The Hurricanes have a tough road ahead as they are in Washington tomorrow, then back home against Calgary, and then begin a three game road trip Saturday in Tampa, then Chicago, and onto Dallas. I suspect this next five games will set the desperation table for the Canes chances at the post season. It truly is gut check time as they need to win and win now. With eighteen games remaining (10 of which are against East conference playoff bound teams) the Canes will not get any quarter during this road trip coming up. Chicago is solidly headed into the playoffs for the first time since 2002. Dallas is on the outside looking in….sound familiar?? That game looks very promising as the Hurricanes can prove their grit again on the road. The Canes can grab six points from outside the Eastern conference during these next five games. So that’s my wish for these next 5 ….grab six points and the postseason is still a reality…anything shorter than that and the Canes will need help from other clubs….again…to eek into the postseason. Not where they’ll want to be. I know it’s best to take the one game at a time approach here. But keep dropping games like Atlanta last week and time will run out. Every game MUST be a complete effort from all players. Anything less and the golf courses are calling.

I think it’s over. That Thrashers game was disgraceful. I suppose it’s possible they could take that and run with it. It’s just, if you can’t beat a pretty crappy team, Dallas, Chicago, Calgary and for sure the craps will want to pound two points out of us each time. stands to reason if Atlanta can take who can’t?

San Jose….

I dunno, I thought I saw the towel get thrown in. bummer for Jussi, we need him. His family obviously needs him more now, but he’s been a big help. I still don’t get the Sutter thing. He should be playing 12 minutes a night with the Canes. Methinks there is something going on. Whatever it is I don’t like it, I liked that kid. He was one of very few players playing his ass off for awhile. I think he earned hios spot here. until Cullen and Rosie got going, Sutter was are only threat on the PK. He also was in the top 5 physical players, sad i know, but true. The kid weighs as much as his gear bag and was hitting and getting hit. Pulling him was a mistake. I smell a trade and that would be an even bigger one.

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OK, OK I’ve often thought the same thing as you guys have just posted- but I gotta say…..Helminen has been called up and Sutter’s staying in Albany?? No it doesn’t make any sense so what the hell? A trade you say?
Deadline looming and Rutherford wants Brandon to stay in Albany say……one more week?? Yes these things points could point to trade, but I still disagree. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong but young Sutter is under contract for 3 years at quite a deal at $875K per year and an RFA in the 2011/12 season. Sure we can trade him but for who?!
Yes I know that Bill Guerin is still sitting in Long Island and his new home still unannounced…so what!! Not to mention that’s not a good trade-AT ALL!! Future for past-NO WAY!!
So what can all this mean? Is JR shuffling again? Should we even discuss Frank Kaberle getting dealt?? A package deal? Man I don’t even want to speculate there.
While I know this team still has yet to find a level of consistency we would all enjoy over three seasons but can we get it in one big trade? Not at the cost of the future.
In my opinion, since the lockout and the Canes 2006 Cup run, a market for “rental players” has developed. Many players find their names in this not too long a list Recchi, Weight, Guerin, to name a few. But this type of acquisition isn’t what the Canes need right now.
I say stay the course and continue to build in the youth of our organization. There will be many better years to come. Believe me when I say…before Detroit was “Hockeytown” they sucked and for many years. While I was a kid during the years of the “Deadwings” (1967-1982) they only made the playoffs twice in all those years. If you won’t take my word for it just ask the guy who was the goalie for most of the “Deadwings” years, Jim Rutherford. No wonder my Dad could take 5 kids to Olympia Stadium on what he made then, the Wings were giving seats away. Hockeytown didn’t start until the Yzerman years in 1983 (after the club was finally sold to Mike Ilitch) and the organization made an overall commitment to youth talent development and scouting which hasn’t stopped yet.

So with that thread I would rather the Canes be a team that taps new talent through great organizational development and not short term signings. Trading Sutter now will be a poor move and indication to the organizational commitment of building a winning tradition here. In other words Mr Rutherford, would you rather be a builder of a winning tradition or a renter of one??

AMEN!

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