, but we got two really good players.”
Both were on the ice for practice Tuesday morning, which Brind’Amour described as “just throwing a broad stroke on everything they were doing,” to help the new players adjust, but he also stated he just wants them to trust their instincts for the first few games.
Despite the quick turnaround, both seemed energetic and receptive with Trocheck even seeming to be helping his new teammate Sebastian Aho with some faceoff techniques.
“Travel was a little bit hectic,” Trocheck said. “It was a long day, got in late last night, but got up this morning and I was up before my alarm ready to go. It’s an exciting time and I’m excited to play with these guys tonight.”
When asked if he had any friends in the locker room, perhaps from other players he played alongside down the road, Trocheck responded with a quick, “They’re all my friends.”
Hopefully, that chemistry pulls through as Trocheck is projected to center Martin Necas and Nino Niederreiter on a line that had been starting to find its feet before trading off Erik Haula.
Skjei, on the other hand, should be playing alongside Carolina’s top defensive blueliner Jaccob Slavin, which should hopefully help ease him into the Hurricanes’ system.
The acquisition of the former New York defenseman was a trade deadline move that very few saw coming, including himself.
“I wouldn’t say I was expecting it,” Skjei said. “I knew my name was being thrown around a little bit, so my first reactions… I was a little bit in shock. Then, talking with Marc Staal and guys who know about this place, with [Gardiner], I knew I was coming to a great spot and definitely got excited for that.”
As a special bonus, Skjei jokingly agreed to divulge all the secrets that the Rangers had in regards to always beating the Canes.
“Playing against them as a defenseman I know how hard of a forechecking team they are to play against,” Skjei said. “A lot of the forwards have great speed and can make plays fast and I know the defensemen like to get up into the play so I’m excited to get started and learn the system and help in any way I can.”
The other fresh face that will be seeing the ice tonight, however, is long-time goaltender prospect Alex Nedeljkovic. Having priorly spent the entire season in Charlotte, Nedeljkovic will be getting his second career NHL start and first start of this season against the Stars and it’s safe to say he’s excited.
“It’s another playoff battle right now that the guys are in and it’s a chance to kind of show what I can do,” Nedeljkovic said. “I’m just going to try to do what I can. Stop pucks and give the guys a chance to win a game.”
The AHL’s top goaltender last year, Nedeljkovic has been a pro’s pro now in his fourth season with the Charlotte Checkers. A lot of time’s prospects get frustrated with a lack of opportunity with the big club, but Nedeljkovic always tries to keep a positive attitude.”
“Obviously you want to get a chance, but it’s not how it always works out,” Nedeljokic said. “[Reimer] and [Mrazek] were up here and playing well and they deserved to be here. You just have to go down and it is a good chance to play more games in Charlotte. [Forsberg] and I have been rotating back and forth so we’ve got a lot of action and stayed sharp. That’s it. You just have to be ready when the time comes. You never know when it’s going to be. Whether it’s a regular callup or two guys go down in the same night and an emergency backup goes in, you got to be ready whenever it is.”
Nedeljkovic isn’t the only one excited by his chance. Despite the unfortunate circumstances and uncertainty with turning to Nedeljkovic with the net, Brind’Amour is happy for the 24-year-old netminder.
“Ned’s been here,” Brind’Amour said. “He’s been here a long time and he’s done everything asked of him as a player. He’s played great, they both have played really well. We’re very fortunate that both guys, who’ve been pressed into action here, have been playing well in the minors and for me, Ned’s been a Hurricane and he’s done everything we’ve ever asked of him and I’m excited for him.”
In an all-important final question, Skjei was asked about the Storm Surge to which, luckily to Canes fans, he responded positively.
“I’ll have to get involved with it,” Skjei said with a smile. “I like it.”
In other Storm Surge related news, on David Ayres Day, which was officially declared by the City of Raleigh as Feb. 25, 2020, Ayres will be at the game against Dallas to sound the Storm Siren.
He commented that he hoped he’d be able to get in on any sort of Storm Surge celebration should the Canes win against the Stars.
“100%, I would be all over that,” Ayres said. “Even if I had to slide like a penguin on the ice.”
