Philadelphia Outlasts Carolina: Flyers 4, Hurricanes 2
by Bob Wage on Jan 23, 2010 4:56 PM EST
93 comments
The Carolina Hurricanes got off to a slow start, picked up steam and made a good game of it, but ended up succumbing to a surging Philadelphia team as the Flyers beat the Canes on Saturday afternoon, 4-2 at the Wachovia Center. Ray Emery had a fine game and shut the door on more then a few good chances the visitors created in the third period of the game.
The Canes were being out-shot by a 10-1 margin early on and were down 1-0 by time they got their legs going. But to their credit, they made an exciting game out of it for the rest of the way.
The Flyers dented the scoreboard first at the three minute mark when Ray Whitney attempted a break out pass to Joni Pitkanen which was stolen. The television broadcast crew blamed Pitkanen for the play, but Dan Carcillo took the puck from the defenseman before he even had a chance to turn to see him.
Regardless of the blame, Carcillo skated in alone on Manny Legace and deked out the backup goalie for the easy score. Legace ended up leaving the game later in the first period claiming vision problems because of "pink eye". A close up showed that his eye was nearly swollen shut, which leads to the question, why did he start the game if he was being bothered with an eye problem? Cam Ward came in to relieve him and played well.
(Paul Maurice said after the game that Legace got salt in the eye, (from sweat) and that aggravated it).
With one minute left in the opening period, the Canes were attacking while on a powerplay and Jussi Jokinen made a perfect pass to Eric Staal who batted the puck into the net past Emery. The period ended 1-1 as the captain scored his fourth goal in the last two games.
Philadelphia would score twice in the second period, even though the Canes were playing better than they did in the first. Jeff Carter won a faceoff, got the puck back to Chris Pronger, and the defenseman wristed a shot past a heavily screened Cam Ward.
Less then two minutes later, Arron Asham found Carter alone in the slot area and the center made no mistake as he picked up his 20th of the season.
Down by a 3-1 score in the third, the Canes did not give up and continued to make a game of it. Just a minute or so into the period, Ray Emery fumbled a puck behind the net and Sergei Samsonov jumped all over it. Samsonov flicked the puck blindly to the front of the net and Rod Brind`Amour was the beneficiary. The former captain buried the open net shot, making the score 3-2.
The teams would battle back and forth the rest of the game but Emery would stymie point blank chances by Brandon Sutter, Matt Cullen, and finally Brind'Amour. With just a few seconds left and the net empty at the other end, Eric Staal back-handed a pass to the front of the Philly net. Brind'Amour had an open shot for a second, but Emery scrambled over to make the save, and that was the game.
Carter put in an empty net goal with less than a second left, and that was that for the Canes.
After the game, Brind'Amour was self critical about his last second shot attempt. "I've got to put that one away", said the ex-Flyer, who coincidentally, was traded by Philadelphia to Carolina exactly 10 years to the day. "I couldn't get the puck up", he lamented.
The Hurricanes can take heart in knowing they made a good game of it, but they did not play well enough to beat the streaking Flyers, who made this their sixth straight win at home. Next up for Carolina will be a match against the Boston Bruins tomorrow at the RBC, starting at 5.
Game Notes:
- After being out-shot in the first period, (13-9) the Canes returned the favor in the second, (10-6) and third, (16-10). Brind'Amour led everyone on Carolina with seven shots on goal.
- Even though Brind'Amour played a good game, he still finished with a (-1) showing you the type of year he's having.
- Joni Pitkanen played 31:34, had four shots on goal, four shots blocked, and missed the net three times, leading the team in the latter two categories. He also had two blocked shots of his own, but was credited with two giveaways.
- The Canes had a tough night in the faceoff circle as only Brind'Amour, (62%) did better than 50%. Staal won 43% of his draws, Sutter won 46%, and Cullen won 17%.
- The Canes dropped the gloves twice in this game as both Tom Kostopoulos and Andrew Alberts lost fights to Ian Laperriere. Kostopoulos accepted his challenge right at the side of the Flyers' net when the Canes were attacking. Not the best of timing. You have to love Kostopoulos, but I'm not sure he's ever won a fight and he looked bad in this one.
- Cam Ward played well coming in cold off the bench. He stopped a couple of open chances for the Flyers and stood tall on a Mike Richards' penalty shot, as the Flyers captain shot high.
