Last year we did not have an exit review for Carolina's head coach but several readers have requested one for this season.  Of course, Paul Maurice did a great job for the Hurricanes in 2009 as he led them to the Eastern Conference Finals.   But this review is for a less successful 2009-10 campaign in which the team started off with a disastrous first two months of the season in which they tied a franchise record 14 game losing streak,  (0-10-4).

There are always some factors which are out of a coach's control.  Joni Pitkanen started the season in the press box with a sore knee.  Eric Staal was playing through an injury from the beginning.  Erik Cole broke his leg in the second game.  Cam Ward had injury issues.  Tuomo Ruutu also missed several games.   You can not pin injuries on any coach.

But some of the important issues the coach is responsible for include: designating playing time for players, deciding which line players should be on, setting up the type of system the team employs, and determining who gets to play on special teams. 

How did the coach do in these areas?

(more after the jump)

Continue reading this post »

"Yeah. It was a different year...[nodding]...... fersherr." - Brandon Sutter, April 12, 2010 at his Exit interview with the local Media.

If I had to choose one player who seemingly could do no wrong in the eyes of the beleaguered Carolina Hurricanes fans this season, it might just be 21-year-old centerman Brandon Sutter. Starting the season in the A (as in American Hockey League) and ending the season wearing one on his sweater, as a surprise Alternate Captain when Rod Brind`Amour did not make the trip to Boston, Sutter's is, fersherr, the "Feel-good" story of the Canes' 2009-10 season.

With a solid sophomore stat line:

and a recognizable hockey name, Sutter garnered the attention of the national hockey press as well. It wasn't just for his discipline and patience (only one minor penalty in 72 games played - are you sure he's a Sutter?) which got him mentioned as a Lady Byng nominee (awarded to the player who demonstrates the most "gentlemanly" play). Even more impressive, some were showing that he deserved to be in the mix for a Selke Trophy nomination, as the forward who accomplishes the most with his efforts in the defensive zone, an honor that a couple of his highly-respected predecessors in Carolina, Rod Brind`Amour and Ron Francis, can claim. While neither trophy is his (yet), the sky's the limit for this gangly kid who still hasn't played two full seasons in the National Hockey League.

Toward the end of the season, in March, some 60-odd NHL games and more than 1500 shifts after LTD snapped this story's lead photo in October, Paul Maurice put into words what many of us had been thinking, indicating it was unanimous: 

When asked about the play of Brandon Sutter, coach Paul Maurice said, "This guy, at 21 years old, is the defining player in our lineup."

After the jump, some video, a closer looks at his statistics, and your chance to grade Sutter's 09-10 season.

Continue reading this post »

Of all the young players who were called up from the Albany River Rats this year, Brett Carson was the only defenseman who stuck for the duration. Called up in December when Joe Corvo's lower leg was slashed by a skate, that marked the last time the Albany fans saw this 6'-4" 24-year-old from Saskatchewan. By April, Carson had 54 NHL games on his resume, with a respectable plus/minus of +5. Though certainly a defense-first player, here's one of the sweeter moments of his season, from a game during the Canes' run in March, a late goal to tie it up against the Caps. (The Canes won in OT that night, 4-3.)

Always humble and soft spoken, he quietly established himself as a reliable and responsible worker with size and skating ability. Many Canes fans were troubled when the team decided not to make a qualifying offer to Carson (as a RFA) in June and he went out on the free-agent market. And the corresponding cheers were heard when Carson was re-signed two weeks ago, with a league-minimum contract that provides a two-way option if assigned to play with the AHL affiliate in Charlotte. However, Hurricanes' GM Jim Rutherford made it clear that he will be reluctant to expose Carson to the risk associated with waivers:

"He’s going to play a lot of the season, or all of the season, with the Hurricanes," said Rutherford.

After the jump a look back at what the rookie accomplished for the Hurricanes this past season.

Continue reading this post »

Jay Harrison  only played 38 games last season for the Carolina Hurricanes but that was a career high for him as he had only previously played a total of 20 games over a three year period for the Maple Leafs.   

In our first interview with the defenseman last fall, he made no bones about the strengths of his game:

I'm a big, stay at home defenseman, who can contribute (on offense) when I have to.  But I like to take care of my own zone, make good plays, and play solid defense.  I like to use my size to my advantage and keep the house clean, so to speak.  And stick up for my boys when I can.

Harrison has never been shy about dropping his gloves and he picked up six fighting majors in his relatively short stay with the team.  That total was good enough to tie Tim Gleason for the second most on the team.  (Tom Kostopoulos had a team high 10).  While some have criticized his fighting success, according to HockeyFights.com his record was a respectable two wins, two loses, and two draws.

Continue reading this post »

The 2009-10 season was forward Patrick Dwyer's first chance to spend the majority of his year in the NHL. The 27-year-old forward brought a mix of speed, hustle and effort to the Hurricanes lineup, playing 58 games and logging more than 12 minutes of ice time a night. Heading into his sixth professional season, Dwyer is poised to battle for a full-time roster spot this upcoming campaign. But being on a two-way deal means Dwyer will again have to prove his worth to the Carolina front office and coaches to earn a position in the Canes lineup.

Continue reading this post »

"I’m not the most skilled guy so I have to work hard everyday and every shift." - Tom Kostopoulos in conversation with Canes Country's Bob Wage in April.

It's been just over a year since Hurricanes fans learned that gritty right wing Tom Kostopoulos would be joining the team, signed to a three-year contract last July as a free agent, after playing two years with the Montreal Canadiens and the Kings prior to that. The N&O quoted GM Jim Rutherford the day after the signing on his expectations: 

"He’s a tenacious player. He’s Chad LaRose — not as good a skater but bigger. He has that kind of energy. He’ll fit in well."

After the jump, let's focus on Kostopoulos' season to find out  if he performed as advertised. Read through before grading him on his contributions to the team during the season

Continue reading this post »

Carolina Hurricanes forward Jussi Jokinen had a career year last season.  He almost doubled his previous career high of 17 goals with his 30 tallies and he finished with a total of 65 points, 10 higher than his heralded rookie year in Dallas. 

The Hurricanes acquired the native of Finland in a one-sided trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning midway through the 2008-09 season as they unloaded the salaries of Wade Brookbank and Joseph Melichar and sent Tampa a fourth round pick in exchange for the sharpshooter.  Jokinen went on to be a playoff hero as he notched several important goals during the 2009 postseason.

Now Jokinen is a fan favorite as some even shout his name during the "National Anthem."   He is being counted on to perform well again this coming year.  Will he be able to surpass last season's career best totals?

Continue reading this post »

We stepped away from our year end "exit analysis" reports for the past couple of weeks as draft coverage and conditioning camp coverage took precedent, but it's time to get back to our end of season grading of the players.  (When finished with the players, we will then move on to the coaching staff and general manager.)

Here is a listing of the players who have previously been graded along with their results:

• Tim Gleason A
• Sergei Samsonov  C-
• Rod Brind`Amour   D
• Chad LaRose  B-
• Manny Legace  B
• Joni Pitkanen  B+
• Ray Whitney  B
• Erik Cole D+

Next up is forward Tuomo Ruutu. 

Continue reading this post »