Who will be leaving?
by Capt. Stinky on Apr 9, 2010 8:32 AM EDT
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If there is one thing this season has taught us, it's that there are A LOT of young players from Albany who can play in the NHL. That, plus whatever we get via the draft, means that some roster spots will have to be opened next season. Who, then, will be dealt/retire/leaving via other methods next year? Who SHOULD leave, and who WILL leave? Here are my top picks for getting out of town, bottom to top in terms of likelihood to leave:
5. Chad LaRose - as much of a fan favorite as he is, there are just too many teams he does not match-up well against due to his size. During these games his forechecking is non-existent and brings-down his entire line. That said, his speed and ability to score could net a decent return in trade to help replenish the stock in the system, especially since the Checkers will need to make a big splash in Charlotte. JR will be hard-pressed to let him go, though. Traded for 3 prospects.
4. Erik Cole - speed, positioning still decent, but not for a top two line guy. His finishing and hand-eye skills are waaaaay off nowadays, and when he acts like a checking forward he gets hurt. Still, his name could garner some picks or prospects. Traded for 1 pick, 2 prospects.
3. Ray Whitney - not much time left on the clock for The Wizard. Will he holdout for a ton of money that JR does not have? Will he eye a playoff contender to finish his career on a quest for the cup? I just don't think we'll be able to keep him here. Leaves as free agent.
2. Manny Legace - as big a help as he was this season when Cam got hurt and Leighton lost his touch, I think the writing is on the wall with Justin Peters coming on strong. Leaves as free agent.
1. Rod Brind'amour - the elephant in the room all season long. The coaches love him, the players love him, the fans...well, most love the prior version circa 2006. His body just gave out on him, there's nothing left in the tank. Retires.
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Who Leaves Before 2010-2011 Season
I agree that some roster spots have to open up for the young talent to get their minutes next season. Here are my predictions using your five players:
1. Brind’Amour — he surely is bought out and moves into management;
2. Manny Legace — he is such a great presence in the room, I think he re-signs one a one year, two way deal. I agree Peters is ready, but Jim Rutherford will reward loyalty;
3. Ray Whitney — he re-signs for $2.8 million and an implicit understanding he can have another one year deal at that price if he wants to play and if he is physically able to play and wants to play. I think Whitney will play two more years and then will go into the Hurricanes organization in some capacity.
4. Erik Cole — trading Cole seems logical; but in looking at Cole’s statistics, he played less than half the games this season due to injuries and he was on pace for a 20 goal season. If Cole could ever stay healthy and provide 20 goals, he would be a great asset. Logic and prior injury history probably dictates that Cole be traded. Loyalty and the need for speed would keep Cole at Carolina at least for one more year. It is anybody’s guess what ultimately happens in the off-season with Cole. Given all the young talent available, I probably would trade Cole if I were GM.
5. Chad LaRose — LaRose provides speed and intangibles that go beyond the level of his hockey skills. The Hurricanes’ system really needs speed and commitment — all of which LaRose provides. As with Cole, pure objective statistical analysis and reasoning probably would weigh toward trading LaRose; but the chemistry in the locker room and LaRose’s 200% effort every shift can drive players with more hockey skill to give the same level of effort as LaRose does. LaRose also keeps Staal mentally relaxed and as we saw last night, Staal on his “A” game is one of the most dominating forwards in the NHL. I think Jim Rutherford will reward loyalty; but LaRose has to produce a 20 goal season next season.
1) Brindy
2) Cole
3) Legace – It seems there has been a lot of talk from Forslund and others about keeping him next year and giving Peters a full year in Charlotte.
4) Samsonov
5) Whitney and LaRose (call it a tie here, but I can see Whitney being as high as #2 as he and Legace are the only FAs)
I just wish JR would have given up Ray Whitney for Lent.
forgot about samsonov
assumed he would just fade away…….
by Capt. Stinky on Apr 9, 2010 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions
He has a way of showing up in the final year of his contract. And, to be fair, I’ve really liked his game this year. He’s still a puck magnet, but he’s shot a lot more than he has in seasons past. I can see Sergei being a difference maker on the third line. Paired up with Dalpe he could get 15 to 20 goals.
I just wish JR would have given up Ray Whitney for Lent.
Right, I definitely suspect we see Legace over Peters, as I think Peters will not be well served playing 15 games a year (more like 10 under Maurice) as Ward’s backup.
