Anymore Moves Ahead for Carolina?
by Bob Wage on Jul 28, 2009 8:00 AM EDT
43 comments
Jim Rutherford mentioned in an interview after the Aaron Ward deal that he will still be keeping an eye out on the free agency market. Even though the Hurricanes have filled in most of their roster, as well as their budget, if the right player becomes available at the right price he may make another move.
We have given the general manager a lot of credit here the past few days, but a few important questions linger. The number one question probably is, who will play point on the powerplay? Anton Babchuk, Dennis Seidenberg, and Frantisek Kaberle all played there last season, and all three are gone. While Joni Pitkanen and Joe Corvo remain options 1 and 1A, who will fill in for them?
Matt Cullen has played point at times as has Ray Whitney, but are they the best options? And is that the most productive position to put them in?
The other defensemen, Tim Gleason, Niclas Wallin, Aaron Ward, and Andrew Alberts are not known as powerplay specialists. The Canes could use a seventh defenseman, say Bryan Rodney as an extra and play him while on the man advantage. Or they could still be looking for someone else.
Cory reported yesterday that Patrick Eaves had cleared waivers and was one step closer to being bought out by the Boston Bruins. If there is not much interest in him around the league, it would not shock me to see him back here in Carolina. That would be another feather in Rutherford's cap, if he could bring back the forward at a much reduced salary and end up with both Ward and Eaves at the end of the day.
If another team offers Eaves much more than the league minimum though, all bets are off.
_____
My boss and the dude that runs this collective of blogs gave me a shout out and a "crystal ball award" of sorts for my lucky prediction of the Aaron Ward trade. Thanks Tyler, James Mirtle, and everyone else who offered kudos. It's been a lot of fun the past few days.
Speaking of the network, you might want to check out the Blog Huddle from time to time, as it offers noteworthy news from around SB Nation.
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Anymore moves ahead for Carolina?
Well, Bubba. Good question.
Why don’t ya check in with the famous crystal ball of yours and get back with us on that?
I watch for the tweet.
=D
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
I actually liked Eaves last year. Perhaps he was overpaid for the role he was playing, but at least he did finish his checks that I saw and while he didn’t score much, he did have a wicked wrist shot that had to be respected. Getting him back for a more reasonable salary (for the role he would be expected to have) wouldn’t be a bad idea if it could be done.
Whitney wasn't very good on point
from the times Whitney was at point on powerplay, he turned it over more often than not. We need someone to fill this role.
Good (on the) Point?
I am always wary to use forwards on the point, though Cullen has done admirably there in stretches. Whitney is best when working from the half-wall, as is Sami. Staal has managed the point in the past, but think he is better in front of, or behind the net.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see a different approach to the PP this year, or more specifically several approaches. Once teams figured out to rush Babchuk at the point, the PP went in the crapper. Joni and Corvo give you the flexibility to rotate all your players around the zone looking for the mismatch, open lane, or Backdoor play. Think we should look for Joni and Corvo to have big years, points wise, on the PP. I do like the idea of Rodney dressing as the 7th d-man, specializing on the PP and taking the occasional regular shift. I would look for this to happen, especially early in the year. Who knows if given the chance he may “stick”. Plus, dressing a 7th d-man allows us the flexibility to double shift Staal, Jussi, or Cullen, heck maybe even Brindy, with Tommy K and Walker on the fourth line. Wow, the coaching staff has some tough (read wonderful) choices ahead of them this year. As it stands we basically have a completely interchangeable group of forwards and D.
Personally, I'm betting on.....
Seid’s coming back.
As much as I like Babchuk, he’s acting up way too much and can be a detriment in the locker room.
If money's the root of all evil then why do so many
churches brow beat their members for more?
I just don’t see that happening now that Ward is on the team. The top 6 are set. Rodney, or one of the other Rats will fill in for injuries/be 7th defensemen. If the Canes brought back Dennis he’d be slotted on the third pair, and paid as such which is something he doesn’t seem willing to take. Not to mention signing Dennis would give the Canes 7 regular defensemen under contract which is one too many. The numbers just don’t work now.
Any chance Seids might end up playing in Europe this year?
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Jul 28, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions
I would be he catches on with an NHL team, but likely on a 1-year deal and likely for less than he wanted, unless a d-spot opens up as part of any of the rumored trades involving Kessel, Heatley, or Kaberle.
I’m sure he would only consider it as a last resort. And then he’d probably be looking for a new agent too. (Seids has gotta be disappointed with where this guy has left him…). Does he head back to Germany in the off-season…?
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Jul 28, 2009 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Cullen should def be used on the point.
and I do agree that our options next year do seem to be intimidating.
by packpigskinfan25 on Jul 28, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Then again.....
there’s Conboy and as Conboy seems to be able to play a forward and he’s defensive player normally.
So rethinking this, I think Conboy will be the 7th D-Man.
If money's the root of all evil then why do so many
churches brow beat their members for more?
