Trade Deadline Day Is Here: Will The Carolina Hurricanes Improve For Short Term Or Long Term?

by Bob Wage on Feb 28, 2011 7:30 AM EST in Carolina Hurricanes Analysis

Caniacs will soon find out the answers to their questions in a few short hours. Will Joni Pitkanen be dealt for a boatload of picks/prospects? Will another familiar face be brought back into the Hurricanes family? Will the defense be upgraded, downgraded, or stay the same?

GM Jim Rutherford has some important decisions to make.

With the team on the brink of making the playoffs, although they have struggled of late, the general manager will be tempted to make another move to help push the team over the top.

It's undeniable that making the playoffs is important to this small market franchise, from a financial perspective if nothing else. If the team is this close, why not give them a boost to help push them over the top?

It all comes down to price, as the franchise does not want to trade valuable prospects for a short term gain.

So far, Rutherford has accomplished a little of both long term and short term upgrades.

He traded an injured fourth liner and a 5th round pick for Cory Stillman last week, who has already shown that he can still be an immediate asset under the right circumstances. But the GM took away experience from the blueline when he traded Ian White to San Jose for a second round pick and Derek Joslin. (In two separate trades, but this was the net affect for now.)

Everyone assumes the crafty GM is not finished, but what's next?

Currently, the Canes are essentially in a fight with five other teams for three playoff spots. Montreal, New York, and Carolina are in the 6th, 7th, and 8th spots respectively, while Buffalo, Toronto, and Atlanta are all within striking distance.

Each team has been active in the market so far and could continue to make moves on this final day. Their moves so far?

Montreal has been very active for the past month. Here are their acquisitions:

D James Wisniewski, D Paul Mara, D Brent Sopel, F Nigel Dawes

The New York Rangers have also been active and claim to still be in the market: Their acquisitions so far:

D Bryan McCabe, F Wojtek Wolski

The Buffalo Sabres have been moving up on the Hurricanes and are probably the most dangerous team outside the top eight. They just made a move on Sunday which should help beef up their forward depth. They still might be looking for more help.

F Brad Boyes

The Toronto Maple Leafs have also been active as they have been dumping contracts, but somehow they have earned points in nine of their last ten games. The losses of Tomas Kaberle, Francois Beauchemin, and Kris Versteeg can not be looked upon as helping them to make the playoffs though, or should it? Some of their acquisitions so far:

F Aaron Voros, F Joffrey Lupul, D Jake Gardiner

The Atlanta Thrashers have been making what could be considered lateral moves, but with a 2-6-2 record in their last ten games, things have not been looking up for them.

F Ben Maxwell, F Blake Wheeler, D Brad Stuart

Which team improved themselves the most? We will ask that question again after all is said and done on Monday.

There is some buzz out there about the Canes. On Sunday, ESPN's Pierre LeBrun spoke with Rutherford and the GM said that he would prefer to add an experienced defenseman with an expiring contract.

Some of those still available that we have already mentioned in a previous article are: Jim Vandermeer from Edmonton, Radek Martinek from the Islanders, and Jan Hejda from Columbus. Chris Phillips just signed another deal to stay in Ottawa.

And what about Joni Pitkanen, who could be the most sought after player on Monday? Rutherford would not comment, but LeBrun thinks that he would prefer to keep the defensmean, but is listening to all offers and might consider something if it blows him away.

Latest buzz on eve of NHL trade deadline - Cross Checks Blog - ESPN

What does all this mean? Anything could happen, including a creative, multiple player trade. Rutherford has pulled off some surprises before and several teams are still looking to make changes.

As we mentioned earlier, Canes Country will have an open discussion thread, ("Deadline Day Live") active all day long as we discuss and exchange thoughts about what's happening, as it happens. See you there!

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Best day of the year!!!

Boyes has already been traded to Buffalo for a second in 2011.

I’ve seen on twitter that the Canes may be acquiring Randy Jones out of Tampa for a fifth round pick.

NHLSourcesSay Charlie B
TRADE NOT DONE but…#CAR looking to acquire R.Jones from #TB in exchange for 5th round pick…

This has to be hands down the best day of the year to take vacation.

Don't trust me. I have psychological issues.

by C-Leaguer on Feb 28, 2011 7:33 AM EST reply actions

career +/- is a +5, but he’s a -7 this year? did I read that right?

