Revenge On Their Minds: Hurricanes Host Panthers For Back End Of Home-And-Home
by Cory Lavalette on Dec 19, 2009 12:00 PM EST
65 comments
The Carolina Hurricanes’ nightmare season continued Friday night with a 6-3 loss in South Florida to the Panthers. The good news? The Canes get another crack at their Southeast Division foes tonight at the RBC Center when both teams come to Raleigh to wrap up an old-fashinioned home-and-home series.
The team Florida faced Friday night could look different from the one iced this evening, as Tim Gleason and Niclas Wallin may return to the Carolina blueline. Coach Paul Maurice shuffled his lines some in the loss, so there's no telling yet what the forward lines will look like, but expect the same 12 to dress as last night.
Scott Clemmensen will likely start in goal for the Panthers, while Carolina may look to Cam Ward, who was pulled in favor of Manny Legace after the Panthers’ fifth goal early in the third period.
There's not much more to say about two teams that played last night. Florida right wing Radek Dvorak was an impressive plus-5 last night, getting a goal and two assists to lead the Panthers. The Canes, on the other hand, got some offense from some unexpected contributors in the loss. Patrick Dwyer got his second career NHL goal and first of the season, while Andrew Alberts added two assists and fourth-liner Scott Walker got his second goal of the season.
Eric Staal also got his second goal in as many games and third in four outings — he now has 14 points in 11 games since returning from injury — but he and linemates Ray Whitney and Tuomo Ruutu were all minus-3 on the night.
Carolina will need top-to-bottom effort to avoid losing their fifth game in six outings.
The puck drops at 7 p.m. at the RBC Center and the game will be broadcast by FS-Carolinas and 99.9 The Fan. We'll update the status of Gleason and Wallin, plus who will be in net, as we find out.
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Practice today
I mentioned this in the post-game thread… I braved the bad lighting and freezing temperatures over at the RecZone today mainly because I wanted to check in on Tim Gleason to see how he looks. As you can tell from the links, he wasn’t wearing a shield today. He was skating along with Nic Wallin and Manny Legace, and Tom Barrasso was running the drills. I didn’t stay long myself but they were out there for at least 30 minutes by the time I left. I’m guessing that’s an indication that those three are not in the lineup tonight although I could be wrong.
The Panthers bus arrived about the same time I did, and I heard a couple of folks mention they saw Cory Stillman milling around, but I myself didn’t spot him.
SISU
Thanks for going LTD
Wow! You can hardly tell anything happened to him. Maybe he did take a trip to Ruu’s plastic surgeon?
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
Thanks LTD – looks like he’s back on the meat and potatoes already. Crisis averted. (at least that one)
And I’m serious about his being the eye in the sky during tonight’s Game (assuming he doesn’t dress) talking into Ronnie’s ear piece which they pass down the bench between shifts – or maybe get some sort of bluetooth earbuds implanted in the guys’ helmets so he can talk to them simultaneously. I can’t post what words he’d be offering to his teammates, in keeping with the blog’s PG-13 rating, but I’m sure he could be very inspirational.
Maybe he’ll return Monday when I’m there for the Rangers game with my 3 kids. All Hail!
Gleason for the "C" :
Just what do we need to do to make this happen?
by hockeymomof2 on Dec 19, 2009 1:18 PM EST up reply actions
LTD, YOU ARE AWESOME!!!!!!!
so happy to see he is HOT AS EVER!!! ;)
"That’s what happens when you suck" - Tim Gleason
I top to bottom effort will definitely be needed. Since the start of December, the Canes have scored 23 goals and given up 26. In that time, Staal has 10 points, Pitkanen 9, Whitney 8, Ruutu 7, and Jussi 4; the rest of the team is not really producing points . This is suppose to be a balanced team (even though we know its not).
Cullen only has 1 assist this month; he needs to get back to his November form. He’s still playing the 2nd line center and on the power play, so he’s getting opportunities. Maybe all of the trade talk has been a distraction to him. Well his trade value has probably decreased. This might be one where patience wasn’t kind.
