ON A LIGHTER NOTE...Favorite 'Cane 2011

…and it pains me NOT to have gleason on this list, but he’s had an off, OFF year

I’ll play! Not in any order except for number 1. And no I am not a huge stat person. Just some thoughts about my fellas…

10.Tuomo Ruuuuuutu – Ruuty NEVER quits. Ever. He is like the Black Knight in Monty Python’s Holy Grail. “It’s a just a flesh wound!” But Ruuty, your left arm fell off. “It’s ok! I can still shoot with the other arm! Put me in!”

9. New Guy Derek Joslin – When he first got here I was like “Who is this guy?” But he jumped right in and came to play. He knows he is fighting for a spot. He seems to really want to contribute and become part of the team. I only called him New Guy for one game and learned his name. In other words he impressed me. With McBain out I hope he gets a chance to show us what he’s got.

8. Jay Harrison – He has scratched and clawed his way to make it. He has the drive and his game is catching up to it. It’s great to see him playing well. Sure he has room for improvement, but I really like his game right now. I have confidence in him on the ice.

7. Joe Corvo – I didn’t really pay as much attention to Corvo until he went to the Caps. THEN I started noticing his skills. He has his moments but for the most part I feel comfortable when he is taking the puck up the ice. Defensemen that don’t make me cover my eyes when they get the puck are a good thing.

6. Jussi Jokinen – I love the Juice. I love his fire. It’s subtle sometimes but you know he wants to win. I love the way he skates. When he came back from his last injury I realized how much I had missed watching him play. When he’s hot he is incredible to watch. If you read a lot about him you will always hear fans from his former teams saying how much they miss him. That says something. Everyone needs a couple of Fins. (but get your own!)

5. Jeff Skinner – I cannot get enough of this kid and his infectious grin. I know hockey isn’t about your smile but when he and Ruutu are around how can you not want to join them? He loves the game. He gets visibly pissed off when he makes mistakes. You can tell he has fun but he wants to learn and get better. He has stepped it up in his physicality. And he has played with a target on his back. Everyone wants to hit the kid. It hasn’t seemed to faze him. I get a real kick out of the Jeff Skinner fandom. I think it’s fantastic and is bringing a whole new generation to hockey. I only feel a little creepy about wearing my t-shirt with the number 53 since he is an 18 year old kid.

4. Jordan Staal – Man I love watching a good two-way forward…Oh sorry. Wrong team.

4. Brandon Sutter – Love the kid. Wow I sound 100 years old. Not just because he is a Sutter (and sure doesn’t play with that chip on his shoulder). He comes to play. Love the way he has been going after the puck. I hope he can hit a streak. I would love to see more of what he has in store.

3. Cam Frickin Ward – Some nights that man is a MACHINE. We call him a workhorse but you will never hear him complain. Ever. There are many days when I say that the team needs to buy him a nice steak dinner for saving their butts. But he is always so even tempered and brings stability to the team. And this has nothing to do with skill but frankly he seems like a great guy. He was great when he was mic-ed up at the All Star game. Highly entertaining.

2. Eric Staal – Oh Captain my captain. I have always loved Eric Staal but I have loved his play lately. He has been playing really fiery lately! I am not a huge proponent of fighting but I gotta say I enjoyed watching him almost lose it the other night. He looked like he wanted to knock Ovi’s block off. Get em’ Staal! People say things about him not stepping up. But if you want to feel his impact, think about how you felt when you saw him crumpled on the ice during the Pens game. You can tell me you didn’t panic. But I won’t believe you. One of my favorite moments of this season? The Staal on Staal hit! And I am damned proud of how Eric (and Raleigh in general) was as ambassador to the All Star Game. You done us proud son.

1. Erik Cole – Erik Cole is my favorite hockey player in the whole wide world. (No. I am not in the 5th grade. It just sounds that way.) I have been a huge Erik Cole fan from the beginning and getting him back on the team made my life a whole lot better. It’s really nice this season to not have to spend my time defending him. I have endured years of listening to “he’s too old, injury prone” etc. And he is finally having an amazing season. He is a defacto Captain and a hell of a leader. Skins has really brought out the best in him. He skates like a freight train and gives 100% every play. I thought I was going to have to take a tranquilizer up to the trade deadline with older rumors of him going to Philly. Next time you see a melee on the ice check out who is trying to separate every one and calm them down. I bet you will see #26 more often than you think.

My two pence. If you see a crazy ginger at the rink in an Erik Cole 3rd jersey cheering until they lose their voice (And possibly injuring their hands from clapping), that’s me.

Eric Cole. Thought we shouldn’t have re-signed him for what we did at the time. He looks like he is relaxed and enjoying the game again. He looks comfortable and is playing right where he needs to in order to be an asset. 20+ goals, hitting, backing off defenses with his speed, killing penalties, mentoring the youth.

