Storm Debris: A Tale of Two Willes

No sense in burying the lede. Perhaps the emotions of many Carolina Hurricanes fans over the last several days can be summed up simply, via two heartfelt tweets from Wille Lack.

Saturday morning:

Sunday night:

The Latest on Lackghazi®

• [stick tap to friend and former colleague Cory Lavalette for penning that descriptive term]
• Everybody weighed in with an opinion after Friday’s uncharacteristically blunt comments by head coach Bill Peters about his backup netminder, here’s a sample from NHL.com, SportsNet (includes statement from Lack’s agent), Kevin Weekes on NHL Network, TSN1040 Vancouver (Kevin Woodley at the 30:00 mark), and a fan perspective echoed by many expressed by former Canes Country contributor Corey Sznajder via The Energy Line. Meanwhile, Lack attempted to stay positive and focus on the road ahead as he discussed with Michael Smith for the Hurricanes website.
• 48 hours later, and behind Lack’s 24-save performance in last night’s win in Arizona and post-game admission from Peters’ that the situation wasn’t his “finest moment”, much of the angst has dissipated. Listen to his full post-game interview along with Lack’s post-game comments and catch up on recaps and analysis via The Score, NHL.com, N&O, North State Journal, and opposition perspective via Arizona Republic.
• And to close out this latest chapter in the 2016-17 season, a great perspective, perfectly said, from Catherine Silverman [FanRagSports].

His struggles on the ice seemed to be everyone’s struggles. He was a hard player to criticize, yet he wasn’t getting the results, creating a disconnect between the player fans admired and the player they needed to win games.

When he needed to take home a win, though, he did.

In Other Canes News

• Brett Pesce was the guest for the final Canes Corner of the season Thursday night, and chatted it up with Mike Maniscalco about defending the Canes blueline, #CawlidgeHawkey, and ratting out his roommate’s most annoying habit. [audio link on CH.com]
• He may play in an under-the-radar hockey market, but there’s nothing under-the-radar about Sebastian Aho’s debut, even competing against a historically good rookie class. [FanRagSports]
• Canes fan Chris Moore shared a personal story on what the Canes You Can Play Night experience meant to him. [Outsports]
• Speaking of YCP night, there are two days remaining to bid on Pride Tape sticks used by Canes players during warmups. [NHL Auctions]
• Former Hurricane Matt Cullen shared his enthusiasm for high school tournaments in the State of Hockey [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette].
• It’s an annual spring rite, along with the blooming daffodils, the members of the HF Canes forum make themselves eligible to be drafted to the bandwagons of other teams making the playoffs. [HF Boards]

Around the League

• Welp, another trade deadline has come and gone. Need help getting caught up? Here’s every important move in one convenient location. [SB Nation NHL]
• So where did all the big hockey trades go? Has the NHL’s evolution killed the in-season blockbuster move? [SportsNet]
• The trade deadline always turns over a number of draft picks. Ever wonder how they pan out? Here’s 45 years worth of history on the subject (and quick, anyone recall which player the Canes drafted with the pick they received for trading Alexei Ponikarovsky in 2012?) [The Draft Analyst]
• The GMs are meeting this week. They plan to talk about coach’s challenges, goalie equipment and injury substitutions, shootouts, Olympics participation, and perhaps a bit of wheeling-and-dealing side discussions with the Vegas Golden Knights, making their debut at the GM table. [ESPN]
• Speaking of Vegas, the checks have all cleared and they are officially open for business as the NHL’s 31st team. In addition to participating in the GM meetings, George McPhee can now begin making roster moves. [ESPN] [USA Today]
• Update: Less than 15 minutes after this article went to press, Brandon Wheat Kings forward Reid Duke became the answer to a future NHL trivia question when he was announced as the first player signed to a contract by the Golden Knights [team website].
• Interesting insight into how Coyotes general manager John Chayka is building his team by the numbers. [NHL.com]

And Finally

• Hockey is a beautiful sport. Just ask 11-year-old cancer survivor Olivia Lettich, who was able to actually see it for the first time this weekend thanks to miracles in technology. Read her story, beautifully told by Eric Francis [Calgary Herald], and check out a few photos courtesy of the Calgary Flames.