Brett Carson Signs One-Year, Two-Way Deal
by Bob Wage on Jul 20, 2010 11:08 AM EDT
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PrintThe Carolina Hurricanes finally got what they wanted from former RFA Brett Carson as the defenseman agreed to sign a one-year, two-way contract today. The deal will pay him $500,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL.
Carson had one of the best plus/minus stats on the team last season and ended up playing a solid game in his own end. Jim Rutherford was pleased with the signing and had this quote:
"Brett got his first shot at being a regular on the NHL level last season, and proved that he could provide a consistent, solid presence on our back end," said Rutherford."We’re happy that we were able to get this deal done and bring him back, as this really strengthens the depth of our defense."
The move adds another youngster to the blueline, but Carson provides more of a "defensive mentality" to the group. More analysis about the Canes defense in a bit.
For more details, see the Hurricanes press release after the jump:
Carson, 24, established NHL career highs in games played (54), goals (2), assists (10) and points (12) for Carolina in 2009-10. The Regina, Sask., native ranked second among Hurricanes skaters in plus/minus, with a plus-5 rating, and was fourth on the team in blocked shots (89). He scored his first NHL goal on Jan. 10, beating Ottawa’s Pascal LeClaire, and averaged 17:22 in ice time per game. Carson also skated in 14 AHL games with Albany in 2009-10, notching three goals and eight assists (11 points).
Drafted by the Hurricanes in the fourth round, 109th overall, of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Carson (6’4", 210 lbs.) has totaled two goals, 10 assists (12 points) and 16 penalty minutes in 59 career NHL games with the Hurricanes. He has 13 goals, 75 assists (88 points) and 92 penalty minutes in 223 career AHL games, all with Albany.
For more info, check out CH.com.
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YESSSS! I am so relieved to hear this.
Twitter @HMof2
by Carolyn Christians on Jul 20, 2010 11:10 AM EDT reply actions
Hell of a signing. JR gets it done for way cheaper than he could have with a qualifying offer, and we don’t go into the season with Harrison as a 5/6 D-man option.
Win/win.
Carson Re-signing
That is awesome news. I think Carson will earn a spot on the roster out of training camp; and will show he deserves a raise for the 2011-2012 season. Carson is very sound positionally; and if he were to add some bite to his game, he could solidify himself with the Canes for years to come. I see it as a win-win situation. I expect to see Harrison in Charlotte when the season starts.
Gleason/Corvo
Pitkanen/Carson
Babchuk/McBain
Sanguinetti as 7th
That is a very reasonable defense with some depth in Charlotte as well.
No way is Sanguinetti the 7th man, why would you take a prospect, that to many is considered a high level prospect, and put him in the press box. Dude is going to get big AHL minutes, and will be on speed dial to fill in if one of our dozen PMD’s get hurt. Harrison is a likely 7th man, someone to be healthy scratched and counted upon to be the extra d man when Mo feels like/needs to roll with 11 forwards.
by wylde4canes on Jul 20, 2010 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
I think Sanguinetti can be brought up and back to Charlotte without going through waivers; that is what I meant rather than having him healthy scratched. I think Sanguinetti might well work his way into the top six, depending on injuries. Our defensemen are always banged up. I see Sanguinetti as doing the Charlotte to Raleigh and back again shuffle. I think Harrison stays in Charlotte for most of the year like Conboy did. Harrison, I believe, has to be waived to go down to Charlotte, but he wasn’t taken last year and is not likely to be taken this year.
Harrison has to pass through waivers and has a one-way deal. Sanguinetti has a two-way deal and doesn’t have to pass through waivers. Just because of those contracts I think it’s more likely that Harrison stays in the box and Sang stays in Charlotte and plays and only comes up when a roster spot needs filled.
Is it possible to be addicted to hockey?
I absolutley agree.
Advance apologies if the contents of this sports-based post offended you. I'm just aiming to educate the masses. My law professor says they're asses.