Samsonov only has the 1 goal this month. He has some excuse; being hurt and not playing all that much. But the “best” puckhandler on the team needs to play better. I still think he should be traded to open up a spot, but he’s not exactly opening eyes with his play.
Sutter only has 2 points this month. I’ll probably put the blame on coaching here. This guy was one of our best players on the ice in November. Mo – play him with someone that has some skill. I like Tommy K and Dwyer, but come on; we’re not really giving the kid a chance to suceed. Move Cullen down while he’s playing like he is or bring up Boychuk or Tlusty. Give the kid a chance at showing what he can do.
Sutter and Maurice
Maurice has managed to slow Sutter’s progress by putting him with players who are not effective offensively. I agree with PackPride17. I would put together Samsonov/Sutter/Jokinen — and if I could I would bring up Tlusty. I agree it is not feasible for Sutter to excel offensively on a Dwyer/Sutter/Kostopoulos line.
In short, I think Maurice acted foolishly in closing down Sutter’s offensive side by the lines he created.
Maurice and foolish always go hand in hand
by Canes Pucknut on Dec 19, 2009 4:53 PM EST up reply actions
home wins...
Are important to the health of the team and the organization. I am guessing that Cam will pitch a shut out. Canes win 3-0.
by Caniac233 on Dec 19, 2009 1:07 PM EST via mobile reply actions
When a goal is scored, either for or against; here’s who leads the Canes in ice time.
Pitkanen 61% for, 58% against, 59% overall
Staal 61% for, 35% against, 47% overall
Whitney 57% for, 31% against, 43% overall
Carson 44% for, 35% against, 39% overall
Ruutu 44% for, 27% against, 35% overall
Jokinen 22% for, 31% against, 27% overall
Kostopolous 22% for, 31% against, 27% overall
Sutter 22% for, 31% against, 27% overall
Alberts 31% for, 19% against, 24% overall
Ward 13% for, 27% against, 20% overall
Gleason 22% for, 19% against, 20% overall
Sorry everyone, I woke up early with nothing to do.
So....(this is a cool way to look at this)
(This if for December only?)
Since I thought the differentials between the for and against % were intriguing. (though almost identical to the +/-) Sure works for the “Staal is the solution” camp.
Staal is +26%
Whitney is +26%
Ruutu +17%
Alberts +12%
Carson is +9%
Pitkanen is +3%
Gleason +3%
Jokinen -9%
TKO -9%
Sutter – 9%
AWard -14%
The one’s you didn’t do must have been on the ice for goals or they wouldn’t have a +/- (Harrison, LaRose, Yelle etc). Did you exclude them because their numbers for the TOI when a goal is scored were so low?
Gleason for the "C" :
Just what do we need to do to make this happen?
by hockeymomof2 on Dec 19, 2009 1:57 PM EST up reply actions
Yes, this is just for December. I only did the top 10 (actually 11 because of a tie for 10th) of the overall goal for/against percentage.
It does show some interesting items though. Alberts seems to do better than I expected. Carson is on the ice for a lot of goals (for & against) for a young guy. The statistics support the fact that Ward really sucks. Staal, Whitney, and Pitkanen seem to be more important to this team’s goal production than I thought.
Here’s another interesting fact for December: Rod hasn’t been on the ice for any goals against and only 1 (last night) for.
Cam is still hurt......
I know, he’s a goalie and they’re all certifiably insane but sometimes, no matter how much the mind says, "We can do it, the body says something like, “F*ck you”. He wants to be tough and gut it out but it is my experience that the toughest thing anyone can do is ask for help and say they’re not ready yet.
Manny needs to start. Let’s hope Lagace gets more times in goal than Leighton did as you really can’t ride a warhorse for all 82 games, especially when he’s still recovering.
Happerry Chrisolkwanaka
A ittle off the subject...
But i was listening to aftermath the other nite, and the question came up about the draft picks we might have, and Forslund was quick to point out that the Hall and Sequin(sp) kids, they are both “nice” players, that they aren’t of the caliber of player as the more recent top draft picks. He didn’t seem to impressed with them. I found this to be very upsetting. I’d hate to think we’re not gonna get much out of this “unfortunate” season except for a “nice” player. Anybody know if he’s blowing smoke or is this true?
