Up is down - left is right

"Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!" - the Hurricanes won a hockey game! New president! Raleigh is effin snowed in! People spontaneously combusting! Hide your families! Chad LaRose is all that is man! Cam Ward is Conn Smythe!

Josef Melichar: The shutdown defenseman?

Seriously, why didn't Rutherford just sign this guy:

to a 1 year contract? His astonishing ugliness would do a better job of scaring away opposing forwards than Melichar's "shut-down" skills. Adios, Josef. Get down to Albany and please, stay down. Even better, I hear that the new KHL in Russia is really awesome and they are looking for defensemen your type!

In fact, if they're shuffling the roster around - why not sign these two?
They at least look prepared to provide some emotion and humor to lighten up the locker room!

Fox Sports would like to remind you not to draft David Tanabe

I scooted by Fox Sports's website to see if the Hurricanes TV Schedule was released yet to no avail but did find this:


Really? Thanks for the fantasy advice. Who the hell am I supposed to draft first now?

COI supports Tampa signing Mike Smith to a contract extension

Wink, wink.

You know you want some Frank Kaberle for your team

Recent trade rumor-mongering has alienated the Hurricanes' Frantisek Kaberle as the guy who is the "you're cool and all, but you stink" player and supposedly headed for either for Atlanta or the Florida Everblades (via the Arturs Irbe treatment). I would however like to offer a contrary opinion to the mass public on this fine, outstanding young gentleman. And this is totally not to advertise his services to the Atlanta Thrashers.

First of all, Mr. GM Don Waddell. Can I call you Donnie? Great. Donnie, let me just tell you how much Frank has impressed Caniac Nation over the past few seasons. Not only is he the sole reason that they won Lord Stanley's Mug, he also happens to be a former Atlanta Thrasher.

Secondly, his last name is Kaberle. He has a brother who is a superstar with the Toronto Maple Leafs and is almost nearly as good as Frantisek.

Third - his critics claim that he hasn't been the same since his reconstructive shoulder surgery in 2006 and that he is as useful defensively as a pylon. No way dude! He's played great every game. Even the 50 odd games that he was on the IR - breathtaking, inspiring hockey player.

Really, to put it simply: Frantisek Kaberle is all that is man. Don't believe me? Take a look at what he did when his inferior brother's team visited the home arena this past season:





Look, Donnie. Defenseman don't just fall from trees these days. They're mighty expensive too. For two large/per, you can have a Kaberle with all the offensive defenseman prowess that you'll ever need.

By the way, your suit looks sharp.

Google Earth now with 3D on the RBC

Last Summer, I blew your collective minds with my display of how to be a "Good Ya-Google-izer". As I perused the E-bays today, I came across news that Google Earth now has a feature available where you can see some of the more popular sports stadiums in 3-D. Sure enough, the good ol ATM is available... and it's still mind blowingly cool.

Anyone got a good pic they want to upload to Google Earth that shows the RBC grounds the way they should look; with a raucous crowd of Caniacs tailgating?

A closer look:

This shot here appears to be your smokers lounge that fills up during each intermission. If I could only look in the window there, I'd probably see my homeslice that runs the Sausage Stop outside the Gates to the Priority Lounge.

Just for fun, the Florida Panthers' home: BankAtlantic Center

*Not available to see through Google Earth in this shot, the magnitude of empty seats and overflow pool of Jacque Martin's tears from crying about the Canes. Somebody should e-mail the Google and tell them to include that in their next update.

Download Google Earth, Now!

Just why am I watching Dancing With The Stars?

As the wife and I were chatting over dinner and DWTS last night, I noticed a close up on Mr. Bret Yamaguchi Hedican.

Mrs. Wuffie: "You only watch this show because they show him on it."
Wuffie: "Nuh-uh. OK, well maybe it has something to do with it. He's the only Canes player I've been able to see live on TV in what seems like forever over a month. And the guy that dances with Kristi sorta looks like the Latin American version of Chad LaRose."

So what if Hedican is probably not coming back. He has been an integral part of the Hurricanes for a good chunk of his career and is to be wished well in his future and health. But is it just me or is anyone else shocked how bald Bret really is? Maybe its the studio lights on ABC, but his head really seems to shine as I'm used to seeing his helmet cover up. Do you think he told the NY Times editors to crop the family picture so that it wouldn't be so obvious in this photo?