"I’m tired of being a fringe team and needing a lot of things to go right to make the playoffs." - C-Leaguer

by Capt. Stinky on Feb 28, 2011 7:35 AM EST up reply actions

no, i read it wrong

he’s a -7 career

"I’m tired of being a fringe team and needing a lot of things to go right to make the playoffs." - C-Leaguer

by Capt. Stinky on Feb 28, 2011 7:36 AM EST up reply actions

That would be a decent pickup. He would join Cole as a fellow Clarkson alum.

If they knew anything about the game, they'd be in it

by Killswitch on Feb 28, 2011 8:27 AM EST up reply actions

Read this interesting tidbit on THN, for what it's worth...

MONEY TALKS

The Hurricanes picked Stillman up last week, but this corner would be shocked to see them pick up any substantial salary at the deadline in an effort to make the playoffs.

Why is that? Because of a little known aspect of the NHL’s revenue sharing program that stipulates any team, regardless of the market, receives money back from the league for every dollar it spends below the midway point between the salary floor and ceiling.

With a salary ceiling of $59.4 million per team and a floor of $43.4 million, the midpoint this season is $51.4 million. The Hurricanes currently have a payroll of just under $50 million, meaning they’ll receive $1.4 million in revenue sharing money from the league if they don’t go any higher. So every dollar they add Monday would not only be added to their payroll, but would subtract a dollar from the money coming back to them from the league.

"I’m tired of being a fringe team and needing a lot of things to go right to make the playoffs." - C-Leaguer

by Capt. Stinky on Feb 28, 2011 7:33 AM EST reply actions

That means there is a financial benefit for sending out a big contract expiring contract, like maybe Joni’s $4M cap hit deal which is the highest cap hit for an expiring deal on the Canes, and replacing that with a lower salary player.

Don't trust me. I have psychological issues.

by C-Leaguer on Feb 28, 2011 8:19 AM EST up reply actions

Robyn Regehr

Any chance we go after Regehr? I know he was brought up in trade discussions last year…how’s his salary?

by DomBooneCaniac on Feb 28, 2011 8:19 AM EST reply actions

This possible move is only in my mind if Joni is traded away today. I believe we won’t just be bringing in a D-man without losing Joni.

by DomBooneCaniac on Feb 28, 2011 8:35 AM EST up reply actions

Wrong Move to Mortgage the Future and Jim Rutherford Will Not Do That

It seems a very bad idea for Jim Rutherford to take any steps that mortgage the future. The Hurricanes organization has the most talent and over all depth it has had since coming to Carolina. Jim Rutherford’s position has not wavered from stating he will not trade his prospects.

The most difficult question is Joni Pitkanen. Pitkanen is likely to seek and to get on the open market at least $5 million for three years if not five years. The Hurricanes organization has to decide whether Pitkanen is part of the core team or not. If not, he has to be traded because the Hurricanes need to turn him into assets rather than losing him to another team without any compensation.

I continue to believe Jim Rutherford is ready to trade both Samsonov and LaRose; but certainly will try to trade at least one of those players. Both have expiring contracts. Samson and Dwyer together cost the same amount as LaRose. LaRose on the top nine has been a failed experiment, as indicated by his eight goals at even strength and minus 18 (worst on the team) plus/minus. LaRose would be fine on the fourth line; but why pay LaRose an annual rate of $1.7 million or $1.9 million (depending how one looks at his salary structure) when Dwyer and Samson would do equally well or better on the ice?

by abramsdoug on Feb 28, 2011 8:20 AM EST reply actions

The most difficult question is Joni Pitkanen. Pitkanen is likely to seek and to get on the open market at least $5 million for three years if not five years. The Hurricanes organization has to decide whether Pitkanen is part of the core team or not. If not, he has to be traded because the Hurricanes need to turn him into assets rather than losing him to another team without any compensation.

Doug, it’s going to be fun to be on the same side of a deadline issue as opposed to the Ray Whitney deal from last year.

Don't trust me. I have psychological issues.

by C-Leaguer on Feb 28, 2011 8:22 AM EST up reply actions

Jim Rutherford’s position has not wavered from stating he will not trade his prospects.

JR’s, as always, carefully chosen words when asked about this have been that he doesn’t want to trade our prospects, not that he will not trade them.

