Jimmy Rutherford contines his bang-up job this summer today by trading out a dissapointing player in Patrick Eaves for an old fan-favorite in Aaron Ward.
Add that to his re-signing of crucial free agents in LaRose, Cole and Ruutu as well as bringing on tough new players in Andrew Alberts and Greek Lightning, and you've got a boner-fied threat to the Eastern Conference champs once again. Seriously, if last year's team could take it all the way to the Conference finals - what are the chances of heading back with a stronger version of the same team? Pretty damn good if you ask me.
Now, in regards to Punch-Gate - (Aaron Ward becoming a teammate of the guy that cold-cocked him), it's going to be a non-issue between the two players. But you'd better believe that the media will cook up a storm about it. Count on it. (Hi Canada!)
Welcome home Aaron, enjoy actually getting to live in your new house!
Aaron joins my buddy Brandon in Buffalo for a cocktail during an off-night, 2006.
The Philadelphia Flyers were in town to play the Hurricanes in a pre-season tilt. Matt Cullen, who everyone was still being precocious with after returning from double concussions, was blind-sided by Nate Guenin of the Flyers with a vicious hit. Scott Walker immediately went after Guenin and began punching him rabidly. Walker injured his hand on the play - required ligament surgery - and was out the first six weeks of the season. As he neared his return to the line-up, he dropped this gem: ""People say should I have gotten in the fight," he said. "I try to look back and say what would have I have done different? I think if the same thing happened today I would do it again." - Canes Now blog entry
Last night in Boston, Walker stood by those six-month old comments and again stepped up for Matt Cullen. While all the focus has been squarely on Walker dropping A-Ward like a limp noodle (rightfully so) - not many people have mentioned Matt Cullen in this discussion.
Ward was all over Cullen as he has been on many of the players in this series. Aaron is great at what he does. But the in-game and post-whistle potshots have been going on for all five games with Ward and the majority of his teammates all being guilty of it. If you watch around the 0:07 mark of this video, you can see Ward violently cross checking Matt Cullen in the head:
Also not mentioned today was the Chuck Kobasew cross check to the back of Erik Cole's head. No one needs reminding of the history behind Cole's neck. How much crap did they think the Hurricanes were going to take before they retaliated? Carolina usually takes the high road and lets their skill-game do the talking. But they've got a Tim Conboy, they've got a Tim Gleason and they've got a Scott Walker ready to do some wailing if need be.
While I wish Aaron Ward would have been better prepared for the punch, Scott was just doing what he's wanted to do all along. Aaron Ward was ready to go with Matt Cullen, but when Walker skates over - he wouldn't drop the gloves and he got what was coming to him.
Thanks to Jon Turpin from HurricanesInsider for sending the image along.
"Oooh look kids, if we go to the hockey game on Friday night we'll see that good looking Justin Williams!! I know times are tough - but you kids have been good so I'll reward you with seeing your favorite player!!"
I was never quite comfortable seeing him in this jersey and apparently neither was he. Today in somewhat of a surprise move, Erik Cole was returned to his comfort zone in Raleigh via a trade with the Oilers. In went down like this hee-aah:
CAR: Justin Williams to LA Kings for Patrick O'Sullivan and a draft pick. EDM: Erik Cole and a pick to Carolina for Patrick O'Sullivan. Edmonton then used the pick that Carolina traded via LA and acquired Ales Kotalik from Buffalo.
That's not confusing at all is it?
I say that is was somewhat of a surprise move in that it was done at the last second before the 3:00 PM trading cutoff. Also, JR had said all along that nobody was expecting much to stir up in regards to trades before the deadline. What is NOT surprising at all is that an X-Cane is back with the team (see Vasicek, Cullen, Bayda, hell - even Coach Mo).
Why this trade might work out:
Erik Cole was Eric Staal's roommate on the road and usually was on Staal's wing. With the bull-rushing Cole back on a line with his BFF Staal - it could obviously increase both players production levels.