Aside: Farewell to Johnny Grahame, who signed with the coolest sounding Russian team today - Omsk Avangard. Just say it, "Omsk". That may be close to the sound I made while putting my hands-in-face watching him play goalie for the Canes. If anything, you've been fun to witness and ridicule during your time in Carolina. But good luck to you and stuff. Don't let any of the Russian coaches Tortarella you.

Cory Stillman Scores Goal On Panthers From Cuba

With the NHL spreading its wings and offering regular season games in London (with rumors of an opening game in Prague or Sweden next year), Cory Stillman casted his support for the ongoing league travel by nailing a slapshot from Guantanamo Bay to Sunrise, FLA last night.

“Our commitment to grow the game globally has never been stronger,” said NHL Deputy Commissioner, Bill Daly. “The NHL is extremely proud to be represented in Cuba by a great hockey organization like the Hurricanes .”

In other news from last night, our thoughts and prayers are with the Erik Cole family today as he tried to score a goal with his helmet but crashed into Tomas Vokoun and laid motionless for several minutes before being carted away on the stretcher. As Versus cut to a commercial break, all of Caniac Nation held their breath as they showed a flattened Cole. If you and I were nervous during that commercial, imagine how his family must have felt?

All in all, a great night for the Canes smashing up on their divisional foe and putting silence to the "Divegate scandal".

ESPN Game Recap with Video Highlights

Ronnie Joins the Hall O Fame Tonight

The. Epitome. Of. Classy.

God bless you, young man.

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.

Daddy Canes Support A Montreal Beat-down

The Hurricanes players' fathers are in town for their annual Dad's Weekend where they all get hammered and shoot things travel with the team for a road game. Before they take off to NY Island territory for a Saturday night matchup, the Canes will take on the Montreal Canadiens for the 400th time this season.

GameDay Previews:
HabsInsideOut's Game Preview
NHL.com's

In other news, the Canes have sent goalie prospect Danny Manzato to the Charlotte Checkers. Although the Checks are a NY Rangers farm team, this is a good sign for future development. Wouldn't it be nice if all our juniors were playing only as far away as CLT? (glove-tap to Andy @ Hurricanes Insider)

WTF? A Whaler-Cane Uniform Concept

NHL Tournament of Logos recently had a crazy idea for the ever evolving uniform saga.

Coming Soon!: Watch Hockey From The Commode!

With news released this weekend that the Flyers are converting the goal judge's seats into private luxury suites at the Wachovia Center - teams are getting creative and doing all sorts of innovative and experimental things with their seating. Next thing you know, you'll start seeing this kind of BS:

For only $225,000/per season - you can have your own private luxury suite encased in tinted glass. Best of all, you can overlook the ice while sitting on the crapper! That's right - it may be a little expensive but isn't it priceless to be able to do your business while you watch the sport you love?

Hurricanes Celebrity Look-A-Likes

Eric Staal = Prince Harry



Scott Walker = Remo Williams (Fred Ward)


David Tanabe = The Common Eskimo


Mike Commodore = Ronald McDonald



Chad LaRose = Elijah Wood (Frodo)

More to come - and I'm open to suggestions

Rejected Hurricanes 10th Anniversary Logos

How Convenient Is That?

In a matchup of two of the best teams at the World Championship of Hockey, Team USA & Team Canada played this afternoon in Russia. In a moment that ironically was similar to the Canes season, Erik Cole skated into another player awkardly, collapsing to the ice and leaving the game in writhing pain. At least it wasn't a Hurricanes player that injured him.

LINK TO STORY

Soon-to-be Headlines for Carolina Hurricanes:

-In other news, Ray Whitney suffered what appears to be a tailbone injury while going down a waterslide. The Whitney family was on vacation in the Caribbean, and Ray came off the slide "kinda funny". No word on what kind of recovery lead time so far.

When contacted, the only comment from "The Wizard":




-Cory Stillman is listed as day-to-day after an alleged "drive-by sneezer" attacked the 2-time Cup champ in Cary yesterday. Mrs. Stillman, when contacted, said Cory is "in good hands" and making a recovery from bouts of measles, whooping cough and flu-like symptoms.



-Anton Babchuk unexpectedly was a no-show for a local charity event last weekend. It seems there were some thunderstorms that knocked his electricity out. "My Choco-Taco melted. It was in freezer. Don't deserve this. Won't go." (Anton muttered in rough Ukranian/English.)
Babchuk's agent, Jay Grossman, said, "Babs will show up. We just didn't feel that the Ronald McDonald house was the right place for him, and we have requested a trade for something else."