Training Camp - Previous Years
Cuts Like a Knife
by Bob Wage on Sep 27, 2006 3:20 PM EDT
in Training Camp - Previous Years
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These days of final cuts before the season starts are always bittersweet for me. On one hand, I can't wait until the season starts and this is another step to dropping the puck on opening night. On the other hand, several players who had dreams of playing in the NHL are being told, "not now" and have to pack their bags and leave town.  Being sent to the minors after a taste of NHL life has to be a heavy blow to many. This pertains to the youngsters who remain one step away from the limelight, as well as the veterans whose slipping talents are now borderline NHL quality.  As disappointing as it must be initially, they need to keep their chins up and keep working hard. After all, they are just a groin injury away from being called back and they need to be ready mentally as well as physically. Good examples of people being cut last year were Chad LaRose and Craig Adams. (Adams was initially cut by the Ducks). They were both called up later in the year and both contributed. They contributed so much that their names are now etched on the Stanley Cup! So even though your time is not now boys, keep your heads up.  You never know what the future brings if you don't give up!
I was going to make some predictions about who would make the team, but late yesterday the Hurricanes took all the guess work out of who they were going to keep! They made their final cuts with the only question being whether Woolley will stay or go. The remaining forwards are:
Adams, Adams, Brind'amour, Cole, Bayda, Ladd, LaRose, Whitney, Wiiliams, Letowski, Walker, and Staal. That's just 12 forwards, really the bare minimum to keep. The surprise of the group is Bayda making it over Willis or Isbister. Willis looked like the best offensively of the group, but Bayda is a more physical player and is more suited to Lavi's forechecking style. I'm sure Ryan knows he is on perpetual audition though and could change places with any of the players previously cut at any time. It really is, "Livin on the Edge", but that's a different song and a topic for another day!
So far we have kept 9 defensemen which doesn't really assure Jason Woolley of anything because under normal circumstances we would not keep more than 8. Supposedly Hedican, Hutchinson, and Wallin are back in the fold after taking some time off for a variety of nagging injuries but if one of them can't go come regular season, that bodes well for woolleybear making the team.  Along with Woolley, Hedican, Wallin, and Hutch, we also kept Commodore, Tverdovsky, Tanabe, Wesley,  and Babchuk.Â
The disappointing part of this for me was to see Derrick Walser sent to the River Rats. I really enjoyed watching him and thought he looked better at times than Woolley, but Jason does have experience that can't be duplicated. Also there is some talk out there that Walser has a sore groin which has affected his skating recently. If that is the case then he is better off getting healthy again in the minors and getting himself ready for a call up. Good luck Derrick, we'll be keeping an eye on you up there in Albany and I'll be reporting on your progress from time to time on the blog! Â
Yesterday the Canes went to Fort Bragg for some team building drills and today they are golfing in Pinehurst. They have had some perfect weather to enjoy this! Good luck to Professor Laviolette in conjuring up some winning chemistry!Â
One more week til opening night!   Â
Bryan Adams     Â
Nothing from Nothing
by Bob Wage on Sep 26, 2006 10:25 AM EDT
in Training Camp - Previous Years
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Preseason games mean nothing, right? That's what we're told. If our team wins, we certainly don't get euphoric and if they lose we try not to be concerned. The games don't count in the standings, that much we can all agree upon, but are they really worthless? So far in the Canes preseason there is not much to get excited about and not much positive to build on. Very few, if any of the newcomers trying to make the team have made much of a positive impression or impact. It's too hard to analyze very much after just watching one game and listening to two so I won't even try, but it is interesting to look at the stats so far.
We have a GF of 9 and GA of 16. That's the most goals allowed by any team in the league after the first 3 preseason games played. This indicates a possible problem on defense which is no surprise. One could blame our goalies, especially our youngest one Justin Peters for allowing 7 in one game, but from accounts of the games the goalies were not the major problem. Our preseason defense has been a shadow of the one that played in the finals three short months ago. Aaron Ward is in NY of course, Commodore played 2 games, Kaberle is hurt, Wesley played one game, Hedican has been hurt, and Nic Wallin has been hurt. Out of a possible 18 man games played by these 6 players, only 3 man games were played. Since we know Ward and Kaberle are out of the equation, let's hope we get the remaining 4 of the 6 able to play before opening night!
