Canes Country's Guide to the Hurricanes Training Camp: Group B

by Carolyn Christians on Sep 17, 2010 1:42 PM EDT

Earlier today I posted the Canes Country Guide to Group A, featuring the youngest and newest of the Hurricanes 2010 Training Camp. Here are the rest of the players who will be competing for a spot in the NHL lockerroom over the season.

Position Battles to watch

With only two forwards locked in their depth-chart positions, out of a minimum of twelve, this is going to be one competitive camp. Eric Staal will be the first line centerman. Brandon Sutter will center the second line. After that - watch and we'll find out. The most critical choices for the Hurricanes' coaches is who will flank these two at their wings and complete the Top-six. Who will give the most return, not only as a top producer individually, but also the best match of skills and style of these #1 and #2 guys?

If I had to identify the position which will become the most intriguing battle over the next two weeks, I'd go with third line center. Among those those now practicing as Group B, the leading candidates are Jussi Jokinen and Patrick Dwyer, with a mention to Tuomo Ruutu. But it's been well known for weeks that the front-runners to pivot the third line would be found among the young guns practicing as "Group A". Zac Dalpe and Riley Nash have been the lead candidates in conversations all summer. And Jon Matsumoto can't be ignored. Last, consider this, when Coach Jeff Daniels looked to switch up the lines in Traverse City earlier this week, it wasn't Dalpe centering the top line, rather Jeff Skinner.

Does the 18-year old have what it takes to play aggressively at both ends of the ice? The Kitchener Record had this story talking to both Rod Brind`Amour, a former Selke winner who might have a few thoughts on the matter, and Skinner on Monday. The [Kitchener] Record.com: Brind’Amour guides Skinner through pro camp "Everything he’s going through, I’ve been there," said Brind’Amour, the just-retired NHL centre and new director of forwards development for Carolina. "I was that shy kid once. I think I can relate to him really well."

After the jump, a few more links previewing Camp, then a look at the facts and figures of those who are (at the moment) part of "Group B". Here again, I'll link you to the downloadable .pdf version of Canes Country's Guide to Training Camp for you to print out and take with you as you head to the RBC tomorrow or for the next week.

**UPDATE: For more of my projections on who to watch at this year's camp, you can check out the Canes section here: Training Camp Battles: Southeast Division - ProHockeyTalk - NBC Sports The pressure's on Coaches Paul Maurice and Ron Francis to find the right mix of wings to complete the top six and optimize the talents of Staal and Sutter. And then finish the job by assembling the bottom six from scratch.

Young Hurricanes have plenty to prove - NewsObserver.com In the Carolina Hurricanes' locker room at the RecZone, the two facing end lockers closest to the doors once were occupied by forwards Rod Brind'Amour and Ray Whitney, befitting their status as veterans and team leaders.

Training Camp: What to Watch For - Carolina Hurricanes -Tracking the Storm: With the on-ice portion of training camp set to start this Saturday, here’s a list of things to keep an eye on as camp progresses.

Group A up close, from this morning. Canes Country's Guide to the Hurricanes Training Camp: Group A - Canes Country There will be a lot of new names and faces this year. Canes Country has a full guide to Camp including a downloadable .pdf to print out to take with you.

Puck Drops - Canes sign NC native Patrick O'Sullivan to one-year deal Brian LeBlanc writes on the what the announcement of O'Sullivan's contract means to both the new Canes player and those already here.

Finally, this is only a teaser of a more in-depth interview forthcoming, but Hockeybuzz's prospects blogger, Julie Robenhymer sat down with recently-signed NCAA centers Zac Dalpe and Riley Nash Monday and posted a very funny out-take video here. HockeyBuzz.com - Julie Robenhymer - Traverse City Prospect Tournament Notes

Group B

A quick census of Group B:

(not including last minute addition of Patrick O'Sullivan, since his group placement was not available at this time)

** UPDATE: O'Sullivan will be wearing Jersey #8 and skate with Group B today.

Twenty-two players: 12 Forwards, 8 Defensemen, 2 Goaltenders. (**With O'Sullivan, it's now 23 players, 13 forwards.)

Age: This group is an average age of 26 years, 7 months. Zach Boychuk is the youngest at 20 years, 11 months; Joe Corvo is the oldest, at 33 years, 3 months. (Group A averaged 22 years, 4 months with none older than 25 years of age.)

