Cam Ward Returns to Practice: Hurricanes at Lightning, Game Day Preview
by Bob Wage on Mar 23, 2010 2:23 PM EDT
Email
PrintThe Carolina Hurricanes, (30-34-8) took their morning skate in Tampa Bay in preparation for tonight's game against the Lightning, (28-32-12) with an extra goalie. For the first time in over a month, Cam Ward was back on the ice with his teammates for full practice.
The goalie has been working out on his own and had been skating with coach Tom Barrasso in recent days, but he reportedly took a few pucks today and is getting closer to returning to action.
Remember back when the Canes were the only team in the NHL without a road win? The club now has a 5-1-1 record in their last seven road games. Since January 21, the team is 16-7-1 overall and has outscored their opponents 76-59.
Jamie McBain has the longest current point streak for Carolina with five points in four games.
Eric Staal is next with points in three straight. The captain now has 53 points in 46 games since returning from a 10 day break because of an injury.
The lineup tonight should be the same as it was against Buffalo, although there is no word yet who the starting goaltender will be. If we find out, we will leave an update.
The Hurricanes are led in scoring by Staal and Jussi Jokinen. Of course Jokinen was unceremoniously put on waivers last season by the Lightning and he always seems to play well against them.
Steven Stamkos leads Tampa Bay. For more info about the Bolts, check out Raw Charge.
While some might say that at this point, there is nothing to play for between these teams, the players would argue. Most of these athletes are playing for a job next year.
For instance, Carolina has nine veteran forwards already under contract next season and several talented young prospects who will be battling for spots themselves.
- Staal
- Sutter
- Cole
- Ruutu
- Jokinen
- Samsonov
- Kostopoulos
- LaRose
- Brind'Amour
Unlike last season where the slots were already completely filled and no one was going anywhere, next year's training camp will be a battle royale, with almost every position up for grabs. If a rookie is out-performing a veteran, look for the vet to be traded away. Some of the young forwards have already made a case for themselves, others will be given every opportunity at camp.
There are a lot of things that can happen before next year, (and we will be discussing it all here) but the point is, these games do mean something to most of the players, even if the club does not make the playoffs.
There have been a couple of new Canes related articles out since HM's last C&C.
Brandon Sutter does a Puck Tracks with Puck Daddy.
FanHouse speaks with Jamie McBain
Chad LaRose is a crime fighter?
The game starts at 7:30 and will be telecast by FS Carolinas. We will have the open game thread alive and kicking at 7. See you then!
65 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
1. Staal
2. Sutter
3. Cole insert Patrick Dwyer
4. Ruutu
5. Jokinen
6. Samsonov insert Zach Boychuk
7. Kostopoulos
8. LaRose
9. Brind’Amour insert Oskar Osala
Would love to see Juice light the Bolts for a Hattie!!!
Richards for Jokinen, et al.
Found within the gameday post on the Lightning SB Nation site (linked above), was a link to this blog entry that discusses the Brad Richards trade that brought Jokinen to the Lightning, and what has become of the other pieces of the trade.
That means Richards was actually traded for Halpern and Jokinen. Jokinen was traded away for a warm hug last year and Halpern was swapped for Teddy Purcell. That means, in effect, the Bolts got Purcell (4 goals, 12 points this season) for Conn Smythe winner Richards (80 points so far this season).
Makes me want to give Rutherford a warm hug. :)
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
by Carolyn Christians on Mar 23, 2010 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I wouldn’t even say a warm hug. It seems we didn’t pick him up on waivers b/c we wanted to shed some salary. I think we gave them a 4th to pick up some extra salary in the deal. I would say a 4th and Melicar ( cant even remeber how to spell his name) and who ever eles we dumped would be considered just a regular “ass-out” hug.
by CarolinaCanes on Mar 23, 2010 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions
From the Canes Media Guide’s Year-by-Year Review, for February 7, 2009:
Acquired forward Jussi Jokinen from Tampa Bay in exchange for Wade Brookbank, Josef Melichar and a fourth-round pick in 2009.
Where’s the little asterisk that says “oh by the way, deal of the decade”?
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
by Jamie Kellner on Mar 23, 2010 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I think I remember there being speculation that the two-headed Lightning ownership group wanted to shed as many contracts for the following season as they could, so as to be able to go out “shopping” again on the free agent network over the summer.
Jussi still had a year on his contract at the time, whereas Brookbank and Melichar were due to be FA’s.
Not saying this makes any sense. Just trying to explain what motivation there might have been from the TB side to do this deal…however flawed their reasoning might have been.