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canes loss
while the author of this blog post had it 1000% correct, but as i watched the game, and yes the canes were sorta slow getting started. but what gripes me was that the canes didn’t jump on the flyers as they did in the second period for the whole of the 3rd period. again the Canes also took too many penalties. And the PP is still rather weak…over all the canes have and are improving, but still and yes as the game went on Emory got hotter and made some fantastic saves…but that’s the point…the canes has the talkent, could have kept emory so busy that he’d have to carried off the ice out of utter exhaustion. But and again while the canes tried, and there ere several cane players who did rather well, in getting the puck to the net. Even Pitkanen shot more than usual. But again, these are just my observations, and i am sure many others here can shed light to other aspects of the game better than i can. Be safe everyone. Go Canes !! as it will be some very cranky bears from Boston tomorrow ..as Ottawa was ahead the last time had looked…
If you think you can't, you won't !
Zac Dalpe (OT)
For those with access to Big Ten HD (TWC 287), Zac Dalpe just scored to make it 2-1 OSU against Michigan State (ranked 10th) at MSU.
Back blue line to goal crease area through traffic and a laser of a shot. Can’t wait to see this kid in a Canes uni.
OSU wins 4-2 (EN). Dalpe leads the team in goals and points with 13-11-24 after 24 games with a +8 (second highest on the team). 6’1" and listed at 190 lbs.
But, you can hopefully also see how he would benefit with some time spent in the AHL, where he can adjust to playing with talent a bit more on his par and at a few more games per year pace.
Casey Borer (OT)
Casey Borer’s in the game tonight (first time in 12 months, I think) against the Adirondack Phantoms in Glens Falls.
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
A game of inches
Once we got the legs going, it was a pretty good game. Lots and lots of legitimate scoring chances, and that’s a very good sign. If you’re getting chances, sooner or later, some of them are going in the net.
Also, 35 shots on goal is much, much better than the low 20’s efforts we’ve been seeing. Got to at least have a statistical chance of scoring 3 goals, if you believe your goalie can hold it to 2 goals. And, with most goalies hovering somewhere around 0.900+ for SAV%, then 30-some shots are required. 40+ is even better.
Pronger’s shot was a savvy got-to-make-your-own-luck kind of a shot. Not only was it completely blind to Cam (and a silent wrister, to boot), but it was also blind to Pronger when he took it. Bodies parted, the puck sailed through, and it went in the only patch of net open. It wasn’t like he picked an open target…he just shot where there MIGHT be one.
Similarly a matter of inches, Brind’Amour’s very nice net-crash shot at the end was into the pads and not over them. Otherwise, tie game, as above the pads was completely open on that beauty of a through-the-crease pass from Staal.
Staal’s goal another result of mere inches, this time in Jokinen’s highly skilled saucer pass just over the outstretched stick of the defender. Staal actually caught it a couple of inches off the ice, it seemed, but buried the shot.
Brind’Amour skates with his legs spread wide for the first time the entire year (that I’ve seen), has 7 shots on goal (!) with 6 missed shots, meaning 13 pucks sailed toward the goal from his stick. And the minus came from him being on the ice as part of the 6 on 4 EN at the end. Lots of minuses tonight, folks, including minus 2’s for Staal, Whitney, Jokinen, and Pitkanen.
Good lateral movement from the entire team this evening (again, after they got going). I was encouraged. Progress made and standings position held. Good results both.
More Mo Hockey...
Dump n Chase…High Forward…Worry about Neutral zone but not the offense.
Let’s have a debate about Mo. I challenge anyone here, PK, JR, or Mo himself on why he should not be coach.
Got the DVR’s saved to prove it and I can reference dates and times to give you objective reasons to get rid of him.
No? Really? Get your stopwatch and keep track of the time we are in the offensive zone….count the dump-and-chases…..count the 3-man cycles. Then you are ready for a debate……oh wait…..you would be on my side though.
I’m waiting….
agree
i thought after the lock out and the new rules put in pllace it would be harder to actually play in a dump and chase system but like you said Mo has found a way. I wont burden him with being the reason we stink, although he isnt helping, the guys are the ones playing the games
by brassBonanza on Jan 24, 2010 10:54 AM EST up reply actions
WaaAAAAY OT
anybody watch Kopitar tonight?