Nationality: 9 were born in Canada, 7 in the US and there are 6 European-born players. I counted Brandon Sutter as US born, though he spent much of his life in Canada, and played for Team Canada's World Junior teams.

Height: Anton Babchuk is the tallest, listed at 6' 5" while Sergei Samsonov steps in at 5'-8" .

Weight: According to the numbers available now, Tim Gleason is heaviest at 217 lbs. and Patrick Dwyer is the lightest at 175 lbs. Repeating what I wrote this morning, since they are weighing in today, after a summer of weight management and training, I suspect these numbers are subject to change.

Our downloadable .pdf version: With photos and few more familiar names, it's ready to print-and-go. Here's the link once more: Canes Country's Guide to 2010 Training Camp

GROUP "B" (as of 9/17/10)

#	NAME , HT/WT, DOB & Birthplace	how acquired, 09/10 Team, Contract	Notes
FORWARDS
11	ZACH BOYCHUK	08 - 1st rnd	09-10 stat line:
	5' 10", 185 lbs	Albany/ Carolina	Albany: 52 games, 15 G, 21 A, 36 P
	10/4/1989	Albany/ Carolina	Carolina: 31 games, 3 G, 1 A, +1
	AIRDRIE, AB, CAN	2-Way
12	ERIC STAAL "C"	03 - 1st rnd	09-10 stat line:
	6' 4", 205 lbs	Carolina	70 games, 29 G, 41 A, 70 P
	10/29/1984	Carolina	Lock for first line Center, named Captain Jan 21, 2010
	THUNDER BAY, ON, CAN	1-way	Lock for first line Center, named Captain Jan 21, 2010
14	SERGEI SAMSONOV	Trade w/CHI	09-10 stat line:
	5' 8", 188 lbs	Carolina	72 games, 14 G, 15 A, 29 P
	10/27/1978	Carolina	Calder trophy - '98, in contract year. Oldest among forwards.
	MOSCOW, RUS	1-way
15	TUOMO RUUTU	Trade w/CHI	09-10 stat line:
	6' 0", 205 lbs	Carolina	54 games, 14 G, 21 A, 35 P
	2/16/1983	Carolina	Won bronze w/ Team Finland. Had shoulder surgery in March.
	VANTAA, FIN	1-way
16	BRANDON SUTTER	07- 1st rnd	09-10 stat line:
	6' 3", 183 lbs	Albany/ Carolina	72 games, 21 G, 19 A, 40 P
	2/14/1989	Albany/ Carolina	Lock for 2nd line Center, breakout year last season, + only 2 PIM
	HUNTINGTON, NY, USA	2-Way
19	JIRI TLUSTY	Trade w/TOR	A first round pick in 2006, acquired in trade for Paradis. Tlusty re-habbing after knee injury during the Calder Cup playoffs / (ACL surgery)
	6' 0", 209 lbs	Albany/ Carolina
	3/16/1988	Albany/ Carolina
	SLANY, CZE	1-way
21	DRAYSON BOWMAN	07 - 3rd rnd	09-10 stat line:
	6' 1", 190 lbs	Albany/ Carolina	Albany: 56 games, 17 G, 15 A, 32 P
	3/8/1989	Albany/ Carolina	Carolina: 9 games, 2 G, 0 A, 2 P
	GRAND RAPIDS, MI, USA	2-Way
26	ERIK COLE	98 - 3rd rnd	09-10 stat line:
	6' 2", 205 lbs	Carolina	40 games, 11 G, 5 A,16 P
	11/6/1978	Carolina	An injury-filled 09-10 season, ready for stronger contract year
	OSWEGO, NY, USA	1-way
29	TOM KOSTOPOULOS	UFA, 2009	09-10 stat line:
	6' 0", 200 lbs	Carolina	82 games, 8 G, 13 A, 21 P
	1/24/1979	Carolina	Only Cane to play 82 games, and finished with top +/-. Top PIM too.
	MISSISSAUGA, ON, CAN	1-way
36	JUSSI JOKINEN	Trade w/TBL	09-10 stat line:
	5' 11", 198 lbs	Carolina	81 games, 30 G, 35 A, 65 P
	4/1/1983	Carolina	After a career best season, may be a C or LW this season
	KALAJOKI, FIN	1-way
39	PATRICK DWYER	UFA 2006	09-10 stat line:
	5' 11", 175 lbs	Albany/ Carolina	Albany: 23 games, 11 G, 8 A, 19 P
	6/22/1983	Albany/ Carolina	Carolina: 58 games, 7 G, 5 A, 12 P
	SPOKANE, WA, USA	2-Way	Expecting 2nd child in late Sept.
59	CHAD LAROSE	UFA - 2003	09-10 stat line:
	5' 10", 181 lbs	Carolina	56 games, 11 G, 17 A, 28 P
	3/27/1982	Carolina	Undrafted, yet regarded a leader. Brind`Amour training protégé.
	FRASER, MI, USA	1-way