One possible hole to fill
The only possible hole to fill that hasn’t been mentioned is that fourth-line center position that we keep penciling Sutter’s name into.
Might be far better to leave Sutter baking for a while longer within the Albany incubator with the other rising stars and plug that fourth-line hole with a serviceable center that might fall out of someone’s cap problems.
Would it even be possible to trade the rights to Anton for such a player? Perhaps.
Jussi could be that 4th center too. Maybe they’ll wait to make that call till training camp?
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Jul 28, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions
He most certainly could, but that might not be the best use of his considerable talents.
I’d like to see him getting more minutes than that, and be skating with more talented linemates, ideally.
Still, nice to know that we now have that mix-and-match capability with several of our newfound utility players, like Jussi.
Maybe JR will indeed wait until training camp to see what he’s got before shopping.
I know Roddy B has been a hot topic this off-season and I am not trying to pile on the guy with this, but……
He certainly played better down the stretch last year, but what if he really has lost a step?
Maybe a 2nd or 3rd line type center is more in line with what we need if Roddy B can’t get it goin this year.
I agree Jussi should be at least on the 3rd line – I’m assuming he’s stronger and faster than Roddy.
If no Sutter, then maybe they’ll try that euro-line again (sort of 2nd/3rd):Jussi with Sammi and Ruutu.
Cullen with Chad and Scotty W?
4th line: Brindy, Tommy K and prospect.
It’s mix-and-match. A toybox for Mo and staff to address all situations and injuries…I really loved those 7:05 announcements of the lines during the Playoffs. =D
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Jul 28, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Brind'Amour currently sits there on the depth chart...
And I think they’ll make him earn a bigger even-strength role.
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jul 28, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Apparently Tampa is buying out Prospal, maybe he could be that 2nd line center
by outlander_caniac on Jul 28, 2009 1:34 PM EDT reply actions
Interesting – maybe 3rd behind Cullen…? His +/- is lousy – just bad teams?
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Jul 28, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Was just reading something about that and thought similar. Prospal played LW to Lacavalier, who is the closest I’d compare to Staal. If he’d be willing to sign for a nice price (and the chance to get some payback in division rivalry) we could be looking at a roster like this:
Prospal/Staal/Cole
Whitney/Cullen/LaRose
Samsonov/Jokinen/Ruutu
Walker/Brind’amour/Kostopoulos
Conboy
Gleason/Corvo
Ward/Pitkanen
Wallin/Alberts
Rodney (or whoever wins out for 7th D)
Ward
Leighton
Now that could be very interesting…
by Pirate Caniac on Jul 28, 2009 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Is that an ECU Pirate or the Pittsburgh baseball variety (or none of the above)? ;)
At 35, is Prospal really better than Ruutu or Whitney on the top line? I’m afraid I don’t know enough about him.
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Jul 28, 2009 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions
ECU! :)
Well, it just fits to me to have him play with Staal as per my comparison to Lacavalier (I’ve said in the past that the one player I think Staal has the ability to become much like as he continues to develop is Lacavalier). He has decent size (6-2, 198) and is used to playing top line minutes in Tampa. Whitney would do better on a lower line being smaller as he is, and while Ruutu has the size he isn’t the playmaker Staal needs on the line with him. I’d really prefer Prospal/Staal/Ruutu, but you know Cole is almost certainly going to play with Staal unless he plays himself off that line over the course of the year.
Looking at his stats he has regularly put up around 25-30 goals a year and about 50-70 pts. until this past season. Even this last year it wasn’t that bad, with 19 G and 26 A. Granted, I’m not overly familiar with Prospal myself to know for sure, so I could be way off.
by Pirate Caniac on Jul 28, 2009 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Cole played himself off of Staal’s line by the end of the regular season and in to the playoffs. Also, with Ruutu’s contract I would not be surprised at all to see Ruutu on Staal’s right side.
Prospal is an interesting idea. He could probably be had for a 1 year deal at maybe 1.5, unless someone out there really wants him. I’d still expect a more defensive fourth line center, but that isn’t a must because of the other players we’ve picked up and Prospal could fit that sniper role, which is the only hole JR hasn’t filled yet. At the least it wouldn’t cost too much go give it a go. If it didn’t work then the Canes aren’t out much so long as he’s signed to a 1-year deal, and could still potentially trade Prospal. If it does work then JR looks like a bigger genius then Ken Jennigns.
Like I said, I’d prefer Ruutu there myself, but Cole always seems to get back next to Staal even after playing himself off the 1st line. As Bubba’s stats show in the other blog here, Staal just seems to do better with Cole next to him, and JR and the coaching staff know that. Besides, if you’re looking at salary alone, for this year Cole and Ruutu are making almost the exact same (2.8 vs 3.0, respectively).