There’s always room for a deal that both involves prospects and improves the future of the team. It’s not an impossibility.

Also, LaRose is going nowhere. Who would want him? :-D

Here we are now...entertain us.

by Elsker on Feb 28, 2011 8:35 AM EST up reply actions

LaRose seems to be the face of the ‘Canes which would make it difficult for most fans to handle if he is traded. I would agree that it seems that we don’t need Samsonov because he is not being slotted in the right position and then LaRose and Dwyer because they seem to have the same game. And yet the majority say that Samsonov and LaRose should be traded — why wouldn’t Dwyer be up there as the one to be traded? I don’t think we would lose much if we kept one or lost one over another between those.

by hotchipsnsalsa on Feb 28, 2011 8:39 AM EST up reply actions

And yet the majority say that Samsonov and LaRose should be traded

It’s not necessarily a majority. Just AD saying it so many times that it seems that way. :-D

Here we are now...entertain us.

by Elsker on Feb 28, 2011 8:52 AM EST up reply actions

ROFL

Twitter @HMof2

by Carolyn Christians on Feb 28, 2011 8:54 AM EST up reply actions

ha

"a bit of love"

by chrisj on Feb 28, 2011 9:06 AM EST up reply actions

Samsonov and Larose

Neither Samsonov or Larose has the physical eptitude to go into the dirty areas. This team needs a fast, physical, big, goal scorer to play on Staals wing, it just makes hockey sense. This is the type of line I would like to see and that makes perfect hockey sense:

Boychuk-Staal-Boychuk

If they knew anything about the game, they'd be in it

by Killswitch on Feb 28, 2011 9:06 AM EST up reply actions

This team needs a fast, physical, big, goal scorer to play on Staals wing

Granted. But then you confused me by mentioning Boychuk’s name. :-D

Here we are now...entertain us.

by Elsker on Feb 28, 2011 9:23 AM EST up reply actions

It’s just logic. LaRose and Samsonov are holding back young players in Charlotte. Samsonov is getting $2.5 million and is spending time on the fourth line. LaRose is paid this year $1.9 mil with a cap hit of $1.7 and has proven he is not a top six forward. His minus 18 is not a good statistic. Jim Rutherford has said Samson, Dwyer, Boychuk, Dalpe, and Bowman are the future of the Hurricanes and will be part of the team. Dwyer and Samson together are being paid less than LaRose is being paid this year. Each person can draw his or her own conclusions.

by abramsdoug on Feb 28, 2011 9:08 AM EST up reply actions

They are indeed the future…but next year, not this one for Dalpe, Boychuk,and Bowman, unless there are injuries.

Samson and Dwyer are already on the team, in case you haven’t noticed.

Here we are now...entertain us.

by Elsker on Feb 28, 2011 9:27 AM EST up reply actions

LaRose

My biggest issue with LaRose isn’t that he isn’t playing well but it is the insistence of Coach Mo to play him on the first or second line. He is a great 3rd/4th liner and penalty killer but it should be obvious he doesn’t have the skills to be a top 6 forward. I would personally love to keep LaRose part of this team going forward if its in a bottom 6/penalty killer role, I think he’s perfect for that with this team.

I’m not even going to go on about how dumb it was for Mo to put a line together of LaRose, Skinner and Samsonov the other night :P

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

by anonymousJ on Feb 28, 2011 9:29 AM EST up reply actions

Like somone else said here the other day, Mo over-slotting LaRose may cost him a contract and being with this team going forward more than him playing poorly.

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

by anonymousJ on Feb 28, 2011 9:31 AM EST up reply actions

larose who won’t pass and samsonov who won’t shoot. maybe he thought skinner, who does both well, would balance them out

"I’m tired of being a fringe team and needing a lot of things to go right to make the playoffs." - C-Leaguer

by Capt. Stinky on Feb 28, 2011 9:31 AM EST up reply actions

As long as mo is our coach and larose is on this team… I think it is safe to say he will be gracing our top-6. Mo wouldnt kick larose out of our top-6 for Sidney Crosby.

by JussiJuice on Feb 28, 2011 10:30 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I would hope that at least one of LaRose or Samsonov are traded for picks, prospects, or whatever. I really believe the team would be better served near-term and long-term having Boychuk and/or Dalpe up in the NHL gaining experience. But a team is going to have to want those players. LaRose will be paid just under $400K for the rest of the year, Sammy will be paid just north of $550K for the rest of the season. I think a team looking for a little playoff experience on their 3rd line might take a risk on one of these players; which one depends on what the team needs.