We need us a kid like that!
A
Staals going to the Olymipics, BFD!
When will Staal learn that a wrap ain't really a shot?
When does last place become unacceptable?
Trade Staal for a real Super Star or a bag of pucks, trade him now.
Yeah
Mo would mess him up….keep him as a high forward/defensive-man.
Kopitar is a hell of a player. He sort of LA’s version of Staal this year.
I would still like the Canes to pick up a 2nd or 3rd line center for next year. I think Sutter could fill one of those positions, probably the 2nd line center.
by PackPride17 on Jan 23, 2010 10:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
RiverRats win!!! Wooooo!!! They continue too roll and we continue too sink!! Taylor Hall.. here we come!! Let’s go RiverRats!!!
Let the new era of Hurricanes hockey.... begin!
by 3yrsnoplayoffs? on Jan 23, 2010 9:42 PM EST reply actions
Waiting for Power Forwards to Return
In my view, an area of weakness for the Hurricanes was the lack of power forwards in the system. During the playoffs, once Ruutu and Cole were injured, it was lights out for the Hurricanes. Prior to Cole’s return, Ruutu was the only power forward on the team. Once again this season, the lack of size at forward has been a significant problem.
Against the Flyers, the Hurricanes’ lack of a large, fast, skilled forward was evident as the Hurricanes were out-hit and as the Flyers screened Cam Ward all night. As the rebuilding continues, it is going to be a matter of critical importance that the Hurricanes add at least one more, if not two, hybrid power forwards; or to a large degree next season with be another series of ground hog days as bigger, faster, more physical teams win by one or two goals against 2010-2011 Hurricanes.
I am in agreement with you. Even with Ru and Old Binky, I believe the Canes are in need of one more large power forward. This team is currently small and not really that fast. Physical teams in the East and definitely the West take advantage of this team. I would really like to see one of the trades we make bring back a large power forward that will play on a 3rd/checking line. Someone that can also contribute on the PP by setting up in front of the net.
by PackPride17 on Jan 24, 2010 12:03 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
JR said last year he wanted to go bigger, problem is bigger doesn’t always mean faster. Plus JR said we need a bigger team but he goes out and gets someone like Tlusty another small guy. Most of the Rats we have coming up next season are also on the small side.
Staal IS the next CAPTAIN........get over it!
Tlusty listed at 6' 209 lbs
I wouldn’t call Tlusty a small guy. He is listed at 6’ and 209 lbs — which is essentially the size that Ruutu is listed. The Hurricanes obviously did to get bigger and faster — and particularly at forward. Players like Ryan Malone, Jeff Carter, and Jordan Staal just abuse the Hurricanes defense and the Hurricanes forwards lack the size and strength to out-battle those types of highly skilled, fast, and large forwards. It is true that the the Hurricanes don’t either on their roster or in Albany any forward 6’ 3" and 230 lbs or larger. It is a glaring weakness, I think, to the over all composition of the team.
Ruutu isn’t what I would say is a big guy either, but does play like one. Although I didn’t look at his stats first, I thought he seems smaller than 6’ 209". Jordan Staal is 6’ 4" 220 lbs. thats more the size I’d like to see. Tlusty reminds me of a little bit bigger version of Rosie without the pest factor.
Staal IS the next CAPTAIN........get over it!
Tlusty and the Hulking Freight Train Power Forward
I totally agree that there is a tangible difference between a hybrid power forward — between 6 ’ and 6’2" or so and between 195 lbs to 205 lbs and the Jordan Staal man mountain power forward 6’4" 225 lbs who also has speed and skill.
I would respectfully differentiate between LaRose and Tlusty. I agree that LaRose is feisty and has speed; but I would view Tlusty as a vastly more talented hockey player, with vastly better hands, over all hockey intelligence, and better speed than LaRose. I admire what LaRose has accomplished and he has done more with less size and less subtle hockey talents than any NHL player with whom I am familiar. He is the essence of guts and grit.
Well we know what Rosie offers but I haven’t seen enough of Tlusty to judge. When Ruutu and Cole come back its going to be interesting to see how the lines shake out and who the healthy scatch may be.
Staal IS the next CAPTAIN........get over it!