Most guys on XM don't agree
Most XM analyst all say this coming draft year is the least impressive for some time. Last several years have been creamy. Not this year.
Go Canes!
This Year's Draft
My recollection from listening to the Hockey This Morning commentators on XM Radio was that the first five to six picks are felt to be immediate impact players; but it is less clear how the later picks will do. As always, I could be totally wrong.
I see (1) Taylor Hall, (2) Tyler Seguin, (3) Cam Fowler, (4) Kirill Kabanov, and (5) John McFarland as being immediate impact, blue ribbon selections.
John McFarland -- older report, but interesting
I will look for some more scouting reports on JohnMcFarland. This report is from March, 2008, and is dated. It does give some decent background information.
March 18, 2008
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/14431-THNcom-Blog-McFarland-to-go-No-1-in-OHL-draft.html
John McFarland was not deemed to be ‘exceptional’ enough last year, but the Sudbury Wolves are intent on giving him the chance to prove he is just that over the next couple of seasons.
McFarland, who was turned down in his request to play in the Ontario League as a 15-year-old last year because of an arcane Hockey Canada provision where a young and talented player’s fate rests with a three-person panel, will get his chance to go first overall in the OHL draft when the Sudbury Wolves select him in May. The Wolves will pick first after finishing dead last in the OHL during the regular season, which ended last weekend.
McFarland’s agent, Mark Guy, has already spoken to Wolves’ owner Mark Burgess and Burgess has indicated the Wolves are prepared to take McFarland first overall. The two sides will meet this weekend at the OHL Cup in Toronto, which features the top 20 minor midget teams in Ontario in a bid for the provincial championship, and it’s expected they’ll come to terms on a contract shortly after. McFarland’s Toronto Jr. Canadiens enter the tournament as the top-ranked team in Ontario.
With junior players there is always the concern they might not report to the team that selects them, but Guy said McFarland is looking forward to joining the rebuilding Wolves next season. McFarland, who has drawn comparisons to John Tavares, will be eligible for the NHL draft in 2010.
Jr. Canadiens coach Dan Cameron said McFarland has always had eye-popping skills and this season filled out to a solid 6-feet, 195 pounds. He has led the Jr. Canadiens with 90 goals and 162 points to go with 167 penalty minutes in 69 games this season. In bantam hockey last season, McFarland scored 160 goals.
Related Links
* View all THN.com Blogs
* The Hot List: No. 2 could go No. 1
* AUDIO: One-on-one with John Madden
"He’s a very good puck-handler and a great skater and he has good skills," Cameron said. "He doesn’t finesse people so much as just blow around them."
But Cameron, who was against McFarland playing in the OHL this season, said the area of his game where McFarland has made his most significant strides were in maturity and leadership.
"He’s a great leader," Cameron said of his captain. "Before our last game in the (Greater Toronto Hockey League) playoffs, he held a players’ only meeting and I got some great feedback from the other players on how he laid everything out.
"At one practice this year, a coach from another team came to see me and I was standing talking to him off the ice for about 10 minutes. I looked over his shoulder and there was John running drill after drill."
Ken Campbell is a senior writer for The Hockey News and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog appears Tuesdays and Fridays and his column, Campbell’s Cuts, appears Mondays.
McFarland Hockey Video
http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/ohl-plays-of-the-week—-dec-6-p139529/t-webTV
There are not that many hockey videos of McFarland. Still, the idea is that if a player can make a great move once, all he has to do is work to be able to replicate it.
The answer is, it’s too soon to tell. No credible source has any details on either one. HockeyFutures is “coming soon” for both. Central Scouting only has rankings out by junior league at this point, where those two are 1a and 1b for the Ontario Hockey League. But no comparison across junior leagues or the international community exists yet, to my knowledge.
Right now, we’re nine points behind next-to-last and fifteen points out of the playoffs. Doubt we’ll make up much of that ground, but wherever we end up picking this summer, I’ll be content that we have a chance at securing good talent.