Brindy surely will retire.
If we could trade Cole for a pick and two prospects, that would be a minor miracle, so I think we can file that under unlikely, and count on seeing him in uniform here next year. Same with Samsonov. I’d like to see one of em go, but it is not likely.
Similarly, if we could trade LaRose for three prospects, we’d need to hide the firearms after that bit of armed robbery. I strongly suspect that he will be back, given his youth and strong second half.
I have no read on the Whitney situation, but I suspect AD’s scenario is the most likely.
Remember, that leaves plenty of room for the Rats…. most of them are here already filling their roster spots. If Brindamour is indeed retiring, that leaves us with a hole at center, and no more than 9 vets at forward (Staal, Ruutu, Jokinen, Sutter, Kostopolous, Dwyer, maybe Cole, Samsonov, Whitney). Plenty of room for Boychuk, Bowman, and whoever else proves himself from the AHL (Dalpe, Samson, Tlusty, Oskar Osala). It seems to me likely that Dalpe gets one more season of mostly Charlotte, with regular call-ups (like Boychuk this year). Tlusty and Osala are probably the most likely to make the team (as our 12th and 13th forwards). And short of drafting Hall, if we draft a forward, I think he will play in the AHL next year.
If management and coaching think that more of the rats are ready to go, then perhaps Whitney, Cole, or Samsonov become more expendable. But with the last two, we are talking buy-out or some sort of charity trade (where we give someone picks or prospects to take away our problems).
Finally, note that if Brindamour does indeed retire, we have a glaring hole in the roster…. Only two full time centers (Staal and Sutter), and no one who is very good at faceoffs.
The business of hockey
is the part I hate the most.
Sammy – Unless he has a stellar year (even then his play has been, er, interesting) he’ll be traded. The issue is he may not bring much.
Roddy – Bought out
Legace – kept as the backup to Ward with Peters getting the time in Charlotte
Cole – Ever since Oprick he hasn’t been the same. Like Brindy, the injury took more out than expected. He won’t be traded as again, I wonder what can be gotten.
LaRose – I think a great deal of LaRose’s problem in the beginning of the season was injury and I’ll call it “self-inflicted machismo of gutting it out”. Since he’s been healthy, the snap is back.
Whitney – 1 year contract at a time. $2 – $2.5 Million/year
Sutter – Drop him like a hot potato. Too old, too slow and not in any future plans for the Canes, not. Just seeing if CG is reading this….
My $0.02 Canadian/$0.05 US
All "Real Men" have one name in common: "Daddy"
Sutter – Drop him like a hot potato. Too old, too slow and not in any future plans for the Canes, not. Just seeing if CG is reading this….
(!$)(&)##0*)(!*$(%&)@&$
"What Carolina really has going for them is Brandon Sutter. When that kid first showed up, he looked like a skinny little thing that wouldn’t last two weeks. But he’s turned into a real star."
Old vs New
Prior to this year’s disasterous start (mostly caused by an over-abundance of AGE), I would have said “no way does Whitney leave”!! …now i’m less sure of, what still seems to me, a LOCK! His puck control, and savvy is still awesome, and i hope JR doesn’t out-think
himself on this (afraid to make same mistake on veteran retention)! I’m also wondering whether Cullen/ Corvo are in his plans/ dreams? With all the younger options available, i’m
guessing we end up with a team that looks very, very young!!
"Over abundance of age"
damn, I feel old.
I wish I was A Wards’s, Walker’s, Whitney’s, hell even Brindy’s age.
Far too many of the KIDS on the ice for the Canes, well, let’s say I was drinking legally BEFORE they were born.
All "Real Men" have one name in common: "Daddy"
Heard Forslund on the radio this morning and he said several thing about managerial workings in the offseason. Here’s the points I remember.
1) JR needs to find someone to pair up with Staal. (Is this admitting that Cole does not fill this role?)
2) The team will be looking to shore up its defense…alot. If a draft pick can fill this role immediately, all the better. He made it sound as if defensive draft picks will be JR’s primary focus.
3) This year will be another that has player salary well below the cap. John mentioned that the locker room will require veteran presence, and noted that this is something that BrindAmour can fill. Pumping up his play this last several months of the season. Never mentioned Whitney. I’m guessing that Whitney is gone.
4) There will be open slots in training camp. Players will have to fight for their spot, saying that this past years training camp didn’t have this and players got complacent
My picks on who is gone, most likely traded for bags of pucks and more draft picks.
