The Catbird Seat -- Jim Rutherford and the Hurricanes
by abramsdoug on Feb 12, 2010 8:17 PM EST
Email
PrintAs painful as this season has been with the dismal start and the trade of Cullen and soon, I believe, Ray Whitney, the end result will ultimately be a stronger Canes team long term. Some fans feel that same sadness about Wallin being traded. I understand the huge feeling of loss as popular players are traded. As for me, I am comforted by the idea that perhaps Whitney and/or Cullen might under the right circumstances be re-signed.
Jim Rutherford is indeed in the catbird seat. Even if Whitney is not traded, he now has four of the top 60 picks in the draft. I am convinced Whitney will be traded for a first round draft pick and a prospect. Given the lack of experienced defensemen on playoff teams, I believe Corvo will be traded for a second round draft choice and a prospect. If those two trades occur, Jim Rutherford will have 6 of the top 60 picks. He may even be able to work his magic and trade second round picks and a player for a first round pick. In any event, six picks in the top 60, with one being a top five (which is the highest likely finish for the Hurricanes), the 2010-2011 Hurricanes organization will purely and simply be loaded with young talent. Additionally early second round picks are extremely close to being first round picks. So if Whitney is traded, the Hurricanes will essentially have three first round picks. It seems increasingly likely that Aaron Ward and Yelle will be traded at the trade deadline as teams seek experienced veterans for the playoff run.
Alexandre Picard is an excellent prospect and I expect him to start next season for the Hurricanes. Some changes are more difficult than others, and the personnel changes will be an emotional experience for most of us. As for me, I am excited about the rebuilding prospect and the chance that with a grassroots effort the Hurricanes can reach 15,000 STHs. To do so, will not only make the Hurricanes teams better, it will ensure that economic reasons alone won't require talented veteran players to be traded because the Hurricanes have a disappointing year.
5 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
one of, if not the best fanpost ive read...
I have to echo your thoughts. This is an exciting time to be a canes fan. It might not seem like it but when you have Staal,Joni and Wardo you have the first three steps of building a winner. Add in players like Joe (if stays) and Timmy (my personal fav) you are starting to build a world class back line. With Sutter,tlusy,boychuck,dalpe,etc we have some very talented younsters. Not even menioning Jussi or Sami that have some gas left and your typical slash players like larose (also young in the grand scheme) we have the infrastructure for a team that will be good for a long time. We will more thn likely get a superstar in this draft aswell. The team is better of IMHO right now than it has been at anytime (dare I say even after the cup?). I have to agree 100 percent with you abramsdoug. Like I;ve said before, i still dont know if i should root for wins or losses.
At this point I am rooting for wins. I too think that several more players will be traded away and quickly-whitney, AWard, and maybe even Legacy. With the play of Samsonov lately even he may be desired by some team despite his one more year contract. (Personally I’d hate that). I could easily see us getting two or more additional picks this year, or maybe JR will start trading for next year as well. Add in the farm team moving to Charlotte (at an hour and a half, more than fifty percent closer for me) and I am excited enough for this year to no longer care if we get a top three pick or not. Plus, with the success of our Finnish contingent, I think JR may be realizing how to effectively have foreign players on your team. Samsonov and Babchuk could help foster one of the higher ranked russian prospects (hopefully Babchuk has learned his lesson and will return for 1.5ish next year). It seems these are more of a risk, but one worth taking verse losing out to get one of the current top three who seem good, not great.
While I don’t think anyone wants the Canes to lose, the prospect of picking up a Hall or Seguin type player is quite appealing. I think with 1 more top-4 D-man and a Hall/Seguin type guy we would be an extremely dangerous team, I’d hope easily a playoff team. Especially if the guys decide they want to play as good as they are now.
Hall/Staal or Staal/Seguin 2010-2011, they might take a year to become an Ovechkin/Backstrom or Malkin/Crosby type superstar pairing but I think it could definitely happen (While earlier comparable to Kane/Toews).
It seems the best teams in the league have a duo of superstars… We will never pick up or trade for a superstar so the only feasible way of obtaining one is through the draft.
echl in columbia
now we need our ECHL team in Columbia
are there any more caniacs down there SC
REPRESENT!!!
Aaron Ward Trade
The chatter from tweets, posts, and commentator articles, is creating a congruence of information indicating that Aaron Ward will be traded at the deadline — or at worst taken on re-entry waivers. I think we will see Aaron Ward packaged with another player, probably Whitney. If so, the trade may look like: 1st round, 3rd round, roster prospect (to take back some cap salary) for Whitney and Aaron Ward.
There is also a chance that Boston will take Aaron Ward back for a third round or fourth round pick. A. Ward is playing better and the Bruins probably don’t really aren’t that concerned that A. Ward was totally awful for the first twenty games or so at Carolina because he now is playing essentially at the level he was playing for Boston. From their perspective, he works well with Chara and knows the Bruins’ system.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Canes Country
Related FanShots on Canes Country
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Puck Previews: Ducks’ road trip continues; Sens, Panthers in battle of most surprising teams
- Watch the weirdest goal of the year, courtesy of ECHL ref’s rulebook gaffe (VIDEO)
- Jeremy Roenick’s OK with Blackhawks trading Patrick Kane for goalie upgrade
- Puck Headlines: Rick Nash chatter; Jagr turns 40; Ovechkin too much of a rock star?
- NHL Trade Deadline Dream Scenarios: Whom do you want to go where?
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