DEFENSEMEN
4	JAMIE McBAIN	06 - 2nd rnd	09-10 stat line:
	6'-2", 200 lbs	Albany/ Carolina	Albany: 70 games, 29 G, 41 A, 70 P
	2/25/1988	Albany/ Carolina	Carolina: 14 games, 3 G, 7 A, 10 P
	EDINA, MN, USA	2-Way	High expections, now in jersey #4
6	TIM GLEASON	Trade w/LAK	09-10 stat line:
	6' 0", 217 lbs	Carolina	61 games, 5 G, 14 A, 29 P
	1/29/1983	Carolina	Won silver w/Team USA, missed end of season: broken foot.
	CLAWSON, MI, USA	1-way
25	JONI PITKANEN	Trade w/EDM	09-10 stat line:
	6' 3", 210 lbs	Carolina	71 games, 6 G, 40 A, 46 P
	9/19/1983	Carolina	Led NHL for TOI/game 09-10. Won bronze w/Team FIN. Contract year.
	OULU, FIN	1-way
27	BRETT CARSON	04, 4th rnd	09-10 stat line:
	6' 4", 210 lbs	Albany/ Carolina	Albany: 14 games, 3 G, 8 A, 11 P
	11/29/1985	Albany/ Carolina	Carolina: 54 games, 2 G, 10 A, 12 P
	REGINA, SK, CAN	2-Way
28	BRYAN RODNEY	UFA - 2008	09-10 stat line:
	6' 0", 195 lbs	Albany/ Carolina	Albany: 54 games, 7 G, ? A, ? P
	4/22/1984	Albany/ Carolina	Carolina: 22 games, 1 G, 10 A, 11 P
	LONDON, ON, CAN	2-Way	Named as AHL All-Star 2010
33	ANTON BABCHUK	Trade 2/CHI	After a season in the KHL, Babchuk returns to NC with his booming slapshot and his wife and infant son, Anton Jr, born July 1.
	6' 5", 212 lbs	Avantgard Omsk (KHL)
	5/6/1984	Avantgard Omsk (KHL)
	KIEV, UKR	1-way
44	JAY HARRISON	UFA, 2009	09-10 stat line:
	6'-4", 211 lbs	Albany/ Carolina	Albany: 32 games, 2 G, 12 A, 14 P
	11/3/1982	Albany/ Carolina	Carolina: 38 games, 1 G, 5 A, 6 P
	OSHAWA, ON, CAN	1-way
77	JOE CORVO	UFA, 7/2010	09-10 stat line:
	6' 0", 204 lbs	Carolina/ Washington	Carolina: 34 games, 4 G, 8 A, 12 P
	6/20/1977	Carolina/ Washington	Capitals: 18 games, 2 G, 4 A, 6 P
	OAK PARK, IL, USA	1-way	At 33, oldest man on the team.