Samsonov, Whitney, Cole, Kostopulous.
Cullen and Corvo will not be back.
Go Canes!
Forslund and His Analysis
Again, I realize I am in the tiny minority with regard to Forslund; but I think he is totally off-base plenty of times. One of his areas of personal blindness is the subject of Brind’Amour. Forslund will castigate some players for relatively minor offenses, but then will praise Brind’Amour for being able to skate back to the bench after a shift.
With Brind’Amour at $3,000,000.00 and salaries well below the cap, the $1,000,000.00 per year savings on buying out Brind’Amour would be vastly better than having his “veteran presence.” Forslund apparently has not noticed that Brind’Amour who is minus 29 and is 40 years old and slow. Brind’Amour has one of the worst salary cost versus value added ratios on the team. Samsonov is probably the second worst in the value category. Cole’s salary also puts him in the dubious category when salary paid is compared with value added to the team.
I agree that Jim Rutherford needs to find somebody to pair with Staal. Cole doesn’t have the skill sets to be a consistent #1 wing. Teams back away from Cole because he has problems with puck control and shooting accurately in tight spaces. They double team Staal and leave Cole mostly alone.
Shoring up the defense is just adding perhaps one more piece — a big, fast, mean defenseman with hockey intellect and good hands. If we could clone Gleason, things would be great. The Hurricanes have been one of the top teams in the NHL after unloading Aaron Ward, Wallin, and Alberts. The defense has been fine even with Gleason hurt and will only get better as the younger players get stronger over the off-season. The Hurricanes certainly need some more defensive help; but the more pressing need is the big, fast, aggressive, scoring wing to be paired with Staal.
I wonder how much personal experience Forslund has had with playing rather than watching highly competitive sports. My reaction to his comments that the team became complacent is that is what a spectator says who didn’t spend years as a gym rat or a hockey rat. Complacency was never the problem with the Hurricanes this season; and I think it is somewhat out of touch for commentators like Forslund and Maniscalco to say the Hurricanes organization is too nice, or the fans are too nice, or it is too easy to play at Carolina. It is contrary to the nature of most of the players to glide along thinking they can go through the motions.
What Forslund never addressed the entire season was that Aaron Ward started the season being horrific; and Wallin was not aggressive enough or quick enough to meld well with what Maurice/Francis/Rowe wanted in their defense. Harrison, too, was not good at all at the start of the season and made far too many turnovers in the defensive zone. Forslund has a great personality and is a wonderful spokesperson for the Hurricanes organization in his role as announcer. His critical analysis of hockey needs much to be desired as far as I am concerned.
The talent pool is what is going to make training camp a battle for roster spots. The young, talented Rats want to play in the NHL and they are going to try to bust their chops to make it impossible for the coaches, Jim Rutherford, and Jason Karmanos to leave them off the roster. It’s like the situation with Sutter. Sutter was too fantastic a center to keep him any place but on the ice as much as possible. Once that conclusion was impossible to ignore, other players were moved around to make room for Sutter.
In terms of Whitney, he will either not be re-signed at all, in which case there is an open roster spot; or re-signed. The Hurricanes have nothing to trade with respect to Whitney. I think Whitney re-signs with Carolina. Samsonov does seem likely to be traded, if the Hurricanes can work some trade. If the Hurricanes want to retain LaRose, Kostopoulos and/or Cole are likely to be traded. Kostopoulos has good value for his salary versus what he brings to the team; but it is also true that younger, more talented players might well be able to serve the same role and provide more of a scoring threat in the process.
I, too, would be very surprised if Cullen is re-signed. Corvo, too, probably won’t re-sign unless the market for him is not as great as I would think. Corvo at $2.5 million is probably doable for the Hurricanes; but much beyond that seems unlikely.
The problem is every single off-season we say the same thing. We need a Winger for Staal. The Canes are too cheap to spend the money on a good Winger. They will find Cole/Whitney type psuedo-1st line players till the end of time or we get lucky enough to draft one.
This Year's Draft Will Have Excellent Wings Available
The Hurricanes can solve this issue with a good pick in the first round.
Not really. The only two top flight wings are Hall and Connolly, and even Connolly is a question. Drafting Seguin could help as it may allow Staal to move to wing or allow Dalpe to play wing. Nino isn’t a bad choice, but he lacks the top flight sniper skills.