All good. I haven’t had a negative thing top say about Cole all year. Like him right where he is, and want him right back there next year.

i for the most part agree with your line up…i personally would add a player and raise a player or 2 but over all Good shot there…

I can’t really rank mine, but my top 10:
Staal – best year overall by far.
Cole – this is how he can play when he’s healthy, and it is a joy to watch.
Ward – he faces a ton of shots every game and I would like to see how well he could do when those are reduced.
Skinner – a breath of fresh air.
Harrison – for little more than $500K/year, he’s been solid and filled the 5-6 d-spot with heart.
Ruutu- he’s done everything this year, center, wing, hits..our energizer bunny
Sutter – just a big step forward from last year.
Jussi – even though he’s had injuries, he’s a consistent point producer.
Pitkanen – I don’t think I’d be able to walk the next day following a 28 – 29 minute game.
Dwyer – has turned into a good defensive forward

Here is my list, I wouldn’t say it’s “my favorite Canes”, but more of how I feel they have performed this season.

10. Tlusty – IMO, he hasn’t been spectacular, but has pretty much assumed a role as a 3rd line winger. He has good size, is pretty good defensively, and can score. If he could pick up his scoring a little bit more, the kid has a shot to live up to his potential.

9. Harrison – I was very critical of this guy before the season and he has proven me a “jackass”. He is a solid bottom pairing guy and I actually hope they resign him for next season.

8. Corvo – Joe is really hit or miss, but I would have to say he has been our best defenseman this season. He usually goes against the opposing team’s top forwards and has usually held his own. He also gone through some stretches this season that his offense from the backend has been key to getting us some wins.

7. Jokinen – Mr. Versatility for the Canes. He has played pretty much everywhere and usually helped a slumping line regain form. He has been a little fragile this season, but it is noticable different when he is & is not in the lineup.

6. Ruutu – Another Finn that has done whatever is asked of him. He’s really helped Skinner’s development and was probably our best forward for a month or so in December. He is on pace to tie his career high in points.

5. Sutter – He has really excelled in the defensive role. At times he also shows a tremendous amount of offensive skill and his speed is awesome. He’s taken a little step back from last year and has also gone through long stretches of minimum offensive production. If he gets a little more consistent, he will be one of the best two-way forwards in the NHL.

4. Staal – My favorite comes in at #4. IMO, Staal is “the straw that stirs the Hurricane drink”. When he is on, this team is hard to stop. He has shown some improvement in his all-around game, but his point production has fallen off since the ASG. The Canes need him to be at the top of his game if they are going to be successful.

3. Skinner – the boy wonder shot out of the gate and continues to show why he will be a star in the league. He has areas to improve, but the kid is the youngest player in the league and only 4’ 6". I’m hoping he doesn’t have a sophomore slump, but this kid is going to be one hell of a player.

2. Cole – Cole has to be feeling great about the year he has had. He seems to have regained most of his pre-injury form and other teams are focusing on stopping him. He has shown typical Cole speed and has really been the heart of this team. He took Skinner under his wing and even though their relationship has been a little creepy at times, he has really helped with the kid’s development.

1. Ward – where would this team be if not for Cam Ward; they would be looking at a top 3 pick in the draft. Cam has done almost everything humanly possible for the Canes this season. Sure he gives up some weak goals every now and then, but he also makes many saves that should be goals. Cam is the MVP of this team, no freakin’ question about it!.

but the kid is the youngest player in the league and only 4’ 6"b

Is that with or without shoes/skates?

Cam Ward is the man. By far my favorite Cane this year.

Yeah, Cam is the one player on this team who has been the most consistent throughout the entire year. When I left the game tonight someone was actually bashing the dude on the call-in show and I was speechless. I don’t even want to know how far out of the playoffs we would be without him.

If I ranked them it would be like this:

10. Tlusty – The most underrated Cane in my opinion and plays the perfect winger to Sutter. Defensively responsible, willing to battle for pucks and can create offense with his great stick work.
9. Corvo – Looking much better in the second half of the season, still moves the puck well and actually shoots and attempts to find lanes on the power play.
8. Cole – Having his best season since he broke his neck in my opinion. Has nearly killed Atlanta’s playoff hopes by himself.
7. Harrison – Probably the best bargain in hockey and I mean that seriously. Has recently even chipped in on offense but he’s been surprisingly reliable and steady in his own end.
6. Sutter – Already one of the best two-way forwards in the league at his young age. Not scored as many goals as last year but they all have seemed to be huge goals when the team has needed them. Bright future in the NHL.
5. Gleason – Having a bit of an up and down year but he’s still the heart of the defense and never backs down from anyone.
4. Skinner – Putting up fantastic numbers as an 18yo rookie and will only continue to blossom into a great player.
3. Ruutu – Hits everything that moves, never takes a shift off and have never questioned his heart.
2. Staal – Continues to produce offense without that great winger, getting better defesively and is harassed all game long by other teams top D men.
1. Ward – A wall in net, has been very consistent throughout the year and has stolen his fair share of games.

I like all the lists. With the playoffs disappearing into the “what could have been” realm, it’s nice to be reminded of why we love this team regardless.
I always have been a Wardo fan. I just love to watch goalies work – the skill, the reflexes, the quirks, and the what has to be a bit of a crazy mentality. I realize there is a lot of haters out there who will just hate (like the stupid girl that sits by me and calls Staal a piece of crap), but Ward has left everything on the ice this season and proven he’s elite.

just not our year. GO CANES!!!

There’s a swagger to his game that no other ‘Cane has.
Having watched him from his rookie year (remember his diving), and seeing his struggles after the injury, it’s so nice to see him back on form. What coulda been.

Someone else pointed out that even though everyone knows what he’s going to do, they can’t stop it. He gets around the corner and he gets a shot.