GOALTENDERS
30	CAM WARD	08 - 1st rnd	09-10 stat line:
	6' 1", 185 lbs	Carolina	47 games, 18-23-5
	2/29/1984		2.69 GAA, .916 SV%
	SASKATOON, SK, CAN	2-Way	#1 Question: How does his back look?
60	JUSTIN PETERS	04 - 2nd rnd	09-10 stat line:
	6' 1", 205 lbs	Albany/ Carolina	Carolina: 9 games, 6-3-0
	8/30/1986	Albany/ Carolina	2.81 GAA, .924 SV%
	BLYTH, ON, CAN	2-Way	Named as AHL All-Star 2010

The new Canes Country Calendar linked on the front page is kept up to date with practice information and games as well. The Schedule for Group B Practices during the upcoming week is as follows:

Date	Time	Place
Sat, Sep 18, 2010	11:30	RBC
Sun, Sep 19, 2010	9:00am	RecZone
Mon, Sep 20, 2010	11:00am	RBC
Tue, Sep 21, 2010	GAMEDAY	RBC
Wed, Sep 22, 2010	9:00am	RBC
Thu, Sep 23, 2010	GAMEDAY	RBC
Fri, Sep 24, 2010	GAMEDAY	RBC
Sat, Sep 25, 2010	GAMEDAY	RBC
Sun, Sep 26, 2010	Team Practice	RecZone

Management has made it clear that the group assignments for the players may (and in all likelihood will) change daily for some players, so keep an eye out for updates on twitter or in the comments.

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Comments

Another great job

previewing the ever exciting camp! Thanks for group B.

by Hockeydog on Sep 17, 2010 2:55 PM EDT reply actions

+25 !!!!!!!!

HeHehe !!

And if it Aint Hockey,It Aint Nothin !!
That Checkers 3rd Sweater ROCKS !!!

by CaniacSteve on Sep 17, 2010 3:43 PM EDT reply actions

Off topic - sorry

Has any 12 game ticket-holders received their tickets yet? I know full and 26 game ticket packets have been mailed out but didn’t know when us 12 game holders ahould expect to see ours arrive.

Yeah, well, you know, that's just like, uh, your opinion, man.

by anonymousJ on Sep 17, 2010 6:12 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Karen,

I received my 26 game pack yesterday, but my 12 game pack was not included in the mailing. Was that sent separately? Should I expect it USPS, or Fedex again?

Regards

We will be sending out the 12 game plans from our office via Fedex next week. Thanks,

Karen M. Prince
Ticket Sales Assistant

by darman1484 on Sep 17, 2010 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Cool, thanks a bunch!

Yeah, well, you know, that's just like, uh, your opinion, man.

by anonymousJ on Sep 17, 2010 8:07 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Patty O

Wonder what group he’ll skate with…

by Caniac1026 on Sep 18, 2010 8:25 AM EDT reply actions

And what number…

Twitter @HMof2

by Carolyn Christians on Sep 18, 2010 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions

O'Sullivan #8 11:30 am group

As per @MikeSundheim O’Sullivan skates at 11:30 am, wears #8

by abramsdoug on Sep 18, 2010 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions

ROSTER

sooooo as we get closer to preseason/season, I was just wondering everyones thoughts on the roster. I was thinking skinner and dalpe both might play this year but with the signing of o’sully, now I’m pretty puzzed. POST your idea on what u think the lines will look like!!!

by RU4RU on Sep 18, 2010 10:53 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Lines 2010-2011

I think Skinner and Dalpe have inside track, practice today w kids showed how close competition is for spots.

by abramsdoug on Sep 18, 2010 11:14 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Baffling until they play some preseason games and maybe beyond

Analyzing the roster is highly dependent on the eye of the beholder. To my eyes, there are just too many forwards who are NHL players or appear poised to be, especially with O’Sullivan added and if Skinner is signed. That’s good for the Canes but probably doesn’t look good to the other young prospects who’ve been the focus of much of the speculation over the summer.

Why add another vet forward when you appear to have enough vets and lots of good prospects? All we can do is speculate. Does JR have a trade lined up to move one or more of the vet forwards? Has the talk of open slots for the kids been a sham with the real plan to park everybody in Charlotte for another year? Is there really room for only one prospect and that’s Skinner if they sign him? At this point, anything seems possible.

However, what seems least likely is the kind of rapid transition envisioned over the summer to a team that includes Dalpe, Bowman and some of the other top prospects. Adding another veteran forward at this stage raises extreme doubts about that possibility—unless there’s already a trade lined up but waiting for the trading partner to resolve salary cap issues or the like.