I’m a little surprised that Jiri and Ruuty are listed at almost the same stats. Granted we haven’t seen Jiri that much in a game but from watching practices, to me he actually looks larger than Ruuty. I think he has a larger frame and may be more broad-shouldered. In fact, a couple of times he caught my eye and I for a minute I thought he was Joni although he’s nowhere near as tall as Joni is. I think he’s going to play larger than we expect.
(but man, it’s still really difficult to talk about Jiri’s size without snickering)
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
LOL, but do they work?
A
Staals going to the Olymipics, BFD!
When will Staal learn that a wrap ain't really a shot?
When does last place become unacceptable?
Trade Staal for a real Super Star or a bag of pucks, trade him now.
Interesting Article on Brind'Amour and Philadelphia
I’d be interested in what others think of this article that quotes Brind’Amour extensively and his love of Philadelphia.
FLYERS and Brindy
That was a good article. I think that trade sparked Brindamour once he arrived here. I feel like if any team in NHL would trade or pick Brindy up this season or the next it would be Philly. They have poor leadership but are strong down the middle. With Lavi’s system, Philly history I would think it would be mutually beneficial. I feel like they owe him and all its going to do is bring more fans to the game and allow Brindy to go out being a hero. Here he is thought of for what he did in the past but a lot of people have started to moan when he gets on the ice. Not saying it would change in Philly but I think with new team, new line-mates and leadership role…he would gain his confidence back. Really Rod’s speed hasn’t changed much from 2006. He has always been slow but he played smarter with confidence. I think Lavi had a lot to do with that. Rod has been cursed for the past 3 seasons so I would like to see good things happen to him next season just not as a Hurricane.
by THE_NEW_CANES on Jan 24, 2010 12:57 PM EST up reply actions
on HNICs roundtable, they said Whitney has already been asked to waive his no trade clause. They also said he was probably talking to the potential teams about a contract extension before he would accept.
In the interest of accuracy on nuances, I went back to check my memory by reviewing my DVR’d copy of that Satellite Hotstove discussion, and what they actually said was that he would probably want to talk (not already talking) to whatever team wanted him, to gauge whether they were looking for just a rental or might want to sign an extension with him for next year.
There was NO mention whatsoever of what JR is looking for in return.
Also, more interestingly, Pierre LeBrun reported that the player that was receiving the most interest from other teams, even though the Canes didn’t want to move him, was Pitkanen. Speculation by the panel was that this was due to the lack of true top 4 D-men available.
In keeping with the interest of accuracy, notice the word ‘probably’ in my post above with regards to Whitney speaking with other teams.
Sorry, I combined sources:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4853266&name=lebrun_pierre
“Either way, the Hurricanes are hoping to recoup a first- or second-round pick and a prospect for Whitney.”
Ah! Way more detail there, even though the Pitkanen trade option is just speculation on Pierre’s part that there could always be an offer made that JR (best Godfather voice) “couldn’t resist”.
Does sound like he’s had a conversation with someone in the org (JR?) and somebody said something like, of course we’d have to have a pretty high draft pick back for Whitney, at a minimum. Best confirmation yet of fan speculation to date.
Thanks for sharing this!
I think we are fortunate that other bubble teams such as Anaheim and Philly have jumped back into the playoff race, making Whitney most likely the premier rental forward behind Kovalchuk (Who is too expensive for almost every single playoff team anyway).
I’d be willing to bet more than 5 teams will have bids in for Whitney and JR will cherry pick a young, talented, long-term solution roster player to receive in return.
That’s the exact point that Pierre is making within the post to his blog:
Here’s the thing: He’s cheaper to acquire now than on March 3. If the Hurricanes could unload him now, they’d save on their payroll. Come March 3, there’s only five and half weeks left on Whitney’s $3.55 million salary, so the Hurricanes wouldn’t be saving nearly as much. In the meantime, teams will be scrambling for his services that day and the price will go up. Either way, the Hurricanes are hoping to recoup a first- or second-round pick and a prospect for Whitney.
He’s going to be expensive, and the later JR waits, the more expensive he’ll be. It’s a supply/demand phenomenon. Seller’s market.
With the very important caveat that this is basically a three-way deal, in that Whitney has to agree to the deal to waive his no-movement clause.
Of course, JR can always sweeten the welcome-home deal to make up for Whitney taking second-choice over first-choice, if the sweeter deal is there.
