All Entries in the "Peter Laviolette" Category
Canes, Sabres Take Different Paths
Two cities. Two franchises. Two strategies. Two similar destinations.
Back in the 2005-06, the Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres were two of the best teams in the NHL, compiling 112 and 110 points, respectively, en route to the Eastern Conference finals.
Both teams were, first and foremost, built for speed.
The Sabres were led by dipsy-doodling Russian Maxim [...]
Like This Year’s Team? Get Used To It
In these times of cost certainty, salary caps and revenue sharing, fans of professional sports have never been so knowledgeable about their favorite teams’ finances. While the NFL and NBA’s budgets are riddled with phantom dollars (NFL) and little “sense” (the NBA’s sought-after expiring contracts), NHL fans can easily wrap their minds around the basics [...]
What Everyone’s Saying
Here’s some opinions on the Laviolette firing/Maurice hiring from around the league:
Bob Sutton at Burlington, N.C.’s The Times-News:
Looking for the good ol’ days won’t be easy. Conveniently, Maurice is referred to by the team as the winningest coach in franchise history. Left out of that information is that he’s also the losingest coach.
But general manager Jim [...]
Opportunity Knocks … For Many
It’s the morning after, so to speak, and the shock has worn off … somewhat. To say the Carolina Hurricanes franchise is beginning a new era and starting over would be naive at best, downright silly at worst. It’s still “Our Team” and clearly Paul Maurice was still part of “Our Tradition.”
But at the same [...]
Quarter Pole Grades: Defensemen And Goalies
Here are some grades, analysis and projections for the everyday players on the Carolina roster after 25 games. Grades will be based mostly on expectations, rather than overall skill level and stats. Projections are based on the player’s current statistics and assume they remain healthy. The forward grades can be found here. Let’s look at [...]
Morning Skates Return
It’s been a busy day at 1400 Edward Mills Road. One coach was fired, another was re-hired, and one Hall of Fame player was “promoted” to associate coach. The changes start another new chapter for the franchise, even if the hiring of Maurice seems like a step back in time for many [...]
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 [...]
Canes Season Ticket Holders Can Thank the Flyers
Hurricanes season ticket holders received emails yesterday reminding them to RSVP by Wednesday, (today) for the “Exclusive Full STH Pregame Skate” on Saturday morning. The annual event gives fans the chance to mingle with other season ticket holders while watching the team perform their typical, pregame on-ice practice. The organization also [...]
Great Expectations - What is Realistic for the Canes?
Today, there is tremendous unrest within the “force” known as the Caniac Nation. Many fans are clamouring for some type of change regarding coaching or player personnel. While Carolina’s year-to-date performance has certainly been inconsistent as well as downright frustrating at times, has the team actually performed below general expectations [...]
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, [...]
Laviolette Given a Vote of Confidence
Most fans thought, (and a couple of sportswriters as well), that head coach Peter Laviolette might have been on the brink of being fired last week, back when the Hurricanes were in the midst of a three game losing streak.
Nothing could have been further from the truth, according to general manager, Jim Rutherford.
“With what our [...]
Canes Prevail Over Lightning in Shootout, 3-2
The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning, 3-2 in a shootout on Sunday to break a three game losing streak, two of which were at home. It was also the team’s first shootout win of the season. The Canes lost their only other shootout game this year in Montreal, a team [...]
Emotional Rescue - Caps 5, Canes 1
The Carolina Hurricanes showed no emotion last night while being humiliated on their home ice by the Washington Capitals. They showed no emotion afterwards in the dressingroom. There was no emotion from head coach Peter Laviolette in the post-game press conference. Everything was “matter-of-fact” and low key.
Perhaps a little emotion is needed? [...]
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 [...]
Canes at Caps, Preview
The Hurricanes are in the nation’s capital to take on the Capitals tonight in a game between hungry rivals. Carolina is currently in first place in the Southeast Division sporting 16 points while Washington is tied for second with 12.
Neither team is entirely happy with the way they have been playing of late. [...]
Guest Feature - Fight Fire with Fire?
((From time to time I will get a request from a fan to allow them the opportunity to voice their opinion here on the blog. “C-Leaguer” recently sent me an email and asked if I would post his point of view about the volatile Sutter situation, and I agreed.
Opinions are all over the [...]
Florida Quietly Moves up to First - Canes at Islanders Pregame
Don’t look now, but while the favorites to win the Southeast Division have recently faltered, the Florida Panthers have climbed up to first place. The Caps have lost their last three games and the Canes have lost three of their last four, but the Panthers have won three in a row.
While Florida will be [...]
Unanswered Questions
The Hurricanes are just five games into the season, and already several questions have come up about the team related to the big game tomorrow night in Pittsburgh. Let’s take a quick look at some of those questions and guess as to what the answers might be.
1. Who will start in goal?
Michael [...]
Pitkanen on Wing? Say it Ain’t So
I couldn’t make it to practice this morning, but Chip Alexander posted a quickie over on LSB which got my attention. Time for me to put on my “columnist hat” and interject a little opinion.
Chip reported that Joni Pitkanen was wearing a white jersey this morning, and was practicing with the forwards. Specifically, [...]
Red Wings tip Canes 3-1
The Detroit Red Wings beat the Carolina Hurricanes Monday night by a score of 3-1 in a tight, action packed game at the RBC. The Stanley Cup Champs scored two powerplay goals, then added an empty netter for good measure near the end of the game.
The Hurricanes played their most physical game of the [...]
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 [...]