Good theory, but I’m pretty sure Jussi’s contract was up last June too. JR signed him up for 2 years as a UFA in June (he took a pay cut), before things got hairy with Cole and LaRose.
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
by Carolyn Christians on Mar 23, 2010 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Except Jussi was an RFA last summer.
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
by Jamie Kellner on Mar 23, 2010 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions
To be honest, Jussi was not playing that well with Tampa last year. He started the season good, but quickly made his way to the 4th line. Even when we got him; he was playing a solid game, but not putting up a lot of points. It wasn’t until the playoffs that he really turned his game on and it’s been on ever since.
Triple Gold Juice - It's Potent and Guaranteed to Help You Score!
I should have checked that. I was thinking RFA’s had to go thru the Qualifying Offer process – Like Ruu and Babs.
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
by Carolyn Christians on Mar 23, 2010 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions
You don’t have to go through the qualifing offer process. JR worked out a deal that I believe was actually less money than Jussi was making last year. I think Tampa was doing like we did this season; shedding some salary because of their financial situation.
Triple Gold Juice - It's Potent and Guaranteed to Help You Score!
Some of Jussi’s was timing as well. He actually signed the two-year deal before (actually the day of) the deadline for Qualifying Offers on RFAs last year, so had they not signed him when they did, JR would have at least been on the table with having given Jussi a QO.
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
by Jamie Kellner on Mar 23, 2010 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Fantasy Pool Look: McBain makes his case
This just went up at The Hockey News’ Fantasy column (again with the hockey fantasy’s – and only a tease)
Whatever switch [McBain] flipped on Feb. 1, he hasn’t turned it off yet. Two of his five points have come on the power play and the Hurricanes have only scored 12 goals in that span, meaning he has been in on nearly half of them…….Pencil him in for 40 to 45 points next season. As for a roster spot – mark that in ink…
Hope this isn’t too much too soon. (let’s track that 3% owned number over at Yahoo! NHL fantasy site)
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
by Carolyn Christians on Mar 23, 2010 3:02 PM EDT reply actions
I’ll keep an eye on it throughout the rest of the season…I guarantee if he snags a point tonight, that’ll change fast.
…one of my favorite facts they put up on the screen during the Buffalo game…
“There hasn’t been a game that Jamie McBain HASN’T scored a point in” or something to that effect.
Can someone please get Manny a new shirt? He DESERVES one.
Here ya go:
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
by Jamie Kellner on Mar 23, 2010 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s a keeper!
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
by Carolyn Christians on Mar 23, 2010 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
It is rather a mystery. Stamkos is perhaps the best young sniper in the league behind Ovechkin. Lecavalier and St. Louis, perennial all-stars. A young decent defense lead by Victor Hedman and Mattias Ohlund. Mike Smith would be a decent goalie if he could ever stay healthy for half a season.
Probably boils down the previous ownership struggles and poor fan support dragging down player morale. With Stamkos, Lecavalier, St. Louis, and Malone they certainly don’t have any excuse not to be scoring.
They were in the thick of it for quite a while…. but poor goaltending coupled with Malone’s injury killed their chances. Tanguay’s been a bust, too.
by Cory Lavalette on Mar 23, 2010 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
What do you think of the coaching?
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
by Carolyn Christians on Mar 23, 2010 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions
It seems like a team/organization that is in disarray and it starts at the top, we’ve all heard about the ownership problems. I don’t think they get very good coaching, I think that has more to do with the organizations lack of direction than Toccet’s ability as a coach.
Yep -the TB front office is a mess. They are the only NHL team that, when you go to their official NHL site, (these are standardized for all 30 teams) and select “TEAM”, the first item on the dropdown menu is “Ownership”. For the other 29 it says: “Roster” or “Players”. I’ve always thought that was odd – and it comes off as “the the face of the team is the ownership”, or “the ownership better defines the team than the players”…..
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
by Carolyn Christians on Mar 23, 2010 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Vinik
That’s because he’s the new owner and it wasn’t that long ago they finalized the deal, so they put it up so fans can get to know him. Big changes will be coming there soon.
It’s been like that for a year. (back when there were 2 owners and Bettman was trying to arbitrate between them).
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
by Carolyn Christians on Mar 23, 2010 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions
He’s been fine … he certainly turned Stamkos around after Melrose did his best to ruin the kid.
by Cory Lavalette on Mar 23, 2010 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ve always felt that’s an unfair assessment of Melrose’s time in Tampa. I know he didn’t play Stamkos much, but how could he with all the veterans under contract? I’m not saying Melrose is still a great coach, but I do think he’s a bit unfairly maligned on the Stamkos issue.
I just wish JR would have given up Ray Whitney for Lent.
