1.13.23 Mailbag

RALEIGH, NC. -The Carolina Hurricanes are back in the win column
with a 6-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets
on Thursday.
Before
a busy back-to-back weekend at PNC Arena
, let's answer some of your questions.

(Please Note: Some questions have been edited for clarity.)
Update on Pacioretty? - @scotworley / @sdothardwicky / @wluper
I know this is the big questions today, but unfortunately, I have nothing. There was no update available post-game and the team had an off day on Friday, with no media availability.
The next sign we'd have would be at Saturday's morning skate. We'll be sure to have updates for you

around 10:30 a.m., pending of course that the team does skate. It has not been uncommon for the team to not as of late.
How does Rod feel about bagging win number 200? - @PapiMuffinMan
In typical Rod Brind'Amour fashion, he deflected all praise last night post-game. When asked about it, he said the following:
"It means we've got a great group. It's the same as
[being named an All-Star coach

]. It's about the group. I'm pretty fortunate. I say it all the time but we've got a great group to work with and a great bunch of guys that come to play every night."
He continued by reflecting on how far the team has come since he's taken over as head coach.
"We've really turned the corner to being relevant and being expected to win every night. It's a testament to management and what they've done. But at the end of the day, it starts and ends with the guys in the room."
Do you think Freddie coming back last night jumpstarted the team in any way? - @baileyycurtis
I certainly don't think it hurt! I'm not sure that there was a better time for him to return, given the recent challenges that Antti Raanta and Pyotr Kochetkov have faced.
Being able to play with a lead early was one of the biggest factors for me. It's always more comfortable for a goalie to play while his team's out in front.
Andersen won 35 games last season and was an absolute force before getting injured, so I'm sure the team would love to have him return to that form.
If you had to guess, how good of a chance does our boy Marty Necas have to make the ASG? - @OneTrueZach
Caniacs have done an incredible job over the last 36 hours.
It's important to note that the Twitter vote is combined with the
online vote
, so maybe that will require some to temper their expectations.
However, Necas registered the

last season at 24.9 miles per hour. Imagine seeing him in the Fastest Skater Competition? That would be awesome.
Of the games remaining before the All-Star Break, which do you see as the biggest challenge? - @SusanMo5626666341
At the risk of sounding too much like RBA, it's hard to look past this weekend. Back-to-backs are always tough. Especially one starting with a team that's in a playoff position that the Canes has already beaten three times this season. It's really, really hard to beat a divisional opponent, especially one as quality as the Penguins, four times.
If Carolina is able to get by Pittsburgh, how much will they have left for Vancouver on Sunday?
One thing that they do have going for them though is that the Canes are 5-0-0 in the second game of back-to-backs this season. And on another positive note, it is their only back-to-back in the month of January.
Plus, they'll have several days before they return to game action on Thursday against Minnesota.
But if I had to give you a singular game that scares me, it's hard not to say January 29 against Boston. That team is a unit. Only five regulation losses in 41 games? Sheesh.
Any updates on the Stadium Series sweaters? - @caseyskater / @Pir8TreasureNc / @Chatty\_BangBang
It's hard not to laugh when thinking that we've now had this question for almost a full calendar year.
For those who haven't heard yet, adidas and the NHL have control over when the sweaters are released. It may feel a little strange that we don't have them yet, given the release dates of previous years, but I suppose the just 22-day heads up in 2019 means that this is not unprecedented.