I’m thinking the Canes are looking to use Cole to fill in for this season and next as need be, and let Ruutu continue to gain his confidence and play back to where he plays himself onto the 1st line. Ruutu is the future top line power forward, but Cole is the stopgap until they feel he is ready.
JR loves to get a good deal, and you can get a guy who has been bought out a lot cheaper than even the leftover FA’s.
by Pirate Caniac on Jul 29, 2009 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Wow, that would be interesting. The guy played well with Philly before he went back to the oh so dreadful dolts. Not a bad idea. It would at least give us more depth and the ability to leave Sutter in Albany for another year to gel with the pros.
I like that idea!
Member of Canes Country and the Cat Scratch Reader
I should say let us put Sutter back by allowing Jussi to play Center instead of a wing like Pirate Caniac said above (and those line combinations look nasty to).
Member of Canes Country and the Cat Scratch Reader
Yeah, but...
If Rod shows he can play at a high level, you’re going to have one of those two guys getting nowhere near enough minutes as the 4th-line center, even if you get them lots of special teams work.
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jul 29, 2009 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions
But how many people really expect Brindy to be back to that form? At least for most of the season? Yes, he has had stretches where he has done well, but anyone who has watched him play the last several seasons (not just last year) can see that he is starting to lose a step. Injuries are getting to him more frequently, and his passing has been simply atrocious.
Sure, he’s the captain, and he’s making a lot in salary, but what he still truly brings best is his faceoffs and defensive play and positioning. Where is that needed most, especially among centers? The 4th line. Exactly what we should be looking for there. That line could then be put out whenever there is a key draw in the defensive zone. Which is exactly when you expect to see him on the ice. Everyone keeps seeming to forget that the 4th line is our checking line now, and is no longer the leftover scraps but a true shutdown line. It’s going to get a ton more minutes of TOI than it has the last few years, so it’s not that he’s being relegated to a much smaller role like it would have been in the past.
Besides, the stats he has put up I think has overinflated his offensive potential among many. How many goals of his were where he actually shot the puck and scored? You can go back and nearly every goal he scored last year was either by a screened deflection or a rebound standing in front of the goalie. Hey, a goal is a goal, but let’s be realistic about how he’d fit onto a scoring line.
by Pirate Caniac on Jul 29, 2009 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Frankly...
I see him being a 50-60 point scorer who plays in the +/- black next year. That’s not a fourth-line player.
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jul 29, 2009 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t see needing to trade for or go free agent for a fourth-line center. If we don’t go with a checking line and we put both Brind’amour and Jokinen on a third line, then we still have Ryan or one of the other guys out of Albany who played some last year to take that role. I would also like to leave Sutter for a year in Albany so he can get more playing time and be ready to make the jump easily in the future.
by ncdavid on Jul 28, 2009 4:23 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Do we still have Ryan? I seem to recall him being part of a different organization now, but I’m not positive.
First post on my new iPhone, anyone know if I can make the new comments highlighted in yellow on the mobile version of the site? My only complaint with the mobile version, otherwise getting my canes country fix on the go is great!
by Iggy Reilly on Jul 28, 2009 4:31 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
No, they don't have the yellow...
I’d fire it off to their feedback crew.
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jul 28, 2009 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Mike Ryan or Ryan Bayda?
Depends on which Ryan you’re talking about. I assume Michael Ryan, he accepted a one-year two-way contract in early July so he’s still on our roster. If you meant Ryan Bayda, at the start of free agency he was offered a two-way contract as well but as I understand is still shopping around to see if he can find a one-way contract.
I think the Blues have offered him a two-way, as well.
by Cory Lavalette on Jul 28, 2009 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I also missed the staggered indents to follow the conversations/replies. though I understand why that would be tough on my little Treo screen. Is it like that on iPhones?
Seems like I could see a yellow shade , but only in a dimly lit room (it came and went).
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
by hockeymomof2 on Jul 28, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ve got the conversation threading but definitely no new post highlighting.
by Iggy Reilly on Jul 28, 2009 5:15 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Cullen needs to be on the point !!
Cullen should always be on the point an stick Jussi out their as a wing or center on our 2nd power play line. We could also alternate Staal back their as well with his shot an skill. Eaves would be nice but for nothing more than the league min average pay. otherwise let him walk to some AHL team.
by Holty_Panthers_Fan on Jul 28, 2009 4:48 PM EDT reply actions
Puck Daddy repeats my favorite JR metaphor
Kind of an internal loop here as Wysh is linking to Bubba’s morning piece.
Let's go Canes!
Hakkaa Paalle!
Random mention of us on hockeybuzz
I read Hockeybuzz.com almost daily just for different rumors and interesting takes on things. Kinda like a mens soap opera. But today on hockeybuzz, Eklund had us lumped in with 2 or 3 other teams going after Rob Neidermeyer, unfortunately not Scott N. but Rob. Has anyone else heard that? I’m not sure why we would need him, he’s more like a 3rd or 4th liner and we have those guys. I would like to see Vinny P. here though.
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