Stamkos has really surprised me this year. I knew he was good, but I didn’t think he was this good already. I think Stamkos has taken the spot of Kovalchuk as the 2nd best player in the SE Division.
St. Louis is just a really good player. I actually think of him and Ray in the same category, but (sorry) St. Louis is the better player.
I’m just not sure of Vinny. He almost seems to be past his prime at such an early age. Maybe it’s that contract on his shoulders that is holding him down.
I would really like a player like Malone or Hedman on the Canes. They are big, physical, and can skate. The rest of the Lightning, well, I really could care less about. They have some average players, but they really seem like a 1st line/PP team and thats it.
Triple Gold Juice - It's Potent and Guaranteed to Help You Score!
I’m really torn. I want the Canes to win, but I also want a better draft slot. Is there anyway we can win the game, but lose points in the standings? I’ll be happy to donate them to Toronto and say hello to the #2 overall pick.
Triple Gold Juice - It's Potent and Guaranteed to Help You Score!
Maybe Rutherford can trade the points in the standings to Burkie this year, and we can have them back next March? (interest free!)
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
by Carolyn Christians on Mar 23, 2010 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree. I really want them to win tonight, however a loss to Tampa would really help our case for a top-5 pick. If we beat Tampa we jump over them, the Islanders, and Florida and Columbus in a tiebreaker and are in 8th to last place. If we lose, Tampa jumps over us and we stay 3-4th to last with a surging leafs about to pass us.
In any case I’m sure Tampa will be very hungry to win at home as they have lost 5 in a row now. We always seem to kill Tampa in their own arena though… We shall see I guess.
Cory and Bob and Cassie, the blogger at the Raw Charg, and a couple other SBN’ers had a conversation on just this topic over at From the Rink this week. Here – go to the last question and see how much they differ.
This was the question:
-If you support a bottom-feeding team, do you cheer every loss for a better lottery pick or is that out of the question?
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
by Carolyn Christians on Mar 23, 2010 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions
BTW – Raw Charge just put up a pretty nice preview, saying some awfully nice things about the Canes. Remembering our trolls from Buffalo Sunday, this is a pleasant change of pace.
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
by Carolyn Christians on Mar 23, 2010 4:21 PM EDT reply actions
Trolls is being nice. I forgot how bad I hated the Buffalo fans until Saturday. We had some bust out behind us that would not sit down and shut up. Of course our “Section Emissary” C-Leaguer did his best to baffle the fragile mind of the Buffalo Slug. On our way out we heard security being called to the scene.
Those three pissed me off. They seemed like decent folk. I tried to mellow them out because the woman was high maintenance. I ditched that after the second period. Good riddance.
I just wish JR would have given up Ray Whitney for Lent.
I had to laugh at the Buffaslugs behind us. They were fairly well mannered, but just kept saying the silliest things.
First they were making fun anything coming out of the speakers, saying it wasn’t English and he couldn’t understand it. Whenever Miller made a good save one would yell “See, that’s why we won Silver USA!” I finally had to turn around and say “Silver is nice, we got one of them… along with a Gold and 2 Bronze”.
The funniest thing though is how up to the last second he was berating Buffalo as if they were losing by 10 points! The team couldn’t do anything right in his mind. Sad, really.
"The increase in pain is way beyond what you would expect a person to play with," said coach Paul Maurice. "Unfortunately it’s even beyond what Tim Gleason can play with, because he can play with just about anything."
Yeah.
Good play = “Whoooo! GO SABRES!”
Bad play = “U-S-A! U-S-A! RYAN MILLER AWWW YEAH!”
Sure, Miller was good in the Olympics, but the Olympics are over. I don’t pretend the ‘Canes are Team USA, Canada, or Finland when they make a bad play. I guess that’s a Buffalo fan’s way of wearing a bag over their head while they’re getting screwed… ;)
by Raccoon Fink on Mar 23, 2010 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Why the Hell would they bring Cam Ward back?
No point in risking his back to further injury.
And he is the only goaltender on our team w/ a losing record…..14-21-5
(Legace is 9-6-3, and Peters is 6-3-0) (Legace and Peters combined are 15-9-3 which is not bad)
But the main things is Cam Wards injury. With a back injury there is a great chance that he will have injury problems his entire career…. which is very frightening considering that contract extension he was given. There is no point in playing him any this season and taking a risk on making his injury worse.
Let him rest… heal as much as possible… and hopefully he can be 90% healthy by the start of next season. It is very likely he will never ever be 100% healthy with a back injury.
