I WOULD NEVER VOTE Chad LaRose INTO THE ALL-STAR GAME, BUT I WOULD VOTE TO TRADE HIM

by hockeyjim on Jan 6, 2011 10:27 AM EST

So why do people like Chad LaRose so much? I used to be on the Chad band wagon back when he had a 2 way contract and he was such a dog in everyone's face night in and night out. But since Chad got the Big boy contract, chad has lost all of the first to the puck, im going to be in your face like a flea on a dog, fight fight fight that made me like him so much.

When Chad first got his one way contract we were all still waiting to see if he could steadily put pucks in the net. Not that anyone expected him to compete with stall but I have to say out of all the members of the Canes Chad is the last one I am excited about when he gets a breakaway. That is fine because chad was such a dog on the puck and so in your face that it made up for his defaults but I dont see that anymore.

Now the more pressing issue, with so many of the Rookies looking like they have the stuff to stay in the NHL fulltime that means the canes should get rid of some people and quick.

I WOULD NEVER VOTE CHAD INTO THE ALL-STAR GAME, BUT I WOULD VOTE TO TRADE HIM. It seems we have more options to provide the defensive forward role and some of them actually have some offensive talents as well.

To all the fans that wrote in votes for Chad LaRose to get into the all-star game. YOU CHEATED your best Player CAM WARD.

LETS TRADE CHAD for some prospects and give some of the kids more ice time. Thing is who would ever take on Chads contract (way overpaid).Carolina Hurricanes

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First of all, I don’t know why anyone cares about that voting.

Did it make us look a little bad? Maybe. Did voting really matter in the end? No, the new format makes it basically irrelevant. Will anyone remember this 3 months from now? No.

Speaking only for myself, I like Chad LaRose for who he is off the ice. He always does his best to hit every single kid’s hand as they come out of the locker room, he throws tons of pucks over the glass for kids during the skate, and he almost always signs for fans at their practices. Does he have to do any of that stuff? No, but I think it means a lot to the kids who are growing up on hockey here and I think his small gestures to the fans go a long way to making the game grow in the area. Exceptional kindness and being down to earth in pro sports isn’t the norm and he gives the game a good name.

And honestly, I would love to see him retire as a ‘Cane. I don’t want to extend his one-way contract though, unless management finds a spot for him on one of the lower lines. I think he’s a good presence on the team, but I don’t think he needs to be playing where he has, he’s not a top line guy and to expect him to produce like one is foolish. I think you’d be happier with him if he were on the 4th line. I’d much rather get rid of Samsonov who appears to be a total mismatch currently and who has at least a chance of finding a home on another team.

I would much rather see Cam in the All Star game as well, if that’s any consolation.

by VGG on Jan 6, 2011 11:11 AM EST reply actions

could live my life w/chad larose traded

could live my life with him here as well IF he was on the fourth line. but we have a decent fourth line w/o him, so i say trade him. he whiffed several times last night, passing when he should’ve shot, shooting when he should’ve passed, and in general taking lame-ass wristers from the wing. boooorrrrriiiiinnnggg

"Mo Must STAY! He's the best coach EVER!!!"

by Capt. Stinky on Jan 6, 2011 11:22 AM EST reply actions

"I’d much rather get rid of Samsonov"

While Sammy has played well here and there this season, I think he hold more trade value at the present. I like Rosey as a person and is a great face not only for the Canes but for the sport. He is loved in this community, and does more than anyone knows, I agree that goes a long way in pleasing the market…..I also like Sammy… he does much and always seems to want to please the fans i just think his trade value is higher right now and maybe his time has come to move on like so many of the others who were fan favs…maybe after the All Star game Rosey will fetch a better price (ha ha)

by littlepig on Jan 6, 2011 11:58 AM EST reply actions

I disagree … this is the same Chad that earned his spot in the NHL. He’s just overpaid and the expectations, IMO, are too high. Everything went right when he scored 19 goals, and I doubt he’ll ever get close to that again. But he does serve a role and is a great glue guy. Unless the team is out of the playoff race totally by the deadline, I think they’ll keep him b/c the return wouldn’t be that high, then attempt to re-sign him to a cheaper deal.

CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey

by Cory Lavalette on Jan 6, 2011 12:37 PM EST reply actions

My thoughts, as well. No return will be greater than what he could contribute, both on the ice and off, the remainder of the season.

