Dreger: Canes Have Two Of The Top 10 Expected To Be Dealt
Carolina fans have grown attached to veteran forwards Ray Whitney and Matt Cullen. But according to TSN's Darren Dreger, it will be time to say goodbye to both by the March 3 trade deadline — at least for the rest of the season.
about 2 years ago
Cory Lavalette
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Turning the page
ACC-trained Canes fans are somewhat accustomed to watching the players come and go, with different personifications embodying “the laundry” to the point that superstars even have entire eras named after them by the faithful.
Just tonight, elskling and I were remarking on how many ex-Canes we see these days around the league, watching games on Versus and Center Ice. Seemingly we have at least one solid tie to every team we watch.
It’s nice to see familiar faces doing well in new places. Always fun to welcome a beloved player back home when their team comes to visit.
There’s no way to enjoy the new without turning loose of the old. Time to turn the page.
Whitney, Cullen, and Corvo
During the intermission in the Toronto game, the commentators conjectured that Whitney was talking to teams that were inquiring about him to see if they had an interest in signing Whitney to a multi-year contract and that unless he received a multi-year deal, he would reach a gentleman’s agreement with Jim Rutherford to return next season. I think this scenario is the most likely. Whitney has been involved in hockey since he was a stick boy for Edmonton. He has a great hockey mind; and the opportunities for remaining with NHL organizations are somewhat limited.
Cullen seems to be getting a significant amount of attention as does Corvo. It will be interesting to see if Jim Rutherford can obtain two additional #1 draft choices. I am convinced this draft year is significantly deeper than some people believe. Four picks out of the top 31 picks would make a tremendous difference to the team.
The Hurricanes have had an interest in Peter Mueller. Maybe Cullen for Mueller would work.
Phoenix is a contender (believe it or not).
by Cory Lavalette on Jan 27, 2010 8:49 AM EST up reply actions
Watched them come from two down in the last 90 seconds to tie up Detroit and win in overtime, at Detroit last night.
Fifth in the West at the moment.
Just asking the question; why is everyone so enamored with draft picks? While the top 5 usually turn out to be great to pretty good, the rest are for the most part are a “crap-shoot.” With Cole, LaRose, Pitkanen, and Jokinen’s contracts come to an end in 2011, wouldn’t some prospects or young, experienced NHLers that could fill their shoes in case their not resigned work better. Most of the draft picks are not going to be ready within a year’s time and some might never be ready.
Agreed they’re crap shoots, so better to double down in the first and second (and beyond) rounds to maximize chances for success.
Plus, we do need to be feeding the bottom of the pyramid with new talent. This youth movement over the next couple of years is going to leave the cupboard bare in the minors.
Draft picks from this summer would be there to replace graduated minor league talent and be ready to move up when we start to having to make hard choices about raises for these 20-year-olds coming off their entry contracts and/or hitting RFA status. Can’t hold them all.
Still, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some bodies coming back our way. Don’t forget, in capped out teams, they need to shed some salary to take on some salary. We may be seeing players come back that we have to fit in on the team until summer. Every trade may not open up a roster spot.
But they’re assets, whereas players whose deals are up are not.
by Cory Lavalette on Jan 27, 2010 10:33 AM EST up reply actions
I see what everyone is saying, I guess I just want to see a couple of players that could play right away (example: Tlusty). For instance, could we trade someone to Nashville for one of their D prospects (Franson or Sulzer)? Are they great, no. But they have some NHL experience and are still on their entry level deals. One of those players might be able to fill in immediately, where as a mid to late 1st round pick will probably not be ready for at least 2 or 3 years. I’m not saying we don’t need draft picks, because we do and will need to replinish the A. I’m just don’t want to put all of our stock in this year’s draft and everybody is talking about trading this player for a draft pick or that player for a draft pick.
by PackPride17 on Jan 27, 2010 10:45 AM EST up reply actions
I do agree that we both want, and will receive, at least some bodies back for rental talent. Some bodies we will want, some not.
That bodies we want will come with little other sweetner, ‘cept maybe a body we don’t want (two for one to make the salaries work).
The bodies we don’t want will probably be connected with something else good, like the example above, or a very nice draft pick position (“ok, here, you win, but you have to take this garbage off our hands, too”)
They likely wouldn’t get all 2010 draft picks in return, I doubt JR would want four first round picks along with the pick they already have in one draft year
by Killswitch on Jan 27, 2010 12:46 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I know, I know….
But that doesn’t make it feel any better.
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
I hope...
…that Rutherford and Whitney reach a deal similar to the Glen Wesley deal – and Ray is back with the team for the rest of this career till he retires next season. I think I will become physically ill if he’s not back next season. Sure they are rebuilding the team, but to permanently lose a guy like Ray just b/c they are rebuilding just furthers my opinion of how much of an idiot Jim Rutherford is. :(
If Ray Whitney does not retire a Carolina Hurricane, I'll go egg Jim Rutherfords car and TP his house.
…meant for that to come out as "Ray is back with the team next season for the rest of his career till he retires. I need sleep.
If Ray Whitney does not retire a Carolina Hurricane, I'll go egg Jim Rutherfords car and TP his house.
I could be wrong, but my best guess is that there is at least a 95% chance that Ray Whitney will be re-signed after the season to one-year contracts (and after being a rental player for a playoff team) and that Whitney will transition from being a Hurricane player to being a Hurricane coach. I think Whitney and the Hurricanes organization have a sincere respect for each other.
I hope so… :(
If Ray Whitney does not retire a Carolina Hurricane, I'll go egg Jim Rutherfords car and TP his house.
by thebl4ckd0g on Jan 27, 2010 12:17 AM EST up reply actions
I’m actually surprised Corvo didn’t make the list. I figured a right-handed bomb from the point and a huge minute muncher would garner big interest. I guess they thought it would be unfair to have 3 ’Canes on the list. I think all 3 will be missed sorely and I hope that we could at least re-coup 2 of the 3 in the off-season.
Nobody knows enough about Corvo yet, coming back from injury.
If he gets in a couple of good weeks here before the Olympics, he’ll draw offers afterwards.
That 17-year-old Hokie sitting in the rafters in Greensboro didn't see any of this coming.
Sell the farm, say the “R” word.
sportstalkbuzz.com
by Great Ice-Pectations on Jan 26, 2010 11:37 PM EST reply actions
This Sucks
I don’t want to see those go. I understand the big picture, but I like Ray and Cullen and think they bring alot to the team and play very well. I would proudly wear/own either one of those guys jerseys if it wasn’t for having a Gleason and a Walker.
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