Erik Cole Still A Question Mark - Canes With Other Positions To Fill

by Bob Wage on Jul 1, 2011 9:01 AM EDT in Carolina Hurricanes Analysis

The Carolina Hurricanes won't be one of the teams throwing big money and long term contracts around today once the noon whistle blows, but they should be pretty active as they try to fill in a couple of important roster spots.

At this point it seems inevitable that Erik Cole will test the market, and who can blame him? He's listed near the top of the list of available forwards and with owners like Buffalo's Terry Pegula throwing around 10 year contracts, it probably makes good sense for him to see what kind of money is out there.

According to Jim Rutherford, he's ready to move on if Cole signs elsewhere. Rutherford could make a trade or he could look for a different free agent. He also realizes that it is a tight market and he'll have to move quickly.

Dave Droschak spoke with Rutherford late yesterday and published some more Cole related quotes on Hurricanes Beat. The Carolina GM also mentioned that they would spend about $1 million for a backup goalie and while Martin Gerber was not high on their list, he might bring a player back to Carolina.

Let the speculation begin.

The Million Dollar Goalie:

Let me start off by saying that I doubt that the player who might be coming back to Carolina is a goalie. Manny Legace played in Germany last season and if they wanted him, they could get him at a cheaper price than $1 million. John Grahame played in the AHL last season and he certainly wouldn't be on the list.

I have another idea who this player might be. More about that in a bit.

Lee published an article last month about possible goalie candidates for Carolina, but let's take another look at who might be available in that million dollar price range:

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2010 - Alex Auld	16	749	6	2		33	2.64	383	350	.914	0

The price would be right for Auld, who made $1 million last season. He also did a decent job at backing up Carey Price when given the chance.

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2010 - Peter Budaj	45	2439	15	21		130	3.20	1234	1104	.895	1

Budaj saw a lot of action last season, (probably too much) and his stats were down from previous years. He made $1.25 million last year and might accept a lesser role along with a change of scenery for $1 million.

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2010 - Joey MacDonald	15	721	5	5		31	2.58	372	341	.917	1

MacDonald would probably love to get a raise from his $550,000 last year. He's another goalie with good numbers as a backup.

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2010 - Brian Boucher	34	1885	18	10		76	2.42	902	826	.916	0

Boucher sometimes had problems as a full time goalie but would be a perfect backup. He made $925,000 with the Flyers last year.

Johan Hedberg earned $1.5 million last year and will probably get a bit of a raise because he did well for the Devils. Jose Theodore is also a free agent but he will also probably come at a higher price tag than $1 million after playing more than 30 games for the Wild.

There are other experienced goalies in that price range who had tough seasons last year but who might be considered: Chris Osgood, (.903), Ty Conklin, (.881), Marty Turco, (.897), Mathieu Garon, (.901), and Patrick Lalime (.890).

Third and/or Fourth Line Center:

I reviewed several center candidates back in this article last month, but let's take another quick look.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2010 - Eric Belanger	82	13	27	40	11	36	1	1	2		127

It would not surprise me if the Canes brought back Belanger. He is in the right price range, (made $750,000 last year) and had a decent season. He is also is very good at faceoffs, (55.3%) and kills penalties as well. The "wild card factor". A couple of years ago when Peter Karmanos criticized Peter Laviolette, one of the complaints he brought up was that the coach mis-handled some players. He used Belanger as an example. And we all know the Canes love their reclamation projects.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2010 - Vernon Fiddler	71	6	16	22	3	46	0	1	2		97

Another good faceoff man but with less production than Belanger last season.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2010 - Jeff Halpern	72	11	15	26	6	29	0	1	3		62

Great team guy, great faceoff man, and can kill penalties. Made $600,000 last year.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2010 - Zenon Konopka	82	2	7	9	-14	307	0	0	0		56

This player is tough as nails and is a beast in the faceoff circle, (57.7%). A lot of teams are talking about him, so he'll probably get multiple offers. He earned $600,000 last season.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2010 - Marty Reasoner	82	14	18	32	2	22	0	0	4		124

If the Canes are looking for a third line center who can do a little of everything, Reasoner might be a very good candidate. Excellent faceoff guy, (54%), good penalty killer, and will score in the neighborhood of Chad LaRose points. He made $1.2 million last season.

I doubt the Canes will want to spend enough money to get to the Jason Arnott or Tim Connolly range.

As always, it should be a very interesting day. I'll start an open thread at noon for ongoing discussion.

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Comments

We should sign Ty Conklin to a 2 year deal. Then we might be part of the 2013 Winter Classic. :)

Here's the SKINNy, the All-STAAL game was CAMtastic!

by PackPride17 on Jul 1, 2011 9:20 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah, and he’s already helped us win a Stanley cup before!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxbRNtZrAnE

by Colossal Caniac on Jul 1, 2011 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Last night on one of the threads we were discussing who might be the ex-Cane brought back and we neglected Belanger.

He seems a fit for what we need, and from an organizational standpoint enough has changed that I can see where we’d want to consider him. Wonder if he’d consider us though?