Too low, too high, just right…the salary will be adjusted to fit the role.

Unless Chad wants to go off somewhere and seek his fortune, JR will use Dwyer, if nothing else, to beat Chad’s agent into submission. Then he’ll invite Chad over to give Uncle Jimmie a hug. :-D

Here we are now...entertain us.

by Elsker on Jan 6, 2011 1:11 PM EST up reply actions

LaRose and the Future

Cory,

If the Canes trade or waive Samsonov that creates one roster spot for a forward. What would your lines look like if you were GM, and you kept LaRose? Who else would you trade or not re-sign? How else does Bowman wind up on the roster? What happens in the Hurricanes draft another forward in the first round who can play immediately?

I don’t have any issue with LaRose on the fourth line; but I can’t see how the Canes can keep Dwyer, Cole, and LaRose. I’d be interested your thoughts and observations on the subject.

by abramsdoug on Jan 6, 2011 1:28 PM EST up reply actions

Agree LaRose always plays hard and is really good at some things. I hope he and the Canes can work out a new contract that pays him as an excellent 4th liner who sometimes plays above that level and provides a spark.

The hard part is liking Dwyer as a player, too. They are so similar that it’s hard to imagine the Canes hanging onto both as kids graduate from Charlotte. I used to think LaRose was clearly a better player than Dwyer. Now I’ve got my doubts. Dwyer keeps improving. LaRose has plateaued.

The Canes also need Carter and Bodie for their size. That’s leaves less room for smaller guys with the Canes keeping a minimum roster.

When push comes to shove, I guess I’d prefer a 4th line of Carter-LaRose-Bodie, but LaRose at a Dwyer price.

by curiouscanesfan on Jan 6, 2011 3:59 PM EST up reply actions

The "Rudy" in us All

Everyone roots for the underdog…..Chad’s value isn’t always evident on the ice…from what I have read he’s a great teammate, a great community guy, and the kind of person every organization needs…..slot him on the 4th line and let him continue to grind away on the penalty kill…….

Shoot the puck!!!!!!

by Mullett on Jan 6, 2011 4:45 PM EST up reply actions

There’s been a common theme with Chad LaRose this season and that is that whatever line he is on fails to score almost every game. This can’t be some huge coincidence or bad luck, but a sign of a stonehands player sucking the life out of his line. It is apparent that Erik Cole has significantly better hands and scoring touch, which is an absolutely disturbing thing to say about anybody.

4th line making $800k or less or gone. That is it. You can’t pay someone nearly 2 million dollars to skate really hard and not really accomplish much.

by Kahz on Jan 6, 2011 4:33 PM EST reply actions

To expand. Chad LaRose’s last twenty games:

Pointless 18 times.
Pointless at even strength 19 times.

Jay Harrison has been more productive over the last few months.

by Kahz on Jan 6, 2011 4:37 PM EST up reply actions

By comparison though:

Chad has 15 points in 647 minutes – 1 point every 43 minutes of ice time
Sutter has 13 points in 658 minutes – 1 point every 50 minutes of ice time

And just in case your wondering:

Staal has 39 points in 848 minutes – 1 point every 22 minutes of ice time
Skinner has 28 points in 639 minutes – 1 point every 23 minutes of ice time

Staal, Skinner, and ?; almost a NHL level 1st line!

by PackPride17 on Jan 6, 2011 4:58 PM EST up reply actions

In that same 20 games time period the Canes as a whole have scored 49 goals. That’s less than 2.5 per. That’s about the same pace that the Islanders and Toronto are on for the entire season. The whole team is not scoring. It’s silly to say a complimentary player isn’t scoring when the entire team isn’t scoring. He’s also been playing more of a defensive role on the third line of recent. I’m not saying LaRose is above rebuke, but lets judge him accordingly. He’s in the top 6 but he was never signed for that role. He was always supposed to be a third line energy pk player who can fill in. And, I’ve said this before, and I will certainly say it again, All Canes players need to be judged on their cap hit and not their salary. LaRose has a cap hit of $1.7 which is closer to his worth. The $1.9 this year is to make up for the $1.5 last year.