#26 is a rare Hurricanes system guy that was drafted and his play only got better as the team did.
Jimmy Boy Rutherford obviously thinks that Cole will re-sign in the summer with Carolina for LESS than the $4 million per he's been getting.
The grass isn't always greener on the other side is it? Although he was traded away over the summer - the general assumption was that Carolina couldn't afford to re-sign him as an UFA.
Why the trade might not work out:
Erik has been healthy all season as an Oiler - something that he rarely could do as a Cane. If he misses anytime in the remaining season due to injury than you could consider this a lost cause.
All of a sudden, Cole is 30 years of age and will be 31 in November. Being 31 in regards to the rest of the league's age is like being an antique.
His point production was down this year. Partly because he never fit in Oil Country and partly because of "off again - on again" effort that was one of his only downfalls.
Only time will tell how things will pan out. There will be a "Farewell Justin Williams" post within a few days time. For now, Welcome Home Erik and Go Canes!
At least that's what I always thought. We know he's not a driver. Considering that we didn't see him drop the gloves once in his Hurricane tenure - I was certainly caught off guard when seeing this the other day:
The most recent fight before this week?: during the 2004 playoffs as a Bolt, according to his fight card at hockeyfights.com. Of course, had he ever dropped the gloves as a Cane - he would have injured something to take him out of the line-up for at least 3 months.
In all seriousness, I couldn't be happier for Cory and his extremely nice family and wish them all the best. Lets just hope he's careful driving around in Florida with those blue-hairs all over the roads.
Listen, anytime you bring up the topic of John Grahame - people seem to jump at it from all angles to either pile on or praise him. In what unofficially became the post for his secret fan club, this one had folks coming back near every time the former Canes goalie won a game in the KHL this year to comment and inform.
So here's your update Grahame lovers/haters:
Things aren't looking so good for Crackers and his future playing career after this blurb shows up today in my inbox:
"More trouble for Avangard Omsk"
"Yesterday near the club “Atlantid” Grahame was noticed in an intoxicated state, after which a police squad arrived and took him to a detoxification center. Club president Konstantin Potapov and Avangard general manger Anatoli Bardin came shortly after to collect him from there. Later from a source in the club came information that the management of the Hawks is going to terminate the contract with the hockey player. Another option that is not ruled out is the possibility of trading the player. The press service of the club has not yet officially commented on the situation."- Russian site, Sports Planet
So let me get this right.. a man can't even get drunk in a bar anymore without losing his job? What's this world coming to?
Strange news as the Russian translation is so vague on the description of events. Was Grahame just seen drunk and buzzed? Was he found passed out face down on the sidewalk outside the club? Did he almost Jimi Hendrix/Jim Morrison himself?
I'm not sure what exactly went down, but I do know that he hasn't been playing well - and the team finding out that he's piss-drunk and being arrested to detox would get just about anyone dismissed from any pro hockey team. This one here hopes he can get his act together to at least make a decent back-up goaltender in the NHL one day. Perhaps he could consult current River Rat Dan LaCouture - who gave up alcohol for the betterment of his personal life and hockey career.
After all, if you can't handle your liquor - you shouldn't be drinking in the first place.
G-dubs, aka Puck Daddy, posted last week about the Binghamtom Mets minor-league baseball team having a hockey night in conjunction with the Binghamton Senators (the Ottawa farm team). They had former B-Sens on hand as well as the IceGirls at the ball game. They showed clips during intermissions from the movies Slap Shot and The Mighty Ducks. The baseball players were wearing uniforms that looked eerily similar to the B-Sens uni's.
Seeing all this made me think of the Durham Bulls and the Hurricanes previous ventures together.
Also, as recent as last week Chad LaRose himself was the guest of honor at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park to deliver the first pitch, albeit a dead duck of a throw. What hasn't Rosey done this summer? He's on hand for RBC Centura bank grand openings, Caniac Fun Fests, baseball games... I'm waiting for the announcement that he'll be an honorary scooper at Bruster's Ice Cream in North Raleigh for a day (or insert shameless promotion x.here).