The All-STAAL game is going to be CAMtastic!

by PackPride17 on Feb 28, 2011 11:09 AM EST up reply actions

The All-STAAL game is going to be CAMtastic!

by PackPride17 on Feb 28, 2011 11:10 AM EST up reply actions

Ha...

I certainly hope Dwyer’s not the future.

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 Feb 28, 2011 9:28 PM EST up reply actions

Why not Dwyer?

Because if you’re going to trade guys with similar skillsets, you’d rather keep the cheaper version, and Dwyer is significantly cheaper.

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 Feb 28, 2011 9:27 PM EST up reply actions

It sounds like, at least for many hockey fans, trade deadline day is better than watching a Game 7 in the playoffs. Is that an accurate perception?

Twitter @HMof2

by Carolyn Christians on Feb 28, 2011 8:37 AM EST reply actions

NO WAY!

…But, it is always an interesting day considering how much of the future can be effected…

by DomBooneCaniac on Feb 28, 2011 8:38 AM EST up reply actions

Not for me. Give me a Game 7, please. :-)

Here we are now...entertain us.

by Elsker on Feb 28, 2011 8:39 AM EST up reply actions

I could see Samasonov getting dealt for a 5th-7th rounder.

If they knew anything about the game, they'd be in it

by Killswitch on Feb 28, 2011 8:37 AM EST reply actions

Zing and Bingo; Samsonov; other thoughts on LaRose

I think Samsonov moves for whatever Jim Rutherford can get. LaRose has some value as well for a team that wants a player with character who can kill penalties, keep the locker room going, and can move up to the third line. They have to either want LaRose as purely a rental or to be willing to pay him at least $1.5 million to re-sign. I don’t think Rutherford is being bombarded with calls for LaRose; but consider the Wild who might well prefer LaRose on the fourth line to Kobasew.

by abramsdoug on Feb 28, 2011 8:41 AM EST up reply actions

Burned by the Ray Whitney Fiasco

I believe in the adage: fool me once, shame on you; but fool me twice, shame on me. Ray Whitney was a debacle. I don’t know how that breakdown occurred, but as sittler27 noted, one day it seemed a no-brainer Ray Whitney would re-sign and the next day it was over. sittler27’s information was identical to the information I had. I would have been $5,000.00 that Whitney re-signed. As it relates to Pitkanen, to me it’s a no-brainer. If the Hurricanes have budgeted $5 million for at least three years for Pitkanen that’s awesome. If so, they shouldn’t trade him except for the world’s greatest deal. If they are not willing to go that high, they have to trade him today.

by abramsdoug on Feb 28, 2011 8:44 AM EST reply actions

We’ll also have to see what happens with Brett Carson today and get news on Eric Staal. Forslund was on 620 the Buzz an hour ago and said something to the effect that he doesn’t believe Staal’s UBI is serious, and he is optimistic that Staal will be back as soon as tomorrow.

He also doesn’t think Pitkanen is going anywhere.

Twitter @HMof2

by Carolyn Christians on Feb 28, 2011 8:46 AM EST reply actions

No way anyone from the org says anything bad about Staal’s condition until 3:01.

Don't trust me. I have psychological issues.

by C-Leaguer on Feb 28, 2011 8:52 AM EST up reply actions

Mike Brophy from Sportsnet just tweeted:

@sportsnetbroph: Hearing Isles will trade D-Man Martinek. Source says he’s a good guy who plays when he’s hurt which is good because he’s hurt a lot.

Twitter @HMof2

by Carolyn Christians on Feb 28, 2011 8:48 AM EST reply actions

Columbus

Among the speculation I have seen elsewhere, Columbus has some parts we could use and seems to be of a mind that it needs to make a move or two.

The potential pieces mentioned coming back for Pitkanen (and change?) in these fan discussions include UFA Hedja for a defensive defenseman rental and a young RFA forward like Voracek that would beef up our anemic top nine.