Sutter was 11th overall, Boychuk 14th, and Cam was 25th. Dalpe and McBain were second-rounders.
It’s all in the picking, and I’m not even convinced we need another “superstar”. One $8M+ salary/cap hit may be more than enough for this org, even if deferred for a few years. I’ll take “nice”.
Neither are Tavares, Stamkos or Kane level players (yet). But those guys are already proving to be elite NHLers.
by Cory Lavalette on Dec 19, 2009 6:52 PM EST up reply actions
Taylor Hall and TYler Seguin and Forslund
Increasingly I am finding that Forslund is a joke as an informed hockey analyst. There are some scouts who were saying they would have taken Taylor Hall last year as the first overall draft pick about Tavares if he were eligible.
There are a number of hockey videos of Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin. Both players are true impact players and would likely start on the Hurricanes. I am read that after the first five or six top players, this year’s selections are probably a little bit thinner than last year.
Forget Forslund as anything other than a color commentator. He thinks Brind’Amour is a tremendous leader on the ice and that Chad LaRose’s absence (despite his one goal this year and five assists) is a key element.
I don’t know if Forslund is a joke, but I get what you’re saying. I heard the same thing about Hall over Tavares. To be honest, I think Tavares gets himself into excellent position on the ice, but the rest of his game is suspect. I’m not saying he is a bad player because he’s not, I just haven’t been impressed with most parts of his game (other than his positioning).
I do think that Taylor Hall will be a dynamic player that will probably play decent minutes his first year. I think Tyler Seguin will have a little longer road to the NHL. He’s very good, but I think he still needs a little more development. I think he is slightly below where Duchene was in Colorado at the beginning of the year. If we select Seguin, he’ll probably make it to the N by the end of the season.
This draft class is probably weaker than years past. Hell, at least the top 4 picks from last year made their NHL squad out of the gate. It would be nice to draft a great player that can play immediately, but no matter who we pick; teaching/coaching will be the key. The question arises; How do you feel about our coaching in regards to developing young talent?
Hurricanes Coaching and Young Players
I haven’t seen enough of Maurice and Francis to reach an informed decision about their skill sets at handling young players. I am positive that Jim Rutherford wants the young talent handled gently and patiently. He has made that very clear in public statements. If Maurice wants a job, he will be a supportive, nurturing coach.
I am confident that Rowe knows how to teach and coach young players. I am guessing that Francis is good with young players based on the variety of statements by players about Francis.
I am content with either Hall or Seguin; and from the videos I’ve seen and the fact that Hall was selected to be on Team Canada, my belief is that Hall is a little more NHL ready than Seguin. As you point out, either Hall or Seguin will be fine NHL forwards sooner rather than later.
Because I am convinced Jim Rutherford has his finger on the pulse of the team, and particularly as it relates to nurturing the young players, I think Maurice will either demonstrate he is well-qualified to handle the challenges of coaching and teaching young talent or he will be off the ice before he does any permanent harm.
Ready for the Hurricanes to be Statistically Eliminated from the Playoffs
I am ready for the Hurricanes to lose as soon as they can enough games to be statistically eliminated from the playoffs. They are not far from that point. I think when it occurs, Jim Rutherford can then officially take the position this season is a rebuilding year.
I actually think that Maurice does a subpar job with young talent. I can’t remember anyone in particular except maybe a young Cole from Maurice first time with the Canes. None of the draft picks during that time really worked out. Maybe it was a coaching thing, maybe it was a scouting thing. I don’t think he handled the kids in Toronto very well, but it was Toronto. And like I mentioned above, I don’t think he is handling Sutter very well. So, I don’t feel to confident in Maurice or his style of play with the young guys.
How do you feel about our coaching in regards to developing young talent?
groan….That is our next important problem to discuss, isn’t it? Isn’t Coach Ronnie in charge of player development? Does that mean before they get to Raleigh? Or is he determining lines and ice times and coaching emphasis here?
