Buffalo Plays Rope-A-Dope with Carolina: Sabres 5, Hurricanes 1
by Bob Wage on Nov 28, 2009 10:48 PM EST
147 comments
The Buffalo Sabres must have watched some video of Carolina's Friday night fall to Atlanta when the Canes crumbled in the third period, because they waited until then to pour it on and scored five times in the final period Saturday night while wiping out the Hurricanes, 5-1. It was the second consecutive game that the Hurricanes allowed five goals in the third period.
The Canes remain the only team in the league yet to win a road game, (0-10-3). They now have a new franchise record for that feat.
One could go on and on about team statistics because the Canes are either last or near last in the NHL in every category. The astonishing thing is that there seems to be no leadership coming from anywhere, the bench, behind the bench, or from the front office. And there seems to be no emotion or anger about blowing game after game.
Fans are wondering, does anyone in management care? How bad do things have to become for something to give?
Jim Rutherford said he would take responsibility for this mess, but what exactly does that mean? Management credibility is starting to become questionable when they fire Peter Laviolette after he slipped to a 12-11-2 record, but do absolutely nothing when the team's record is 5-16-5 and long losing streaks are common place.
Matt Cullen started the game's scoring when he stole a puck at the blueline and beat Ryan Miller with a perfect backhander. But that would be the last puck to get past the Sabre goalie.
The Canes blew another 5-on-3 opportunity, although they came close. They had a couple of other good opportunities throughout the game, but came up empty. Rod Brind`Amour got a beautiful pass from Brandon Sutter for a wide open net, but fired it too close to Miller, (and Miller did make a beautiful save). But the team came up empty again on the powerplay, (0-5).
When Mike Grier scored for Buffalo just two minutes into the third, most fans had a feeling the wheels would come off and that's exactly what happened. The Sabres kept on coming and coming and coming. When the game was over, the score was 5-1 and the Canes skated off as losers once again.
After the game, once again Paul Maurice had no answers. Eric Staal had no answers. John Forslund and Mike Maniscalco could not put their fingers on what was wrong. No one seems to know. But something is wrong, seriously wrong.
Now is the time for Jim Rutherford to take action.
0 recs |
147 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
I’m appauled to watch this team.. I expect BIG changes coming this week.. not christmas.. but THIS WEEK! Take action JR.. it’s your job!!!
by 3yrsnoplayoffs? on Nov 28, 2009 11:00 PM EST reply actions
When Mike Grier scored for Buffalo just two minutes into the third
this should have never happened, Mike Grier sucks.. and he scored against us!
by 3yrsnoplayoffs? on Nov 28, 2009 11:02 PM EST reply actions
yeah i know.. it was a shot at leighton, he is not an NHL starting goaltender..and we all know it!
by 3yrsnoplayoffs? on Nov 29, 2009 11:29 AM EST up reply actions
Ownership should fire Jim Rutherford
It;’s the onbly major change they can make under the budget problems they;ve got.
agreed on that! fire somebody, anybody!
by 3yrsnoplayoffs? on Nov 28, 2009 11:03 PM EST up reply actions
I’m in on this one… Time for Ronnie to head back upstairs. We need someone above Mo besides his bestest buddy.
by caniac4ever on Nov 28, 2009 11:06 PM EST up reply actions
I’m about to fire all of them…. I want my money back!
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Nov 29, 2009 11:05 AM EST up reply actions
Too True...It's Time To Start Something Good...
I’ve been a loyal fan since I began watching (luckily for me that was Stanley Cup year), and through all of the past couple of years one theme I have seen throughout is a will to win…until now.
I worry about the guys, all of them. They have the talent to win or else they wouldn’t be where they are now. It’s just that some key guys are just not showing up. I mean they’re bodies are there, but it’s not the same guys that played last season and through a few periods of this season.
Those that come to mind are:
Joe Corvo – he showed a little light tonight – but why the sudden hesitancy to shoot lately? I was at the game on Friday and it’s like he’s scared to shoot. When did that start? I’ve been seeing the trend in his overall game just sink over the past month.
Eric Staal – this is going to sound mean – and it probably is – but when I see him, it’s like he isn’t there. When he hits the puck it’s like he doesn’t care who he’s hitting it to. It’s like he’s not even in the game at all. Where did he go? I just don’t understand where he has gone mentally in this season. It’s like there’s a shell of him playing, and that shell isn’t very good.
Rod – he tries hard, but just like Bob mentioned in this article, the leadership is missing, whether the guys just don’t listen to him any more or if they just don’t believe enough in the team – it’s just not working right now. As much as it would hurt to see Rod lose the C, that’s a change that could make a ripple for sure. Candidates for the C: Ray Whitney or Tim Gleason.
A lot of people want to pin this on Maurice, but this isn’t the first slump we’ve been in and there’s not magic fairy dust to get us out. We just need a team that cares again, that believes again, that shows up for 60 minutes. What happened to when our best period was the 3rd period?
There are some bright spots:
Stephane Yelle – he’s been putting his body on the line like Wesley did when he was here. Without him I think some of our games could have been in the teens in goals against us.