For more stats, here is a link provided by Tony over at Kukla's Korner. We see that Andrew Ladd has the worst plus/minus on the team with a -7. Grahame has the best goalie stats. Again, there is not much you can take from this but maybe Andrew should work on his defense a bit. We'll see how the Canes play this weekend when more of their regulars are likely to play. I'll provide my analysis of who makes the team and who doesn't later today or tomorrow.
http://www.aodw.com/MemberFiles/hitman/preseasonstats.txt
Â
PRESEASONÂ Â Â Â 2006-2007 CAROLINA HURRICANES (0-3)
POS NO. PLAYERÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â GPÂ Â GÂ Â A PTSÂ +/-Â PIMÂ PP SH GW OTGÂ SÂ Â PCTG
RW  11 Williams, Justin       2  2  1  3  0    0  1 0 0 0   8 25.0
C   17 Brind'Amour, Rod       2  1  2  3  4-   2  1 0 0 0   3 33.3
LW  18 Bayda, Ryan            2  1  2  3  0    0  0 0 0 0   5 20.0
D   32 Hulse, Cale            2  0  3  3  2-   6  0 0 0 0   2  0.0
LW  13 Whitney, Ray           2  2  0  2  2-   4  1 0 0 0   9 22.2
D   48 Babchuk, Anton         3  1  1  2  2-   0  0 1 0 0   5 20.0
LW  16 Ladd, Andrew           3  1  1  2  7-   2  1 0 0 0   5 20.0
RW  25 Willis, Shane          3  1  1  2  2-   0  0 0 0 0   9 11.1
C   37 Aucoin, Keith          1  0  1  1  1    0  0 0 0 0   0  ---
RW  26 Cole, Erik             2  0  1  1  3-   2  0 0 0 0   2  0.0
D   22 Commodore, Mike        2  0  1  1  1-   4  0 0 0 0   3  0.0
D   71 *Forrest, J.D.          2  0  1  1  0    0  0 0 0 0   1  0.0
C   14 Adams, Kevyn           2  0  1  1  0    0  0 0 0 0   3  0.0
D    8 Woolley, Jason         3  0  1  1  3-   4  0 0 0 0   2  0.0
RW  15 Isbister, Brad         3  0  1  1  0    4  0 0 0 0   2  0.0
D    2 Wesley, Glen           1  0  0  0  1-   0  0 0 0 0   1  0.0
RW  19 Letowski, Trevor       1  0  0  0  0    0  0 0 0 0   1  0.0
D   70 Tverdovsky, Oleg       1  0  0  0  3-   2  0 0 0 0   0  ---
C   12 Staal, Eric            1  0  0  0  3-   0  0 0 0 0   3  0.0
D   38 *Conboy, Tim            1  0  0  0  1-   2  0 0 0 0   0  ---
RW  27 Adams, Craig           1  0  0  0  1-   0  0 0 0 0   1  0.0
RW  41 *Reed, Harrison         1  0  0  0  0    0  0 0 0 0   1  0.0
D   45 Tanabe, David          1  0  0  0  1-   0  0 0 0 0   4  0.0
C   43 *Kelman, Scott          1  0  0  0  1-   0  0 0 0 0   0  ---
C   34 Gove, David            2  0  0  0  2-   0  0 0 0 0   1  0.0
C   24 Walker, Scott          2  0  0  0  4-   4  0 0 0 0   2  0.0
RW  42 *Dwyer, Patrick         2  0  0  0  0    0  0 0 0 0   3  0.0
D   23 Walser, Derrick        2  0  0  0  3-   4  0 0 0 0   1  0.0
RW  59 LaRose, Chad           3  0  0  0  2-   0  0 0 0 0   1  0.0
        TEAM TOTALS            3  9 18 27  9-  40  4 1 0 0  78 11.5
        OPPONENT TOTALS        3 16 25 41  9   42  2 1 3 0  95 16.8
RK NO GOALTENDERÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â GPIÂ MINSÂ Â AVGÂ WÂ L OT EN SOÂ GAÂ Â SAÂ SV%Â GÂ A PIM
  47 Grahame, John        1   59 3.05 0 1 0 1 0  3  28 89.3 0 0  0
  30 Ward, Cam            1   59 5.08 0 1 0 0 0  5  35 85.7 0 0  0
  60*Peters, Justin       1   60 7.00 0 1 0 0 0  7  31 77.4 0 0  0
     TEAM TOTALS          3  180 5.33 0 3 0 1 0 16  95 83.2 0 0  0
     OPPONENT TOTALS      3  180 3.00 3 0 0 0 0  9  78 88.5
Billy Preston
Let it all Hang Out
by Bob Wage on Sep 22, 2006 10:55 AM EDT
in Training Camp - Previous Years
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Coach Peter Laviolette has a few words of advice for the rookies and veterans alike who are trying to impress him during the all important coming days of preseason games.Â
 "My advice would be to let it all hang out and get as comfortable as you can be. Play as hard as you can," Laviolette said. "Because for some guys, it may be the only shot, the only impression that they get to make on the organization. So being nervous probably isn't the easiest way to go about it."
Great advice Coach!  I can't wait to see who let's it all hang out tonight!Â
Tonight the Canes open their exhibition season with a home game against the Nashville Predators. It looks like Cam Ward will at least start the game in goal for the Canes. According to the News and Observer, Brind'amour, Cole, Whitney, Ladd, LaRose, Babchuk, Tverdovsky, and Commodore will join Cam Ward on the ice tonight. The rest of the lineup will be comprised of those fighting for spots. The remaining regular roster players will be getting their chance to play during the other games this weekend, (at Nashville tomorrow night and Columbus Sunday). I'll be there tonight cheering on the boys and taking notes so that I can assist Coach Lavi with his final roster decision making! Me and several thousand other general managers!
In other news, TSN reported that Rutherford is backing off the Jack Johnson trade talk. In other words, no one wants to pony up what the elite defenseman is worth. Things will probably quiet down for now about this situation, (finally), but look for the talk to pick up again if the Canes have trouble with the defensive corps they put on the ice during the early stages of the season. Johnson is a valuable asset to the franchise, an asset Rutherford may feel he needs to utilize somehow this year. We will wait and watch for now.
The Canes will be playing in Nashville Saturday night and Columbus Sunday night. The only way we Caniacs will be able to follow these games is on the radio but that's better than nothing. I'll be listening to Chuck K and with the rest of you.  Go Canes!
     John Cougar Mellancamp
Shake your Moneymaker
by Bob Wage on Sep 21, 2006 10:55 AM EDT
in Training Camp - Previous Years
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I watched a high energy white/red scrimmage last night in which the white team won in a shootout. The low point of the evening was when Justin Williams appeared to take a puck to the face and lay on the ice for a few minutes before getting up and making his way to the locker room. Reports say he was hit in the cheek/ear area and was sent to the hospital for x-rays.  It's always scary when you see this happen and hopefully Justin is okay.Â
Back to the positive notes, Harrison Reed scored the game winning shoot out goal as well as the game tying goal late in the 3rd period. The kid looked good out there. Mike Commodore was all over the ice and looks better this year than he did last, if that is possible. He was actually leading the rush a few times. He had at last one goal, maybe two, but the last one appeared to be tipped in.   I still like Derrick Walser. He looked good most of the time to me and was creative in joining the offense. He did make a few mistakes though and lost possession a couple of times. Overall, he looked good to me though.  I think he will stay up in Raleigh, at least to start the season.  He was chosen to take the first shoot out spot, but missed his chance at that.
After tooting the Jason Woolley horn after my first chance to see him last week, I'm officially off that train. He seemed to do more skating backwards, than forwards last night. At least Walser was willing to take chances, I give him credit for that. Jason hasn't shown me any reason to offer him a contract the past few times I have watched. Maybe the exhibition games will be different, but right now I pick Walser over either Woolley or Hulse. The goaltending was up and down. Cam Ward looked great the period he played. John Grahame allowed an open net goal after misplaying a puck behind the net. Hope he got that out of his system! The rest of the tending was inconsistent. Surprisingly Justin Peters did not play. I was looking forward to watching him since he had looked very good during the week and was praised by both management and local sportswriters.
The Canes released Blanchard, Chaput, Hughes, and Vojta back to the juniors. Blanchard impressed the most but he needs to beef up a bit and of course needs more experience. The rest of the group shows promise, you never know how they will develop and improve. It all depends upon work ethic and how much they want it. Right now the injury list is long, too long. Stillman, Kaberle, Wallin, Hutchinson, Tanabe, Wesley, and Hedican are all on the injured list. Does this remind anyone else of the 2002-03 season? (shudders at the thought). Well, this does give a chance to many prospects to step up and show what they've got. Time to see your A game if you want to make the big money boys, this is your chance to be a big moneymaker!
In other news, Casonblog reviews the Jack Johnson situation. It seems we get a daily dose of this in the papers, but it's an interesting scenario. One has to wonder if JR actually intends to ever sign him at this point. It would appear to me that the Johnson camp, (dad), will be miffed at this public attempt to trade him. It's hard to find fault with Rutherford since he is executive of the year and all, but one has to wonder about the logic of making his feelings about Johnson so public.  We will have to see how this plays out, hopefully we will get equal value in a trade.
Finally, I got to see the Cup the other day and what a treat! I touched it, then hugged it, then even worked up the courage to kiss it. Thank you Hurricanes for the treat!
Oops, almost forgot. Kudos to the ex-Canes last night as Bates Battaglia, Matt Cullen, and Mike Zigomanis each had goals for their respective teams last night. Cullen and Ziggy had game winners!   Â
The Black Crowes
Headspin
by Bob Wage on Sep 18, 2006 12:54 AM EDT
in Training Camp - Previous Years
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Toronto's Lukas Rossi just won the title of Rockstar in the hit show "Rockstar Supernova", the 2nd straight Canadian to win the title in as many years, but the Stanley Cup still resides in Raleigh for now. I mention this because Monday is my big day as a season ticketholder to meet the Cup! The Canes have set aside Monday and Tuesday for season ticketholders to come in and spend some time with Lord Stanley's best and I can't wait! The only thing better would be to actually see the Canes names on it, but we have to wait a bit for that yet. Later in the month the Cup returns to Toronto for some "renovating". The top ring comes off, (removing the great Leafs teams of the 40's) and a new ring replaces it with the names of our heros on it. I must admit, this is a day I thought wouldn't come for many years, if at all. Hopefully I can take a decent photo.
In training camp news, new players are trying to do exactly what Rossi's song title dictates, make Laviolette's "headspin", or at least make it turn a bit. A few players are doing exactly that! First of all, Brind'Amour and Cole look as though they have not lost a step since the playoffs. They both look in mid-season form but obviously they don't have to impress anyone at this point. Newly acquired vets Isbister, Woolley, and Walker have all looked good. Technically, Woolley doesn't have a contract yet, but if he keeps up his present performance I bet he will. My dark horse pick Derrick Walser has looked good on the shoot out drills. I can see why he scored so many points in juniors! The question is, can he play defense? We will soon find out. Finally, the surprise of the camp in my opinion has been the man wearing the highest number in training camp, number 72. Nicolas Blanchard was our 6th round pick back in 2005 and his juniors numbers aren't spectacular, but this kid can skate and has speed to burn. He certainly got Lavi's attention and coach gave him a bit of a 1 on 1 chitchat (atta-boy) on Saturday. Can the kid actually make the team? It's still a long shot at this point, but I suppose crazier things have happened. Let's see what he can do in scrimmages and exhibition games. Go Nic!
More pics and details later.