(Remembering how JR came out in early Nov and said Sutter would get top-6 ice time when Brindy was out there 20 mins a game – was that a disagreement between Mo and JR that JR took public to force Mo to conform? It worked. It was great. Or maybe it was cover for Mo and take the heat from those who didn’t like that move)
Has anyone factored Zac Dalpe into next year? Sounds like he’s hoping to go to Albany when the OSU season is done and then how long before he makes the leap to Raleigh? I’m thinking he’s running about 12 months behind Boychuk? is that a fair assessment?
I’m not sure I agree that Sutter needs to be centering others than the line he’s on. I think their (with Dwyer, TKO) hunger complements each other well. Sutter may not be racking up the goals the way he did with Cole and Whitney (boy what a dream for a 20-yr-old!) but he’s definitely contributing (Kind of suprised at the -9% above tho) and learning. I hope he doesn’t regard playing 3rd line center behind Staal and Cullen at his tender age as a slam.
Gleason for the "C" :
Just what do we need to do to make this happen?
by hockeymomof2 on Dec 19, 2009 3:59 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t think he considers playing on the 3rd line it a knock against him. I still would like to see him with a more skilled group. I think our 1st line right now is playing well (yes, I know they were a -3 last night). Our second line is ok. I really would like to see Boychuk and Cole with Brandon. I think that would be a nice combination. Power forward in Cole, speed with Boychuk, and two-way play from Sutter. Like I said earlier and in other posts; I like Tommy K and Dwyer, but I think they are 4th liners and they don’t complement Sutter’s abilities.
I did like (and have said so previously) your idea of Sutter with Jokinen. I think they might be similarly brainy about their hockey. Not sure Jussi has the speed or energy though. (and even the same raw hunger to prove himself)
Gleason for the "C" :
Just what do we need to do to make this happen?
by hockeymomof2 on Dec 19, 2009 4:30 PM EST up reply actions
I think you all are missing the point about Sutter. There not only isn’t enough talent to set him up a line, they still don’t have number one line set up. This team is just a miriad of pieces and several are broken.
I’d like to see JR stick to his guns and “give the kid” top minutes. Mo obviously isn’t doing much of anything good right now.
Maybe take the top 6 guys and make 2 lines out of them and just rotate the hell outta the last two with Rats and scraps. While that may suffice for the year on O. WTF is iwth the D? All that money and all those players and our D is dismal. Corvo goes down and Pits is being pounded into a quivering mass of tired hockey flesh.
There are alot of problems and not as many solutions. Squelching Sutter is just case and point this org. doesn’t know how to deal with young players. Considering that is what we have left and to look forward too. Kind of grave outlook.
I don’t think Mo or Ron have a place behind the bench. I don’t think Rowe is the guy. Theres an issue that has to be dealt with. Maybe bring up a coach and look for the next Boudreaux (or however you spell it), maybe give Barrasso a run. Maybe bite the bullet and hire a new one.
Whatever, it seems pretty stupid to knock down Sutter from being on pace to to lead the team in goals or at least be a top contributor to being relegated to secondary duties on a shityy team.
I had hoped for better foresight than that.
A
The Canes are like a box of expired chocolates......
I am not arguing the point about giving Sutter top six minutes; but I did wonder what your lines would be if you were in charge.
First would be Staal and Ruutu wingin’ for Sutter. Then probably Cullen with Ray and Cole.
See if chemistry hits.
My point is when you have an item that works, go with it. Sutter was working and they pissed it away.
My heart of hearts want’s more kids up. Boychuck, Tlusty should be here making real mistakes in real games so next year they can be on board. What we give up in size we gain in speed and hunger. I’d swap Rod and Yelle in a heart beat for those two. Once you start getting the future up and on the ice, the lines will seperate out. We not only have to support Sutter, but I think Staal is being handcuffed by not having the right fit. Then throw in a Hall and it get’s complicated.
So that brings me full circle to these pukes need to get serious about the future, which is young guys that are going to blow plays and get as much of that out of the way now.
I don’t see it happening anywhere near the pace or the amount I’d like to see and the one kid that has earned his place is getting crapped upon, by apparently Mo.