Count the forward spots and the personnel. Suppose the fourth line is Dwyer-O’Sullivan-Kostopolous and the first is Jokinen-Staal-Ruutu. If Tlusty is healthy enough to play, put him on the second line with Sutter and Boychuk. That leaves three open slots without mentioning Samsonov, Cole and LaRose. Barring a trade, they are playing somewhere. That leaves zero open spots.

Sign Skinner—which it sounds as though the Canes will do—and send Dwyer to Charlotte. There’s still no room for anybody else. The only way onto the roster for Dalpe, Bowman, Nash, Matsumoto, Samson or Osala is for the Canes to remove Samsonov, Cole, LaRose or O’Sullivan, or to send Boychuk or Tlusty or O’Sullivan to Charlotte instead of them. Longshots like Dodge and Terry have no chance.

One other possibility, hard to quantify until some preseason games are played, is that the Canes don’t want to play Ruutu and Tlusty until they are fully recovered from injuries and at this point they are not healthy. Putting one or both of those players on the injured list may allow early NHL games for, say, Dalpe and Bowman.

I guess we should also consider the possibility that the Canes are just taking rational precautions against the kind of collapse-by-injury that they experienced early last year. They are assuming that they will lose multiple forwards to injury and want to be able to plug in NHL-caliber replacements as needed. If that’s the real thinking, it seems smart, and they’ve achieved greater depth at bargain rates. But if all the vets are ready to play, including newly signed players like O’Sullivan. six or more young forward prospects are fighting for either one slot or none.

Finally, the Canes may think they already have enough youth in the line-up or perhaps too much. Boychuk, Sutter and Tlusty are all quite young and I counted them with the NHL vets with roster spots locked up. Most of the other vets are in their mid-twenties, not their late thirties, and O’Sullivan adds to that group in the mid-twenties. In that sense, the Canes have already made a successful transition to a younger roster with or without Skinner, Dalpe, Bowman, Nash, etc. It still feels a little odd to me as a fan because I’ve built up expectations for seeing more of the prospects get a real shot this year with the Canes. Barring trades, fewer of the prospects are going to get a real shot than I hoped. I would really like to see what Skinner, Dalpe, Bowman and Nash can do in the NHL, and without sacrificing TOI for Boychuk or Tlusty. But I have to concede that what matters more than indulging my curiosity about prospects is putting the strongest team on the ice while making the transition to a younger team. Even without most of the prospects I’m dying to see play for the Canes, the Canes are making that transition.

If I were Samsonov, LaRose, Cole or Dwyer, I’d keep my bags packed. By reason of age or talent level, they seem like the most endangered logs in the logjam.

by curiouscanesfan on Sep 18, 2010 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Well. Almost a James-Joycian stream of consciousness rap there, but I certainly enjoyed it.

Welcome to my world view, but I’ve admittedly been counting heads a bit more closely than some.

What can I say? I’m just a detail guy. :-D

Don’t have much to add to what you’ve said, but to caution Patience for everyone.

This year will be fun…but it’s not The Year. Not yet.

Best thing for everyone is to stuff as many hungry prospects onto that Checkers team as we can, let Jeff Daniels and the Player Development crew have a crack at them, and bring ’em up to Raleigh as often as we can.

We ought to be working that IR list until Gary Bettman himself is calling JR to ask “WTF?”. :-D

Let the Checkers win the Calder Cup, if possible. And then bring on all that brimming self-confidence and trust in one another to the Canes locker room as the UFA contracts expire and/or trade deadline deals are completed.

I see nothing but upside. In asset terms, the Canes are wealthy.

Here we are now...entertain us.

by Elsker on Sep 18, 2010 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Good thoughts on the Checkers to introduce them to the Charlotte market. With Panthers and Bobcats struggling, winning will feel good for a change.

Samsonov missed practice and is day-to-day with some “ailment” according to Bob’s tweet. Tlusty should be skating with the group next week. (wonder when they’ll start playing him in the preseason games – no hurry as far as I’m concerned.)

Twitter @HMof2

by Carolyn Christians on Sep 18, 2010 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions

No hurry with Tlusty

Agree there’s no need to rush Tlusty back. Maybe that is the key to understanding this roster. No need to send LaRose and Staal and Ruutu onto the ice when they’re clearly not themselves. None of the young guys is going to truly fill Staal’s and Ruutu’s roles, but some of the young guys will be better than the injured stars, and will let the stars heal faster. Maybe we should focus on for once having real depth instead of who’s going to win the fight for very scarce forward spots.

by curiouscanesfan on Sep 18, 2010 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

My rap was more like stream of unconsciousness, Elsker. I was typing without benefit of caffiene.