Don't trust me. I have psychological issues.

by C-Leaguer on Jan 6, 2011 5:02 PM EST up reply actions

Do you think the lack of scoring has anything to do with a player who gets 15 minutes a night and has scored even strength points in more game than I have over the past fifty days?

by Kahz on Jan 6, 2011 5:16 PM EST up reply actions

We basically have two 4th lines: the actual 4th line and whatever line LaRose is on.

by Kahz on Jan 6, 2011 5:17 PM EST up reply actions

Just last Saturday, LaRose had 2 assists on Skinner goals. And I would hardly call LaRose-Skinner-Ruutu a 4th line.

Staal, Skinner, and ?; almost a NHL level 1st line!

by PackPride17 on Jan 6, 2011 5:21 PM EST up reply actions

Those are two of his three points over the last 20 games. His line overall produces like a 4th line. Carter has a few points as well.

I’m not talking about whatever undeserved linemates LaRose gets to play with. Whoever LaRose is with, he is an offensive black hole to them.

by Kahz on Jan 6, 2011 5:23 PM EST up reply actions

Whoever LaRose is with, he is an offensive black hole to them.

Is that maybe because he’s a complimentary scorer and there are very few primary scoring threats on this team? He’s not freaking Dany Heatley. He’s not going to create his own shot. He goes as the team goes.

The dude was never signed to be a primary offensive threat or paid like one. He’s a complimentary piece best used on the third line. That’s where he gets match ups that suit him. He’s been overslotted much of the year and is now transitioning from a first line role back to a role more fitting of his game.

Don't trust me. I have psychological issues.

by C-Leaguer on Jan 6, 2011 5:26 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

LaRose was well over matched when he was on the first line with Staal. Early in the season there was some success but as teams realized they could double down on Staal and shut everything down before LaRose or the other winger got involved it became very easy to turn that line off for the night. This also is the reason for the -8 as that line couldn’t score.

That said, look at last night. When LaRose was on the third line and Staal was double shifted with him it led to one of the best scoring chances all night long. This is really the best role for LaRose. LaRose is one of the few players that can keep up with Staal when skating flat out. When Staal gets double shifted in these situations the d doubles down on Staal because they’re over matched and the thinking is the third line can’t keep up. This allows Staal to drive the net and either leave the puck for LaRose or put a shot on net that will bring about a rebound.

Don't trust me. I have psychological issues.

by C-Leaguer on Jan 6, 2011 5:22 PM EST up reply actions

So, basically…LaRose has to face the checking units and defensive pairings that a third line typically would while playing with Eric Staal in order to produce? I think that says it all.

by Kahz on Jan 6, 2011 5:26 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, that he’s a third line player. No one is denying that.

Don't trust me. I have psychological issues.

by C-Leaguer on Jan 6, 2011 5:27 PM EST up reply actions

While playing with Staal is the key point. Why can’t he produce like a 3rd liner playing with 3rd liners on the 3rd line? Because he’s a 4th line plug with hands of stone who can only leech points of vastly superior talent.

by Kahz on Jan 6, 2011 5:29 PM EST up reply actions

You mean third liners like our third line center Brandon Sutter?

LaRose’s 7-8-15 is better than Sutter’s 7-6-13. If you’re going to call out LaRose for not producing why not Sutter? Sutter is a center after all, shouldn’t he have more assists?

Don't trust me. I have psychological issues.

by C-Leaguer on Jan 6, 2011 5:30 PM EST up reply actions

Yes and yes.

by Kahz on Jan 6, 2011 5:31 PM EST up reply actions

So what, are you going to call out Brandon Sutter for poor production now? Is that what you’re saying?

Don't trust me. I have psychological issues.

by C-Leaguer on Jan 6, 2011 5:32 PM EST up reply actions

Why not? Wasn’t he anointed as the 2nd line center for the next 97 years by Caniacs? It’s amazing what someone who puts up mediocre-at-best numbers in the WHL and AHL, but then comes up and gets excess amounts of minutes and quality of linemates on a team that’s going nowhere and has no pressure can do to a player’s rep. Sutter was “a future 4th line” center and a “bust” to many here, but one season of 41 points changes everything.

Similar to LaRose in a lot of ways, really. 4th line player for life, then lucks his way onto playing on a team whose RW depth consists entirely of Tuomo Ruutu and he’s a “20 goal scorer” who must be kept at all costs.

by Kahz on Jan 6, 2011 5:38 PM EST up reply actions

Let’s put it like this: if Rod Brind’amour doesn’t revert to an AHL-caliber player, or Walker/Williams don’t get hurt and Eaves plays halfway decent, LaRose is on the 4th line right now and Sutter is getting called up along with Dalpe/Boychuk right now. On a team that lacks talent, lesser players get bigger opportunities to put up points. We are the Islanders with a better goalie.

by Kahz on Jan 6, 2011 5:41 PM EST up reply actions

Just so we get things straight, you’re saying Sutter is a fourth line player and a bust? I am understanding that correctly?