Phoblographer and Finn Aficionado
SISU

by Jamie Kellner on Jul 1, 2011 9:24 AM EDT reply actions

Never seemed like he fit here to me. Obviously lot of changes since then, but he didn’t last season did he?

by efrancis on Jul 1, 2011 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Could we still extend an offer sheet to Troy Brouwer of Washington now? Offer him a 2 year deal worth $2.5 million. Either Washington could match and make their salary cap situation a little more difficult or we get a big forward that could play in our top 6 for a 2nd round pick (and we have 2 2nd rounders in the next Draft). Play a little hard ball with one of our division foes.

Here's the SKINNy, the All-STAAL game was CAMtastic!

by PackPride17 on Jul 1, 2011 9:34 AM EDT reply actions

Yes we could. That is very similar to what people were suggesting Florida should do with Stamkos…offer him a massive contract that they can easily afford and make Tampa Bay have to match it and hurt their salary cap situation for years.

by hurricane9 on Jul 1, 2011 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions

I love this idea

by pancanbra on Jul 1, 2011 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Sounds familiar….like when Karmanos did that for Fedorov years ago (though it wasn’t Cap hit, it was just pure dollars).

No thanks.

by efrancis on Jul 1, 2011 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions

with Federov, it was a $10 million bonus if the team makes the Conference Finals.- which the Canes wouldn’t, but Detroit should.

I like the idea of reupping Belanger – but only if we can figure out what happened in Washington that got them so T’d off…

by jbwhite99 on Jul 1, 2011 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

just pointing out that the punitive offer sheet has been done before.

by efrancis on Jul 1, 2011 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Ryan Carter is also on the market, which could be a potential return. He is not the best face-off man (about 50%), but he is a 4th line center.

by hurricane9 on Jul 1, 2011 9:46 AM EDT reply actions

@kausatoday: “Although Carolina was able to re-sign LaRose and Jokinen yesterday, they won’t be getting Erik Cole who wants to test market.”

by Iggy Reilly on Jul 1, 2011 9:54 AM EDT reply actions

quickly followed by

@kausatoday: “Erik Cole’s agent Steve Bartlett said say that Cole loved his time in Carolina and could still end up re-signing there.”

by Iggy Reilly on Jul 1, 2011 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Eh, doubtful

It’s cool though, he’ll have a subpar year either this year or the next and we’ll probably end up trading for him before the deadline.

by pancanbra on Jul 1, 2011 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions

If Cole doesn’t sign with the Canes this time around it would not surprise me at all if he signs as a FA with the Canes in 2-3 years after his new contract is finished for one last contract to finish his career here.

Let's go Hartolina WhalerCanes!!!! I am a big fan of the Canes, but I still have some residual Brass Bonanza Blue and Green in me.

by Ned Butler on Jul 1, 2011 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Belanger = Cup

Well, at least we know that now that Karmanos has his man in Maurice, we can instantly win the Cup if we sign Belanger. According to Big Pete K., Belanger is an elite scorer who should put up 80 goals a season!

We also know how Mo never mis-handles players…

by Buglermcd on Jul 1, 2011 10:13 AM EDT reply actions

Congratulations

You win the coveted “Most Sarcastic” award. Sadly, your comment was not funny or original. But it was pure sarcasm. So congratulations again and keep those comments coming in.

by drifterscape on Jul 1, 2011 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions

well done, sir. well done.

"We've got to look at this," Columbus general manager Scott Howson said Monday after exit interviews with the players. "Because whatever we have right now isn't working."

by Sergeant Stinky on Jul 1, 2011 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Its probably a blessing Rutherford isn’t going to be a big spender today. The list of available players and what they might get paid is nutty! Ehrhoff 40 million? RU Kidding me?!?
I bet the teams that do the best today are the ones who turn their phones off!!

I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else

by Fauxrumors on Jul 1, 2011 10:29 AM EDT reply actions

I think it depends on what you’re hole you’re looking to fill – top 9 versus bottom 9.

Let's go Hartolina WhalerCanes!!!! I am a big fan of the Canes, but I still have some residual Brass Bonanza Blue and Green in me.

by Ned Butler on Jul 1, 2011 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Holy cow

did you see Wisniewski’s contract?? One 50-pt season and people go all to hell.

by Caniac1026 on Jul 1, 2011 11:17 AM EDT reply actions

Holy…

by hurricane9 on Jul 1, 2011 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Wisniewski, Pitkanen and Murphy

The three make interesting comparisons. Wisniewski and Pitkanen are the same age. Pitkanen is bigger and in my amateur opinion a better defenseman. Over their careers, Pitkanen scores a little better. My impression is that Wisniewski has a better shot and yet Pitkanen has twice as many career goals and also more assists. Wisniewski just had a 51-pt season, something he’s never come close to before. Pitkanen has never had that many points in a season but he’s had three seasons with more than 40 points. Wisniewski is now making a lot more money over a longer span than Pitkanen. The Canes are looking very fortunate to have Pitkanen under terms of the new contract.