A
The Canes are like a box of expired chocolates......
Jokinen has a quiet will to win. He finds ways to win games. I don’t quarrel with the idea of making certain Sutter is put with a line that has tremendous speed when that is feasible. I also think that Jokinen will raise his play to fit with Sutter and Tlusty — although if I were king, I would find a Nathan Horton kind of power forward and it would use that player with Tlusty and Sutter. Again, if I were king, I would want all four lines to have a legitimate power forward.
Sutter Line
I’d really rather see Tlusty/Sutter/Kostopoulos. I don’t like having young players on a line without a power forward/big brother to keep the cranky veterans on the opposing team from head hunting. I thought Cole in particular did an excellent job of being Sutter’s bodyguard. It is an underrated role; but shouldn’t be overlooked if there are young players on the team.
TKO is definitely bodyguard material – tho maybe more with his fists than his legs and shoulders making room… Legs and shoulders are probably better.
Gleason for the "C" :
Just what do we need to do to make this happen?
by hockeymomof2 on Dec 19, 2009 4:32 PM EST up reply actions
BodyGuard Needed
Absolutely right. TKO is ideal on the fourth line. The Hurricanes desperately need a bodyguard/jumbo sized, skilled power forward to use legs and shoulders and mean streak to gain space for Sutter and Tlusty. I am completely and unabasedly on my soapbox about the lack of power forwards for the Hurricanes.
With all the young kids coming up next year, there is far too much risk of leaving them exposed without the bodyguard.
Not to worry. Lots of $‘s available for free agents next year for whatever it is that we’re not growing from within.
Question is: Does the org have a solid vision of what it is that they want to build for next year, so that the voids can be identified proactively instead of reactively?
Building for Next Year -- Management's Vision
I think Rutherford has been putting these pieces together for the new Hurricanes over a three year period. What I wonder is whether he believes in his heart of hearts that he has to have two additional super-sized forwards. There is scarcely anybody who knows less about hockey, among other things, than me; but it seems painfully obvious the successful NHL teams are stocking up on trucks on wheels forwards and that every time either Cole or Ruutu get hurt, our forwards get thrown around like ragdolls.
There is no doubt in my mind he knows the team needs another superstar, blazing fast, scoring winger. We will get that player in this season’s entry draft.
Rutherford has managed to put together in Albany some extremely talented forwards. He also has obtained puck-moving defensemen. We do not have any place in the system three or four hulking beast forwards who are angry men on the ice.
I also find the defense is much less atrocious than many believe. It is obvious to me that Aaron Ward is awful. With the injuries the Hurricanes have suffered on defense, and with Cam Ward’s injuries and then sub-par performance as he regains his form, it is hard to see the bigger picture. In my view, if Rutherford can re-sign Corvo or if he can trade Corvo for another puck-moving defenseman who has a cannon for shot, the defense will be fine.
So, on balance I do believe there is a vision at work. I believe next year’s team will be much more talented and fast. I think the team will be far younger and much larger over all than this year’s team. I also think the team as a team is going to buy in to the idea of using forechecking and hitting to generate offense.
I think the amount of money available may be less than what you’re thinking. PK’s budget will probably more consistent with years past (around $51M). That about $5M less than this year and Cam new contract goes into effective, add about $3.5M.
by PackPride17 on Dec 19, 2009 5:33 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I’m talking about the fact that 7 current team members don’t have contracts for next year, representing a pile of money that can be utilized differently next year, even with less total salary budget.
We will have a certain amount of budget for free agents, some of which may already be on the payroll, some not.
EXPIRING CONTRACTS: RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES
The amount of money tied up in players who have expiring contracts and particularly underperforming players is staggering. Then if Whitney and Cullen are traded, the amount of money available for UFAs and RFAs is indeed enormous. Here are some of the players whose contracts expire this year:
1. Aaron Ward: $2,500,000 salary;
2. Scott Walker: $2,500,000 salary,
3. Nic Wallin: $1,725,000 salary,
4. Stephan Yelle: $550,000 salary,
5. Tim Conboy: $500,000 salary,
6. Michael Ryan: $500,000 salary;
7. Jay Harrison: $500,000 salary;
8. Whitney $3,550,000 salary;
9. Cullen $2,800,000 salary;
10. Corvo $2,750,000 salary
without double checking, that’s $17.375 million total. If we replace them with 5 Rats at $800,000 (=$4mil) there’s still $13.375 for 5 players ($2.7 mil each).