Don't trust me. I have psychological issues.

by C-Leaguer on Jan 6, 2011 5:41 PM EST up reply actions

He’s a 3rd liner with stonehands. He’s not a bust because nothing much more was expected when he was drafted. He was always “future 3rd line center who might be a second liner”, then he scores 40 points and he is the next Mike Richards.

by Kahz on Jan 6, 2011 5:43 PM EST up reply actions

What type of numbers do you think a third line player should be putting up. you can either go with whole season numbers or chop them in half for a half season so we can compare that to actual point totals for Canes players as of today.

Don't trust me. I have psychological issues.

by C-Leaguer on Jan 6, 2011 5:45 PM EST up reply actions

On Sutter’s WHL/AHL numbers… I do believe that there are players who get points through hard work rather than pure skill. These players usually produce about the same at every level as their game generally translates the same.

I think Sutter is a prime example.

by JussiJuice on Jan 6, 2011 5:43 PM EST up reply actions

I think Sutter was originally projected as a 3rd line center. He played well last season and maybe the expectations for him were a bit to high, but he is a good 3rd line center on almost every NHL team, probably a 2nd line center on a few.

The same could be said about Jussi. He had an amazing year last season, scoring 30 goals. Some believed he could reproduce that. I personally thought he was a 20 to 25 goal scorer and could put up 50+ points. He hasn’t exactly produced the same, albeit his point production is similar. Maybe he is trying to repeat last year’s performance and it is affecting his game.

Staal, Skinner, and ?; almost a NHL level 1st line!

by PackPride17 on Jan 6, 2011 5:59 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Cole: $2.9M cap hit (8-10-18)

LaRose: $1.7M cap hit (7-8-15)

Sooooo…what’s the difference, other than $1.2M?

Here we are now...entertain us.

by Elsker on Jan 6, 2011 4:56 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Cole has points in a lot higher percentage of games. LaRose leeched points of Staal in a few blowouts and has produced nothing in the other 30+ games. This isn’t a defense of Cole, as he sucks and has blown more scoring chances than anyone, but I’m just saying that Cole actually comes through with an important play once awhile while LaRose is Samsonov-esque invisible when it actually matters. He has done absolutely zip all season except score garbage goals to put the team up 4 goals.

by Kahz on Jan 6, 2011 5:21 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t think anybody is denying that LaRose is a 3rd/4th liner, but I don’t see it as LaRose ruins everybody he plays with. He has a certain role on this team and the coach/management forced him to play above his level for the majority of this season. That’s not Chad’s fault!

And I will say that Chad was vital to the early season win in San Jose and a home Washington win last season. He is what he is; a role player that can get on a good streak every once in a while. If you’re expecting more out of him, then you’re going to be disappointed.

Staal, Skinner, and ?; almost a NHL level 1st line!

by PackPride17 on Jan 6, 2011 5:34 PM EST up reply actions

I agree with this. The problem isn’t LaRose sucking, it is Maurice pretending he is good enough to play on the 1st line with Staal. Overslotting players is nothing new to the Canes. Coaching issue.

by JussiJuice on Jan 6, 2011 5:45 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Gotta have alternatives though. If the squad is half 4th liners, overslotting is unavoidable. Dalpe and Boychuk seemed to change things.

It will be interesting to see how Mo and JR play things out when Jokinen and Tlusty come back. There will be alternatives to giving lots of 4th liners lots of TOI if Mo and JR choose to make room for the kids.

by curiouscanesfan on Jan 6, 2011 7:13 PM EST up reply actions

Hmmm….so do the people who feel like Chad sucks the life out of any line he is on still feel the same way about La Rose now that he is scoring.. :o)

by irishcaniac on Jan 20, 2011 11:13 PM EST reply actions

hockeyjim is an IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Really??? You must be watchin a different Chad LaRose than I have been watching Moronjim. Sorry, hockeyjim. I cannot take any post seriously that spells Eric Staal’s name “STALL” GOOD WORK JIMBO.

by LaRose59 on Jan 21, 2011 12:40 AM EST reply actions