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on Mar 23, 2010 5:10 PM EDT reply actions
I don’t think Bob was suggesting Cam was going to play tonight. The choice is Peters or Legace (who is also maybe less than 100%). Cam facing pucks in practice is big news enough.
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
by Carolyn Christians on Mar 23, 2010 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions
The most recent Hurricanes Report podcast actually made a decent case for bringing back Ward. They said that it would be better to know now how bad an injury it is as opposed to waiting to see in September or October of next season. They brought up the issue of Frank Kaberle after the cup season.
I’ve been pretty much opposed to bringing back Cam this season, but I felt that argument made a lot of sense. If he needs surgery it would be great to get that confirmed now, and not wait until late September and have yet another trainer leave to focus on other items as a result.
I just wish JR would have given up Ray Whitney for Lent.
I heard that argument made in that podcast, as well, and it turned me around from a “shut him down” opinion to a “let’s just see if we have any issues or not” opinion.
If he’s able to play, I think we want to play him for at least a couple of games.
Besides, Justin is on the “List of 22” and may need to return to Albany before the end of the season as they make their playoff push.
I think the sooner the better for getting Cam in precisely because Peters will likely be returned to Albany. If you carry three tenders, then it’s not so bad if Cam goes down, not to mention you can bring him along gingerly. Maybe he goes in knowing he’s only going to play 30 minutes or so in his first game back.
I just wish JR would have given up Ray Whitney for Lent.
Can who?
A
In the good old days if you commited adutery you were stoned, nowadays it's the other way around.
Wimmin can attract men with thier minds, seems a lot easier to do it with what they don't mind, though.
The right to bare arms is key. Though I'd pay to see more.
Good! I haven’t listened to the podcast yet, but this has been my opinion as well. Get him back in the lineup before the end of the season to test it out. And if I’m Cam Ward no way I want to wait the rest of the season and into the off season, I want to know now.
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
by Jamie Kellner on Mar 23, 2010 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Lightning in a Bad Situation
If you want to see a bad situation, take a look at the team we are playing tonight.
Next season, the Lightnings top 2 players (probably top 25 players in the NHL) are in contract years. Their 2nd line center is making $10M/ a season for the next 35 years. They have 4 players signed to contracts over 4 years long, all making over $3.5M/ a season. Stamkos will command top dollar, St. Louis won’t come to cheap, and Hedman will be entering his contract year. And a probable top 5 draft pick this year will still have a cap hit of over $3M. All this from a team that is in financial trouble. Unless Lacavalier is traded, Tampa is going to continue to struggle for years to come.
Triple Gold Juice - It's Potent and Guaranteed to Help You Score!
How can Hedman, a rookie this year, be in a contract year next year?
by ncdavid on Mar 23, 2010 6:24 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
The post begins with “next year.” Next year when Stamkos becomes a RFA, Hedman will be “heading into a contract year.”
Triple Gold Juice - It's Potent and Guaranteed to Help You Score!
by PackPride17 on Mar 23, 2010 6:30 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
That makes sense but even in rereading the original post, it was still unclear you were talking about 2 years from now.
by ncdavid on Mar 23, 2010 6:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Sorry, I know what I’m talking about, but I sometimes don’t articulate my thoughts well enough.
What I was trying to say is that next season for the Lightning should be a problem cap wise, but their 2 best players are in contract years next season. Then, the season after that, Hedman will be in his contract year.
Triple Gold Juice - It's Potent and Guaranteed to Help You Score!
by PackPride17 on Mar 23, 2010 6:47 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Quick, somebody take a screenshot of espn!
Look at the picture! It’s at the RBC Center! :)
Thank you Jim Rutherford and Ray Whitney for working together for Ray to stay a Hurricane! :)
Forslund says Manny gets the start tonight. Did we already know that?
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
Game Thread Tonight
It’s another lacrosse game for my son; so I will be following the game via iphone until I can go back to watch on the dvr. Any and all help in that regard is appreciated. It is hard to imagine that either team can still have any playoff hopes alive with a loss tonight.
here's to the canes !!
Beat TheM Bolts !!! Make them regret that they ever let the Juice GO !! and i’ll be pulling for the juice to get a hattie !! but heck…a goal or 2 will be just as good ya know…hehehe
Relax !! Even Micro Wave Popcorn takes time !! Go Canes !!
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
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Why the Devils and the Kings are evidence the Capitals shouldn’t trade Alex Ovechkin
- Eulogy: Remembering the 2011-12 New York Rangers
- Stanley Cup Final: 5 keys for New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings
- Friday’s Three Stars: Devils head to Final; Brodeur, Kovalchuk the difference in Game 6
- Devils eliminate Rangers in Game 6, ending fear of the past, setting course for the future