Brandon Sutter – he’s a heck of a talent – he’s not even at his peak yet and he’s awesome. He’s working his butt off and makes Whitney and Cole look years younger on the ice in speed and drive and energy.
Tuomo Ruutu – he never gives up. He’s not scared to go to the net, he’s tough and he does care. He’s one of the guys that helps keep the fans going because he has the energy like Sutter.
Ray Whitney – he’s still not giving up and he’s hanging in there. I hope he stays.
I agree with what I’ve read over the past couple of days, there are going to be shakeups after Washington on Monday night – all I ask that it isn’t Ruutu, Sutter, Pitkanen, Jokinen, Whitney, C. Ward, or Legace. (Not that my opinion matters, but they’ve been playing their hearts out.
I heard a rumor that they could trade Staal – I doubt it’s true, but at this point – it could be what it takes. Whatever it takes, right? This is the first time I’ve even heard rumors of him in the trade ring – that says a lot right there.
Dishonorable mention: Chad LaRose.
Thanks to “Rosie” for playing his ass off for a great contract last year…. No thanks to him this year… he doesn’t even talk junk anymore….
So glad he got a pay raise though….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Nov 29, 2009 11:13 AM EST up reply actions
LaRose
What is the word on LaRose? Is he injured or being sat?
Injured or not…. he could use some time in the press box…. because he hasn’t done anything to help his team….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Nov 29, 2009 11:14 AM EST up reply actions
I’m so depressed, I can’t even imagine how they must feel…. :(
"That’s what happens when you suck" - Tim Gleason
I think we’re seeing how they feel reflected in their on-ice performance. Fragile. They collapse like the proverbial cheap card-table.
And let’s not forget the opposing team’s emotion in this too. A lot of hockey seems to be emotion and momentum. Every team, by now, knows that if Carolina gives up a goal all you have to is turn it up a notch because the ‘Canes start to stand around and it’s game over.
Humpty dumpty sat on a wall.....
by drifterscape on Nov 28, 2009 11:38 PM EST up reply actions
A lot of hockey seems to be emotion and momentum.
I know it’s kind of a cliche, but so much of the game is about confidence. If you’ve got no confidence, you’re over-thinking every move you make, which puts you a step behind every play; you’re hiding from the puck instead of calling for it. You’re playing passively and worrying about making mistakes.
When you’re confident, it’s like you’re on autopilot, you always wind up where you need to be, you “make your own luck,” you want the puck, you step up on guys and make hits and anticipate plays. You dictate the pace of the game.
If you’re a coach and you’ve got a guy who has lost his confidence, you just have to put him in situations where he can find some success and start to trust himself again. Some guys will be snakebitten for games on end, and then suddenly find their game again.
When you’ve got a whole team who is, as you say, fragile, they just sort of feed off of that mentality of thinking you can’t do anything right, of second-guessing yourself. It takes one hell of a coach and some tenacious on-ice leadership to turn that whole-team attitude around.
by nomadologist on Nov 28, 2009 11:51 PM EST up reply actions
Jen… They feel awesome…. they are getting paid millions of dollars to do nothing….
how would you feel?
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Nov 29, 2009 11:14 AM EST up reply actions
I wish I could get paid a few-mill to half-ass around on ice for a few minutes every other night…..
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Nov 29, 2009 11:17 AM EST up reply actions
I’m giving up even complaining. What more is there to say other than the obligatory “they suck” or “we loose again” or “I’m gonna get the vodka now”, etc.
Like what Rod needs to do, we need to hang ‘em up for this season and look forward to a first overall draft pick. Too bad we won’t get an ovechkin or Crosby, or Malkin, but anyone will help.
Member of Canes Country and the Cat Scratch Reader
I know it’s been said over and over, but…Cullen, Whitney, Walker, Yelle, Corvo, A. Ward, and Wallin are all UFAs at the end of the season. Trade who you can, let the rest walk at season’s end. If they all walked as UFAs, that $16 million in cap space freed up. What this team needs more than anything is fresh faces…no more rehashes and retreads. There is no redeeming this season, no hope for the playoffs or .500 hockey or any sort of face-saving. Let’s just sit back and enjoy the ineptitude and look forward to a brand-new Carolina Hurricanes in 2010-2011.
In other words…what Ivan said two posts above mine. :/
by nomadologist on Nov 28, 2009 11:34 PM EST up reply actions
We were going to have to rebuild next year anyway.
Let’s get it started. Boychuk and Rodney need to be playing full time in the NHL, they’re ready. The only one of those guys listed above that might be on the next good Hurricanes team is Corvo. All the others, I’ll take draft picks or decent prospects if we can get the cap space to friggin’ bring Boychuk back up where he belongs.
That 17-year-old Hokie sitting in the rafters in Greensboro didn't see any of this coming.
John Forslund said on the canes postgame that Boychuk has been struggling to find his way in the AHL and bringing him up to play now in this kind of an environment would be a bad idea. Bringing the kids up was a better idea last month, when we first started to see the issues with the team. Now however is not the time to do that. Sutter is ready, and should have been on the roster since day one. But guys like Rodney, Boychuk, and McBain & company need to stay in the AHL for now. We cannot allow them to be exposed to this stinking environment full of loss and disappointment. They need to be allowed to develop for one more year in the AHL if possible. Like children, we must shield them from this debacle of a hockey team.