I think you have been ahead of the rest of us in understanding the Canes’ thinking with this roster. The O’Sullivan acquisition is what made me see the light.

by curiouscanesfan on Sep 18, 2010 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Jokinen-Staal-Cole
Boychuk-Sutter-Ruutu
O’Sullivan-Dalpe-LaRose (this line would worry me since there isn’t a lot of size on it)
Samsonov-Nash-Kostoploulos

Gleason-Corvo
Pitkanen-McBain
Babchuk-Carson

I have no idea when Tlusty comes back where he will be slotted. It’s a crapshoot but its great to finally have a problem of too many NHL-caliber forwards. Who knows? It has gotten mighty crowded and Charlotte ought to be a good team.

Yeah, well, you know, that's just like, uh, your opinion, man.

by anonymousJ on Sep 18, 2010 12:44 PM EDT reply actions

that should have been a reply to you RU4RU

Yeah, well, you know, that's just like, uh, your opinion, man.

by anonymousJ on Sep 18, 2010 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions

my roster is a tad bit risky but would love to see:
Jokinen-Staal-Skinner
Boychuk-Sutter-Ruutu
LaRose-Dalpe-Cole
Tlusty-O’Sullivan-Kostopoulos
(I believe Samsonov will be traded b4 opening day)

And same d-corps as above
--would LOVE to see this roster——

by RU4RU on Sep 18, 2010 2:20 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I don’t see any of the young guys on the team with the exception of Dalpe and Boychuk. Skinner is definitely a wildcard though. I see Nash on the opening day roster but I feel he will be sent down to Charlotte when Tlusty gets healthy. I don’t mind seeing a lot of the prospect spend a year in Charlotte and come up as injuries occur during the season for the same reasons as Elsker states above. I do see a lot of the young guys on the roster next year, 2011-2012 as I doubt we resign Samsonov and maybe some others. I would like to see Samsonov shipped before the season but I fear we wouldn’t get anything at all for him right now.

Yeah, well, you know, that's just like, uh, your opinion, man.

by anonymousJ on Sep 18, 2010 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Jokinen-Staal-Cole
Ruutu-Sutter-Dalpe
Tlusty-Boychuk-LaRose
Samsonov-Mosumoto(sp?)-Kostopoulos

Gleason-Corvo
Pitkanen-Babchuk
Carson-McBain

Triple Gold Juice - It's Potent and Guaranteed to Help You Score!

by PackPride17 on Sep 18, 2010 2:58 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Branecky just posted a lengthy piece talking w/Maurice after practice.

Talks about Gleason and Babchuk. Also some on Skinner and how from now on the groups will be mixed more. Today was set up for the benefit of the Caniac Carnival audience.

"It’s going to be a challenge for us, as coaches, to make sure our veteran players, that we know are on the team, get enough to be ready, and that we get an opportunity to look at these younger guys because a lot of them are going to contest for jobs," said Maurice.

Branecky used the word dazzling and Skinner in a sentence together, for like the 20th time I’ve read them paired since June. If Tripp picks it up I believe we have a potential new entry for Tripp Tracy Bingo.

Twitter @HMof2

by Carolyn Christians on Sep 18, 2010 2:25 PM EDT reply actions

thanks hockeymom!

Its great to hear that Babchuk is playing with some physicality – we are going to need that on the back-end this year. I just hope he carries that over to regular season.

Yeah, well, you know, that's just like, uh, your opinion, man.

by anonymousJ on Sep 18, 2010 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions

And Canes Now has this too:

More on Gleason’s big hitting and some comments from Skinner.

Twitter @HMof2

by Carolyn Christians on Sep 18, 2010 2:34 PM EDT reply actions

Todays Practices at the RBC

Both practices were very intense and physical. There was almost a playoff feel to the RBC; and the crowd was large and vocal. Paul Maurice really seemed to be energized in a very positive way; and particularly when coaching the young Canes. LaRose is emerging as a team leader. He came out and had the crowd going with an interview with Forslund prior to practice. LaRose was also chirping almost the entire time during practice.

