Too Much, Too Little, Too Late
This is the time of year that Jim Rutherford can “do no right”. Some fans want to shake up the whole Carolina line up. Some just want a few key additions. Some want a few key changes. One thing for certain, no one is totally happy with the way the team sits right now, including Rutherford. The Hurricanes’ general manager was quoted less than 2 weeks ago saying that he wanted to pick up a 3rd line center who was capable of putting up 50-60 points for the Canes next year. Is Jeff Hamilton that guy? Since Jeff has never accomplished that feat before while playing in the NHL, I’m not sure that he can be counted on to do it. Was he the general manager’s first choice? That’s doubtful. Rutherford has admitted that he is not done tinkering with the team yet, plus he still has some money within the budget to spend. What we as fans don’t know is what is going on behind the scenes. Who are the players that Rutherford has targeted and lost, who are the players that Rutherford has targeted to trade and wasn’t able to, and who is it that he wants to acquire? Obviously, there have been attempts made that have not yet come about.
Regardless of what happens this off season, Jim Rutherford should be praised for doing his best work last summer. Within 2 weeks after winning the Cup, he locked up team captain, Rod Brind’Amour for 5 years, Justin Williams for 5 years, Erik Cole, for 3 years, Eric Staal for 3 years, and Nic Wallin and Frank Kaberle for 4 years each. All of these contracts seemed reasonable and fair at the time, for both sides. At this point though, they look like bargains for the franchise. One might say it was easy to sign all of these players after winning the Cup, but my response would be “no way, Jose’!” Look at Buffalo this year. They have had a very competitive club for 2 years, this year setting franchise records while winning the President’s Trophy. You would think it would be easy to convince players to stay and continue what they have been doing so well, but Buffalo management reportedly made one mistake after another and eventually their two best players have flown away to greener pastures. One Buffalo sportswriter reported that Buffalo had a verbal agreement with Drury during the year about extending his contract, but never followed through on it. That’s the kind of bumbling that loses a player’s respect. Briere had similar problems. Buffalo general manager, Darcy Regier hasn’t had good luck keeping good players and re-signing them to long term deals. After these recent foul-ups, it’s not hard to see why and it has little to do with luck. Coincidentally enough, Buffalo has yet to sign another key free agent this year. Do you think players and agents talk among themselves? It sure seems so to me.
One thing you can say about Jim Rutherford, he’s usually loyal to his players, sometimes to a fault. For instance, some fans wouldn’t mind it if the Canes bought out Bret Hedican’s contract and signed someone else. But, that’s just not Rutherford’s style. He will be perfectly content to allow Bret the time needed to see if he can work his way back into shape, successful or not. While this might end up hurting the Canes if Bret is unable to play, this is the type of loyalty players see and appreciate. This is the type of loyalty that helps get players signed without a lot of haggling and drama. A good case study is Ray Whitney. “The Wizard” was quoted as saying his past contract negotiations were the easiest of his career. With some of the crazy numbers being thrown around lately, I think Whitney could have gotten more than the 3.55 million per year that he signed for recently with the Canes. The scenario with Ray is certainly much different from what happened with Briere and Drury! Somehow, general managers have to find the right mix and not tinker with their teams too much, (the Flyers), too little, (the Blue Jackets), or too late, (the Sabres). Jim Rutherford has done a good job in the past, let’s hope he can do it again this year. A lot can happen in the next couple of months and we’ll all be watching!
Johnny Mathis
About the Author: Bubba is a hockey fan/citizen journalist who has always wanted to be a sportswriter and is pursuing his dream. He also writes a Hurricanes blog for 
CaniacSean | Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
Bubba,
Let me preface this by saying that over the last year of finding this website, I found you to be insightful and knowledgeable about the Canes and Hockey. But I have to say that the last post smacked of “being on the PR payroll for Rutherford”. I know you aren’t, but it smells of the fish that it is.
1. Why did he bring in Carter? To say he traded for someone? The guy added nothing to the team.
2. Cut loose Belanger? Bad move!
3. Joe Vasicek gone now. Why?
4. David Tanabe, probably gone now. Why?
5. Trevor Letowski, Hutchinson… what in gods name is he doing with them? They could have been a two for one deal for someone more productive.
6. “We just realized Bret signed his option papers last year right after we won the cup”, months later. Who is watching the paperwork at the RBC Center?