As for Corvo, I’m kinda looking for him to go. He has lost that smooth, offensive capability that made him an asset to us the past two years has disappeared. His shots are never on the mark, he gets beat in coverage, and looks lost on the ice half of the time. He has become somewhat of a liability to this team. His stats are 3-8-11, but he is a -11 as a blueliner, second worst only to A. Ward. Now that is saying something. I am willing to bet that he will be dealt to a team that needs a PP quarterback. He won’t be back next season. JR won’t shell out the money to another vet he is unsure on. He got burned by that already this offseason, and I doubt he will walk into a situation like that again.
Member of Canes Country and the Cat Scratch Reader
Just said essentially the same thing below about protecting “the kids” from this mess, IF they were even ready to come up (which they’re not, ’cept for maybe Sutter) before I saw your post.
Would also agree with you that Corvo is not only a realistically tradeable asset to someone looking for help with puck movement and the powerplay, but also expendable from our end. I agree that he’s unlikely to be re-signed here, so obtaining something for that UFA is just good asset management.
Corvos logging the most ice time against the opposing teams top lines on a team that gives up the most goals in the league. He could put up 30 pts from the backend on a team that cant score. I’m not sure what more you expect from him.
In that case I would expect him to be more responsible in his own end, and his play there has been very sloppy as of late. His mental errors and puck turnovers are killing us. And yes it is not just him, but you made the point of logging the most ice time, so I would naturally expect him to play like a Top 2 D man, and quiet frankly I do not think he is anymore. And that fact alone makes his trade value sink.
Member of Canes Country and the Cat Scratch Reader
Anybody playing on this Team right now is gonna look worse than they really are. That’s what GM’s are supposed to do. Evaluate the other team’s damaged goods. Recall the Jussi deal last year ? Corvo’s made some terrible errors but there’s plenty of top 2 guys who don’t/can’t play 26+ mins. I think he’s got great trade value.
Humpty dumpty sat on a wall.....
by drifterscape on Nov 29, 2009 1:00 PM EST up reply actions
I think part of Corvos problem is that he’s on the ice too much, He is 3rd in the entire league in TOI, and when your are on the ice that much playing for this team, that cannot do much for your confidence.
"That’s what happens when you suck" - Tim Gleason
“It’s no fun here right now,” centre Eric Staal said. “Obviously, we’re fragile. That’s two games in a row where the third period comes around and we lose both. That’s the sign of a team that isn’t feeling it.”
Wow, glad someone got the 2 month old news flash.
Member of Canes Country and the Cat Scratch Reader
haha…that’s the leadership of our future captain! I know he’s coming back from a long injury and all that, but he’s on pace for something like 9 goals and 20 assists this season, for what it’s worth.
by nomadologist on Nov 28, 2009 11:54 PM EST up reply actions
yeah, we heard you the first 1000 times.
by DidJussiThat? on Nov 29, 2009 12:14 AM EST up reply actions
NOR IS HE CAPTAIN MATERIAL. HAS TO BE GLEASON.
This season would be really tough if I didn't drink the misery away.
You mean the Gleason that punched J.Hecht in the face last night ? That’s not passion or leadership that’s just dum.
Humpty dumpty sat on a wall.....
by drifterscape on Nov 29, 2009 11:26 AM EST up reply actions
It was more like Gleason making one shove too many, wasn’t it? (not a punch; his penalty was roughing not fighting nor instigator). When this team is headed down the drain for the 2nd night in a row, is Gleason the only player who is pissed and embarrassed and has some inner fight to say: No!
Harwood observed above:
The astonishing thing is that there seems to be no leadership coming from anywhere, the bench, behind the bench, or from the front office. And there seems to be no emotion or anger about blowing game after game.
I could use a little more shoving back, personally. Better than whining about the refs or blaming the over-aged vets.
Hurricanes Hockey:
Never for the faint of heart.
Nor for the weak of stomach.
by hockeymomof2 on Nov 29, 2009 12:16 PM EST up reply actions
Gleason having a hissy fit = ok.
Staal = not ok.
Got it.
by Iggy Reilly on Nov 29, 2009 12:29 PM EST up reply actions
For what it’s worth, I agree with you.
Just think a little double standard is showing there. You were all over Staal a few weeks ago when some frustration came out on the ice.
by Iggy Reilly on Nov 29, 2009 12:37 PM EST up reply actions
The situations were completely different…..
PLUS… we expect Staal to be on the ice to score between 30 and 40 goals per season (that’s a joke this season)…
We expect Gleason to get in peoples face and to push and shove and to show the emotion that he shows…. and we’ll take between 0 to 5 goals from him…. thanks.
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Nov 29, 2009 3:30 PM EST up reply actions
Staal vs Gleason
Staal’s hissy fits are usually aimed at the refs for missing calls. That’s not productive (or flattering). We have all seen that a lot.
