Bryan Rodney Breathing Life into Carolina Powerplay
by Bob Wage on Nov 16, 2009 7:00 AM EST
51 comments
Last season, Bryan Rodney was called in to help out on the Carolina blueline and he made a very positive impression. The defenseman played eight games for the Canes and chipped in with two assists but the club already had eight defensemen under contract and when they were all healthy enough to play, Rodney had to be sent back down to Albany.
Many thought that he had an inside track to make the team this training camp. All signs seemed to point to that direction because Rodney was known as a powerplay expert and the Canes lost two valuable defensemen over the offseason in Dennis Seidenberg and Anton Babchuk who were mainstays playing on the powerplay in 2008-09.
But somewhere along the line, the Hurricanes decided to go all big on the blueline and sent Rodney packing to Albany while Jay Harrison made the team. Harrison was another big, strong, but slow, stay at home defenseman, much in the same mold of the other defensemen the team signed over the summer.
The Hurricanes tried several new options on the point with the man advantage. Matt Cullen, Aaron Ward, Niclas Wallin, and eventually Eric Staal all tried out there with varying degrees of success. The bottom line was that the powerplay was not getting the job done and before Rodney's return to Raleigh, it was ranked near the bottom of the league.
Last week Wednesday, Joni Pitkanen took ill and it was determined that he could not play in the game that night against the Kings. The club recalled Rodney, who had a hectic time of it that day, but he did make it to the arena on time and he played a fairly significant role. The defensemen was on the ice for over 21 minutes in his debut this year, third highest among Carolina defensemen for that game. He was scoreless, but he was not on the ice during any of the Los Angeles goals.
Number 33 impressed enough in that game so that the team scratched Tim Conboy and played him as the seventh defenseman against the Islanders on Friday, even though Pitkanen was back in the lineup.
Rodney responded with a secondary assist on the Tuomo Ruutu powerplay goal which broke an 0-24 seven game scoreless streak with the man advantage. Was it just a coincidence that he happened to be in the lineup when the powerplay came to life? Keep reading.
The London, Ontario native picked up another assist on Joe Corvo's powerplay goal on Sunday and was on the ice when the other two powerplay goals were scored for the Canes in that game. Since Rodney has been back in Raleigh, the Hurricanes have scored four powerplay goals out of 13 attempts, (31%), and the defenseman has been on the ice for all four goals.
The youngster is an excellent puck-mover with a snappy, crisp pass and a good eye for finding the open man. Once he gets confident with his shot, he could be very dangerous. He is still somewhat of a liability in his own end because he is a bit smallish and he needs more NHL level experience, which was evidenced by his poor pass to Kyle Okposo against the Islanders in overtime on Friday.
But his expertise in the offensive zone and on the powerplay can not be denied, and that is something this team needs desperately. Carolina fans should expect to see more of Bryan Rodney in the future.
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When was he drafted?
Bob, nice article,as always.
One question: He is 25, he must have been drafted a while ago. Did we draft him like 7 years ago, or did we sign him recently as a free agent? If we did not draft him, who did?
Follow-up question
What does is actually mean that he was undrafted? Did he enter the drat and no team picked him? Or did he not even made it to the draft?
Right … he was never selected. He was a pretty big point producer in the OHL … three 60+ point seasons.
by Cory Lavalette on Nov 16, 2009 4:28 PM EST up reply actions
I am late here, and without looking it up myself is the OHL a league below the EHL in the progression of things? And he seems to be doing ok with the big boys now so why do you think it took so long to be recognized — a late bloomer or scouted as undersized maybe for a defenseman?
by hotchipsnsalsa on Nov 16, 2009 6:26 PM EST up reply actions
Here’s Rodney’s bio/stats.
The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) is one of the three major junior leagues that together make up the Canadian Hockey League (CHL).
So, the point-producer reference was to his junior years before the professional levels of ECHL/AHL/NHL. He was a point-a-game player there.
Right Elsker. OHL is the route most Canadians take from the time they’re in their mid-teens. U.S. players often go the college route, but a lot — Drayson Bowman, for example — go play in the OHL so they can play the best competition at a young age.
by Cory Lavalette on Nov 16, 2009 9:36 PM EST up reply actions
A bit more.
October 21, 2005: Signed as a free agent by Charlotte (ECHL), October 21, 2005.
December 16, 2007: Signed as a free agent by Albany (AHL), December 16, 2007.
May 12, 2008: Signed as a free agent by Carolina, May 12, 2008.
... Next season?
His contract is up after this season. Is he a free agent?
Bob I think it was you and I ( or maybe it was cory and I) that were screaming about him being in the minors since the start of the season. I would actually pen us in for maybe one or two more wins had he been here. If the PP had been better, I think you see a different team. 5 on 4 and 5 on 3 chances that do not get converted can be demoralizing as hell.
I’ve been saying it from the get-go. Not only was it unfair to him after the comments JR made last year, but he was desperately needed on the point. It would’ve been one thing if he had been outplayed in the preseason — I didn’t think that was the case.
by Cory Lavalette on Nov 16, 2009 8:40 AM EST up reply actions
Once a coach or
hell anybody gets an idea in their mind that they need “X” and in this case “X” was “big, strong, stay at home defense-men”, trying to unhook that thinking is difficult unless there was something blindingly obvious.
