Author Archive for Cory
I'm a sports fan with a background in sports writing, editing and design. I grew up in Western Massachusetts and graduated from a college in Central New York with my degree in journalism. I moved to the Triangle in early 2000 and have been a season ticket holder since 2005. You can reach me at cory@canescountry.com You can also read some of my work at HockeysFuture.com, where I serve as the Hurricanes team writer.
Paul Maurice Returns, Francis Goes Behind The Bench
The Hurricanes reached into their past today, with GM Jim Rutherford replacing Stanley Cup-winning coach Peter Laviolette with Paul Maurice. Maurice coached the team for more than eight seasons and was replaced by Laviolette about five years ago.
Also joining the staff is NHL Hall of Famer Ron Francis, who will be an associate coach on [...]
LAVIOLETTE FIRED; Maurice Returns; Francis As Assitant?
Press conference at 11:30 a.m. Here’s the release from the team:
HURRICANES TO HOLD MAJOR NEWS CONFERENCE AT 11:30
Team will announce coaching change
RALEIGH, NC—The Carolina Hurricanes will hold a major news conference this morning at the RBC Center to announce a coaching change. All media are invited to cover the news conference, which will be held at 11:30 a.m. in the Media Room [...]
Kaberle Off IR
From The Canes:
HURRICANES ACTIVATE KABERLE FROM INJURED RESERVE
Defenseman has missed the team’s last 18 games with a fractured leg
RALEIGH, NC— Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, announced today that the team has activated defenseman Frantisek Kaberle from injured reserve. Kaberle has missed the Hurricanes’ last 18 games after [...]
Quarter Pole Grades: Forwards
Here are some grades, analysis and projections for the everyday players on the Carolina roster after 22 games. Grades will be based on mostly expectations, rather than overall skill level and stats. Projections are based on the player’s current statistics and assume they remain healthy. We’ll look at the forwards today.
Ryan Bayda (22G, 3-4-7, plus-5, [...]
Familiar Foe: Olli Returns To RBC With Coyotes
Carolina will be looking for its first three-game winning streak of the season when the Phoenix Coyotes visit Raleigh tonight at 7 p.m. The game is the third of four straight home games for the Hurricanes, who won the first two games of the home stand, managing a 3-2 shootout win over Tampa Bay on Sunday [...]
Carey Price — Don’t Believe The Hype
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: I don’t get the furor surrounding Montreal’s 21-year-old goaltending phenom, Carey Price.
Before we get in too deep, let’s make one thing clear. Price is a good young goalie. There’s skill and potential to be found in him. He has the type of size and athleticism that any [...]
Checking In On The Ex-Canes
Here’s a recap of some ex-Hurricanes around the NHL (and some guys in the minors who were part of significant trades), how they’re faring, and what to expect in the future.
Anaheim
Bret Hedican — Hedican got what he wanted when he landed a one-year deal on the West Coast with the Ducks. In 10 games with [...]
Breaking News: Lightning Can Melrose
From TSN:
The Tampa Bay Lightning have relieved head coach Barry Melrose of his duties and named associate coach Rick Tocchet interim head coach.
”This was a tough decision to make,” Executive Vice President & General Manager Brian Lawton said. ”Barry is a good man and we have a great deal of respect for him. We wish him [...]
JR In The News
Two quick items worth looking into:
1) LSB has posted an entry where GM Jim Rutherford expresses his displeasure with the team’s recent efforts.
2) TSN.com is reporting Rutherford turned down the role of president and GM for the Maple Leafs last August.
Discuss.
One more item: Justin Williams is back on the ice, according to CH.com. Don’t get [...]
All-Star Sweep Brewing
I cast my first ballot for the All-Star Game this morning. After, I clicked on the button to see who the current leaders were:
Forwards
1. Saku Koivu 97,446
2. Alex Kovalev 95,806
3. Alex Tanguay 94,994
4. Alex Semin 50,725
6. Alex Ovechkin 30,521
7. Simon Gagne 26,323
8. Vincent Lecavalier 26,261
9. Sidney Crosby 20,039
10. Evgeni Malkin 14,929
11. Marc Savard 12,885
What stands out [...]
Ryan Back To Albany, Eaves Out, Others Close To Returning
The Canes have reassigned forward Michael Ryan to the AHL’s Albany River Rats, according to a release from the team. Ryan averaged 5:33 in the two games he’s played with Carolina, registering four shots on goal.
The move means someone from the injury pile should be ready to play Wednesday. It won’t be Patrick Eaves. He’s [...]
Loose Pucks — Nov. 10
More Loose Pucks:
• The Hockey News recently published their annual “Bucks And Pucks” report, which focuses on the financial side of the game. This year’s analysis looks at team finances and the salary cap — mostly how the current economic downturn is affecting the league. We hear enough about the bad economy, but there were [...]
