Clicks and Clippings: Checking in with the Big Swede
by Carolyn Christians on Feb 8, 2010 5:38 PM EST
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PrintWhen news came yesterday that the Niclas Wallin trade to the San Jose Sharks was officially a "done deal", apparently ending his career with your Carolina Hurricanes, I was actually delighted to hear he was moving to such a highly talented organization. While I will surely miss seeing his impressive yet humble presence on the ice and around the local RYHA games, it sounds to me like he has very successully turned a difficult situation into a promising opportunity. Is this all because his parents back in the Old Country taught him to "work hard, don't complain"? Check it out, Caniacs: Nic Wallin, San Jose Shark.
LATEST: Wallin joined his new teammates in Toronto, where they take on the Maple Leafs tonight. Jame Mirtle caught up with him after practice and just posted this piece. Wallin pumped to be a Shark - The Globe and Mail Weekend deal shuffles defenceman from the Eastern Conference basement to the West's penthouse. He will skate in his first game as a Shark tonight against the Leafs alongside new D partner Dan Boyle.
Also this, from the San Jose Mercury News: Wallin paired with Boyle, Helminen gets call-up | Working the Corners Wallin connected with his new teammates around 9 p.m. last night and headed out for steaks with Douglas Murray. It’s the first time in a while that either have had a Swedish teammates, so the conversation was not in English.
UPDATE: Looking at the Center Ice TV Listings, you can watch Wallin in action in Toronto on TWC-Raleigh Channel 733 at 7pm tonight.
More links to bring you up to date, before the Canes take on the Panthers tomorrow night as they begin these last 3 games leading up to the Olympic Break, after the jump.
Injury updates
Regarding the status of Cam Ward, Chip Alexander has this update: Canes Now - Doctors to observe Ward for couple weeks Canes general manager Jim Rutherford said today that the doctors treating Cam Ward's back injury want to observe him for a couple of weeks before making a decision on how to best move forward. Here's the Hurricane's most recent release on the subject: Ward's Diagnosis Will Wait - Carolina Hurricanes
Paul Branecky had this to update the good news on Tuomo Ruutu and updates on Erik Cole, Scott Walker and Chad LaRose. And a little more on the subject from Canes Now - Ruutu ready to rejoin Canes' lineup
Trade rumors and deals
With the "first trade freeze deadline" set for midnight this Friday, a few pieces to anticipate what will happen this week (or will they all wait till those last 3 days before the "final Trade deadline" after the Olympic break, March 1 to 3.)
Roster freeze leaves GMs scrambling for Plan Bs - The Globe and Mail
Here's a familiar voice with his take on Rumors From The Rink - Tim Thomas On The Block? The Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes are over but there are still plenty of teams out there who need help and who will be looking to add a piece or two before the deadline. Most in need right now are the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, and Nashville Predators.
There are some suggesting that the Penguins are not alone in Pennsylvania trying to make cap-room for the Wizard. Peter Laviolette's Flyers may have their eye on Ray Whitney as well. Spector's Hockey - NHL Trade Rumors for Monday, February 8, 2010.
Florida Panthers: Sexton says he'll try to make a trade "If you're going to acquire a player, what teams want from you in return is ridiculous," GM Randy Sexton said. "I don't mind paying a fair price for a player we're going to keep, but for some of the rental players that are out there, some of the prices being asked are ridiculous."
Looking past this season:
The Hockey News: Ryan Kennedy: Expect quick recovery in Carolina The Carolina Hurricanes have been euchred by injuries and hampered by the remnants of an old guard about to move on this season, but there’s a slew of reasons to believe this team will be back in the playoffs next season and capable of going a round or two.
Southeast: Stamkos making his mark as a teen - NHL.com Also offers insight into the Hurricanes' bid to host the All-Star Game.
Olympic updates
World Rankings from IIHF Pre-Olympics: From #1 to 6, they are: Russia, Canada, Sweden, Finland, USA, Czech Republic
Hockey - 2010 Olympic TV Schedule | NBC Olympics View NBC's 2010 Olympic TV schedule for Hockey across NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, USA, UHD and Universalsports.com. I hope some of you will join me on a thread here, watching hockey at 3 in the afternoon next week. Stay tuned for TV schedule updates.
Lots of interesting stats here, but the writer's observations on Jussi Jokinen and Eric Staal, at the end, are worth the click.: The Hockey News: Brian Duff Rarities, revelations and oddities
The Hockey News: Ken Campbell: Ryan Miller will be USA’s No. 1, play every game (good news for Eric Staal, Joni Pitkanen and Ruutu who get to challenge him again on Thursday)
Petoskey News-Review - Capsules of Michigan athletes competing at Olympics Listing just the Great Lake State's natives Team USA hockey participants: Jack Johnson, Ryan Kesler, Ryan Miller, Brian Rafalski, Tim Thomas, Tim Gleason and Angela Ruggiero. Wow.
Audio of Tim Gleason on NHLNetwork after the announcement Thursday.
Canes released this video talking with Gleason after practice today
News from Albany
Rats raise $20,100 in jersey auction - timesunion.com - Albany NY which is important to remember when you read Minor League Malarky: Not 'lovin' it': Albany's McD's jerseys - Puck Daddy
Bowman’s overtime goal salvages 7-6 victory for Rats - timesunion.com - Albany NY Mike Murphy got his first start since early Jan. 2 and made 38 saves in the victory. This was hours before Justin Peters stood tall on the Island, as reported by the beat reporter in Albany here: Peters wins NHL debut over Islanders, 3-1 - timesunion.com - Albany NY
McBain making most of time, Times Union - Albany NY "When you get the opportunities that have been given to me down here, to play in every different role and position, it's definitely been beneficial for my development," McBain said
Rats lose Conboy, game -- Times Union - Albany NY Player may have suffered concussion vs. Syracuse
Rats in no rush to name an official captain : Albany Times Union.com Forward Pat Dwyer, who was given the "C" to start the season, hasn’t played for the Rats since Dec. 13, after which he was called up to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Can't wait to read 'Recalled from Charlotte' - WRALSportsFan.com Charlotte becomes the minor-league city for the Triangle? Oh, that’s just too sweet.