Canes Finish Preseason With Win
Ray Whitney scored in his first exhibition game and Cam Ward pitched a 31 save shut-out as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Nashville Predators 2-0 at the RBC Sunday afternoon. Whitney had been dealing with a groin issue on and off during this preseason but said he felt fine after the [...]
Leighton and Canes Hold on to 1-0 Win
The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Philadelphia Flyers at the RBC yesterday by a score of 1-0. The victory was the first for the Canes this preseason and gave them an overall record of 1-3, with two more games to play.
Sergei Samsonov was the number one star of the game. Not only did he score [...]
Back to Work - Caps 4, Canes 1
Last night, fans were grumbling as they left the RBC.
Even if several of the players on the ice were different, parts of last night’s game looked eerily similar to the worst of last season. Collapses on defense, sloppy passing, and in general, uninspired play was what stood out to many.
The good news is that [...]
Final Thoughts On Preseason Opener
I can say this for sure — no one in the Canes’ locker room was happy with the results tonight. The mood after the game was sullen at best. Here’s some news and thoughts:
• Coach Peter Laviolette was dumbfounded by the play tonight, saying the team “didn’t execute well at all.” Sloppy passing and a [...]
No Easy Path for Rutherford - Mark Parrish on Speed Dial?
You have to feel for Justin Williams. To work so hard, only to have another set back like this one must be devastating. But not only is the winger’s injury tough on the skater himself, it obviously affects the whole organization.
For instance, Peter Laviolette’s job status is probably riding on the team’s success [...]
Goalie Rankings Peg Ward Near The Bottom
Maybe it’s for the best, because the last time Cam Ward had low expectations tagged to him, he turned around the Hurricanes’ first-round playoff series and eventually led Carolina to the Stanley Cup, along the way earning himself a Conn Smythe Trophy.
See, back then at the beginning of the 2005-06 season, Ward was a rookie [...]
Under Pressure - Laviolette Stress Free?
Hurricanes beat writer Chip Alexander recently wrote an interesting story for the News and Observer’s Sunday edition. It seems that Jim Rutherford has finally given coach Peter Laviolette a public vote of confidence, something that hasn’t happened since the end of last season.
“I don’t want to enter the season with anybody being under the [...]
Yahoo for Weekend Warriors
Things have been a bit quiet around here over the weekend, as far as news goes. But behind the scenes, the blog has changed servers once again as we continue in our quest to find the perfect webhost who will provide minimal downtime. Have we finally found “The One”? [...]
Stat Predictions From The Hockey News: Some Fun, Some Curious
At the very back of the most recent issue of The Hockey News, this edition’s Inside The Numbers stats pack features some statistical predictions for the upcoming season. The staff took five categories and listed the top 35 in each. The categories are: Defenseman Points; Rookie Points; Goals; Goaltender Wins; 2009 UFA Points.
Let’s kick things [...]
Best And Worst Moves Of The Offseason
With all the vacant coaching positions filled, the draft over and the free agent market pretty well dried up — except for a few big names like Sakic, Shanahan and the Swede (I’m so sick of seeing his name, I can’t even bear to write it), it seems like a good time to look around [...]
Laviolette Gives Carolina an Edge
In a Southeast Division race that is sure to be tight again this coming season, teams will be looking for any advantage possible to help move them to the top. One big advantage that the Carolina Hurricanes possess is having an experienced NHL coach behind the bench. The other teams in the division [...]
“Fun Fest” Highlights
I went over to the RBC last night to check out how the Carolina Hurricanes first “Fun Fest” was going. I’m not very good at guessing the number of heads in a crowd, but if I had to make a guess I would say that there were probably a few hundred people in attendance.
While [...]
Roundabout - Melrose Joins Coaching Carousel
The worst kept secret in hockey will finally become official as Barry Melrose will be named head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning at a press conference Tuesday morning. Melrose will take over for John Tortorella who was relieved of his duties earlier this month.
The new ownership group in Tampa is taking an “aggressive” [...]
Wind of Change - Rowe and Daniels Switch Positions
(photo from CH.com)
The Carolina Hurricanes announced today that Albany Head Coach, Tom Rowe would be joining the Hurricanes staff in Raleigh, changing places with assistant coach Jeff Daniels, who will be taking Rowe’s position as head coach for the River Rats.
This move makes good sense in that it should help both men to gain experience [...]
Give a Little Bit - Leighton in, Hedican out, Lavi quiet
Reviewing some brief news….
Luke reported late yesterday that Michael Leighton will indeed be offered a one-way contract with the Canes for next season. This news isn’t shocking considering the goalie’s outstanding performance in Albany last season. He also performed well in training camp and during a brief stint during a call up with [...]
Back in Black - Laviolette Will Return
Carolina Hurricanes General Manager Jim Rutherford confirmed earlier today that coach Peter Laviolette will indeed return behind the bench next season for Carolina. Rutherford seemed a bit surprised by all the speculation about the coach’s future.
“This became a bigger issue than it needed to be, JR was quoted as saying. It seems like [...]
Say You, Say Me - Laviolette Still in Limbo
The News and Observer published a story this morning informing the masses that the long awaited trial of Carolina Head Coach Peter Laviolette, begins next week. The prosecuting attorney will be Jim Rutherford while Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos will acting as the judge, jury, and possible executioner.
Peter Laviolette will be defending himself.
Seriously, what the [...]
Emotional Rescue - Rutherford Still Undecided on Coach
During the first week of April after the Carolina Hurricanes were eliminated from the playoffs, General Manager Jim Rutherford had a press conference in which he indicated that he was not going to meet with Hurricanes Coach, Peter Laviolette until after “emotions had settled down”, because he didn’t want to do anything rash without giving [...]