Here we are now...entertain us.

by Elsker on Feb 28, 2011 8:49 AM EST reply actions

Pitkanen+ for hejda and voracek would be an amazing trade for us I think. That would nake my month. Columbus needs a center too though with brassard out.

by JussiJuice on Feb 28, 2011 10:14 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

the tide does seem to be turning on larose.
weve all loved him for years, but he is noticeably taking away from skinners production.
at least in my eyes.
and he could get somewhat of a respectable return.

sad though being that he is one of the few left from 06

"a bit of love"

by chrisj on Feb 28, 2011 9:07 AM EST reply actions

larose is a sparkplug and locker room/fan favorite, to be sure, but it’s a numbers game in many different ways, and his numbers don’t add up.

"I’m tired of being a fringe team and needing a lot of things to go right to make the playoffs." - C-Leaguer

by Capt. Stinky on Feb 28, 2011 9:29 AM EST up reply actions

We all loved LaRose when he was a low paid 4th line agitator that brought energy, grit, humor, trash talk and especially effort to stay on the team and earn a spot—the underdog guy. The don’t count me out guy.

Not the 1.7 Million, doens’t have the skills, isn’t creating a spark from his lines, doesn’t make the team better but drags us down, takes bad penalties guy in the role we’ve stuck him in since JR gave hima bigger contract for 19 goals…

by Squeaky83 on Feb 28, 2011 10:30 AM EST up reply actions

It’s really about the role, not LaRose.

by curiouscanesfan on Feb 28, 2011 6:31 PM EST up reply actions

who is randy jones,
im seeing jones to CAR from TB for a 4th or 5th

"a bit of love"

by chrisj on Feb 28, 2011 9:31 AM EST reply actions

the savior to all our defensive troubles and key to winning the cup this year…or not….

"I’m tired of being a fringe team and needing a lot of things to go right to make the playoffs." - C-Leaguer

by Capt. Stinky on Feb 28, 2011 9:50 AM EST up reply actions

Non descript 3rd line pairing defenseman…..Could be precursor to Joni move….especially if we are trading Joni for draft pick(s).

Shoot the puck!!!!!!

by Mullett on Feb 28, 2011 9:57 AM EST up reply actions

and by hearing i mean...

seeing on twitter..
let me not overstate my sources….lol

"a bit of love"

by chrisj on Feb 28, 2011 9:53 AM EST up reply actions

I think Samsonov goes if there is any offer for him on the table. I do agree that LaRose would require more for a team to get, but because I think he has more value to the team than Sammy. No knock on Samsonov, he is just not a good fit for this team, and Samson has proven he is ready to play in this league.
I have to agree with AD on Pitkinen. If Mr Rutherford is not ready to give him 3×5 million then he needs to trade him. I don’t think he will spend that kind of money on Pitkinen. With Corvo playing some of his best hockey, McBain continuing to improve, the nice measured offensive upside that Joslin is showing he may be capable of, and the the potential of Sanguinetti with his speed and puck moving ability, I think JR will feel he doesn’t need to spend the money Joni will command.
I thinks Pitkinen gets moved today and possibly Samsonov if anyone offers something for him.
LaRose will stay, based on a lack of an offer that matches the teams fondness for him.

by Hockeydog on Feb 28, 2011 9:59 AM EST reply actions

maybe dump stormy and have rosie as the new mascot?

"I’m tired of being a fringe team and needing a lot of things to go right to make the playoffs." - C-Leaguer

by Capt. Stinky on Feb 28, 2011 10:00 AM EST up reply actions

Think you're right

That’s probably the hold up. We’re saying to get Pitkanen you must take Samsonov or LaRose and then give us back the goodies!

by Squeaky83 on Feb 28, 2011 10:31 AM EST up reply actions

LaBrun writes at 9:59 am

• A Hurricanes source says there is still no deal for a defenseman.

by hotchipsnsalsa on Feb 28, 2011 10:11 AM EST reply actions

have till 3pm...

don’t fret, chicken little. ;p

The worst thing Jim Rutherford never did was no re-sign Ray Whitney to the team.

by thebl4ckd0g on Feb 28, 2011 10:12 AM EST up reply actions

May not be a defensemen

May be a deal for picks. I know JR said he would like to add a blueliner but if he feels he needs to get something for Joni instead of just letting him walk then he may just need to take some pick(s). I would imagine that deal would be acceptable later in the day vs earlier.

by Hockeydog on Feb 28, 2011 10:25 AM EST reply actions