Panthers '010: Save the Richardson family coffers! We'll take the winning if we stumble into it.
by MichaelProcton on Jul 25, 2010 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Best-case scenario would be someone claiming Harrison on waivers, tho I doubt that will happen. This is why the Harrison signing was so disappointing to me: you now either have to have a superior player (Carson) playing in the AHL, or eat Harrison’s deal b/c they gave him a one-way. I could honestly see a trade in the works — perhaps Babchuk, now under contract — getting a look from a team in need of a d-man. Two teams that jump out are Chicago and San Jose, tho I don’t know that he fills a need for Chicago other than “need a defenseman.” But San Jose is a fit, IMO.
by Cory Lavalette on Jul 20, 2010 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions
My guess is that the Hurricanes send Harrison down to Charlotte and hope he is taken on waivers. I can’t envision the Hurricanes keeping Carson in the AHL after he played so well for the Hurricanes; and the Hurricanes were willing to give Carson a one way before Corvo signed.
No real reason to send Harrison to Charlotte when he’ll get the same coin there. Charlotte has enough d-men that need ice time to take it away so that Harrison can play.
AHL D looks like: Sanguinetti, Borer, Bellmore, Jordan, Lawson, Rodney, Fitzgerald.
by Cory Lavalette on Jul 20, 2010 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions
The Canes could bring back Nic Wallin! Kidding. What would you say would come back? A player or a pick? San Jose has some cap space to work with, so maybe given Babs low cap hit it wouldn’t have to be any salary coming back in return. Maybe JR can finally get that second round pick for Anton!
Is it possible to be addicted to hockey?
Babchuk
Don’t you think the Hurricanes will give Babchuk a chance to show his development before they trade him? If Babchuk improved on defense while at the KHL, his shot is a cannon.
That’s ideal (or a deadline trade moreso), but right now there’s a lot of money invested in the D
by Cory Lavalette on Jul 20, 2010 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
JR was quoted as saying he will play "most, if not all" of the year in Raleigh.
Advance apologies if the contents of this sports-based post offended you. I'm just aiming to educate the masses. My law professor says they're asses.
Panthers '010: Save the Richardson family coffers! We'll take the winning if we stumble into it.
by MichaelProcton on Jul 25, 2010 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Is there a downside guarantee above the AHL salary? Also, that’s a pretty decent AHL salary. Is there an AHL salary chart anywhere? I’d be curious to know how that matches up with the other guys in the AHL.
Is it possible to be addicted to hockey?
All guarantees have been published in the press releases.
I would assume he could get paid at the AHL level all year, but they do not intend for him to be down here.
Advance apologies if the contents of this sports-based post offended you. I'm just aiming to educate the masses. My law professor says they're asses.
Panthers '010: Save the Richardson family coffers! We'll take the winning if we stumble into it.
by MichaelProcton on Jul 25, 2010 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Absolutely awesome news !!!
I’m at a quandry now as to whose name I want to put on the back of my jersey … ???!!!!
Rutherford did this with style and grace – he could’ve gone to arbitration w/ Brett, but JR knows the damage that arbitration does to both the team and the individual … ;) Kudos go out to JR, RF and the rest of the front office staff.
Mr. Carson, if you’re reading this … ? Congrats to you!!! Believe me – I’ll pull for you in Charlotte, but I have a distinct feeling I’m going to have to drive to Raleigh to see you play … !!! That will bode well for you in contract talks for the following year … Work hard over the summer and play “smart” when you’re in Raleigh next season !!!
Speaking of Jerseys...
I have and will keep my “autographed & framed” Black 59 of Chad LaRose Jersey..and i will order next week the new Checkers 3rd ( black )Jersey with either Dodge’s number or Pogge’s number as I’m still mulling it over..Anybody remember tripp’s pro or college sweater numbers…as i don’t want to pick those …hehehe :-}
And if it Aint Hockey,It Aint Nothin !!
That Checkers 3rd Sweater ROCKS !!!
Know he wore Nos. 1 and 31 at a couple diff. stops.
by Cory Lavalette on Jul 20, 2010 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks Cory..
