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-
- Eric Staal
- Cam Ward
- Michael Leighton
- Ray Whitney
- Patrick Eaves
- Matt Cullen
- Chad LaRose
- Rod Brind’Amour
- Sergei Samsonov
- Ryan Bayda
- Brandon Sutter
- Wade Brookbank
- Tuomo Ruutu
- Joe Corvo
- Joni Pitkanen
- Tim Gleason
- Frank Kaberle
- Anton Babchuk
- Joe Melichar
- Dennis Seidenberg
- Nic Wallin
- Dan LaCouture
- 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?
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 
Mateo | Oct 6, 2008 | Reply
Didn’t Conboy play left wing last season when he was up w/ the team?
I think he would be a linesman if it meant he would get more time on the ice… that dude loves to be out there!
Bubba | Oct 6, 2008 | Reply
I know he did fill in as a forward last year, but not sure if it was LW or RW. He does seem to fill in suitably, wherever. He’s not a point scorer, but he doesn’t seem to hurt the team either.
Cory | Oct 6, 2008 | Reply
It’s too bad Brookbank’s on a one-way deal, b/c I think Gillies could better fill that role. I’m Ok with a LaCouture signing if it’s smart — one-year deal only.
I know Kaberle has played very well this preseason and earned a spot — but I wonder if now isn’t the perfect time to deal him. Like you said, we have eight guys, plus at least three good young guys (Borer, Carson, Rodney) who can fill a spot. If Frank’s contract was just for this year, then I’d say keep him, but if we could shed his salary for this year and next now, it would be beneficial long term.
I’m also worried about what Babchuk will do if he’s a healthy scratch. He conceivably could just head back to Russia. Having one less guy for him to compete with might be good, even if it means maybe not keeping the guys who have played best so far.
Bubba | Oct 6, 2008 | Reply
Gillies has had a good camp, but he’s another non-point producer on a team that has enough of them.
Good point about Kaberle. He has looked good, so the timing might be better for trading him. Although the hub-bub around the league has been quiet about him lately.
In my opinion, it seems like Babchuk has matured a lot. In yesterday’s game, I saw him pointing out things, for instance on one play, actually telling Wallin where to take a certain position on the ice. I had to look twice to make sure that it was Babchuk.
Cory, who would be your top 6? I would have-
Pitkanen Gleason
Corvo Kaberle
Seidenberg Babchuk
Not necessarily ranked in that order, but Kaberle seems to play well with Corvo.
Cat | Oct 6, 2008 | Reply
I like your choices Bubba! I hope they can sign Dan LaCouture. I went to a couple of the preseason games and I thought he played very well. But like you said, he’s got to be signed within a reasonable cost.
Cory | Oct 6, 2008 | Reply
I don’t think LaCouture’s a point producer either, though. Two scrimmage goals don’t equal regular season production, and since the latest injury is because one of our skill guys has to fight, it’s be nice to have another body in there for pugilistic purposes.
Top 6 D … (with a 7th, since I think they’ll go that way)
Pitkanen-Gleason
Corvo-Seidenberg
Kaberle-Melichar
Babchuk
Scratch: Wallin
Only reason I have Melichar starting ahead of Babchuk is the PK and so each of the pairings has a D-minded guy to go with a puck mover. If only Babchuk were more physical …
Mark | Oct 7, 2008 | Reply
If Conboy fills a spot, I think Brookbanks services arent needed. I always thought that Conboy could fill the enforcer role and provides more skill wise to the team. Brookbank didnt exactly dominate in the enforcer role, he was willing to fight, just as Conboy is.
Bubba | Oct 7, 2008 | Reply
Conboy was cut today along with Jensen and Gillies. I’ll have more about that in a bit.