If you’re talking about Staal’s misconduct in the Colorado game, that game was still close when he got tossed, wasn’t it? And, IIRC, he was responding to a personal assault on him during a scrum or faceoff (?). I have a hard time remembering Staal getting physically intimidating toward an opposing player in support of his teammate, or to assert strength and push-back.
He was really pissed for being called for goalie interference that game too. His vendetta usually seems to be against the officials, not his opponents.
And as Mateo says quite well below – #6 and #12 have different roles on the team. Gleason was going after someone crowding his goalie when his goalie was down (in every sense of the word). Staal seems to be willing to stick up for himself, but I don’t see him shoving and opponent if some goon went after Whitney or Sutter.
Hurricanes Hockey:
Never for the faint of heart.
Nor for the weak of stomach.
by hockeymomof2 on Nov 29, 2009 4:02 PM EST up reply actions
that was hardly a hissy fit, he shoved hecht after he came in on leighton. Hecht didnt move after the first shove , so he was shoved again. I would rather see someone with that passion/determination wear the C than Staal playing hard when he wants to. I am not a Staal hater, but I dont believe he is C material.
This season would be really tough if I didn't drink the misery away.
thats not true,
sign crosby and malkin and play staal on the third line and see if hes not better than jordan.
honestly? the wrong staal?
My two cents
I was hoping I will never say that… The person I would say thank you and good buy is… Yes… JR. His dream team played in 2006. You’ve done it great… But it is no de ja vue in this sport, guys are unable to stop the moment and if you don’t see it it is your time to go. We are all greatful to you, you’ve done to this team like noone else, we know that it is you baby, but listen- be a good grandfather – let someone else drive. Your cildren (RF?) can drive it and they learned from you a lot and they (and all of us too) respect you… But it is time to take your past with you, JR. We thank you for All, if not you we will not even have this topic, you are the man who made it possible (the ice hockey in Carolina) -THANK you! but it is a time, could you please admit it?
All above is my personal opinion.
Thanks,
Andy_S
by Andy_S on Nov 28, 2009 11:56 PM EST via mobile reply actions
No instant fixes for this mess
Look, I applaud PK (and JR) for going all-in with a damn near cap-busting budget to re-sign essentially last year’s Eastern Conference Finals team with a few key additions. He could have gone a cheaper route, but he didn’t.
The truth is that this year’s team is caught in between the remnants of the 2006 Cup team and what will be our new identity as we rebuild on the fly. That Sutter is perhaps ready this year instead of next is a pleasant surprise, but no other Rat is really ready to make the jump this year. They’re going to need as much time as we can afford them at that level before we have to bring ’em up here.
After a hot start, even Boychuk has cooled off for the Rats (although he had a goal and an assist tonight). Boyman’s too light and has hurt his knee. The D-men there are not ready, except for perhaps Rodney. Even he is making rookie mistakes here that would best be honed out in the AHL. Dalpe is still in college, leading his team in goals, but not nearly ready to be here just yet.
All of our prospects are still maturing and “bringing ’em up” will not change this team one whit. In fact, keeping them away from this mentally deranged bunch is probably critical. Who wants the stink of this to get on our youth?
So, not sure doing anything much differently would have avoided whatever in the world is going on in our locker room and on the ice. There are no instant cures in sight. Trades will take a while to arrange and execute.
Sure, it’s a tough year. But, at least we’re not doomed to a string of tough years like this, as some teams are. However, thinking firing someone, waiving someone, or trading someone will put us back on the path is just not realistic. The answer is much more complex than that and will take time to implement.
2010 - 2011 Season
It makes zero sense to me that Jim Rutherford should rush into a bad deal in order to salvage the 2009-2010 season. The Hurricanes have virtually no chance of reaching the playoffs and even less chance of going anywhere in the playoffs if that hockey miracle were to occur.
What makes sense to me is to use this year as essentially a year to winnow out the players who really don’t belong on the team for the next five years; and to separate the character players from the players who don’t fit within the new NHL style that combines speed, skill, and physicality. Staal was correct in saying that this year was difficult but he hoped to use it to become a better hockey player and to have a stronger organization. Fans, too, have to gut it out as well.
I know I had very high hopes for this team, although I continued to feel (and to reiterate obsessively about it) that the Hurricanes lacked a jumbo power forward to create an inside game. I admit I am shocked that Aaron Ward is an awful defenseman. I had thought he would be the Aaron Ward who left the Hurricanes after the Stanley Cup; but he is worse than Frank Kaberle – a feat I thought I would never see occur in my lifetime.
The reality is that this team as constituted has refused to play sixty minutes of hockey as a team. There are key players trying to carry the team on their backs, but it takes a team commitment. For the remaining games, we will be able to see which players have pride in their own efforts and in their team; and we will see which players go through the motions.
I will be extremely happy when Jim Rutherford does make moves to free up salary space for the Albany players; and I will be even happier if and when Taylor Hall is drafted. I’d much rather have this year of disastrous hockey than a decade of mediocre, stretching to get to the playoffs and then being knocked out quickly.