One of the key statements was made without a word when Gleason leveled Boychuk in a one on one drill. Boychuk got up the next round and responded by decking a defender, keeping the puck, and making a great move to get free to score. My reaction to Gleason’s hit was he was putting his foot down and saying, “we’ll all be friends after practice, but on the ice, you all better bring it because we are having no mercy on anybody.”

Nobody was giving an inch in the practices; and to a person every player had on their game faces. O’Sullivan had some great scores; and has an amazingly quick and accurate shot. As if to respond to O’Sullivan, Bowman at at least two great scores in drills. O’Sullivan has all the skill in the world; and if he buys into playing hard defense and battles for pucks like a wild man, he could really help the Hurricanes.

These practices were extremely fun; and I hope more people from CC will come and watch. We were all tweeting during the practices; and I noticed that there was a strong wireless signal.

by abramsdoug on Sep 18, 2010 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Have to admit to living vicariously through your Twitter feed from the RBC today, so thanks for the flavor-of-the-practice that you imparted.

We’re rich! We’re rich! :-D

But, honestly…we are. :-)

Here we are now...entertain us.

by Elsker on Sep 18, 2010 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree that today’s training camp practice was VERY intense, but from my perspective it was also still very upbeat and even had a light-heartedness to it. Maybe because of the Carnival, but there was definitely a festive vibe. There were a lot of smiles on the ice along with the intensity, as though the players actually enjoyed being out there and working as hard as they did (and they were worked hard). It was relaxed versus uptight. Didn’t see a lot of stick-gripping. Loved the one-on-one battles, guys were no holds barred. The shootout was definitely for the benefit of the fans. And Pete’s already had them running speed and stamina drills over at the RecZone for a good week now so by today they’re already starting to look like they’re used to it.

Last year was my first live visit to training camp, from today’s event it was a night and day difference.

Phoblographer and Finn Aficionado
SISU

by Jamie Kellner on Sep 18, 2010 7:55 PM EDT reply actions

The Postive Energy

LTD is completely correct. Although everybody was intense on the ice, there was the kind of positive energy that flowed from the ice to the RBC crowd and from the RBC crowd to the ice as if it were during the playoffs. Maurice set the tone, I thought, with being intense but very happy at the level of commitment. I also got the feeling that LaRose’s and Ruutu’s upbeat personalities somewhat set the tone for the players.

I also think one can’t underestimate the positive impact of having young, enthusiastic players such as Sutter, Boychuk, Bowman, Dalpe, McBain, Carson, etc. who show in all they do that they love to play hockey and that they want to make a positive impression on the coaches, their teammates and the fans. It was the kind of environment, I think, that made all the fans who were there really want to get back to more practices.

by abramsdoug on Sep 18, 2010 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Skinner's Energy

Skinner has a level of energy and maturity that is pretty remarkable for an 18 year old. Every time he got close to the puck, it seemed that the level of energy in the RBC went up noticeably. It’s way too soon for me to tell from one practice much about any one player, but the intangibles for Skinner are really dramatic. He struck me as the kind of highly motivated, highly skilled player that teammates, coaches, and fans would love to have on any team.

by abramsdoug on Sep 18, 2010 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Team Identity

I’m thinking we’re starting to get one.

In any org, everything comes from the top downward. If you see it pervasively through the org, I guarantee you that it exists in more pure form at the top.

The Canes are no different, and the somber, stoic veteran-heavy locker room that planted its roots in the ’02 Cup run and then morphed into the ’06 Cup winning team with an infusion of even more veteran experience, has now all dissipated except for the very youngest of its elements.

The mood is now lightened. The core has been together for a while and consists solely of either homegrown draftees or targeted trades brought into a nurturing environment.

And, Caniac Nation is part of that nurturing environment. The interaction of the fan base and the team is a tangible thing, not only in events such as today, but in mass-frenzy super-organism crowd form to help form that mystic known as “home ice advantage”.

For a lot of reasons that we could discuss, the home crowd here doesn’t give up easy, and always responds positively and encouragingly to effort, even when unsuccessful.

The celebrated come-from-behind victories of the past are now also part of the oral tradition of our core, ready to impart to the youth when it’s time to “say what needs to be said” in the room before third period or overtime begins.