I knew about #1 but wasn’t sure of the other one…now that the canes have 18 Officially on the roster( according to the Canes web site) it looks to be a battle royal for the other 5 and man, I don’t envy the players or the coaches …heck this trainng camp will be even more competive than the last 2 years were…Oh baby…what is it now 58 days left…hehehe…stay cool as it Be 91 here @ my house…C-Ya
And if it Aint Hockey,It Aint Nothin !!
That Checkers 3rd Sweater ROCKS !!!
But i like the
underdog and i think if given the chance Pogge could out play Murphy…not taking anything away from Murph, but still i have seen both play towards the end of last season and while one may have beter stats…I like Pogge’s style…but that & 3.00 bucks will get U a tall cold sweet tea someplace decent !!! hehehe
And if it Aint Hockey,It Aint Nothin !!
That Checkers 3rd Sweater ROCKS !!!
Pogge is shown on the Canes depth chart as #3 behind Ward and Peters. Murphy doesn’t show. I don’t think the depth charts are exactly reliable/accurate, but I still was a little surprised at that.
Twitter @HMof2
by Carolyn Christians on Jul 20, 2010 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions
U saw that 2 HM ?
It really would NOT surprise me that if Pogge bumps Murphy for the #1 spot…but we shall see ..thanks & hows the “puter” working out ?
And if it Aint Hockey,It Aint Nothin !!
That Checkers 3rd Sweater ROCKS !!!
Puter’s working fine, thanks for asking. Still trying to catch up from spending long days helping my mom move.
Also happy to seed they have Carson on the NHL Team roster, not the In the system (prospects) page. But at the moment, they don’t have him in the depth chart. I was curious to see which where he fell in relation to Babchuk, tho presumably above Harrison.
How do they determine L or R defense? I thought ideally a left shot was right defense (and right shot on left D), but I see they have McBain and Pitkanen as the 2nd pair and that rule is reversed.
Twitter @HMof2
by Carolyn Christians on Jul 20, 2010 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Glad you’ve regained a full screen. Went through that smartphone-only phase myself a few weeks ago, which led to two iPads for elskling and I shortly thereafter for more screen real estate in case that happens again.
As for determining left or right defense, I’m not sure there’s a hard rule on that. It comes down to personal preferences and/or team need as to where they skate.
If a right-shot is on the right side, it may be marginally easier to stop a puck coming around the boards, since it can be stopped on the forehand instead of the backhand. So, perhaps someone that’s more defensive in nature might prefer that minor advantage.
On the other hand, an offensive-minded right-shot defenseman might prefer being on the left side, so as to be able to one-time the cross-pass quicker and/or be able to more easily maneuver the puck towards the center of the ice for preferred shooting angles, similar to someone skating their off-wing (like left-shot Cole prefers the right wing for that infamous move of his).
Sometimes D-men will play a different side on the power play than they do 5-on-5 for the same offensive advantage reasons.
Also, I’m not sure how accurate the information on the “depth chart” really is. Seems like I remember seeing Gleason on the left, instead of the right side under which he’s listed. Also, my hazy memory is seeing Corvo on the right side, not the left as he’s listed.
I think most NHL D-men would tell you they can play either side, but I’m also guessing they have a preference, all things being equal.
Unanswered questions are far less dangerous than unquestioned answers.
Good, good signing. I was surprised that Harrison got a deal before Carson, but this is a breath of fresh air. We needed another solid d-man and Harrison wasn’t it. Harrison’s only thing is that he’s willing to fight, but ‘enforcer’ is a dying breed. But, the only way that I see Harrison being traded is in tandem with someone to sweeten the pot (though I don’t think that sweetens it much). You never know though. As the season (and injuries) progresses, I’m sure some team will need a 6/7th d-man for depth.
I just had a thought
IF both Carson & Picard had signed earlier would the Canes kept or resigned Corvo ? My thining is that Corvo may not have been re0signed…or if he was Picard would not have and maybe Picard along with harrison either on the trading block or waver wire…anyone got any ideas or feelings about that ?