The outstanding Edmonton Oilers blog, Lowetide, has been doing a series of player previews for the upcoming season. LT's breakdown of where Erik Cole will fit in among the lines and personnel is worth a read.
He's spot on in his examining that Cole was constantly up against other team's top lines and didn't necessarily get paired with the top talent. Look for him to be an anchor veteran to the Oil's strong, young developing team. Best of luck to the classy Mr. Cole this coming season.
Joining the John Grahame, Jaromir Jagr, Alexander Radulov trend, Trevor Letowski has left the NHL and signed with HC Astana of the newly formed Kontinental Hockey League based out of Russia. It's only a one year deal as he intends to tear it up there this season with a hopeful return to the NHL next year. My guess is that he'll do rather well. He played decent enough the past two years in Carolina but never saw much ice time beyond 4th liner minutes. His penalty killing skills were always in tip-top form if you ask me.
It shouldn't be a bad deal for him on this team. He is going to be one of their featured "current" NHLers and other than former FLA Panther Jozef Stumpel, there isn't any other big names to compete with on the team. Well, that's not including the household name Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev.
Best of luck to Trevor and dude, don't forget your winter coat because apparently it gets a little cold in the Kazakhstan winters. How cold?
Here's the highlights from the Jan. 12th game in Raleigh against the Colorado Avalanche.
If you watch the video, you'll notice that the Canes' goals come from an Erik Cole breakaway, a Keith Aucoin rocket-of-a-shot, Cory Stillman slapper and Chad LaRose sweeping up the trash. The irony here is that the first three will not be suiting up in a Carolina sweater come September and that the fourth was nearly lost.
I read mixed opinions that surfaced during the limbo time of not knowing whether the organ-eye-zation was willing to bring LaRose back. Some said that he would be easily replaced. Others threatened to ex-communicate with the team if he was let go (most of those folks added that they couldn't stand to see two fan favorites leave Raleigh in the same month).
Personally, I think Chad is just coming of age. Keep in mind that his third season with the Plymouth Whalers produced a team-leading 117 points in 49 games (including a team record 61 goals). Also keep in mind that he's a homegrown boy, being the only person to play in each level of the CompuWare hockey teams (Compuware AAA Ambassadors, Plymouth Whalers, Florida Everblades, Lowell Lock Monsters, and the Carolina Hurricanes). The Chuck Norris of Hockey himself has been Petey Boy's child prodigy since he was crapping thunder into his little diaper.
As much as I may have a man-crush on him, this could all be a wash as my boy Jimmy could trade him away tomorrow for all I know. But he will be needed if Earl Sleek's stat projections for the 08-09 season are at all accurate.
I'd like to take this time to offer a sneak preview to the Carolina On Ice CafePress store. Stay tuned for some additions over there, but here is the first design:
Ottawa Senators GM/Coach Bryan Murray sent off Joe Corvo with a few choice insults during his trade to Carolina earlier this year. It was well documented throughout the MSM and blogosphere that he was being a bit of a bush-leaguer with his trash talking of former players. Now granted, Joe Corvo's performance in Ottawa was deserving of some criticism - but the way Mr. Murray skewed things in the press afterwards was just plain wrong.
“People like to talk hockey here and they live hockey. They don’t talk (hockey) in Raleigh very much. He’ll probably thrive in that environment and I like guys who thrive under pressure.” (This isn't the first time the Senators have played that somewhat-odd card. Ottawa coach John Paddock has repeatedly mentioned that Martin Gerber flourished in Carolina because "they only have one beat writer.")
With his team coming off last year's appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals, the Sens steamrolled to start the year going 15-2 with a team record opening win streak. As they began to slowly decline with inconsistent goal tending and on-again/off-again performances from their heavy hitters, Murray had to fire his coach John Paddock and "assume the position" back behind the bench. It did little to no good, as his supposedly brilliant (at the time) acquisitions of Mike Commodore and Cory Stillman only continued their downward spiral in Ottawa.