I will continue to look forward to Hurricanes games, at home and away; and am prepared to suffer through the misery of watching an underachieving team. All I hope is that I get to see players like Sutter and Rodney and hopefully Boychuk (despite what the commentators said about Boychuk going through a rough patch at Albany). I know Ruutu, Jokinen, Sutter, Gleason, and Cullen will be giving it all they have. I think Pitkanen may well use this season to establish himself as a team leader. I believe and hope that Staal will take ownership of his role as a leader of the team, if not the captain, By next season, I envision a team comprised of players who have the intestinal fortitude not to become “fragile” at the first signs of adversity; and who fight and battle with all their might from the start of the game until the final buzzer. What a welcome change that will be.
Don’t forget that to rebound next season the team needs money it builds this season, otherwise … This is why JR cannot just wait
All above is my personal opinion.
Thanks,
Andy_S
by Andy_S on Nov 29, 2009 8:44 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Well said Elsker
I could not agree more Elsker. All of you guys calling for JR to be fired have lost your minds. Fixing this mess will take all season. Making trades now out of impatience or anger will lessen the return for the players they could move in February or March. And it’s not so bad to be terrible once in a while, this team could use a #1 or #2 pick. Better to finish last than to finish 9th or 8th and get swept out of the playoffs in round one.
by Bitterboy101 on Nov 29, 2009 11:47 AM EST up reply actions
I’m gonna go middle of the road. I’d like to get Taylot Hall, but the profit sharing for the teams that make the PO’s is abig, BIG incentive to the franchise. Don’t forget it is a business that is supposed to make money. I think the pick may be more valuable in the long and since the PO’s are all but a mathmatical impossibility…
A
The Canes are like a box of expired chocolates......
It is time...Mo should resign and help his Friend JR save Face
If not JR should resign and his replacement (Ron?) should Fire JR during his opening press conf.
Sutter's TOI
Surprised nobody brought it up yet, Sutter’s TOI was 13:01, only Rod had less time. This is essentially the same as in game against Ducks (12:46). And only 0:42 on PP. C’mon, Staal had over 6 minutes. Sutter has shown pretty good playmaking ability, he needs to play more on PP.
This is ridiculous, Mo is really bad with new players. Not saying that this cost us a game, but Sutter plays hard every game and he gets rewarded by playing minimum minutes? Give me a break and fire Mo.
And I do not care if they have to pay 10 coaches, I have never heard of a case where an incompetent coach cannot be fired because of money. They already pay over $50 million to the players, paying one more coach is pocket change compared to that. Besides, some of the players will be traded away so some salaries will be dumped anyway. If Mo isn’t JR’s buddy he would be on the street already.
Things got so bad, that he has to go. Otherwise no one will bother to come and see the games and even more money will be lost.
The money is just a lame excuse. By trading players for draft picks more than enough of money will freed to higher a new (hopefully competent) coach. The trades will happen sooner or later.
Mo certainly has a propensity to underplay newbies, but in the past few games I’ve been willing to give the coaching staff the benefit of the doubt on Sutter’s minutes. I strongly suspect he got banged up during the Stars and Ducks games, particularly in Anaheim, where his third period minutes diminished (again, admittedly a Mo trait).
He looked to be skating a bit tenderly during Friday’s game, usually being easily the most centered person on his skates out there.
Just a theory. And, hopefully these days the coach is receptive to input from management, as well as the associate/assistant coaches, so I am less inclined to lay player minute issues solely at Mo’s feet.
IMO, the problem is three fold. Last years run was somehwat of a fluke, the team overachieved and gave a everyone including JR and PK a false sense of promise for the following season. The older players on the team have gone over the cliff, we saw it coming with Brindy, but Ward, Yelle, and some others either lost a step or the hunger to compete at this level. The injuries are the cherry on top of the melting sundae.
+1
Anyone ever see that dumbass movie “The Blair Witch Project”?
The Canes remind of that. It’s an absolute waste that sucks and the only good part was when they clubbed the chick down and shut her up. Time to club this “club” like a Harp Seal and start over.
I still believe the best option is to start running the team like a gladiator school. Running the rats through and getting them real time in the NHL, they are our future after all.
I also think Staal needs a good hard look at. I scoffed at the folks that wanted to trade him until this year. I think if they packaged him and Binky I wouldn’t miss him. Neither would the teams stats. All this BS about a top 5 goal scorer since the lock out is crap. He had 1 great year and has been sub par every other year. He is probably the best trade the team has.
The Emperor pulled another bone head play that resulted in a penalty and a goal. Case and point why he is NOT Captain material, yet. While better than Rod as the bearer of the C, he needs to grow into whatever leadership role he is going to fill.
It’s ironis how earlier in the year they coughed up 3 goals in the first to piss away a stretch of games and now they are getting sodomized for 5 in the third.
I think I am on the Mo must go bandwagon, too. He’s been little more than a kite with a bad tail (yes a tie crack). Francis obviously isn’t adding squat to the PP, he needs to get back to his office job. I wonder if JR could step in and get some change to happen?
I also think Rodney should stay. He brings the same jump Sutter has. Both need to find out how many minutes they can play at this level and then they should play that many minutes every night.
