Great game and Tim is #1 star by far. I cannot believe he came back to play. Just amazing game and real C.

Puck to the face, and goal footage Here

After Gleason took it to the net I was more than satisfied. I told my wife, “I don’t care if we lose, that goal was the greatest thing I’ve seen all night.”

Timmy for the “C”.

Let’s be serious about NHL hockey just for a second. Here are two players. Compare them and pick the captain:

  1. Hello, my name is Tim Gleason. I love hockey. I love my team. I play with fire and hunger. I will take a puck to my face and even though it takes 30 staples to almost close the wound, I will put on a full face mask and come back to score short-handed the typing goal at the home rink of one of the best teams in the NHL.

2. Hello, My name is Rod Brind’Amour. I used to be one of the best centers in the NHL; but now I play six minutes of undistinguished hockey a night. Sorry to say, but I am slow, and by the way, I really don’t love the physical game. Occasionally, I will be in position to make a hit, but realistically, unless you were really, really looking, it wouldn’t stand out as something special. I last scored a goal on October 9, 2009. I have really bad hands these days and I am ready to scream I am so disgusted with my own play. I have been captain a long time. I love this team. I love this organization. I even love the fans, although they are turning on me. Can I still be captain?

Guys with great scoring ability don’t generally fare well as captains. The offensive dynamo Tim gleason is no exception. He needs to focus in his goal scoring and let the less talented offensive players worry about leadership.

No doubt staal is a talented player but that doesn’t make him captain material like some seem to think. I’d much rather go into war with Gleason leading the troops. The captain has the ability to control the mindset of a team facing adversity, Gleason would be much more consistent and effective at doing this.

   The feckless, arcane power play of the Hurricanes ruined their 2008-2009 Stanley Cup run; and has sunk this year’s efforts. Despite everything else that has been a massive failure, with even a decent, almost competent power play, the Hurricanes would be in or near a playoff position.

   Six overtime losses can easily become regulation victories with a power play that isn’t horrible. Consider the one goal and two goal losses. Those games easily could have been won if the Hurricanes could score consistently on the power play.

   It’s not the system, it’s the personnel. The simple truth is that Ron Francis and Paul Maurice know enough about NHL hockey to run a decent power play if they have the personnel with the skills to run a good power play. The lack of power play skill sets was much more of an issue when Pitkanen was injured and before Sutter, Carson, and Tlusty were available. Even so, the Hurricanes don’t have (1) a slap shot bomber from the point; and (2) a snarling, hulking Antropov beast of a forward to bulldoze the defense out of the way.

   Ruutu and Cole were doing a great job crashing the net and screening the goalie; but there is no surprise they get hammered and banged up. At 6’ 200 lbs for Ruutu and 6’2’ and 205 lbs, Ruutu and Cole take a beating when they have to battle in front of the net. Because there is no 100 mph slapshot on the point, the defense can burrow in for the winter and wait out the Hurricanes inevitable scamper in front of the net.

   Suuter and Tlusty have the speed and hands to be effective. Jokinen is effective when he has players with great hands and vision working with him on the power play. Staal isn’t the kind of forward who has an endless vocabulary of moves, to go with his size and strength — so he can’t split the defense. Cullen is fast, but lacks the power to slash though the slot and overpower the defense.

   Game after game, the Hurricanes use the same uncreative approach — and lack of confidence doesn’t help. The Hurricanes need to make the best of this season; and while the stakes are low, they need to put responsibility on the Albany Rats to make the power play work. Put Tlusty, Sutter, Ruutu, Jokinen, and Pitkanen out as a first unit and tell them to make it work — figure it out yourselves. There will be some very ugly moments, but in the end, they will force the seasoned veterans to improvise on the second power play unit. Success always has an element of madness at its core. It’s time for thinking outside the box on the power play.

My typing is awful this morning. I apologize. Is there a way to edit these posts????

Lukas Krajicek

Tampa Bay Lightning #2 – Defenseman

Born: 1983/03/11 Age: 26

Height: 6-2 Weight: 196

Place of birth: Prostejov, Czech. (now Czech Republic)

Seasons: 6

Drafted by: the Florida Panthers in 2001 (1st round)

Cap hit is $1,450,000.00 — it would be $750,000.00 on re-entry waivers. He is a former first round draft choice. I wonder what Jokinen thinks of Krajicek’s play having been at Tampa Bay. Any team that waives Jokinen might well be waiving a top tier player again.

I do not see why Staal is the preordained captain of this team.

I never see the on-ice leadership that I see from Gleason, Whitney, or Cullen. I see a guy who tries to get the job done by himself and often fails. When Staal gets knocked down he lays on the ice for a bit too long and then whines to the ref. He’s a phenomenal player, but he has never demonstrated the leadership gene to me.

I would feel much more confident with Gleason as the captain of the Canes.

I just finished watching Buffalo on the replay on Center Ice. They are rocking. Vanek has amazing hands and anticipation. Miller is a beast. The team is playing hungry each night. They are a great team to watch.

I think Pistilli is a sleeper. He is a late bloomer; but he has the size and mean-streak the Hurricanes need desperately on the fourth line. I keep hoping his skating skills will catch up with him and that he can develop into a mad-man on a checking line.

   Reed also has plenty of potential — but apparently is still pretty rough around the edges. They seem to be expecting a good deal from Reed in the future.

 RW
Matthew Pistilli

Age: 21
Date of birth: October 17, 1988
Place of birth: Montreal, Que., Canada
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 219
Shoots: R
NHL Seasons: 0-R
Signed by Carolina in 2009.

Also added this offseason was undrafted free agent Matthew Pistilli. The 21-year-old was a teammate of Paradis last season in Shawinigan, and is playing his first pro season with the Rats this year. Another big forward, Pistilli will be looked to as an energy player.

C/RW
Harrison Reed

Age: 21
Date of birth: January 18, 1988
Place of birth: Newmarket, Ont., Canada
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 185
Shoots: R
Salary: $ 530,000
NHL Seasons: 0-R
Drafted by Carolina in 2006 (3/93).

10. (NR) Harrison Reed, RW – 18 – Sarnia (OHL)
Rating: 7.5C, Projection: Second line winger

As a rookie on a weak Sarnia Sting team, Reed was able to collect 50 points (26 goals) in 68 games. His prowess in the offensive zone is noted, as is his strength on his skates, and his nose for the puck. However, defensive deficiencies can’t be denied and Reed doesn’t always make a beeline for his own zone as evidenced by his team-worst -31 plus/minus rating.

The 6’0, 178-pounder still has some growing to do, but his ability to fill the net bodes well for his long-term prospects.