Harrisson played “well enough” to not shake the management or the coaches of there summer decision.
When all else fails, read the instruction manual.
You may be right, but if the management of this team could not see the need to address the point production hemorrhage that came by losing Sieds and Babs, then they are truly short sighted.
I don't think they saw that as an issue
After all, we have the end all Staal, LaRose was resigned. Brindy was coming back. Cullen was doing well.
The point production didn’t seem to be an issue and, the logic goes, if you have a strong “D” that actually helps the offense. As the forwards aren’t worrying about the puck getting behind them so they take more chances up front.
Personally, I saw a hell of a lot more parking in from of the crease and rushing the net. Even Samsanov isn’t passing the puck nor over skating as much as he was. Though I think he was not sure what his teammates would do, hence the “self play”.
When all else fails, read the instruction manual.
if we can retain Rodney… make the key changes in the offseason, this team is going to be great next year and beyond. #1 pick+Staal+Ward! sounds like a winning formula!
by 3yrsnoplayoffs? on Nov 16, 2009 9:47 AM EST reply actions
No props to Ruutu for staying in the crease all night?
I think that had something to do with it as well.
Heh, sorry, must’ve missed it.
Not trying to shoot down the Rodney love.
They need to get him 20+ TOI every night.
by Iggy Reilly on Nov 16, 2009 10:43 AM EST up reply actions
we need to keep rodney up he has played well when be recalled so maybe trade a defensmen to create room for him on the roster
Is it too late to send Aaron Ward back to Boston?
And Andrew Alberts back to Philly?
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Nov 16, 2009 2:22 PM EST up reply actions
+1
As I said/argued on an earlier thread, Andrew Alberts gives us exactly what we are paying him to give us…a physical presence and a solid if not flashy stay at home defenseman. Sure, he makes mistakes from time to time (who on this team doesn’t) but with the wet rags we have on defense, you need someone besides Tim Gleason to throw his body around from time to time. Alberts is that guy. You would think Aaron Ward would be that guy, but for most of this season he just throws his body at a guy, misses, get’s beaten into the crease and…GOAL!!!
Alberts is a 5/6 defensive defenseman and for that slot he is a solid guy.
And that is exactly what he was brought here to be.
I love the offensive upside that Rodney brings to the game, but he has a long way to go to get up to NHL speed on the defensive side of the game. You need guys like Pitkanen (perhaps giving Staal a run for his money as the best player on the team at the moment), Corvo and Rodney on your team to create offense from the blue line. But you also need guys like Gleason and Alberts to do the dirty work. Right now, I’d say we still could use at least one more of those guys. Amongst other things. Many other things.
Of course, with all of that said, I spent most of last year and the offseason defending Anton Babchuk’s play, so your mileage may vary.
-m
ruutu is a monster...he's the terminator
he is like an android. he will not give up until he’s scored or gets the puck. he never gives up. he is the terminator.
and emma's in love
I won’t say anything about a Ruutu love machine.
When all else fails, read the instruction manual.
She made it pretty clear that cully is her main luv-target, not Ruuty…
by Andrea's evil twin on Nov 16, 2009 3:25 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Hmmmm, after all that praise for Ruutu?
And I swear I heard panting as I was reading it and I have nothing for Ruutu or any of the guys on the ice.
When all else fails, read the instruction manual.
Miss Emma apparently has a following, too…
;-)
A
The Canes are like a box of expired chocolates......
Who is Emma and how did she get here?
by hotchipsnsalsa on Nov 16, 2009 6:22 PM EST up reply actions
How did any of us really get here?
Which one of us is the “real person” who is in some space-time-warp just dreaming of what is going on around us?
I have one thing to tell you:
DREAM ABOUT THE CANES WINNING AND TAKING THE CUP ALRIGHT?
When all else fails, read the instruction manual.
anything but kraft singles (which really are plastic imitations of cheese) or closely related ‘cheese-like products’
the two that I always have a stash of in my fridge are parrano and stilton
by Andrea's evil twin on Nov 16, 2009 9:55 PM EST up reply actions
“I’m with her on the cheese”
If I wouldn’t have to face repurcussions so soon….Oh the things I could say…
I guess I will opt for, “Gee, i love cheese, too!!”
A
The Canes are like a box of expired chocolates......
Parrano ain’t he with the flyers?
Stilton I know is with the Panthers, i still can’t believe we traded him…
Was that a glare? I’m being a good boy..
A
The Canes are like a box of expired chocolates......
not yet, it ain’t… and you’re only trying to stay out of trouble ‘cause I have your ticket, I’m sure…
:)
by Andrea's evil twin on Nov 16, 2009 11:24 PM EST up reply actions
Isn't your favorite cheese
the type that’s in a can under pressure?
When all else fails, read the instruction manual.
From Puck-Daddy's Blog.....
“The Hurricanes are one of the five best teams in their division”
When all else fails, read the instruction manual.
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