And if it Aint Hockey,It Aint Nothin !!
That Checkers 3rd Sweater ROCKS !!!
I’d say no, he wouldn’t have been back. Unless it was near August and he still wasn’t signed and they got him at a huge discount.
by Cory Lavalette on Jul 20, 2010 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions
is the problem that is being spoken about that harrision is costing too much now to play in the AHL with is his one way contract? im a little confused. is this the issue?
"a bit of love"
Yes, Harrison gets paid the same amount, with his one-way contract, regardless of whether he’s in the NHL or the AHL.
So, you are correct it doesn’t “cost us more” to send him down.
But, the point is that it would cost the org more in salary budget to do so, since the two-way contract that would replace him at the NHL level would now be hitting the salary budget at that contract’s NHL rate, instead of its lower AHL rate.
So, to fill out the NHL roster, far better to keep the one-way’s up on the NHL roster and the two-way’s down in the AHL, to the extent practicable.
Unanswered questions are far less dangerous than unquestioned answers.
It would be interesting if the total being paid Harrison, Corvo, and Carson is about the same as the combined initial demands of Carson and Picard.
Their agents probably thought they had JR over a barrel. Signing Harrison took away the barrel. When JR publicly said he could sign an experienced defenseman for what Carson and Picard together were asking, that served notice that their demands had to come down. Signing Corvo put all the leverage in JR’s hands.
Obviously Carson didn’t get lucrative offers from other teams. He had to take what he could get at this stage. It’s probably been a hard lesson for Carson about taking a tough negotiating stance with a team on a shoestring budget.
If Carson and Picard had signed early at JR’s price, the Canes might have neither Corvo nor Harrison.
Wonder where Picard will wind up?
Wonder if JR will trade Corvo in February for a second round pick and resign him next summer?
by curiouscanesfan on Jul 20, 2010 2:20 PM EDT reply actions
I wouldn’t be surprised if Harrison signed the first piece of paper put in front of him that had a one-way deal on it. At this point in his career that’s probably his best bet to crack an NHL roster and keeping getting paid to play. Even if Harrison becomes the seventh defensemen and is in the press box most nights it’s still better for him to be the first call up.
Is it possible to be addicted to hockey?
There’s no way that’s the case. Carson and Picard weren’t asking for much. It was just too much for the Canes b/c of the possible binding arbitration award.
by Cory Lavalette on Jul 20, 2010 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree with ya Cory
Because and while Harrison is a known and somewhat proven commodity and many think or feel Carson on his own merits was and is a better deal, but harrison did sign first and the first sheet of paper in front of him…and carson will have to prove that he can skate aroubnd harrison and the best way to do that is to get points one way or another…On a side note…i wish i could see the actn at camp…Bowman,Dalpe & Osala are going to bring it big time…and ths sessin of traning camp wll be one of the better ones in recent history…later
And if it Aint Hockey,It Aint Nothin !!
That Checkers 3rd Sweater ROCKS !!!
Good point, Cory. Perhaps I should have said the combined arbitration awards instead of the combined demands.
However, JR did say he could get an experienced defenseman for what Carson and Picard were asking. Then he got Corvo for $2 million this year and $2.5 million next. Isn’t Harrison getting $500,000?
If Carson and Picard together were asking for something between $1.5 million and $2 million, the math isn’t far off.
The important thing is that the Canes got Corvo and Carson.
by curiouscanesfan on Jul 20, 2010 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Wonder if JR will trade Corvo in February for a second round pick and resign him next summer?
Corvo is signed to a two-year contract ($2M/$2.5M), so that kind of yo-yo move is not an option for Corvo.
Nonetheless, I suppose he could get traded at the deadline if we’re not a contender and JR has a clear vision of where the D would be the following season without Joe.
The receiving team would have to have a need for a $2.5M D-man the following season, however, in order to take him. Not your typical “rental”.
Unanswered questions are far less dangerous than unquestioned answers.
