Rod Brind'Amour needs to go for the good of the team.  I never thought I would say that.

Why?

1)  As the captain goes, so goes the team.  He has looked terrible, slow, big minus, fundamental mistakes, no fun, no hitting.  So have the Canes.

2)  There is a high probability of alienating the fanbase.  No one wants to go to see this team.  Even the most diehard fans.  Those diehards are the Season Ticket Holders.  They will not get those tickets next season if they see the team is not serious about winning.  Not releasing the worse player in the NHL, and keeping him as your Captain is salt in the wound. 

3)  The message to the younger players is that you can tolerate play that is less than excellent and you will pay big bucks for it.  Why then wouldn't they just coast along and get paid?

4)  The message it sends to the rest of the league...go to Club Carolina...nuff said.

5)  The undeniable weakening of the brand.  Just do the math.  A big losing season will decrease the sales of your hard built brand all over the country. 

6)  Loss of market share.  Lets face it, there are plenty of options around here.  Buisiness 101 it is easy to lose market share and very, very hard to regain.  Why do it?

7)  Holding back Eric Staal.  This guy needs to be the leader.  His emotional fire,  winning attitude and ability to come through in the clutch will be the new identity of the team. 

8)  The league has past him by.  The injury and the speed of the league are unforgiving.  He cannot keep up and is a serious liability....serious. 

9)  Hard work goes a long way but nothing beats youthful energy and speed.

10) Just like a worker that has been there done that, he thinks he knows everything and cannot be taught anything new.

11)  Rod has been the kind of leader that leads by example.  Now that he is a bad example, he is a bad leader.

12)  Because it is time.