Reunited - Hurricanes at Senators Pregame Thoughts

by Bob Wage on Jan 17, 2008 3:30 PM EST

The Adams Family is reunited! No, Kevyn Adams is not coming back to Raleigh. Craig Adams was traded to Chicago earlier today for a conditional pick in the 2009 Entry Draft.

It looks like Adams is being made scapegoat number 1 for the worst rated penalty kill in the league and apparent general apathy on the ice. Adams might be the first to go, but if improvement isn't made in Carolina's effort in future games, he won't be the last.

First thing this morning, Adam Gold and Joe Ovies of 850 The Buzz interviewed Jim Rutherford and in his most frank and direct interview so far this season, the Hurricanes GM made it perfectly clear that he was mad as hell and wasn't going to take it anymore!

The angry General Manager did everything but call out the equipment manager. He refused to give a vote of confidence to head coach Peter Laviolette and said that "anything and everything" was on the table for review and change.

He did mention that Eric Staal is pretty much the only player who is untouchable, and might even get an Alexander Ovechkin type of contract, when the time comes.

Other than that, Rutherford complained about the team's inability to play hard for 3 solid periods of hockey and can't understand the overall lack of effort. He promised big changes and the moving of a "popular" player to shake things up next. We will see what happens.

Of course the Hurricanes are in Ottawa to play the Conference leading Senators tonight. The Sens have been nothing short of spectacular most of this year, even beating Detroit in a head to head showdown earlier this year. They have lost 2 games in a row though and are missing superstar Dany Heatley, (shoulder). Jason Spezza could be out as well.

Some great news for Carolina is that Matt Cullen and Scott Walker will both be back. Bret Hedican is still questionable. Cam Ward will be in net. Luke at LSB is reporting the lines as following....

Brind'Amour-Cole- Samsonov

Staal-Stillman-Whitney

Cullen-LaRose-Walker

Letowski-Ladd-Brookbank

Kaberle-Seidenberg

Wesley-Borer

Gleason-Commodore

Gametime is at 7:30 with pregame at 7 on FSN. If the boys aren't fired up for tonight, they never will be.

Peaches and Herb

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So this move smacks of something strange? A conditional pick in the 2009 draft? What conditions, and why so far out? This cannot be a money move, he only makes $600,000. This poor bastard is just what you said, a scapegoat. First Grahame, then Adams. Final analysis… we lost nothing and gained nothing. I predict Brind’Amour is the popular player to go. Any bets?

Sean

by CaniacSean on Jan 17, 2008 5:15 PM EST reply actions

I believe that Roddy has a NTC.

by Mark H on Jan 17, 2008 5:27 PM EST reply actions

I’m not sure if Brindy has a NTC or not. He certainly could have. Everything is kind of hear-say when it comes to those things.

Sean, I’m betting it’s Cole. But I’m hoping these guys turn the season around and we don’t find out.

by Bubba on Jan 17, 2008 5:36 PM EST reply actions

Craig Adams must have been the popular player… if that’s the case, I just might throw up on Rutherford. I’ve never thought very highly of #27. The dude has about as little skill as an NHL level player could possibly have. His connection with the younger Karmanos was the only reason he had a gig with us. As for Staal, yes he has the most upside, he’s our all star and a big name around the league right now, but there’s no way in hell I’d give him an Ovechkin-like contract. He doesn’t deserve it in the least. There’s really no comparison between the two. Ovie’s a leader and one of the most explosive offensive players in the league. He’s even shown a tougher side this year. Staal, on the other hand, is not in the same class. You have Crosby, Ovechkin, Iginla, Lecalvier, Heatley, Kovalchuk and a few others and then’s there’s everyone else. That’s not to say that Staal in on par with old Craig, but he’s nowhere near the aformentioned players either. I like Coach Pete and I still support him, but I’ve grown increasingly disenchanted with the team’s style of play which, if he’s any kind of leader, is a direct reflection of him. He’s made some questionable descisions when it comes to the goaltending situation and he’s been kind of irresponsible with timeout usage. Unless the team goes on a fifteen or twenty game losing streak, I give him the rest of this year and see what happens throughout the first 20 games of the ‘08-09 campaign. If it looks anything like this, he’s canned. All the fond memories of the Cup run shouldn’t be enough to save him at that point.

by Nathan on Jan 18, 2008 8:15 AM EST reply actions