The comparison between Wisniewski and Murphy is interesting because Wisniewski is about the size that Murphy will end up being and like Murphy was a prolific OHL scorer. WIsniewski spent two years in the AHL after four years with Plymouth and has improved a lot over the last three years. He’s 27 now. He’s small and it took him a while to make his mark in the NHL. How long will it take Murphy?

If you check out these points of comparison for Murphy at the same age, you’ll see Wisniewski bringing up the rear of an impressive list of offensive defensemen. When he was a hair older than Murphy, Wisniewski scored 0.59 points per game in the OHL compared to Murphy’s 1.25 this year.

The Canes win on both comparisons in my opinion. When you factor in current pay, the Canes win big.

It will be interesting to see if Pitkanen rebounds this year and outscores WIsniewski and also whether Murphy can jump straight to the NHL or will take years from this point like Wisniewski.

by curiouscanesfan on Jul 1, 2011 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

A couple weeks ago I read something about trading with Minnesota for Cal Clutterbuck. Some have commented about losing Cole’s physical game. Clutterbuck would more than make up for that loss. I don’t know if that’s a move JR would try to make, or what it would cost. Personally, I wouldn’t mind seeing him in Carolina. Just my opinion.

If JR is looking to bring a former Cane back, I hope it’s Vrbata. He’s really played well the past couple of years. I think he’d make a good addition to the team. I doubt he would be too expensive as far as the cap is concerned. Don’t know what JR would have to pay for the Yotes to let him go.

The only easy day was yesterday.

by CoastalCane on Jul 1, 2011 11:20 AM EDT reply actions

Vrbata is a UFA.

by NotOpie on Jul 1, 2011 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions

I somehow missed that. Thanks.

The only easy day was yesterday.

by CoastalCane on Jul 1, 2011 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions

I doubt Minny would part ways with Clutterbuck. And I would pass on Vrbata, personally.

CanesCountry.com: An Eye On Carolina Hockey

by Cory Lavalette on Jul 1, 2011 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions

ditto

by NotOpie on Jul 1, 2011 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

20 minutes away, I think Cole is gone… he somehow is the 2nd best UFA left and someone’s going to throw the bank at him. I think the only x-factor is his wife.

by ncsucanes on Jul 1, 2011 11:39 AM EDT reply actions

However, his wife is very influential on him. He doesn’t want to have to move his family.

by hurricane9 on Jul 1, 2011 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions

But I agree, he is probably gone.

by hurricane9 on Jul 1, 2011 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Although a very, very tough way to spend a couple years, his family doesn’t necessarily have to move if they plan on living here after he retires. Brent Sopel’s family is still in Chicago suburbia with no plans to move. Contract length will probably influence whether they move or not.

Let's go Hartolina WhalerCanes!!!! I am a big fan of the Canes, but I still have some residual Brass Bonanza Blue and Green in me.

by Ned Butler on Jul 1, 2011 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Reading that Hurricanes beat article, Rutherford says there is a “50-50 chance” for trading for a top 6 forward for a team against the cap, so maybe they are already planning for Cole to be gone. He also implied that he could be recycling a player again, which I really hope he isn’t trying to get Whitney back. I think Justin Williams would be alright, but I still think Cole would add more to our team. We’ll see, 8 minutes now.

by ncsucanes on Jul 1, 2011 11:52 AM EDT reply actions

It's over.

Cole signed with the Habs. Jim Rutherford would rather waste cap space on a bust like Jiri Tlusty than sign a better winger like Cole. It’s Ray Whitney all over again. :(

Ready for the Canes to win the Cup again! :)

by thebl4ckd0g on Jul 1, 2011 3:39 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks, JR

Nice job JR……Cole signs with the Habs and now the heart and soul of the team is gone. You wasted the dough on Yanni and now the team will struggle to get a sniff of the playoffs unless Ward carries them all the way……Thanks for killing my faith in keeping the good guys and getting rid of the “P” word “players”. Who would you rather go to War with….Cole or Yanni?

by ODG on Jul 1, 2011 4:01 PM EDT reply actions

Yanni?

Who is Yanni?

I think they wasted the $ on Tlusty personally.

Ready for the Canes to win the Cup again! :)

by thebl4ckd0g on Jul 1, 2011 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Yanni "I'll leave you high and dry" Pitkinin

Yanni is the guy with the full purse, who won’t play his position. wanders all over, gives away the puck getting caught, makes that stupid “slap pass” (one of Tirpp Tracy’s favorite plays), won’t hit anyone, won’t stand up for his teammates, eats up ice time like it’s a good thing, can’t be defensive player, is lost in his own zone like he’s a rookie, abandons the front of the net if there’s someone big in there, won’t fight for a loose puck, won’t finish a check, makes one good play and 25 dumb plays a game……you want more?? How about let’s just say he isn’t Eric Cole and the playoffs are now a dream because of the choice’s the GM made.

by ODG on Jul 2, 2011 12:22 AM EDT reply actions