Clicks and Clippings: Chance to Re-Set

If i can say Matsumoto 10 times fast with a mouth full of crackers too…do i get a prize ?? or a chance at a prize ?? And do i have to say matsumoto in english ??
But seriously…Thank You…another outstanding job !!! whoops it’s time for hockey !!!

HM, regarding Tlusty, this is just my personal observation from practice today but I think you’re right that it’s more about roster adjustment than injury. He doesn’t seem to be slow or ailing in any way, although coming off a major knee injury it probably isn’t a bad idea to let him have a seat especially since there’s a completely healthy player that should get some ice time.

When I tweeted this morning that the lines looked intact, I knew Jussi was skating on Sutter’s line, but in all honestly I completely forgot that he wasn’t there already. Y’all should just make me check my Blackberry at the door of the RBC Center, I obviously have no business sending out updates.

Well the Flyers embarrassed Ottawa tonight. Not as bad as they embarrassed us, but still 5-1.

It almost seems unfair. The Flyers have 4 potential All-Star forwards in Guriox, Carter, Richards, and Briere. Unlike the Canes; when one player is off, they have others to pick it up. Carter had a hat trick against us. Tonight he was held pointless and it didn’t hurt the team at all. Why? Because while Carter was pointless, Briere had a goal and Richards and Guriox had 3 points apiece.

I know the Canes can’t match the Flyers payroll, but I would love to take that team model and replicate it here.

In the interview by Jim Rutherford yesterday which HMof2 linked, Jim Rutherford covered a fairly wide variety of topics. I thought his comments about Philadelphia were instructive. Jim Rutherford felt that Philadelphia at present was the best team in the Eastern Conference. He deferred to some degree about the goalie situation, but his words about Philadelphia where that they were big, fast, highly skilled, and aggressive. Jim Rutherford also burst my balloon to some degree by saying that although the Hurricanes might consider making a small move, they were not going to make a move that increased the budget $3 million or $4 million. I had some slight glimmer of hope that the Hurricanes might be able to parlay some of the other NHL teams’ disastrous salary cap situation into a power forward. Boston and Blaker Wheeler come to mind, for example.
 
  Jim Rutherford has been saying for at least three seasons that the Hurricanes need to get faster, bigger, and more aggressive; and the tone of admiration he had for the make up of the Philadelphia team gives me increased optimism that the rebuilding of the Hurricanes team will nownturn to finding players who fit the mold of big, fast, highly skilled, and aggressive. I thought an economical shot at a young, big, fast if inconsistent right wing, was Fabian Brunnstrom who Dallas put on waivers. His cost was $800,000.00. I was disappointed that the Hurricanes didn’t bite the bullet even though it was not a risk free choice. Personally I would have taken Brunnstrom over O’Sullivan simply because the Hurricanes are so much in need of more size at forward and fast, big, forwards are hard to locate and even harder to afford.

   Now it seems that the hope for a power forward and a big, aggressive stay at home defenseman will likely be the 2011 draft. Judging by Jim Rutherford’s comments, he is not considering making any major moves; and I’d be somewhat surprised if he make any roster changes other than bringing up and sending down players to and from Charlotte. I do hope he has burned into his memory the painful sight of the Flyers demolishing the Hurricanes with the Flyers’ big, fast, skilled, aggressive players.

even though JR holds the title of “President” of the team,he can’t spend to gain anybody without PK’s approval first…while i like and still want to see O’Sullivan on the ice more to prove either way he is what we know he can be or end up a life long AHL’r like Accoin is with Hershey…and for some players…it’s not all that bad as they do get plenty of ice time…if you don’t believe me go ask Jacob MacFlicker…

   It’s not rocket science. The Hurricanes need to get bigger, faster, more skilled, and more aggressive both at forward and on defense. It’s obviously not a total rebuild. There is also very elementary math involved. There are 12 forwards and 6 defensemen; so logic dictates if you want your team to get bigger, faster, more skilled, and more aggressive, you look to replace some of your present roster with players either at Charlotte or other players who are available. Logic further dictates you begin with players who are not fast, not bigger, not overly skilled, and not aggressive as those players you are going to replace. You may love them as human beings and appreciate their body of work; but in the end, your task is to make the team more competitive in a very competitive NHL environment.