I have heard from multiple sources within the Canes organization that Whitney would definitely waive his NMC if he was being traded to a playoff-locked team. It makes sense on both sides, Whitney is helping out his franchise with the great return he could bring and he also gets a free shot at another Cup. In all likelihood he will be back next year anyway as this is he and his family’s home.
Wow, you have sources within the organization that are directly feeding you this information?
Cool! Do tell. Dish the details.
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
I got this tweet last night and was a little surprised:
puckdrops Pierre Lebrun: Canes getting plenty of calls about Pitkanen’s availability; team won’t move him except for a great deal, but he is available
I really hope they keep the Finns together.
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
I have a feeling these next few weeks are not gonna be good for us :(
"That’s what happens when you suck" - Tim Gleason
Me too. I practically cringe every time a tweet comes through on my phone. I almost didn’t share this one because I was kinda afraid LTD would actually hit someone with that giant camera lens.
I don’t know what “a great deal” for Pits is, but it would seem silly to replace someone like him with someone people are willing to give up. If he was 40, sure I would get that. But he’s not and despite me not be a huge fan of his, I can see what he brings to the team. A pick or a prospect would be able to bring that IMO.
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
Y’all crack me up. That lens is a great deterrent, ain’t it?
I get puckdrop’s tweets too and I’d heard about LeBrun’s comments. Color me skeptical on this one. I really don’t think JR is all that interested in trading Joni, if he is, his price tag is going to be way high. A thoroughbred like Joni is highly coveted, can’t help but wonder if JR isn’t dangling him out there just to get other GMs to the table to start talking, and he says well you can’t have Joni for that price but I can give you xxxxx…….
Plus I think JR knows more Finns = more wins
;-)
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
That lens is a great deterrent, ain’t it?
Yes it is LTD.
Plus I think JR knows more Finns = more wins
He also knows that should anything happen to any of the Finns, you will come after with aforementioned camera lens.
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
Pitkanen isn’t one of ‘the untouchables’ and if they move him that would greatly increase Corvo being resigned. Not saying Corvo is better but I’d be a little nervous if JR moved our entire defense (-Timmy) for the rebuid.
Staal IS the next CAPTAIN........get over it!
I think JR would have to be on crack-cocaine to trade Pitkanen away and resign Corvo to take his place. Corvo is alright, however he doesn’t even hold a candle to Pitkanen.
I would say at LEAST 20% of our goals this year have come from Pitkanen making an amazing pass. When Corvo was playing he was being completely overshadowed by Pitkanen’s offensive ability.
I’d be willing to see Pitkanen go, however for this to happen I would certainly want to see:
1) An amazing return… A first line winger is about the only thing I’d accept.
2) Another top pairing offensive D-man being brought in to take his place (Through trade or other means). As in JR doesn’t expect Corvo to fill Pitkanen’s role.
It would be a pretty big swing in potential plans, however maybe something along the lines of trading Pitkanen to Anaheim for Bobby Ryan and then taking Fowler in the draft.
JR’s tried for years to get a D-man that could do what Joni does. After the Ozolinsh debacle, which one could argue Coach Mo helped create, no D-man could move the puck. Corvo was close but Joni is what he wanted, IMO. I don’t think JR will want to move him. More likely Corvo of the two.
by drifterscape on Jan 24, 2010 11:20 AM EST up reply actions
There was an error in this tweet, with the nuance being they didn’t say we wouldn’t move him except for a great deal, but he is available. Not sure where the tweeter got that.
What they said was that they were getting calls inquiring about Pitkanen, even though they don’t want to move him. Period.
Then they speculated about the reason for the calls being the scarcity of true top-4 D-men being available.
Seems like a pretty big error to put out there.
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
That’s why I went back to check MY memory of what was said…and what WASN’T said.
I’ll transcribe the exact words that were said, since the comments were so brief, if you like.
This is like playing the game Gossip in first grade. :-D
What was REALLY said?
You don’t have to transcribe it; I believe you. It makes more sense the way you said it; I found the whole tweet a little unusual.
But it does leave me scratching my head as how two people could get two entirely different statements out of the whole thing. I guess it really is like Gossip (although we called it telephone). As hard as it’s going to be to watch guys leave, I wish they would just get it over with so we can stop micro-analyzing every little thing.