Now, he signs one guy during free agency, Jeff Hamilton. Really Bubba, who is this guy? What does he really bring here? We have too many Jeff Hamiltons on the team now, and thats part of our problem.
I don’t know who JR has gunned for this past week, but as you know, there were no juicy rumours involving the canes except for the one regarding Cole and the Oilers (which would have been devastating had it occured). And maybe, Nick Wallins situation (I am not sure that would have been the best thing either). But other than that, no effort was made to get the player(s) that we need. While the rest of the Southeast was moving to build, as well as most of the NHL, we seemed to be sitting still, in some cases, moving backwards.
Yes, he resigned some key players after the Cup win, and that was no easy feat. Kudos to him for that.
But this off season has been dismal for our team, and better than average for those that we will be competing against. I seriously think that we are in the hole now, and unless something is done soon, the pickings which are already slim, will not be there at all.
I think JR, possibly constrained by a known tightwod in Karmanos, had rated the grade of a D in this Free Agency season. It will take more than what we have to compete this season, and there is time to make SOME corrections, but not many. But, in the end, I will be at every game, and a few road ames, cheering the boys on, win or lose.
Sean
Bubba | Jul 5, 2007 | Reply
Sean,
As always, I appreciate your opinions and you make some good points. I will agree with you and I’m sure that Rutherford himself will agree that he’s made mistakes. But in my opinion the most important players have all been signed, have been treated fairly, and seem happy to be here. That was one of the points to my post. We would both feel a bit more upset right now if Brind’Amour, Cole, Whitney, and/or Williams had been allowed to leave and sign elsewhere this year or last.
I don’t disagree with you about Hamilton. People like to compare him with Cullen, but Cullen was a legit NHL player for the Ducks, was injured, got traded to the Panthers and was still injured. Hamilton has never been a legit NHL player, (until last year), and signing him to be our 3rd line center is a huge gamble. I don’t think I have ever said he’s a sure thing, or a great signing.
Here are my opinions to your questions above:
1. Agreed, Carter was a waste, but at least he was cheap. A 5th round draft pick wasn’t much to give up, and we did need a warm body at the time because of injuries. In retrospect, we could have brought up a warm body from Albany with better result.
2. Belanger wanted to leave. He hadn’t scored in a month right before we cut him loose. Him leaving didn’t bother me at all.
3. While Vasicek brought a strong grinding game at times after his return last year, his style of play doesn’t seem to match Laviolette’s. I’ll always have a soft spot for Joe because of his heroics during the 2002 playoffs, but I won’t argue about not bringing him back here this year. He just didn’t seem to mesh. Would he be a better signing than Hamilton? Time will tell.
4. Tanabe is gone simply because of numbers, and I think Rutherford did mess up here. I think Seidenberg is worth another look-see for a spot at 7th defenseman, so I would keep him. Hutch on the otherhand is pretty one dimensional and should be traded. I’m not sure why he got a 2 year, one-way contract, but that has pretty much handcuffed Rutherford because he can’t send him to Albany and he ends up being an expensive healthy scratch for over half the season. Why give a utility guy a guaranteed 2 year contract? That’s a mistake. Of the other defensemen, I don’t know who else you get rid of. I guess you could buy out Hedican’s contract and sign Tanabe. That might be something he can still do next month or later, who knows?
5. Both of these guys should not have been signed for 2 years, I agree.
6. Him not knowing that Hedican signed his papers makes no sense and mystifies me. I can’t explain that one.
Don’t worry, I’ll be posting more about the bad as well as the good. I just think JR did a good job signing the expensive guys last year. I’m still up here in Sabres land right now and there is big time belly aching about losing both Briere and Drury. They’re about ready to have Darcy Regier fired and lynched so I was feeling pretty good about having Rutherford as GM!
We’ll have to meet up at a game sometime Sean, Cheers!
CaniacSean | Jul 6, 2007 | Reply
We will definitely meet up this year! And as I said, nothing personal on your opinions, I just feel we are getting into a bad situation. But, JR could do something that would make me eat my words (I hope he does). And lastly but always, your hockey savvy is always well appreciated and well respected in my house of Canes! Say hello tour friends in Buffaloe, and if they decide to lynch, spend the $5.95 on the rope as a gift from Raliegh!
Sean