I was just hoping the Canes could set some kind of record for most 2nd rd draft choices obtained for the same player. In another two or three years, Corvo alone could rebuild the Canes—and still come home.
Whitney got the Canes no draft choices and had to leave town.
by curiouscanesfan on Jul 20, 2010 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
FTFY:
Whitney got the Canes no draft choices and had chose to leave town
Advance apologies if the contents of this sports-based post offended you. I'm just aiming to educate the masses. My law professor says they're asses.
Panthers '010: Save the Richardson family coffers! We'll take the winning if we stumble into it.
by MichaelProcton on Jul 25, 2010 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Also
about Picard…i feel bad for him in that when he came here this past season many like i am sure he did, had hi hopes for him but with the way the canes are shaping up here many of us fans are talking like he is already gone of to Purgetory or Perdition like the guy had leprosy or something…Now i am NOT sure hw he got in the situation he is in…but if he does stay with the canes there in Charlotte I feel he’ll be a player to recon with…got togo as i have to prepare for a road trip to Charlotte tomorrow
And if it Aint Hockey,It Aint Nothin !!
That Checkers 3rd Sweater ROCKS !!!
Picard looks the part—he’s built more like Gleason than the other defensemen are.
by curiouscanesfan on Jul 20, 2010 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
phew
I didn’t want to see Harrison in our top six and I like Carson; he’s a reliable defenseman. Charlotte looks to have a good top four (after Harrison clears wavers) with Sanguinetti, Borer, Rodney, and Harrison. Our top 6 in Raleigh look good too.
I think I’m going to like the defense this year. Wonder if Pitkanen’s going at the deadline.
I don’t think the situation is “Oh my God, we’re stuck with Harrison!” It’s more like, “To make the Canes, Harrison will have to beat out a former number 1 choice of the Rangers, a guy who played well for the Canes last year, and a guy who played well for the Canes before suffering a terrible injury in a bus wreck.” Let’s hope Borer is back in full health and shines in the preseason, Carson is out to prove he deserved a one-way contract, and Sanguinetti wants to show the Rangers they were right to take him in the first round and crazy to let him go. Throw in Harrison and Rodney and perhaps Picard and the competition among the D-men for the bottom spots could be as fierce as among the forwards. It can’t hurt. If Harrison loses the competition, it won’t kill the Canes to send him down. They’ll survive paying his NHL salary for AHL ice time, or losing him on waivers.
ALL of these young D-Men know it’s now or never.
McBain, Pitkanen, and Gleason have locked up three spots. Corvo has another year on his contract, and you can’t rule out Babchuk scoring big and playing better defense after a year in the KHL. Dumoulin, Faulk, Alt, and Biega will soon be breathing down the necks of this year’s crop of hopefuls. This should be a great preseason.
by curiouscanesfan on Jul 20, 2010 5:38 PM EDT reply actions
Good for Carson
I am glad the two side agreed on a deal. I think he quietly played very well once he was called up. I think we focus a lot on the young forwards competing for spots but there sure are a lot of options at the blueline as well. If I recall, Rutherford mentioned Harrison played hurt all/most of last season, and felt last season was not a true display of Harrison’s worth. He does have size, which this team is still somewhat deficient in.
Really going to be wide open with only Corvo, Gleason, and Pitkanen as the only established D-men on the team. McBain is likely but depending on how camp and preseason play out the team may have the luxury of shuttling him back and forth and not forcing his development. JR has a stockpile on the blueline, and more choices are better than less. There could indeed be a trade of a defenseman before the season starts, and if Babychuk doesn’t come into camp ready and able to impress maybe it could be him. Sanguinetti to me is the wild card. If he really impresses in camp/preseason – and his ticket there is solid play in his own end- then JR may need to move a player. I think I am more excited about this pre-season than I was after the Canes won the Cup. Lots O jobs to be had.
wow
In a matter of a month I’ve gone from being horrified by our defensive outlook to somewhat comfortable. Just goes to show that I should wait till summer is over to start evaluating the roster…
by chrisbrasfield on Jul 20, 2010 8:46 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Defense, Defense
What fun would it be to wait for all the various trades and signings? Just think of all the catharsis you would miss.