I think Leighton officialy lost his job last night. Same perf. as Legace, but I think the front office will throw him under the bus. Shame, he played well for 2 periods.
I also think the diehard fans, like ChrisJ and Caniac Jack were dealt a death blow last night. No matter how rational or rabid a fan you are, this team sucks and the system is broke. How you go about fixing that is a complex issue, but I think the fan base/home crowd will not be as friendly as previous. I think the Boo’s and “Mo must go” chants, paper bags, etc. will start cropping up. I think one of the bigger failures this year is the treatment of the fan base. How can anyone in mng. say they have done “X” for thefans this year? It seems every move and choice was made for something other than putting a team on the ice to entertain the fans by playing hockey.
On the business end, if you were a player on this team and you had a contract coming up, what would you be telling your agent?
I think it’s time for the fire sale. Pick the guys that will make the “core” and shed everything else. Then rotate the younger players through, sort the goalie gig out and try again next year.
This year is, in my not even remotely humble opinion, OVER!
A
The Canes are like a box of expired chocolates......
+1
And for the fans – raising ticket prices yet again…
And that stupid game week pricing…
(And god I hate mo right now)
by Andrea's evil twin on Nov 29, 2009 9:26 AM EST up reply actions
+1 for the comment on players/agents.
Also, if you’re a UFA at the end of this season, Not currently on the "Canes, what are you gonna tell your agent ?
How about: “Even show me an offer from Carolina and you’re fired.”
Humpty dumpty sat on a wall.....
by drifterscape on Nov 29, 2009 12:00 PM EST up reply actions
overachieved is an understatement. this team really is bad with pockets of good, basically the same team with a few different role players! hate to say it but we would probably be just as bad with babchuk and seidenberg back in our lineup because the guys would still make poor decisions on the ice!
by 3yrsnoplayoffs? on Nov 29, 2009 11:37 AM EST up reply actions
lesser of 2 evils
heard through the grapevine that the little karmanos has been hanging around the front office more and more, i dont know what would be worse rutherford, or the karmanos’ helming this ship
another observation
is it me or does it seem like we have gone back to the old dump and chase hockey that got Mo fired the first time
by brassBonanza on Nov 29, 2009 8:53 AM EST up reply actions
Those calling for JRs head show just how spoiled with success this fanbase has become.
As far as Staal and his prima donna attitude, he is probably a top 20 player in the league and therefore need to be on the team. Even if I have to watch a player making $9M/year not backchecking and laying on the ice whining to the ref with a puss on his face while the opposing team skates the puck the other way.
His behavior is really pathetic isn’t it? Until this year, I always kinda thought he’d grow out of it and man up, but it seems to be getting worse.
A
The Canes are like a box of expired chocolates......
Staal's return -> chemistry problems?
I think Staal’s return to the locker room has made Ruu and Gleason step back in the leadership role. Staal is the anointed one and it doesn’t sound like he’s mature/secure enough to encourage any challenges to his position.
Or maybe it’s not that Staal is doing anything – and I don’t mean to suggest intentional “plots” by him to undermine others – (like Ruu or Gleason or Sutter), but just the absence to his deferring to others and recognizing other 20-somethings (and first round draftpicks) may have a better take on the path out of this quagmire at this particular juncture.
I think it’s just the pattern that’s always been there and no one can shake it up.
Hurricanes Hockey:
Never for the faint of heart.
Nor for the weak of stomach.
by hockeymomof2 on Nov 29, 2009 9:46 AM EST up reply actions
Your observations are the main reason why I reluctantly think Rod needs to step down as “C”. He’s in the way of Staal who’s in the way of Ruu, Gleason, etc.
Humpty dumpty sat on a wall.....
by drifterscape on Nov 29, 2009 11:45 AM EST up reply actions
Sutters Play???????????????????????
Have you notice since Staal’s return how Sutter has been playing. I’m not sure his even making the score sheet and his goals every other night has stopped. Maybe we can blame that on his minutes or maybe he also has lost his drive. Either way his play has slightly gone down.
A TRUE CANIAC......YES I AM........
Sutter
Some folks on here reported they thought Sutter got injured in the Dallas game. No report from the team is the understandable norm. It also somewhat explains his drop in TOI if not the misusage of the time he does get. The timing with Staal’s return may be a coincidence.
Humpty dumpty sat on a wall.....
by drifterscape on Nov 29, 2009 12:55 PM EST up reply actions
+1
I’ve noticed this too…… but everyone is such a Sutter fan I haven’t been game to mention it until now. He came out of Albany so amazingly brilliant, but the last few weeks have been somewhat unimpressive. I can’t say where it has come from – Staal’s return, lack of TOI, perhaps even just lack of confidence from the current loosing streak, but something seems to have gone downhill for him and it’s a real shame. I really hope he can get it back!!!
The most fortunate accident of them all.............
I think it's D-all of the above.
It’s clear that he’s not the same Sutter we saw the first few games he was here. Oh and I do think that an undisclosed injury has something to do with it as well (which is probably reflected to some extent in his dipping TOI).