Thrashers And Canes Meet For First Time
Atlanta comes to Raleigh for the first of six meetings this season between the Southeast Division foes. Carolina owned the Thrashers last season, going 6-1-1 in the eight-game slate. It will be the Canes’ first time facing new Thrashers head coach John Anderson.
Both teams are coming off big wins Friday, with Carolina coming from behind to beat [...]
Reversal Of Fortune: Canes Rally for 2-1 Win
Ottawa fans have a whole new reason to holler “Uh-Oh Corvo!”
For the second time in two outings against his old team, defenseman Joe Corvo — who was criticized endlessly during his time in Canada’s capital —got revenge by contributing to a Carolina win, this time a 2-1 come-from-behind victory. His wrister from the right circle with 2:40 [...]
Loose Pucks — Nov. 7
A few things worth checking out:
• The Hockey News’ Web site has an article on Canes prospect Nate Hagemo.
• THN.com also has a blog post on Tuomo Ruutu.
• Prospect Bobby Hughes‘ return to the ice is documented on NHL.com.
• AHL.com has an article on the River Rats’ Jerome Samson.
• Prospect Mike Murphy was named CHL [...]
The Rangers Want A Pick
The New York Rangers have asked the NHL for a compensatory second-round pick in the 2009 draft. Why? Alexei Cherapanov’s untimely death may have exposed a loophole in the CBA. From the Rangers:
“The question is with the one parenthetical phrase in Article 8.3 (b) that refers compensation for an unsigned first-round draft pick who is [...]
Sens Come To The RBC; Michael Ryan Recalled
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.
Last night, Ottawa notched a convincing win over the Flyers in Canada’s capital. In the U.S. capital of Washington, D.C., the Canes suffered their most crushing loss of the young season.
The Sens have won four of five and head into Raleigh with confidence, creeping [...]
Tidbits: Canes at Caps
OK … so I was bored and you are all rewarded with a giant Tidbits for this game. Here goes:
• Brent Johnson, who will start in net for Washington, has not beaten Carolina the past two seasons. In four starts in 2006-07 he was 0-4 with a 4.27 goal-against average and .896 save percentage, and [...]
Loose Pucks — Nov. 5
I figured I needed a name for these random things I find that really don’t deserve their own posts — so Loose Pucks is born!
• Three Hurricanes are will be on the ballot for this year’s All-Star Game in Montreal. Rod Brind’Amour, Eric Staal and Ray Whitney all made the cut for the voting, which [...]
Toronto Vs. Carolina II: The Return Of Walker
The Canes and Leafs finish off the back end of a home-and-home series tonight at the Air Canada Centre (7:30 p.m., TV: FS Carolinas, Radio: 99.9 FM), with Carolina having held up their end of the bargain Sunday in a come-from-behind 6-4 win. While Sunday’s matchup featured backup netminders Michael Leighton and Curtis Joseph, it’s [...]
Canes Ink Forward Michael Ryan
The Hurricanes added more depth to their forward ranks, signing 28-year-old Michael Ryan to a one-year contract. The contract will pay him $475,000 in the NHL and $75,000 in the AHL, with a $100,00 payout guaranteed. He will be assigned to Albany of the AHL.
“Michael is an experienced forward who will add depth to our [...]
Thinking Of Sutter’s Future
Let’s make this clear: Brandon Sutter belongs in the NHL. Say what you want about how skinny he is, but the rookie center proved in seven games that he’s ready at both ends of the ice to be an NHL regular.
At the same time, after the devastating hit delivered to him by Doug Weight this [...]
Tidbits For Montreal Game
Some loose ends worth considering for tonight’s game:
• The Gazette in Montreal says Andrei Kostitsyn — who, like Brandon Sutter, was concussed on a big hit from Kurt Sauer Oct. 18 — is supposed to play. He’ll be back on the top line with Tomas Plekanec and Alexei Kovalev after missing just two games. Left winger [...]
The Hit: What They’re Saying Around The League; Conboy In Trouble?
I thought I’d compile some quotes from around the world of hockey to give everyone an idea of what’s being said about Doug Weight’s hit on Brandon Sutter:
• NHL executive vic e president Bill Daly: ”The league takes very seriously its role in helping to protect players from dangerous or unnecessary blows to the head.
“To this [...]
Weight Weighs In
Finally some comments from Doug Weight (and Isles coach Scott Gordon) in Newsday’s On The Islanders Beat blog. Read here and comment. Oh, and ignore the writer who spelled Bob McKenzie’s name incorrectly.
More On Sutter
Some more information is trickling out on the injury to Brandon Sutter.
Fire & Ice, a Devils blog, has some quotes from Sutter’s father, New Jersey coach Brent Sutter, some of which are disturbing:
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Sutter said his son did not recognize him at first.
“He kept asking the (Hurricanes) trainer questions,” Sutter said. “He said, ‘what was the [...]