Though they at least made the playoffs, most people saw what was coming to them. They were stomped by a talented Pittsburgh squad this week in a 4-0 sweep. It could have been a lot worse from game to game if Martin Gerber hadn't of been standing on his head most nights. I did feel sorry for old friend Gerbs this week as he got little to no support from his teammates. I'm also extending the shoulder to cry on to our Sens friends Senators Lost Cojones & Sherry up at Scarlett Ice. I'll miss seeing their game recaps of doom this season.
At any rate I don't foresee Murray getting canned this summer by Ottawa ownership, but if the Sens come out flat next season, expect him to be on a very short leash.
Here'a a little something extra to cheer Murray up.
These two guys are fortunate to be traded to a cup contender in Ottawa. While I hate to see them go, say we miss out on making the playoffs this year -- we'd lose those guys to free agency. Might as well get something for them while you can, right?
Cory Stillman was a near unheard-of (around here anyways) when he joined the bench in Raleigh the 05-06 season. He quickly made a name for himself with his slick passing skills and clutch goals. This blogger's favorite memories of him:
1. Earlier this season when he scored a goal against Tomas Vokoun and the Panthers from beyond the blue line. 2. Scoring the series-clinching goal against Huet and Montreal in the 1st round of the playoffs during the Cup year. 3. Netting a natural hattie earlier this season against a hapless (at the time) Washington Capitals team. As for Commie? My only complaints about him were the amount of time he spent in the penalty box. I thought he usually played sound defensively and he was 100% necessary during our cup run year. Favorite memory of Mike: Watching him chug Bud Lights and sign autographs during the SC Parade: Good luck gentleman. Perhaps you'll be back.
I leave Raleigh for the weekend and the boys finally show up for a game, giving the home crowd something to cheer about for a change. D-Lee gave an inspiring recap that left him crying like a baby again. Cason's prose is back with frequency (Canes get bad, the C/B skepticism dept. goes into overdrive). Are you Caniacs checking Hurricanes Insider on the regular now too?
"I don't wanna work, I just wanna play on H/I all day."
A 7-2 romping over the Oil was fine and great I'm sure, but the questions are still there. One big win over a bottom feeder Edmonton doesn't fix what has been two months of suckage. It will be a good test for this team squaring off in the "home-and-home" against an Isles team with consistency questions of their own.
Just because I said something, watch Joe "Dry erase marker" Vasicek show up with a natural hatty tonight.
It wasn't working out with Craig Adams anymore as he became the first of several moves promised to happen. The Chicago Blackhawks traded with the Canes today for "future considerations". So, what number would you like to wear, Future? Go and tell the seamstress how to spell that 2nd word correctly and you're in the lineup tonight.
Being the 3rd longest tenured Hurricane, you can't help but look back on the good things he did with the team.
Kevyn Adams scores a natty hat trick, which at the time was shocking enough. Craig gets the primary helper on all three goals in a 6-2 rout of the Anaheim Ducks. When "The Adams Family" line can do that kind of damage - a team is hitting on all cylinders.
His energy will be missed, but reuniting the Adams family in Chicago might be great for the both of their respective careers. So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye.
Since mid-November, nearly every game recap you read mentioned that the Hurricanes "are now 2-8-1 in their last..." or something similar. Throw those figures out. The boys lost to arguably the worst team in all of hockey last night while also losing their Southeast division lead.
Everyone has their ideas as to why such a talented team is struggling so badly.
Injuries - sure the Canes have been hit hard again this season with injuries. Per The N&O:
"The Hurricanes have now lost 148 man-games to injury, on pace to exceed last season's total of 250 and approach the 2005-06 mark of 267."
Coach Laviolette is correct with his "no excuses" approach to blaming injuries. Anyone remember what this team did that 05-06 season?
Goaltending - Overheard from co-blogger East of Here - Cam Ward, despite a strong start - has been referred to as a not-so-flattering "Cam Weekes". Strong sometimes, very fluky at others. However, it matters not who is in goal when the NHL's worst defense and penalty kill hang their goaltender out to dry.