I think the key thing we need to remember he’s only 20 years old and is fairly new to the NHL game (yes 50 games last season-but he was getting what? 4 minutes a night? That hardly counts as significant experience.) Because he came up and was so good right away, we assumed he’d be like that all the time which isn’t really fair. I feel pretty confident that he’ll rebound. It may take a while, especially considering the A squad he’s got to work with, but it will happen.
Fitness level?
Was it Lavi’s last year that they changed their practices? I remember a big hullabaloo about injuries and practicing too hard and then the routine was changed. Is the team just running out of gas in the 3rd period because they’re not fit?
Like the rest of you I’m angry and embarrassed and searching for an answer. It would be one thing to have the record the Canes have and just be getting beat by better teams, but this HI&%$%&RG FRAGILITY is driving me nuts. These are professional athletes that have played hockey most of their lives. There are a ton of rings in that locker room. Yet they continue to “lose confidence” as soon as things turn against them. WTF? I call BS…I can’t see a scenario where adult men would just shrug their shoulders and give up game after game after game. There is something going on that we can’t see that has destroyed this team’s chemistry, their spirit, their ability to impose their will on other teams.
Francis needs to go back upstairs. Mo needs to go to Albany. Bring up Jeff Daniels for the rest of the season. Trade Corvo and Walker and Whitney (those last two hurt to say) for picks and let the rest of this year be a tryout for the other UFAs and a few Rats.
The “poisend locker room” is like Lavi part deux. I’m still wondering if the coaching staff may be a little bit the victim, Lavi included (bet you never thought you’d hear that from me!!). While I think the Lavi regime and now Mo’s were also incompetnt. Point is, Rod has no business playing, even with the money factor and contract. Staal is the darling boy, etc. It pretty much handcuffs a coaching staff if they are not able to make descisions about when and where to play or not play a player. If, IF that is the case, the front office may be more at fault. I only bring that up as JR was the architecht of this wonderful year and team pretty much in totality. Just floats around in the back of my mind that Lavi was rather headstrong and Mo’s a pusilanimous lap dog to JR. maybe something else to ponder in the miraid of things that are wrong.
A
The Canes are like a box of expired chocolates......
Glad you're back
Last night I played your part in being MR. Total Negativity.
I wish I could say though it was only an act.
When all else fails, read the instruction manual.
Mr. TN is almost back. Been hanging out with my son all week and having a blast. Not much joy as a Canes fan other than bashing them, so…
Thanks for picking up the slack!!
A
The Canes are like a box of expired chocolates......
It was way to easy
KenRab asked me to take a chill pill.
I made HMO2 a bit upset.
Insulted CG a bit.
In other words, I was one PO’d fan with a terrible attitude. Not a good combination.
When all else fails, read the instruction manual.
As long as they keep Whitney...
The only person I’m hoping gets re-signed first and foremost is Ray Whitney. This season other than Cam Ward, Matt Cullen, Tuomo Ruutu and Brandon Sutter, he’s been the only veteran worth his salt from my observation. I would rather us keep him than keep Brind’amour.
Ray Whitney will be 38 years old by the time next season starts. He hasn’t really shown any signs of decline with age, and maybe he can keep putting up 70 points a season until he’s 40, but that’s what we all thought about Brind’Amour.
A cup contender looking for scoring depth and experience might be interested in Whitney at the deadline. He’s been one of my favorite Canes over the years, and he’s still one of the two or three best players on the team, but it’s time to move on.
He would be akin to us picking up Mark Recchi in 2006 for the Cup run to some team out there. Instantly make a line and a powerplay unit even more dangerous than it was before.
With his no-movement clause, it would totally be his choice to make, but a run with a legitimate contender might be intriguing at his age. We could always do the one-year at a time deal at a reduced price with him, if there’s mutual interest for next year or beyond.
JR owes the fans a press conf.
he’s got some s’planining to do.
(granted, he may not want to show his cards before he makes any moves but at this point you have no angle to negotiate.)
I am in the process of assembling a group for the Dec 21st game. I was going to put in the order for 20+ tkts tomorrow. I had an email this morning from friends who have gone to 6-10 games/year for 4+ yrs, kids play hockey, etc (non-STH). They paid $100 each for 4 tkts to Friday’s meltdown. He emailed me this morning to say that after last night’s game I should hold-off on their tkts (half-price) for the group on the 21st. Said he wasn’t sure they want to throw good money after bad.
I don’t take that point of view. I like Elsker’s idea (in the Chins up! fanpost yesterday) of focusing on the individual accomplishments and watching this incredible drama of how this problem gets solved. This is a multi-year saga. It’s hard, it’s real, but wow is it fascinating. (And see how much chatter there is on the blog and elsewhere to prove that).
Now is when we need to show these guys some fan-Sisu – even if it means we encourage some tough decisions and/or sacrifices. Supporting JR that it’s worth the risk of doing something drastic is being a good fan. The fact that we all care so passionately is a testament to his success developing this franchise in a non-traditional market over the last 12 years. That’s the accomplishment he needs to build on.