I just wish JR would have given up Ray Whitney for Lent.
I’d throw Vladamir Tarasenko in the probable Elite Winger category. He will go top-10, who knows we might even take him. Hopefully Connolly will still be on the board, he seems like a much safer pick. Connolly is in extremely good company being the CHL “Rookie of the Year” winner last season. I fully believe he is on the same level as Hall/Seguin and it would probably would have been the closest race ever for the #1 spot if he had played the full season.
Very interesting to hear that defensive picks will be JR’s primary focus, but I wonder if that applies to that first round pick. It could be his focus for the second round picks, which is where he likes to take defensemen. I didn’t hear the interview, so I don’t know if I’m completely off base or not.
I just wish JR would have given up Ray Whitney for Lent.
There are some great D looking to fall into the 2nd round. The USHL has a very strong crop this year of some big kids. If we can get another steal like Brian Dumoulin then we would be set for a while.
I really like Tinordi. I think he’s a perfect guy for our system. He will go right around the Canes second round pick. They may move one of the late second picks to move up and take him. He won’t be ready next season, but he will be in a year or two, and that would help a lot.
I just wish JR would have given up Ray Whitney for Lent.
Brings up a good point. Everyone (including myself) wants to trade up in the Draft. From the past decade of Drafts, it seems that the cost of trading up 2 spots within the top-10 seems to be a 2nd Round and a late round Draft pick. It’s a little harder to justify that this Draft though, when moving from 7th to 5th or so could cost us a player like Tinordi.
However I’m willing to bet the value of 2nd and 3rd round picks this Draft will be through the roof due to the depth of this Draft. We have 3 2nd Round Picks and 2 3rd Round Picks. The more I look at past Draft trades vs. Draft depth the better this one looks. I don’t think it is out of the realm of possibility for JR pretty much any trades that he wants to make with all the assets we have. He has mentioned before that with all our picks he hopes to trade up, I think there is a 100% chance we will see movement.
JR either was very smart in knowing this was an extremely strong Draft Class or he got damn lucky. I’ve been very impressed with the Canes scouting the past 4 Drafts so I’d guess the first. We have picked Dumoulin, Dalpe, and McBain with 2nd round picks and Bowman with a 3rd. I think you would be really hard pressed to find anyone who Drafted that well in recent history.
Erik Cole needs to go. Unfortunately every other GM is likely aware that he sucks and is wildly overpaid, so we’re likely stuck with him.
Yeah, he’s “on pace” for 21 goals. He’s also on pace for 11 assists for a stunning 32 points, to go with a -20 rating. And all those stats are pro-rated to 82 games, which we all know Cole won’t play. He is dangerously close to being useless and is certainly a liability in the Top 6. He has total hands of stone and no longer plays anything close to resembling the game of a “power forward”. He screws up routine plays all the time due to horrible coordination and puckhandling skills.
Ray Whitney is a player that I’d sign for a CHEAP one-year deal….anything more than that and I let him walk. $3.5M? Seriously? He got $3.5M coming off a 83 point season, now he gets the same coming off a 58 point season? He’s on the decline and that’s to be expected for a soon-to-be 38 year old. 58 points while getting first line ice time and first unit powerplay time to go with a total disappearance since since the trade deadline.
I still believe the Cole name has value. Being on a one-year deal will help too, as a GM can take a flyer on him and if it doesn’t work then no big deal. A place like LA or Phoenix could be a landing spot. Lots of good young (cheap) talent. Cole brings grit and playoff experience. The salary is a bit high, but I don’t think terribly so.
I just wish JR would have given up Ray Whitney for Lent.
Zonie might be a good place.
After all it’s where Vrbata has refurbished his career.
All "Real Men" have one name in common: "Daddy"
Playoff experience? He is currently riding a 32-game playoff goalless streak and has only five assists in that span. He played two games in the Cup win. He is HORRIBLY overpaid and injury prone.
Not saying he’s not, only saying his reputation is different from who he actually is.
I just wish JR would have given up Ray Whitney for Lent.
I could see Cole end up somewhere. For some reason I think Boston or Anaheim could be options, but I wouldn’t expect much in return. Maybe a mid-level prospect or 3rd round pick.
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by PackPride17 on Apr 9, 2010 8:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I doubt anyone would want Cole. He seems like a player you might be able to add into a trade to even things up or something but I seriously doubt any GM would be targeting him.