But more and more, it’s becoming easier to define what it means to be a Cane.
- character is important (“we acquire character” – JR)
- fitness is a given, both nutritionally and physically
- we don’t give up…we just don’t
- and now Mo emphasizes the formerly unspoken; “we compete for the puck”

Yes, please let that be what it means to be a Cane

Here we are now...entertain us.

by Elsker on Sep 18, 2010 10:19 PM EDT reply actions

“For a lot of reasons that we could discuss, the home crowd here doesn’t give up easy, and always responds positively and encouragingly to effort, even when unsuccessful.”

I was at the last home game against the Canadiens last season and was extremely excited to see the fans and the RBC so electric. I know Staal had a hat-trick and we won the game but seeing the crowd give the team a standing ovation to the players was something to see. I don’t know how many crowds would gave a standing ovation to a team that had its worse losing streak that season and was out of the playoff picture pretty much from the get-go. It made me proud to be a Caniac knowing that even though we weren’t going to the playoffs that the fans appreciated the hard-work and never-quit attitude of the players. I think the players appreciated that too…I know JR was proud that fans stuck with them and gave them that standing O.

Yeah, well, you know, that's just like, uh, your opinion, man.

by anonymousJ on Sep 18, 2010 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Birth of a Caniac Nation

God Bless the fans that made the drive to Greensboro to watch the newly arrived Carolina Hurricanes. I didn’t pick them up until they came home to Raleigh, so missed the team’s first playoff appearance in ’99 against their old Whaler nemesis, Boston. Led by newly-acquired Captain Ron Francis, they won their division for first franchise appearance since ’92, but lost the series 4-2.

But I was around for the team’s second appearance in the playoffs in 2001, when they secured the eighth spot and drew the top-ranked Devils.

Down quickly 3-0 (1 goal to their 11 goals) to a Brodeur-in-his-peak Devil team featuring Scott Stevens as their blueline head-hunter (Ron Francis and Shane Willis both knocked out with concussions), the team fought back hard with their backs against the wall in front of the home crowd to win Game 4 3-2 in OT (Rod Brind’Amour with the GW goal).

They then went on to win Game 5 in Jersey 3-2 (Vasicek, Kapanen, O’Neill) with beloved Arturs Irbe the big hero, to bring the series home to a now fawning and raucous crowd.

We lost Game 6 5-1 with all of their guns blazing. But, an amazing thing spontaneously happened toward the end of that game. By my memory, at somewhere between the one-and-a-half minute mark and the two minute mark, with lots of game left to play, the crowd almost as one began to rise and applaud.

The noise level was sustained and loud, not record-breaking 2006 loud, but loud, coming from mostly sustained applause moreso than whistles and yells.

A true standing ovation for a job well-done…for not quitting…for persevering even though the Captain went down, knocked out by the hated face of the enemy…for bringing it home so that we could have this moment together…for not losing on the road, but losing as a man at home.

It was a beautiful moment. Caniac Nation, in my opinion, was born that day.

Here we are now...entertain us.

by Elsker on Sep 19, 2010 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions

The Last Dance

By the way, that standing ovation given to the team at the last home game of the ‘09-’10 season made me proud, too.

Clear communication, us to them. Message sent, message received.

I tell you what, the dam would completely burst and the bond would cement forever if they were to ever break the plane and interact back with the crowd.

Mike Zigomanis, bless his heart, broke the plane in Norfolk during the lockout and applauded the hockey-starved visiting Caniacs that filled one side of the hostile arena as he exited the ice at the end of the game. He did it both nights I was there…and won my respect and fandom no matter where he was afterward.

We do see something similar from some when named one of the game’s stars, applauding the audience as they are applauded.

But, if we were ever to decide as an org that a game-ending gesture from the team to the crowd was a good idea…well, game over. We’re theirs forever. :-D

Here we are now...entertain us.

by Elsker on Sep 19, 2010 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions

But, if we were ever to decide as an org that a game-ending gesture from the team to the crowd was a good idea…well, game over. We’re theirs forever. :-D

I’d kill for a Ranger-esque crowd salute if you will. That would be perfect.

"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."

by caniacgirl on Sep 19, 2010 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions