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My Picks for the Roster

Since the Carolina Hurricanes just announced that Scott Walker had surgery on his left hand this morning and will miss up to six weeks of action, it looks like another job just opened up for somebody, albeit a temporary one.

Twenty three players can be kept for the opening night roster. Here are my picks-


  1. Eric Staal

  2. Cam Ward

  3. Michael Leighton

  4. Ray Whitney

  5. Patrick Eaves

  6. Matt Cullen

  7. Chad LaRose

  8. Rod Brind'Amour

  9. Sergei Samsonov

  10. Ryan Bayda

  11. Brandon Sutter

  12. Wade Brookbank

  13. Tuomo Ruutu

  14. Joe Corvo

  15. Joni Pitkanen

  16. Tim Gleason

  17. Frank Kaberle

  18. Anton Babchuk

  19. Joe Melichar

  20. Dennis Seidenberg

  21. Nic Wallin

  22. Dan LaCouture

  23. Tim Conboy


At this point, it's obvious that Dan LaCouture needs to be signed if it can be done at a reasonable cost. If not, is Mark Parrish still a possibility?

I expect that Boychuk, Williams, and Walker will be placed on Injured Reserve.

In this scenario, Joe Jensen and Trevor Gillies would return to Albany.

Tim Conboy is typically a defenseman by trade, but he would have to fill in as a forward if he makes the team right now. Not counting Conboy, the Canes have eight defensemen all signed to NHL contracts. At the beginning of the offseason they were thinking of trading someone, but with this team's perpensity for injuires they would probably be wise to keep these eight.

Funny thing, the Hurricanes have Conboy listed as a right winger on their depth chart, but he is listed as a defenseman everywhere else. Is that a sign of confusion or a sign of things to come? The utility player has already been quoted as saying that he doesn't care what position he plays.

Any other opinions out there?