32 playoff games… 5 points (all assists)… enough said. I’d get rid of him in a heartbeat, I’m tired of seeing “that signature move to the inside” that has to be a running joke among NHL Defensemen now.
While we see Cole as complete garbage, other teams may not. He’s not a 1st liner, but no team (besides us) would even try to make him a 1st liner. If someone is looking for a 2nd line power forward, they might take a risk on Cole with one 1 year left on his contract.
I agree that his signature move is a running joke. I know how to stop it from my seat; pinch the boards and he doesn’t know what to do when you cut off his only path to the goal.
Triple Gold Juice - It's Potent and Guaranteed to Help You Score!
by PackPride17 on Apr 10, 2010 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions
True. We are probably a lot more likely to have bad feelings towards him after he was picked up to be our 1st line Winger and ignite Staal which he simply hasn’t done.
He plays great defensive Hockey (most of the time). I think he could certainly be a checking line player that can contribute on the PP. Just recently he was reportedly mentioned in Trade Talks between the Leafs and the Canes (Though I think the report said wanted Cole and Sutter for Luke Schenn +). Sutter isn’t going anywhere. I don’t think any other GM would target him, but he could very well be thrown into a trade like the one listed below for our 1st in 2011 + Cole for Horton. That sounds pretty reasonable.
It sounds reasonable other than both teams being in the same division. I just don’t see either team making that move in the same division.
I just wish JR would have given up Ray Whitney for Lent.
I don’t think Florida will care. They are flailing and need to make some major moves, the future of the Franchise depends on it. I think they will take the best deals offered to them, no matter the team.
I agree with JussiJuice. Florida has a new owner. The fanbase is failing. The revenues are dismal; and the team is in desperate need of being blown up. A player like Booth or Horton would work wonders for the first line.
I really like Booth, but the Canes should steer away from him. I’m concerned that he may never get over that head shot or at least be the same player.
Horton also could be penciled in to miss at least 10 games, that’s where having Dalpe starting in the AHL would help. If we got Horton and when he went down with injury, we could call-up Dalpe to fill his spot.
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1) I agree with Rod retiring. Wish he had the final game Modano had for Dallas. He’ll join the organization in some way.
2) Legace will come to training camp and vie for a spot as backup, but Peters will get the slot.
3) JR will resign Ray, probably to a 2 year, somewhere between $2.5 and 3 mil a year contract. Ray will be the veteran presence on a young Canes team next season.
4) I think Cole will be traded for a forward JR believes and hopes can play well with Staal.
5) LaRose has to come back. Injuries limited his season, and without Cole, his speed will be much needed.
I for one believe that Cole and Sammy are the 2 that SHOULD be dealt no matter what. Brind’Amour should retire, but I would be completely against him coming back to play out his farewell tour on the 4th line. The Canes are limited at center and especially in the faceoff circle. LaRose should not be traded! IMO, he is to important to the team and team chemistry. I think Whitney should be resigned if it can be done for 1 year at a reasonable price. While we are all excited about the kids, they are still be potential than actual substance. Boychuk, Bowman, and Tlusty only have 6 goals between them this year. While they have talent, we need to keep at least a proven commodity like Whitney until potential becomes more. IMO, you don’t want to have all of your LWers with less than 1 year NHL experience.
Triple Gold Juice - It's Potent and Guaranteed to Help You Score!
by PackPride17 on Apr 9, 2010 8:40 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I think all 5 guys will be back next year.
Legace is, in my opinion, a better backup choice for Cam. He’s only gonna play 10-20 games. J-Dawg will be better served getting 60 games in Albany, and if Cam or Legace gets hurt, we have depth. Let Legace walk, and what happens if there’s an injury? The Canes don’t have the goalie depth to let Legace go.
Rod will be our 4th line center, and will take faceoffs late in games when they’re important.
Cole and Samsonov are too expensive for other teams to take on. Packaging one or both with picks to lose the salary would only dilute the talent in the team’s system. JR will eat the money and bid them a fond adieu in 2011.
Whitney will sign for less than $3 million. Unless he’s completely different from the person we all think he is, he will slide into the role of coach on the ice and mentor all the young guys that are coming up. Boychuk and Sutter, especially, will benefit from his tutelage.