I’m glad Carson is back. I was really worried about not getting him signed. I think Carson-Sangueitti would be a great “up & coming” 3rd line, but that would leave out McBain and that cannot happen. Could we go back in time and not resign Corvo? It would save us $2M this “restricted budget” season or we could use that money to sign/trade for a top line winger.
Triple Gold Juice - It's Potent and Guaranteed to Help You Score!
by PackPride17 on Jul 20, 2010 9:18 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I won’t retype the good points made above (I’m a little late to the party on this one) but I will say I’m thrilled. Been waiting on this one all summer. Glad he’s staying with the Hurricanes/Checkers. Hoping it’s predominately with the Canes. Thrilled for him last season, but missed seeing him on the Albany ice (not even thinking about the ice in Albany come this fall – shudder).
As excited as I am about Carson signing
there are some weird vibes to the whole situation. Carson took a pay cut, albeit a small one, to re-sign with the Canes. It makes me a little nervous that he couldn’t find a better deal on the open market — I know that UFA contracts are a little down this year, but no one would give him a $600k one-way deal? Either I’m way too excited about his ability or there’s more to the story than meets the eye. Did Carson decide Carolina was where he wanted to be and turn down other deals? Does the “gentleman’s agreement” about not poaching another team’s RFAs apply to RFAs that don’t get qualifying offers?
I don’t mean to look a gift horse in the mouth and I believe 100% that the Canes defense is better with signing Carson, but it just seems a little off that he got no other offers. Maybe it’s just the conspiracy theorist in me.
I agree with what you are saying. Something doesn’t seem right. I would think that some team out there would have been glad to offer a young guy that played pretty good $750K to be a 6th or 7th defenseman. Especially when certain teams are up against the cap and could use a “cheap” guy. Maybe I’m wrong, but I’ll just think this is where he wanted to be playing with that god of a player Eric Staal. :)
Triple Gold Juice - It's Potent and Guaranteed to Help You Score!
by PackPride17 on Jul 20, 2010 9:30 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Carson
The market for young players is very difficult and I think some players’ agents have misread the market. Carson is a player who goes about his job quietly and without fanfare. He is still developing his offensive skills; and he is a positional player more than a beast who leaves havoc in his wake. I can easily imagine Carson seeing that his future works best at Carolina; and that any offers he received were also two way deals.
For Carson, he will get time on the ice in the NHL this season almost certainly and I believe he once again will show he is a steady, dependable defenseman. In other words, no worries, is my take.
My take is that he’s not proven himself yet in the league to get a one-way contract offer from anyone other than JR’s original “low-ball” offer.
Probably should have taken it. But, he didn’t.
Everything else out there was two-way in nature, I suspect. And, if it’s a two-way world, the best two-way deal was here, both financially and socially.
He’s got the $105K AHL base and will surely see some time at the NHL level for some serious bonus money. Someone’s bound to be injured at any given time in the season, and if he’s not made the team out of camp, then surely he’s first call-up.
Unanswered questions are far less dangerous than unquestioned answers.
Points Raised by Paul Branecky
Paul Branecky’s article was quite informative. Carson would have to be waived once he is called up; and Paul Branecky was pretty clear that was not going to happen. It sounds as if the Hurricanes might well carry 8 defensemen on the roster. It also seemed that Jim Rutherford has a price in mind that he could afford without putting other player’s contracts out of balance — $500,000.00.
Here’s a portion of the article:
bq.
The offer agreed upon three weeks later is similar to the one that recently expired, in that it is a two-way deal that would pay him significantly less at the American Hockey League level with Charlotte. However, since he would have to clear waivers for such an assignment due to his age and experience, that assignment may never occur.
"He’s going to play a lot of the season, or all of the season, with the Hurricanes," said Rutherford.
Now the pieces begin to fall into place.