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
Yeah, but here’s the thing… when it all boils down, where’s the error?
Is it in the statement that Joni is available? Well, that’s probably technically true.
Is it that the team won’t move him except for a great deal? Well, that’s probably technically true too.
Are the Canes getting plenty of calls about him? That sounds like it’s true too.
So to say the tweet was an error is probably a little strong. MAYBE an error of omission, maybe not. Hard to flesh it all out in 140 characters.
Now here’s my question… Is that tweet a parrot of LeBrun’s actual words, or is it puckdrop’s editorial opinion of LeBrun’s words? As the reader, one needs to be mindful of that distinction. Twitter started out as information reporting but has fast morphed into short sound bites of editorial content.
This is why I don’t tweet.
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
You are completely correct that all filters need to be kept on when plugged into Twitter. However, I find it an incredibly useful professional tool, with it all being about refining my Inbox stream to exactly what I want to read and being disciplined enough to keep it contained to a manageable amount of reading material.
The original tweet contained the won’t move him except for a great deal, but he is available element, sourced to Pierre LeBrun.
That could have been taken from the blog post linked above, in which LeBrun says:
Joni Pitkanen has another year on his deal at $4.5 million for next season. The Canes like him a lot and are not trying to move him in any way. Yet, the interest from other teams is so high for the puck-mover, one wonders if Carolina will be able to say no before March 3 if the offers are too good to resist. The 26-year-old leads all NHL players in ice time per game, averaging just over 27 minutes. There won’t be many top-four defensemen moving before March 3, so the high interest in Pitkanen is reflective of a barren marketplace for that position.
Pure speculation on his part that there’s a breaking point at which JR might say “well, that’s interesting”. Hey, such a point exists for nearly every deal, but doesn’t mean he’s “available”.
My only exposure to LeBrun at that point, however, was the HNIC Satellite Hotstove panel that had concluded just before this tweet, in which he certainly had talked only about the fact that JR was getting calls inquiring, “even though they didn’t want to move him”.
The panel’s take on all of this being that there was great Buyer side (my term) demand out there for top-4 D-men, mostly because so few were available. More speculaton about there being an unfilled need, moreso than anyone being dangled.
So, different elements of the elephant. But, the important aspect to me is that the well-plugged in Twitter/blogs/fanboard fan can get some pretty good information as long as the correct grains of salt and some common sense thinking are applied.
Wow. I never expected that reposting that tweet would turn into a deep discussion of the merits/drawbacks of a social networking device, especially since I was still half asleep when I posted it. Canes Country continues to be a surprise. :)
And you’re right-you have to evaluate everything you read and Twitter is no exception.
"This guy is as meat and potatoes as there is of a man."
Gleason for Emperor!
I had actually seen the tweet myself, before you posted it, and commented to elskling, well that’s not quite right, since she and I had heard what LeBrun said on HNIC.
But, once I saw it here, felt compelled to add what I knew about it, since I was a first-hand source as to what he had said.
Twitter’s the canary, but I usually keep digging to blog sources, quoted articles, and check with what others have seen/heard at places like here. Truth is sometimes a convoluted path.
Maybe JR doen’t want to completely kill all Joni rumors. That way a GM can call about a Joni and he tries to sell him a Corvo. That’s an old sales trick.
by drifterscape on Jan 24, 2010 2:00 PM EST up reply actions
This is why I don’t tweet.
LOL! I didn’t want this to pass without comment, since your occassional hands on the multi-user @lgc_com account is one of the 100 Twitter feeds that passed my demanding “following” filter.
I don’t tweet on LGC anymore. I mainly sent out twitpics but had some issues with folks pilfering my photos and using them where I didn’t want them used, so I’ve cut back and may eventually stop altogether.
As far as the tweets, I used to tweet every now and again when I was at a practice or other event and my counterparts weren’t there (I scooped everyone the day Cam returned to the ice at the RecZone), but when it got to be more about editorial opinion than information reporting, I stopped. So I’m not the one tweeting or replying to tweets on behalf of LGC. My opinions don’t always jive with the prevailing sentiments, and so I don’t want to be thought of as speaking on behalf of their board. Or vice versa.
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
Just got the tweet that Pete-Dawg (Justin Peters) has been called back up as emergency backup since Legace’s out.