   Improving the team is by definition a matter of removing some players and replacing them with other players. For the Hurricanes, there are four players who can be replaced from the present roster without causing significant disruption in terms of loss of skill or loss of speed: (1) Samsonov; (2) Kostopoulos; (3) Harrison, and (4) O’Sullivan. One could also look at the Canes roster and make a painful choice to exchange LaRose for another player only as it relates to the issue of size, speed, and skill. The emotional cost of LaRose not being part of the Canes organization seems to be far too high a price to pay for the organization, the team, the coaches, and the fans. The idea of course is to avoid undermining the team while improving the team; and I really can’t envision anything truly positive for the Hurricanes coming from LaRose being traded or not being resigned.

   It is inarguable that the team as presently constituted and without any changes won’t become bigger, faster, more skilled, or more aggressive. Given the budgetary restraints, the changes are likely to come from the draft. On the other hand, Jim Rutherford obtained Jokinen via a very prudent and painless trade. As it turned out, the trade for Jokinen was a matter of short term pain and Cole is of course now back with the Hurricanes.

  In particular, the Hurricanes need help at forward in terms of adding a power forward with size, speed, skill, and aggressiveness. The first line in particular needs adjustment. Moving Jokinen to the first line will help; but he is not a prototypical forward and he relies of great hands, great vision, and great hockey intelligence more than blazing speed or astonishing strength. If the Canes are going to improve the first line this season, they are either going to have to call up and try out prospects from Charlotte or Jim Rutherford is going to have to steal a gem either via trade or the waiver wire. He has managed to find diamonds in the rough before and he will do so again. The diamonds in the rough are players like Brunnstrom who are underloved, underachieving, and underappreciated. No sane GM is going to waive or make a trade that is painless from the Hurricanes’ perspective a power forward the GM recognizes to be a top tier first line power forward. When Ruutu was traded to the Hurricanes, Ruutu was regarded by Chicago as an underachiever. The Canes would be extremely fortunate if another Ruutu happened their way.

  Change is always difficult and everybody who follows a team has his or her own perspective about the nature of the changes that are needed. For the Hurricanes, almost all the pieces are in place for long term success. The changes will come and will come sooner rather than later. It will be sad for some of the players who leave; but it will be better for the team, the players who remain, the coaches, and the fans.

We could probably lose the 4 mentioned players, I’d add Tlusty, I don’t think he helps our team. Keep away from Brunnstrom, major bust:
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=nhl&id=2460
At this point the only thing we can hope for is someone needs to dump salary or needs to shakeup their roster. I don’t know if we need to get bigger, we need better players. What’s apparent when we play playoff bound teams is with our current roster we have to play damn near perfect and have little room for error. We need more talent in our top 6.

“How about we sit your boy for a while and play mine for a change?” :-D

O Osala Is big. Anyway he would fit well in the roster?

I agree with these lines. Given the style of game the Hurricanes play, I think these lines best balance the need for veteran presence and the skills of the players involved.

Boychuk-Staal-Jokinen
Skinner-Ruutu-Cole (keeping the JET line together for some of you)
Dwyer-Sutter-Dalpe
Tlusty-Matsumoto-LaRose

 The only changes I would envision would be if Tlusty’s play were to warrant it, I would see the third line being Tlusty/Sutter/Dalpe. I also could envision Riley Nash coming up to play some games on a Tlusty/Nash/LaRose line or a Dwyer/Nash/LaRose line. I think Dwyer’s speed and defensive acumen have worked well; so I am not really anxious to move him to the fourth line; but I also think Tlusty has plenty of skill and if he gets his offensive game going, he could be excellent with Sutter and Dalpe. Those lines are bigger, faster, more skilled, and at least somewhat more physical than the present lines.

   Now that’s what I’m talking about. Seriously, Troy Bodie is a very big man: 6’4" 218 lbs or so. He has a reputation for being very hard working with a tough streak. He was a 9th round pick of the Oilers in 2003 and is 25 years old. When I saw yesterday he was on waivers, I had hoped the Hurricanes would grab him. He may be a little rough around the edges, but he will be somebody who other teams really hate playing against. He has a chance of a lifetime because the Canes really need his style of game.