Scouting Helminen
I called in a favor and asked Michael Spath at The Wolverine and TheWolverine.com — the publication’s Rivals.com Web site — to give us his take on Dwight Helminen, who played at U-M from 2001-2004 and will be making his NHL debut tomorrow against Montreal. Michael has been covering hockey for The Wolverine since 2002. Having worked [...]
Sutter Discharged, Pitkanen Out, Helminen Coming
The good news: rookie center Brandon Sutter has been discharged from a Long Island hospital and iwill be returning to Raleigh to be further evaluated by the Hurricanes’ medical staff.
The bad news: Joni Pitkanen’s knee will require surgery and the Canes will lose him for three to four weeks.
And so it goes in Raleigh, where [...]
Rutherford On Sutter Hit In Bob McKenzie Column
GM Jim Rutherford is piping mad — somewhat at Doug Weight’s hit, but mostly at the league’s stance that they’re “concerned” with hits to the head. He says the NHL’s not. Read here.
Checking In On The Prospects
Here’s some stats information on the Canes prospects in North America and overseas, for those who don’t want to dig it all up (* indicates team-high total; for stats that have multiple people tied, I did not include a *):
FORWARDS
• Mike Angelidis, Albany (AHL) — 4G: 1-0-1, -2
• Nicolas Blanchard, Albany (AHL) — 4G: 1-1-2, [...]
Stats And Surprises From Around the NHL
As many already probably know, I can sometimes get lost in quirky stats and trends from around the league. Here’s a bunch that might be of interest:
• The most boring team in the league? How about New Jersey. In their four games played, the teams playing have scored only 14 total goals! That’s 3.5 goals [...]
Chicago Fires Savard; Promotes Quenneville
And there’s the first firing of the season. A very curious move by the Blackhawks, though Joel Quenneville is a very, very good coach — and his moustache will go over well with these guys.
Chicago Sun-Times: Savard Fired
Let’s hear your comments.
More on Hagemo — Cut By Everblades
Carolina prospect Nate Hagemo fell short of making the Florida Everblades, Carolina’s affiliate in the ECHL. From The Naples News:
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ROSTER CUTS: The Blades had to submit their opening day roster to the ECHL by 5 p.m. on Wednesday. But Cameron wasn’t too worried about potential roster cuts.
So far, he has cut just one player: Defenseman [...]
Plymouth Goes Pink
A big “job well done” to the Peter Karmanos-owned Plymouth Whalers, who are doing their part by having the team’s inaugural Pink Out! For Breast Cancer Awareness. As part of the upcoming event, the Whalers dyed their hair pink Tuesday for Friday’s game against the Niagara IceDogs. There’s a photo gallery from the Detroit News, including [...]
Hopefully Sweet-Tasting Start Doesn’t Go Sour
Carolina started its season with two big come-from-behind victories against division foes, leaving fans enamored with the exhilarating play, never-say-die attidude and — most of all — four points.
There’s no denying that there are many pleasing things we can take away from this first weekend of Hurricanes hockey. The play of defensemen Joni Pitkanen, Frank [...]
River Rats Preview Up At HF.com; Other Loose Ends
My latest at Hockey’s Future is posted — it’s a season preview of the Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate in Albany. It actually should’ve gone up yesterday, but it had to be tweaked a little because of the Matt Murley situation.
In a way, Murley’s departure will probably be good for someone of the Albany guys. Forwards like [...]
Canes Back To Flying Under The Radar
The expectations are low. Just look around the Web at the major sports sites or read the top publications and you’ll get an idea of how the Hurricanes are perceived heading into the season:
• The Hockey News: 8th in the East
• TSN.ca Preseason Power Ranking — 21st in the NHL
• Sportsnet.ca: 3rd in the Southeast
• [...]
An Update on Nate Hagemo
The Naple Daily News posted a really thorough article Tuesday on the progress of former Hurricanes’ second-round pick Nate Hagemo. Hagemo, who was invited to the Canes’ rookie conditioning camp this summer, is trying to earn a spot with Carolina’s ECHL affiliate, the Florida Everblades.
Hagemo’s drug problems and run-ins with the law are well-documented, and it’s [...]
LaCouture Earns a Spot
The Hurricanes signed free-agent tryout Dan LaCouture to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay LaCouture $475,000 at the NHL level and $50,000 in the AHL. LaCouture is guaranteed to earn at least $75,000 for the season.
“Dan came to our camp in great physical condition and earned himself a contract,” assistant general manager Ron Francis said [...]
Walker Undergoes Surgery
The Hurricanes took another injury hit today when Scott Walker was lost for six weeks after having surgery this morning on his left hand, according to a release by the team.
Walker presumably hurt his hand during a fight with Philadelphia’s Nate Guenin, who had hit Matt Cullen in the teams’ preseason game Sept. 28. Walker was [...]