I think the defense is where we’ll see the greatest turnover. Outside of Pits and Gleason, the roster is wide open. McBain has definitely played himself into a regular spot, and Carson has a good case for making the rotation in 10-11. The 5th and 6th defensive slots are wide open, but don’t discount a wild card (Borer, Dumolin) from making the team.
I am very excited for next year. Despite the disaster that was the roster starting 09-10, JR has some assets that can improve the team next year. As Canes fans, we all feel that the team will compete for a Cup every year, but we have a strong core that should lead us to the playoffs. Please God, just be .500 through December.
Draft Nino.
If all Brind’Amour, Samsonov, Cole, and LaRose all return in 2010-2011, who do you project as being the forward lines next season? I admit, I would be very surprised and extremely disappointed if Brind’Amour does not either retire or get bought out. I agree it will be a challenge for Rutherford to find trade partners for Samsonov and Cole — at least until the trade deadline. I wonder if Cole doesn’t have some significant value, much as Wallin had significant trade value. I don’t know what will happen with LaRose. There are valid arguments either way; and LaRose has been extremely loyal to the Hurricanes organization and is a great influence on veterans and young players alike.
I would not be shocked if Legace is re-signed, for the reasons you mention. I also believe Whitney will sign for under $3 million and Whitney would be a tremendous mentor for players such as Sutter, Boychuk, Dalpe, and Bowman, among others.
With respect to the draft, I would be very pleased if the Hurricanes picked Nino; but I would be equally happy with Connolly, Bjudstad, Sheahan, and Watson — as well as a number of other large forward prospects.
With regard to the defense, I don’t share the view that a major rebuild is needed. I think Gleason, Pitkanen, McBain, Carson, Rodney, and Picard will do an excellent job. Borer was a great prospect until his knee injury and his neck injury. If Borer works hard enough in the off-season, he has a real chance of making an impact. I don’t see Harrison returning. Pothier has been much better than I thought he would be; and I would be fine with him being re-signed. Dumolin seems to be getting rave reviews and could well challenge for a roster spot if he chooses to turn pro in 2010-2011.
At least by 2011-2012, I expect even more change at forward. It would be incredibly good fortune if all the veterans who remained were able to play 82 games, but that has not happened in quite some time. The Hurricanes as reconstituted have been playing top tier hockey since January — with only Washington in the Eastern Conference getting more points from Eastern Conference teams.
Here's an article on Dumolin.
http://www.nesn.com/2010/04/bcs-brian-dumoulin-proving-to-be-much-more-of-a-plus-than-a-minus.html
* Home "
BC’s Brian Dumoulin Proving To Be Much More of a Plus Than a Minus
by Jeff Howe on Apr 8, 2010 10:03:56 AM
Brian Dumoulin DETROIT — Boston College freshman defenseman Brian Dumoulin has experienced a serious run of recent success, locking down the BC zone and fast emerging as one of the best blue liners in the country.
Yet, through all of the great moments he has had, Dumoulin credits his strong play to the holding memory of his worst transgression at the college level.
In BC’s 2009-10 season opener at Vermont, Dumoulin said he took a lazy route to the puck, lost the angle and allowed UVM freshman forward Chris McCarthy to chip the puck toward the middle of the ice and score on a breakaway. McCarthy’s goal gave the Catamounts a 3-1 lead in the second period of an eventual 4-1 victory, and Dumoulin had a hard time picking himself up after the defeat.
“The upperclassmen have been patient with me because I remember at the beginning of the year, a couple bounces didn’t go my way,” Dumoulin said. “It helped me build as a player and [as] a person off the ice. That was a turning point where I realized I had to focus more and play a lot smarter.”
Dumoulin’s talent was immediately evident, but it took time for him to become a consistent force. He is an excellent passer and is always reliable when trying to clear the zone, and that has helped him accumulate 18 assists this season.
“He’s great with the puck,” said BC goalie John Muse, who will start on Thursday night against Miami. “He’s really smart as well. When he gets the puck in our zone, it’s an easy pass to break out of the zone. That’s what we harp on, getting the puck out of the zone as quick as possible with the easy pass, nothing fancy, just get it up to the wings and let them get it out.”
Dumoulin’s most impressive stat, though, is in the plus-minus column. The freshman leads Hockey East with a plus-36 rating, which is extraordinarily high for the college game. He is a plus-12 in six postseason games, and he is a plus-21 in the Eagles’ last 10 contests. Dumoulin, who was selected to the Hockey East Rookie Team, has registered a positive rating in 23 of the Eagles’ 40 games this season, and he has only been on the negative side six times (he was a minus-one five times and a minus-two once).