Management - For all the wonderful things my boy Jimmy has done here, a killer right now are the amount of no-trade clauses within the Canes contract players. A large portion of players who come to Raleigh love living here and want to stay. Were these NTC's issued as a way to keep the players happy or a method of offering smaller figures in contract negotiations?
Complacency - This is the silver bullet, IMO. There is absolutely no excuse for a professional athlete to "take nights off". Arturs Irbe had a great finishing touch on his long career in the NHL with Carolina, backstopping the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2002. Next season after that? He's paid his full NHL level contract to play in the ECHL.
This team used to live by the slogan "Whatever It Takes". Is the Arturs Irbe treatment what it will take to get this team heading in the right direction? John Grahame was put on waivers, sent to the River Rats supposedly to "set an example". He feels that it was a slap in the face. What's more important here? - hurting a players feelings or doing whatever it takes to win?
Sweatin' To The Oldies: On Sunday, Hurricanes played Detroit (the two oldest teams by average age) a 1/2 hour after their previous MTL beatdown, end up losing a game, 5-2, that was more competitive than expected. They will sleep like babies today. (Canes Country)
Erik Cole is back on the scoresheets and he's baaaaaad. (Lord Stanley's Blog)
Must-read: Sherry of Scarlett Ice translates the recently struggling Senators play through the sock-puppet medium. (Scarlett Ice)
East Coast Eagles are now the junior affiliate of the NCSU Wolfpack Hockey team. (ACCHL)
Appalachian State ends a frustrating 2007 with a big win over NC State. (App State Mountaineers)
Charlotte Checkers have an in-house blogger now on their official site, and she ain't half-bad! (Charlotte Checkers)
The SPHL Champion Fayetteville Fireantz (with an intimidating website intro), are .500 at home but undefeated in regulation on the road. (Fayetteville Fireantz)
East Carolina Pirates have their media guide available for download. (ECU Ice Hockey)
There have been a few trades that Jimmy Boy has made that didn't pan out too well and some that did. Going off of recent experience however, one has to think that if a player leaves Raleigh in a trade to another team they will start producing.
Exhibit A. Eric Belanger(see Buh-lawn-jay) Playing 50-odd games with Carolina, he never seemed to quite find his role. He went through Coach Lavi's line-juggling carousel and could seldom find the back of the net, much less any kind of oh-fensive contribution. He gets traded to Nashville who trades him to Atlanta where he scores more goals in 24 games than he could all 56 in Carolina. Eric signs for the Minny Wild in the offseason and currently sits as one of their scoring leaders.
Exhibit B. Josef Vasicek (see dry erase marker) Everyone has their opinion about the Czech Condor, but I saw him as a victim of the "new NHL" and preference of speed over physicality. Granted he was the team's scoring leader in the pre-lockout '03-'04 season, Big Joe and his non-existent checking skills were going nowhere fast in Raleigh. He signs a late summer deal with the NY Islanders -- BAM! 8 goals in 21 games. And with the Isles none-the-less!!! They can't score more than .5 of a goal per game!
Our best trade bait (not naming any names here but it rhymes with Handrew Glad) is sure to have a career year... as soon as the "untapped potential" is unleashed in somewhere other than Raleighwood.
How ironic is it that Scott Stevens is heading into the Hall on the same night that Ronnie Franchise is? Not that he would ever do it, but here is a suggestion to Ron:
When you go up and do your acceptance speech tonight... give all the bells and whistles and tears and thanks... then just walk up to Stevens and give him the body slam:
"Where's your cheap shot now?!?"
OK, so thats what I would do. Totally not what Ronnie would do.
The trade that sent Hutchinson and a prospect to the Rangers for Cullen is looking puurrrrrrty good right now. Was it a salary dump by NY? Sure. But we are not burdened with a "defenseman with a lot offensive potential". We've got the offense in place - we need defensive defenseman who can actually stay healthy.