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
maybe they should have done that yesterday instead of starting one-eyed Manny??? just sayin…
"That’s what happens when you suck" - Tim Gleason
Whitney trade timing
Just wanted to comment, while we’re waiting around for Game 2 this afternoon, that the timing of any Whitney trades to which he would agree (very important variable), may be inextricably wrapped up in similar interest in Kolvachuk.
Discussed during Satellite Hotstove last night was reports that teams were being denied the ability to speak with Kolvachuk for at least a two week more period of time. Last minute attempts for Atlanta to sign him?
Point being that Kolvachuk and Whitney are #1 and #2 on the fantasy playoff team’s wish list, with Kolvachuk being perhaps (maybe only perhaps) more expensive of the two.
If Whitney really wants a contender (and who would not?), then he may have a team on his short list that is also eyeing Kolvachuk. Unless someone makes an irresistable pre-emptive strike offer for Whitney, to which he would agree (again, very important variable), then this one could go right down to the very deadline.
Joni Pitkanen; Some Random Thoughts
Given Pitkanen’s talent and the critical role he plays for the Hurricanes, I think the only way Pitkanen is traded is IF a GM offered a deal that nobody in their right mind would refuse. It would have to be so totally and unquestionably favorable that Jim Rutherford would have to say “yes.”
I sincerely doubt any GM will be able to pry Pitkanen away from the Hurricanes. For the sake of discussion, however, consider some hypothetical situations. I am not ranking the likelihood of such moves because I think there is less than a 5% chance that the Hurricanes will trade Pitkanen.
Scenario 1:
Imagine that the Bruins are willing to trade their Toronto pick for Pitkanen. The Hurricanes is scenario finish 30th, Toronto finishes 28. The Hurricanes win the lottery. The Hurricanes also have traded Whitney as a rental for a #1 pick to a team that picks 15th; and pick Taylor Hall, Cam Fowler, and Kirill Kabanov (or Austin Watson or Ivan Telegin) or Edmonton decides it needs Cam Fowler and the Hurricanes pick Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin, and Alexander Petrovic.
Scenario 2:
Pitkanen is traded for Frolov and the Hurricanes pick Taylor Hall and Alexander Petrovic.
There are endless scenarios; but the point is that if the Hurricanes are able to trade Whitney for a #1 draft choice and if they are able to trade Pitkanen for a #1 draft choice, the would have 4 of the top 31 picks in the draft and possibly 5 of the top 40 picks.
Even so, I just don’t see the trade happening because Pitkanen is a potential superstar who is getting better and better each game. As the Hurricanes get faster, bigger, and more skilled, Pitkanen increasingly will have teammates who can keep up with him in terms of speed on the rush.
Toronto’s pick in Boston’s hands is an interesting prize. A chance to double down on the draft bet with potentially two of the top four, at the worse, it would seem.
Would be trading an awful lot of the present for the future, however. JR lusted after Pitkanen and chased him through two teams, at a minimum. Hard to imagine him being given up by anything any GM in his right mind would offer.
We completely suck without Pitkanen in the lineup and there’s no help on the immediate horizon to replace him. I think he’s damn near untouchable.
As far as I am concerned Pitkanen is Untouchable
I agree 100% that if I were GM, both Pitkanen and Jokinen would be untouchable. Based on the congruence of information I’ve seen in blogs, in published reports, and some private discussions, it appears to me that some teams have been inquiring about Pitkanen. My take is Rutherford has made it clear he really likes Pitkanen and that it would take an offer that was stunningly good to make him trade Pitkanen. It’s a way of being open-minded with the understanding that only an offer that is so good anybody who heard it would say “yes” i going to be considered.
The Hurricanes have continued to meltdown when Pitkanen is out. I can’t realistically imagine any deal being offered for Pitkanen that results in his being traded.
The only way I’d see him trading Pitkanen would be for a first line winger or a top-5 draft pick. Why swap out D-men, that wouldn’t make a lot of sense, and we have goaltending covered. I don’t know if I’d take the draft pick… really depends what team’s it is. I could only really see Pitkanen going for a star winger. I can’t really think of too many wingers that would be available, maybe a pending RFA like Bobby Ryan or Devin Setoguchi.
As for an individual JR coveted equally that might be worth Pitkanen, smells like Jordan Staal to me.
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