Dumoulin has also been a plus-3 eight times, including in five of BC’s last eight games, and Dumoulin has played 14 consecutive games without a minus rating. Sometimes, a plus-minus rating can be skewed, fluky or overrated, but in Dumoulin’s case, there is just too much evidence to write off those statistics.
“He’s been great since he stepped on campus,” Muse said. “He’s one of those kids we talk about, a great character in the locker room, everybody gets along with him. His plus-minus shows he’s out there for a lot of goals, but not many against. That’s a help for us. It’s great to come and work with him every day.”
I question where all this “Whitney is mentoring the young kids” is coming from. I’ve never heard any of the young guys specifically specifically mention this being the case, in fact from most every interview I have heard it seems that the mentors have been the guys who in the past few years made the transition from the AHL (Sutter, Dwyer, Larose).
From most of the interviews I remember the kids say the most of the veterans keep to themselves and their families. They aren’t doing everything together like a tight-knit college team. Just because he’s old doesn’t mean he is a good hockey coach….
Can’t speak for in the locker room, but seems like he’s always pointing things out and talking shop with them when they show him on the bench…
by Raccoon Fink on Apr 10, 2010 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions
We must be watching different interviews. Brindy has housed AHLers during the summer to help them with conditioning. I remember interviews where the Coles or Whitneys host Thanksgiving dinners for the younger players that don’t have families in the area. I can’t remember ever hearing a younger player say the veterans keep to themselves.
"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."
The question we have to ask ourselves with Cole is , at that price , with those numbers who would take him, and unless some GM is coming in off a bender i would say its a pretty safe bet nobody would.
I don’t know that it’s nobody. Another GM may want to move an overpriced defensemen on a one-year deal for an overpriced forward on a one-year deal. Calgary could be a place here.
I just wish JR would have given up Ray Whitney for Lent.
Trading Cole
I agree with C-Leaguer and want to give an hypothetical. Florida wants to blow up its team. Nathan Horton has a multi-year contract and Florida wants to dump that contract. Cole’s one year contract is significantly less than Horton’s. I could easily see Florida taking Cole and a third round pick for Horton. Rutherford could keep the cost of Horton by trading Cole and buying out Brind’Amour.
Really? You could see Florida trading their Captain and best player (who plays at a ppg pace) for our trash? Florida would lose their remaining 500 fans.
I agree they want to blow up the team and I think Horton is probably gone, but it would take a lot more than Cole. If they were going to trade away their big name player they would need a big name player back. Probably something more like Pitkanen for Horton + a pick.
Florida Has Not Gotten Big Offers for Horton as Yet
The more Florida needs to blow up its team, the more likely it is that Florida jettisons Horton for a price lower than expected, It is a buying opportunity for Carolina.
I agree and I’d love to have Horton. Staal/Sutter/Horton would be ridiculously strong, maybe even more so than Crosby/Malkin/Staal if Staal boosted his offensive production with a solid winger. I don’t even think they would care about trading in-division, I’d guess they will take the best deal that comes. They need something to happen… Their core just isn’t doing it (as outlined in their memo they sent to their STH near the trade deadline).
I just can’t imagine the struggling Panthers trading their only Star player and get nothing in return. No matter how desperate they get. A trade I could see happening would be Horton for Cole + (one of Boychuk/Bowman/Tlustly). If they got a potential future top-6 guy I think they would take that and we simply have too many potential top-6 wingers. Especially if you want to see Osala up here playing next year.
I’ve also been toying around with the idea of trading our 1st Round Pick one draft from now (2011 draft). Certainly a gamble, but we had the 2nd best record in the East in 2010 and adding a solid Draft pick and a guy like Horton may guarantee us a very late pick. Our bottom 10 finish this year could give it more artificial value than it actually has.
I could see JR playing around with it if Tyler Seguin was involved. Maybe even for Star like Horton.
I could see that as an outside chance. Cole and our 2011 1st for Horton.
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by PackPride17 on Apr 10, 2010 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Sounds like a good deal for both sides. Only downside is if we totally tank next season like we did this one and lose a top pick. Horton is the perfect complimentary big Center we could use (who is signed long term and an affordable price no less).