Last, Hockey in a War Zone
Apparently even those in the media who aren't puckheads understand how cool this is: Soldiers find time for hockey in Afghanistan - msnbc.com There's no ice and no puck, but no matter. The Kandahar Ball Hockey League allows Canadian troops to get their hockey fix — even in the middle of a war. Puck Daddy covered this too.
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Got really emotional on the last plane ride
aww – poor Nicky! Just isn’t right seeing him wearing that Sharks’ t-shirt.
Hope he gets a chance at winning the Cup again.
But focusing on the positive, I love him getting to speak Swedish with a teammate over a steak dinner last night – good for him. He’ll be fine.
GM and soothsayer of the Unofficial Hurricanes' fishtank.
Up this week: Introducing Sutter-fish.
by Carolyn Christians on Feb 8, 2010 5:50 PM EST up reply actions
Once Mo took over last year Cam didn’t get a day off and played back to back 7 games series before suffering his first (to my recollection) back injury against Pittsburgh in the ECF.
Then this season, after returning from getting his leg sliced open, Mo decides it would be a good idea to start him 22 straight until the back goes out again. For what reason would the 2nd worst team in the league need to ride their 26 year old franchise goalie so hard?? Franchise goalies don’t come around very often, so don’t you think we should try and take care of the one we have??
If I recall correctly, Mo lost control of the team during his last tenue after an unusually hard bag skate. This season, the same thing happened. The team obviously doesn’t respond to his kind of coaching in the long run. Joni plays 30+ minutes every night, is it really surprising we don’t see full effort all game? I know I wouldn’t play all out knowing my coach was demanding me to play half of every game…
Mo must go.
Still not a crook!
You are not wrong…….but Mo is here for life. There is no amount of losing or fan complaining that will change that.
it always burns within
the downward spiral never ends
when driven into sin
your salvation's found in a sinner's deed
by Douchebag St John on Feb 8, 2010 6:52 PM EST up reply actions
Charlotte Checkers announcement
From this posting over at The Fan is word of a pending announcement scheduled for Wednesday.
The charlotte Checkers are ECHL. Are they going up to AHL? Not sure I get this…
GM and soothsayer of the Unofficial Hurricanes' fishtank.
Up this week: Introducing Sutter-fish.
by Carolyn Christians on Feb 8, 2010 9:21 PM EST up reply actions
Done deal
From tonight’s TV14’s Sports Night (a must to DVR for Canes fans, since they have a Canes feature every night), they matter-of-factly treated this story like a done deal, mentioning that there would be an official announcement of this at a press conference on Wednesday that AHL officials were attending.
Per their report, “sources out of Albany” confirmed the sale of the Albany River Rats to the Charlotte Checkers owner, who would then move the team to Charlotte.
Yes, the “old” Checkers were an ECHL team (and I have no idea what happens to that team). But the new Charlotte Checkers are our old Albany River Rats, now re-branded and re-located to Charlotte.
I’ll see if there’s a written source for any of this. No surprise here, except the timing that the slow-developing deal is now done.
From the Albany Times Union, they’re reporting it as well.
Karmanos was at practice today walking around with a bunch of other suits. Wonder if it was a group from Charlotte. Would certainly explain why he’s in town.
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
by Jamie Kellner on Feb 8, 2010 11:41 PM EST up reply actions
You found the same source I just dragged back here to post.
Yep, this all adds up, all right, including Karmanos and the suits.
I was thinking that was about the ASG…..?
GM and soothsayer of the Unofficial Hurricanes' fishtank.
Up this week: Introducing Sutter-fish.
by Carolyn Christians on Feb 9, 2010 7:51 AM EST up reply actions
More confirmation, this from a local TV station’s website.
Added information here speaks to timing, which of course would be after this season is over.
Wallin a +1 in his first game with another franchise.
by PackPride17 on Feb 8, 2010 10:44 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Yeah – I watched a lot of it. He looked strong – made some great first passes. Caused some turnovers by pinning the Leafs against the boards. And his D-partner scored the first SJ goal. Got decent TOI too at 17:10. I found some quotes from the Sharks GM on why they wanted him – Check it out here from LeBrun at ESPN.com.
“We did a lot of research into Nic,” Wilson told ESPN.com Monday. “We tried to get him for the last two years to be honest with you.”
then this – showing how being a great teammate (the anti-prima donna) will pay off for a player and create opportunities:
“There are a lot of mutual friends that speak really highly of him as a teammate and competitor,” Wilson added. “Whether it be Arturs Irbe or Bret Hedican, for example. We know about him as a person and as a teammate, and he’s always played his best hockey in the playoffs.”
GM and soothsayer of the Unofficial Hurricanes' fishtank.
Up this week: Introducing Sutter-fish.
by Carolyn Christians on Feb 9, 2010 8:51 AM EST up reply actions
Square Pegs in Square Holes
I will not be surprised if Wallin does well in San Jose. As long as Wilson puts him with a strong, fast puck-moving defenseman, Wallin should be fine.
we shall
see what comes of this, as it was my understanding from not only reading a new story 2 weeks ago saying that the current ownr of the ras would or might sell the team but on the condition it stayed in Albany…I’ve been there to the TU center…a good facility…hate to see the city hung out to dry as there is a decent grass roots support for the team there.
but we will see what we shall se…
If you think you can't, you won't !
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