I’ve been struggling with the concept of why it would make sense this season to carry any more than 12 forwards at any given time at the NHL level, especially with Charlotte so close by for reinforcements.
So, the answer is, they won’t. They’ll carry 8 defensemen, instead.
(12 F + 8D + 2G) = 22 player roster.
Unanswered questions are far less dangerous than unquestioned answers.
8 Defensemen in 2010-2011
How do you feel about having 8 defensemen on the roster? It seems to me like a good way to keep a balance of some physical play when needed, Harrison, with some younger defensemen getting NHL minutes, Carson and Sanguinetti. Also, Carson would have to be waived down to Charlotte, and that clearly is not going to happen. Sanguinetti has probably learned as much as he can learn, or at least nearly so, in the AHL. Now he needs to begin the NHL maturation process. I hadn’t anticipated that the Hurricanes would carry 22 players on the roster from the start of the season. I like Carson and think he’ll be in the lineup many, if not most, nights.
If someone non-injured has to sit, I’d personally prefer that to be a defenseman.
I believe they, moreso than forwards, benefit from the press-row view of the game. That’s my view and it maximizes flow-of-the-game observations. Very easy to see plays developing…and unraveling. So a great educational opportunity.
Also, they may be the players, between banging bodies and blocking shots, that could use the most “healthy” downtime to heal.
I believe they could carry a smaller roster than 22, since the league minimum is 20 (is that right?). But JR saying they might carry 8 defensemen (for a total of 22 players) seems like they’ve thought through the scenarios and are already there.
Unanswered questions are far less dangerous than unquestioned answers.
Excellent point about defensemen benefiting from watching from press-row. I had missed that concept entirely. Having read it, it makes complete sense.
They usually have those that are watching the game from up on high sit at the “Canes-defend-twice” northern end of press row anyway.
So, that gives them two periods of watching their fellow defensemen work as defenders and puckmovers, plus the second period where they’re on the attack.
No question it must also help the forwards to have such a comprehensive view of the game, but would seemingly be especially valuable to defensemen who are all about vectors anyway.
Great learning opportunity to watch what works and what doesn’t. Also lets them absorb visiting team’s tendencies.
Unanswered questions are far less dangerous than unquestioned answers.
Vectors
I had to smile to read your comment about vectors. You sound like my older brother trying to explain to me the angles of pursuit I needed to take as a defensive back. He was a very talented middle linebacker who was very cerebral in understanding angles of pursuit and he too called them vectors. On the other hand, I was stupid enough to think I could ignore vectors and just outrun the running backs and receivers. I drove him crazy; and now of course I realize he was 100% right and I was 100% an idiot.
A lot of physics in my background, so yes I tend to see the world this way, both physically and socially, as a matter of fact.
Not only is it important for defensemen to influence (and, heck, ideally control) the angles of attack by moving the action to the sideboards and letting their goalie defend less open net area, but those that can see the ice and all those moving upon it in vector form have a decided advantage.
Francis calls the ability to see the ice in this manner “hockey sense”.
And Gretzky said “A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.”
Being where the puck is going to be takes a intuitive sense of vectors, which can best be gained by watching a lot of hockey.
All of which leads us back to it’s a good thing to send young defensemen up for a bird’s eye view every once in a while to ingrain those instinctive reactions of “if puck is here, I go there” into them.
Unanswered questions are far less dangerous than unquestioned answers.
Not to jump in too much, but this:
"A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be."
is one of my favorite quotes.
Is it possible to be addicted to hockey?
by C-Leaguer on Jul 21, 2010 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
From CH.com:
To take advantage of his depth and avoid the risk of exposing a player on waivers, Rutherford indicated that the Hurricanes may carry as many as eight blue liners on the opening day roster, with draft-day trade acquisition Bobby Sanguinetti also on the radar.
Advance apologies if the contents of this sports-based post offended you. I'm just aiming to educate the masses. My law professor says they're asses.
Panthers '010: Save the Richardson family coffers! We'll take the winning if we stumble into it.
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