I can’t see us tanking that bad next season, especially after the way our new team has played the in 2010. Add in a top-draft pick D (Gormley, Gudbranson, Fowler) or a LW like Connolly through the Draft and then trade for a guy like Horton and I just can’t see us failing like we did this year.
Posted this above, but I think what would keep this from happening is both teams being in the same division. If there are no other offers for Horton or if the other offers are much lower than I can see it happen. I just don’t see that as likely though. I think it’s more realistic that Horton ends up out west, or at least out of the division.
I just wish JR would have given up Ray Whitney for Lent.
chad larose. Eric Whitney
These 2 men should be given every opportunity to remain with the Hurricane’s. I know Hockey is like all other professional sports it’s all about the money. I feel these 2 men along with all the others on the team did there job’s very well, They care about there job and when it come’s to loyalty and fan support well. we are hard pressed to find any one else who has earned the support of the caniac nation any more than Chad and Ray have So if there is any employer/ employee loyalty an appreciation of one another it should be shown in the case of these 2 men.
’
robert
Person to go? Paul Maurice.
This is not only about players. It is also about a coach …
All above is my personal opinion.
Thanks,
Andy_S
by Andy_S on Apr 11, 2010 12:08 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
I respectfully disagree. First of all, I am not necessarily saying that Maurice will be in the Hall of Fame as a coach; but in my view, taking a team decimated by injuries, with players at the start of the year who were wretched, such as A. Ward, Brind’Amour, Yelle, and Wallin, and then to take very young players and play from January as the second best team in the Eastern Conference, all the coaches did an admirable job. I didn’t agree with every tactical move the coaching staff made, but the results since January were excellent.
Yea I gotta disagree with you as well. 14 game winless streak, that stinks of a coach who can’t pull his team together during adversity.
No question that different people can reach vastly different conclusions. From my perspective, with the incompetent play of Aaron Ward, the injuries to Pitkanen and Jokinen at the start of the season, and then injuries to Cam Ward and Staal, and the slow, slow start from LaRose, Cole, and Samsonov, and then add the poor play by Brind’Amour, Wallin and Harrison, it had all the makings of a disaster. I don’t know of any coach who could win in the situation. Still, the proof in the coaching will come next season as long as the team arrives healthy from the off-season. With a good draft, the Hurricanes will have the most impressive talent pool they have ever had. Let’s all hope the team is successful — regardless of who is coaching the team.
Yes, a coach could do more
Like putting A.Wards ass in the press box for a game or two. Mo is a ’veteran’s coach’. Things should have been shook up…and they weren’t. Not that I wanted Mo to go ‘Keenan’ on the team, but Jesus, something would have been good.
Go Canes!
Mo’s just happy to have a job, he’s not into making the tough decisions to rock the boat.
by Capt. Stinky on Apr 14, 2010 7:33 AM EDT up reply actions
I, Myself
will be a coward…sit back and watch it all fall into place before i can really say anything…after all my record isn’t so stellar either folks…as many of us guessed wrong..boy did many of us guess wrong one year ago….
" Chadness" is contagious ! Go Canes !!
MO MUST GO
So as much as you can hang this season on (a) JR, (b) Brindy, and © A. Ward, you gotta believe Mo did a HORRIBLE job with that losing streak. At some point he needed to run to JR and scream from the rooftops that the team needed help ASAP, but he played it close to the vest and let the chips fall where they may. He needs to go into the front office and be replaced by a decent game-day coach…
My opinion
look hear me out, this goes down we buy out brindamour for 2mill, which saves us 1mill. since hes contract is 3mill., we dont sign whitney back,we have the 3rd most cap space in the nhl.we say we need a winger to play with staal. there are 2 that are out there marleau and kovalchuk, i know JR doesnt like getting stars via FA which in my opinion is idiotic but you go after one of them you offer marleau a 3 year contract since hes 31, or you offer kovalchuk a 4 or 5 year contract. and if they dont accept. hey atleast you tried i mean it doesnt hurt to try to sign them. but if they do sign we got are winger to play with staal.and we add a great player for are powerplay,and we add our alternate captain. but my opinion on cole is he has great speed he just cant score like he use to, toronto likes cole, so we offer toronto cole and a 2nd round pick for Mikhail Grabovski, and he can play with sutter on the 2nd line. grabvoski is a good player and has great speed,and by trading cole we get a player that is 26 years old which is way younger than cole.and we shed salary. but thats my opinion you guys tell me what you think
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