Lukas Rossi
Kickstart My Heart
by Bob Wage on Sep 14, 2006 4:53 PM EDT
in Training Camp - Previous Years
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Training camp physicals have started today! It's time to get out the jerseys and sweaters, pay your first installment of your Center Ice bill, and skip out of work and get down to the rink to watch your favorite athletes compete for jobs. The Canes have 50 players at camp this year. That's not a typo, yes 50. It might seem like a lot because it is a lot, but let me give you a little history behind that number. Here is a sampling of a conversation that GM Jim Rutherford and coach Laviolette probably had at a lunch about a month or so ago. (no, David Tanabe wasn't present this time)
JR: "Peter, I have some good news and some bad news"
Lavi: "Okay Jim, hit me with the bad news first"
JR: "Well, the bad news is that I had to trade away our whole farm system in order to obtain Recchi and Weight last year"
Lavi: "Oh, okay well what's the good news?"
JR: "The good news is that I had to trade away our whole farm system in order to obtain Recchi and Weight last year"
(chuckles and laughter between them)
The truth of the matter isn't far from that imagined exchange. In essence Laviolette will probably have a lot to say who makes the Albany River Rats as well as selecting who makes the Hurricanes. Fifty players is more than enough to suit up two teams, but considering that we share our affiliate Albany with Colorado, I doubt that we need to keep 40 players in our system. Of course there are a few juniors players who aren't expected to turn pro yet, but expect the competition to be ferocious this year. There are certainly many more bodies than there are positions and people will be competing like never before. That's good for the team and good for fans, but it makes things tough on Laviolette and his coaching staff, not that they are complaining!
This year will be like the rest, the large cluster will be divided into Groups A and B. Here is a roster provided by the Canes as of today:
Group A
2 Wesley 8 Woolley 13 Whitney 16 Ladd 17 Brind'Amour
18 Bayda 19 Letowski 22 Commodore 23 Walser 24 Walker
26 Cole 34 Gove 35 Nastiuk 38 Conboy 39 Bellissimo
42 Dwyer 43 Kelman 50 Kowalski 52 Angelidis 53 Vojta
56 Barnes 60 Peters 72 Blanchard
Group B
7 Wallin 11 Williams 12 Staal 14 Adams, K 15 Isbister
25 Willis 27 Adams, C 30 Ward 32 Hulse 33 Carson
36 Boulerice 37 Aucoin 41 Reed 44 Hughes 46 Peat
47 Grahame 48 Babchuk 54 Chaput 57 Estrada 59 LaRose
70 Tverdovski 71 Forrest
Interesting to note that the enforcers are pretty much split up. We have Boulerice, Peat, and Dwyer all ex-enforcers. One has to wonder how many does one franchise need? Will any of them make the Canes? I doubt it. Will all 3 of them be needed at Albany? Wow, would that be fun, but I doubt that as well. Maybe we will see a couple of them go at it during a scrimmage, it wouldn't be the first time.
Speaking of scrimmages, there are a couple of dates to underline on the training camp schedule. Wednesday, September 20th at 6PM is a scrimmage at the RBC. This could be as good as an exhibition game! Another interesting date is Monday, September 18th at 11AM, there is another white/red scrimmage.
Here is the rink schedule to date, remember everything is subject to change:
Friday, September 15th, Group A 8:30-10AM at the RECZONE
Friday, September 15th, Group B 10:30-12:00 at the RECZONE
Saturday, September 16th, Group B 8:30-10AM at the RECZONE
Saturday, September 16th, Group A 10:30-12:00 at the RECZONE
Sunday, September 17th, Group A 8:30-10AM at the RECZONE
Sunday, September 17th, Group B 10:30-12:00 at the RECZONE
Monday, September 18th, non game group scrimmage 9-10AM at the RECZONE
Monday, September 18th, red-white scrimmage 11-12:00 at the RECZONE
Tuesday, September 19th, Group B 8:30-10AM at the RECZONE
Tuesday, September 19th, Group A 10:30-12:00 at the RECZONE
Wednesday September 20th, non game group practice 9-11 at RBC Center
Wednesday September 20th red-white scrimmage 6PM at RBC Center
That's enough for now. More analysis as to who makes it and who doesn't later.
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