As I so publicly declared, I got past the anger weeks ago, before Cam went down. (around the pathetic showing at the Kings game) It’s an amazing show (I’m not a STH who feels like I’ve wasted my investment – which might change a lot – I feel for you guys) and I enjoy watching hockey as a sport. And I will not succumb to getting my hopes up for some miracle comeback if they go on a 5-game point streak. And I advise the rest of you to avoid the same.
Hurricanes Hockey:
Never for the faint of heart.
Nor for the weak of stomach.
What can I say but +2, for both content and style points. Well said.
Years like this are rich in texture, sometimes more so than playoff years. There’s lots to see and observe for hard-core fans. I have way more stories to tell from the ‘02-’03 debacle than last year’s run, from a fan interest standpoint.
We had fun that season, despite the level of bad luck and ineptitude below our feet. But, you do have to make your own fun, and attitude is key. Those crowds were a gas. Could hear individual voices and we cheered the smallest of accomplishments (“Good shift!” :-D).
Exactly, HM. Very well put. I’m going to that game and bringing my brother and my Dad (who never goes) because we can get $25 lower level seats. If you go in not expecting a win, you can at least enjoy watching your favorite player… in my case Ruutu… attempt to destroy Sean Avery five to ten times by slamming him hard up against the boards. I’m going just to see that. To me, it’s worth it.
The last game I went to was the Tampa Bay game, and I went in hoping LaRose and Ruutu would score. And they did. So I’m going to pick out a couple little things I want to see every game and attempt to ignore the score. It helps me keep what’s left of my sanity.
I’m reading alot of player bashing going on and this topic of chemistry keeps coming up.
First Staal is our FRANCHISE player get over it, he’ll be here for years to come (plus he’s awesome). Second, the line changes are the big chemistry problem. Nobody plays long enough to gain that bond together to drop a pass or do no look passes. Our players all have unique skills but they are mixed up one period after another. It’s like working or living along side someone for years you know there plus/minus. The lines constantly changing looking for this miracle combo isn’t working.
This is a “coaching thing”.
A TRUE CANIAC......YES I AM........
True, 90% of this is Mo's issue
The Canes can beat any team and I still believe and THINK that.
The issue is when Mo decides to play Mo hockey and not change his style for the guys he has on the ice at the time. The worst thing is I don’t think there are the kind of players to play “Mo Hockey” in any case.
I hope Mo can start learning from his mistakes and design hockey around the players he has, not some idealized ones he wants to believe exists.
When all else fails, read the instruction manual.
how many years has mo coached with the same approach and similar results? Not likely that he will learn anything any time soon.
by Andrea's evil twin on Nov 29, 2009 2:30 PM EST up reply actions
I totally agree with you that the constant churning of lines has not helped develop any chemistry whatsoever, on ice and perhaps even off. This interchangeable widget approach is maddening and puts us behind the curve of every other lineup we face.
An important step on the road to recovery is for the brain trust, not the coach alone, to develop/polish (wherever they are along the way) the vision as to what it is we want to be, have a plan as to how to get there, and begin to implement the system with player augmentations by trade/call-up/FA’s/development/draft as needed. We need an identity.
Then the coaching staff, led by the head coach, runs that system. So, yes, ultimately this is a “coaching thing”.
Overly simplistic approach
At this point I think I would get the team together and say—-"this year, at this point, we are not a playoff team. But each of you have your own expectations for performance within yourselves. You play for your own personal pride. That is a given. "
-SO-
1) We can be really great “spoilers” this year, if we try—-especially against teams we don’t like.
2) We have a great fanbase—who loves watching exciting, fun hockey—-and who will
back us, win or lose, if we “bring it” every night.
3) -—So lets go out and just have fun playing hockey again
because we LOVE the game !!!
(I bet the product on the ice would improve)
GO CANES! Go Heels!
KISS
Agree 100% with that! Just play hockey, and enjoy it!
I'm all for them playing hockey
And they do pretty good for the first 2 periods. It’s when they STOP playing hockey, such as the third period, that I feel we should be able to complain about that.
We’ve been given much to complain about this season.
When all else fails, read the instruction manual.
The entire team needs to stop a moment and read C.Ward’s stick every time they take the ice.
“have fun”
by Andrea's evil twin on Nov 29, 2009 6:54 PM EST up reply actions
Amen to that!
+100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 for all three.
Saturday, December 12th
Cary Ale House.
I’d like to finally get a yes/no from you guys and see if we could meet. I’ts not a cool bar but the food isn’t bad and the drinks reasonable.
Who’s there?
When all else fails, read the instruction manual.
work christmas party – what about the 11th?
by Andrea's evil twin on Nov 29, 2009 6:53 PM EST up reply actions
11th works for me
How ’bout the rest of the Caniacs who want to drown our tears or quietly celebrate a Canes resurgence?
When all else fails, read the instruction manual.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Canes Country
Related FanShots on Canes Country
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- In which former NHL coach Ken Hitchcock foils a shoplifter
- Montreal's Price talks new 2-year contract, expectations post-Halak
- Donald Fehr aware of Kovalchuk drama, mum on everything else
- Puck Headlines: Savard's agent rants on Bettman; Halak in Montreal
- Boudreau, Crawford placed on the coaching hot seat
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