Just quickly guessing on those Rats contracts, they may be less at the NHL level given their age.
Gleason for the "C" :
Just what do we need to do to make this happen?
by hockeymomof2 on Dec 19, 2009 6:10 PM EST up reply actions
and we have a 3 million dollar black hole in the name of Rod Brind’amore. That money will be best spent with him somewhere other than the ice.
Talk about a penalty and liabilty!
A
The Canes are like a box of expired chocolates......
And, because you just filled 5 of those 7 slots with Rats (maybe, but let’s say that happens), then we actually can take that pot of money (minus Cam’s raise) and spend it on just two players, instead of five.
Now, you’re talking major talent. Even if PK wants to back off the salary throttle a few million (and who could blame him?), it might be feasible to be shopping the $4M or $5M a year shelf.
That’s another true top-pairing, minute-munching defensemen, like Pitkanen. Or, name your outrageously talented finishing winger, for another. Power forwards can be had for this amount of coin, too.
I’m pretty pumped about our future.
If you add Taylor Hall as the Hurricanes’ entry draft pick, along with the available funds, the future is so bright you have to wear sunglasses.
Dwyer is showing how important speed, quickness, and soft hands are for the Hurricanes. Tlusty and Boychuk are going to be impressive, I think, when they get their shot this season. I am thinking changes are coming as soon as February based on the Olympic break and the time the GMs have to re-tool for the playoffs.
As close as the teams are they need help to get to the playoffs and should be willing to trade prospect/draft choices for veterans.
Zac Dalpe
Zac Dalpe has the potential to be a force on the ice. He was a late grower and was suspect due to his small size. He continued to gain height after the draft and is now listed as 6’1" and 190 lbs. He has tremendous acceleration and great hands and also possess lateral quickness. Jim Rutherford is very excited about Dalpe’s potential. I agree he is likely to be signed as soon as the college hockey season ends.
Gleason for Emperor Buttons
We’ve got 9 left, if anyone wants one. I’d like to give one to Maniscalco before the game… ;)
Guess we have to figure out where to meet though. Any ideas?
My Hockey Photoshop Gallery: http://gallery.raccoonfink.com/v/hockey/
Got the poster made, pretty big looks better from 5 feet out. Now I’m gonna be mad if he doesn’t play.
A TRUE CANIAC......YES I AM........
by canescup on Dec 19, 2009 4:15 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
RF – you’re going to tonight’s game? I’ll be at the Rangers game Monday. If anyone (CG?) is going to both and can make the connection. or I can wait till the 28th.
Gleason for the "C" :
Just what do we need to do to make this happen?
by hockeymomof2 on Dec 19, 2009 4:27 PM EST up reply actions
How about 6:45 by the silent auction?
My Hockey Photoshop Gallery: http://gallery.raccoonfink.com/v/hockey/
by Raccoon Fink on Dec 19, 2009 4:41 PM EST up reply actions
And definitely MM will want one. (heck – Rutherford and Maurice might try to figure out a way to score one too..)
Gleason for the "C" :
Just what do we need to do to make this happen?
by hockeymomof2 on Dec 19, 2009 4:41 PM EST up reply actions
I gave him one just before the game, said it was “courtesy of the Canes Country crowd.” He said “that is SOLID.” :)
My Hockey Photoshop Gallery: http://gallery.raccoonfink.com/v/hockey/
by Raccoon Fink on Dec 19, 2009 7:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Ward is in according to Cory Lavalette pre-game warmups.
Left Wing Lock - Free and accurate starting goalies
by leftwinglock on Dec 19, 2009 6:39 PM EST up reply actions
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