All Entries Tagged With: "Jim Rutherford"
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 [...]
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 [...]
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, [...]
Rutherford to Change Training Methods in Carolina
Hurricanes General Manager, Jim Rutherford is mandating change regarding the way Carolina players train off the ice. In a recent interview with TSN’s Darren Dreger, Rutherford says that any off-ice testing that increases the heart rate and puts stress on the body will no longer be allowed by the organization.
“Their bodies are screaming out, [...]
Carolina Injuries - Bad Training, Bad Skates, or Bad Luck?
Last week, the Carolina Hurricanes treatment room looked like a waiting line at a MASH unit. Ten players were nursing some type of injury. Things are looking better at the moment, but the injury bug is nothing new for the Canes and it’s starting to make fans as well as team management ask [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Lengthy Staal Deal Imminent
The talk around Raleigh today is that Eric Staal is close to signing a major contract extension. The only remaining questions are, for how much and how long? Chip Alexander at LSB is reporting that it could be worth between 7 and 10 million per year.
This morning, Jim Rutherford was on 99.9 The [...]
TV Dinners - FSN Releases Broadcast Schedule
FSN South released their Carolina Hurricanes 65 game television broadcast package today, which will include the opening night contest at the RBC against the Florida Panthers. The network will broadcast 35 of the team’s 41 road games. John Forslund and Tripp Tracy will continue to work the booth for the [...]
Wesley to be Honored February 17th
Get your tickets for the game on February 17th, 2009 against the Boston Bruins. The evening has been designated as Glen Wesley Night and his “number 2″ will officially be retired and lifted to the rafters preceeding that game.
What an appropriate opponent, since Wesley was originally drafted by the Bruins back in 1987 and [...]
Dazed and Confused - Jeff O’Neill Chatter
You have to give Luke DeCock some credit over at Lord Stanley’s Blog. During the past two days, he has stirred the Caniac Nation up into a frenzy, and it’s not even hockey season.
Monday, he brought up the subject of parking at the RBC, which nearly everyone has a complaint about. Tuesday evening [...]
Chad LaRose Signed for One Year
The Carolina Hurricanes just announced the signing of forward Chad LaRose to a one year contract for $875,000. The agreement will keep the two parties from entering into a salary arbitration hearing, which LaRose signed up for a couple of weeks ago.
Hurricanes General Manager Jim Rutherford said that the signing should be the final [...]
Movin’ On - What if LaRose Doesn’t Sign?
A good General Manager always has a plan B if the best laid plans don’t work out. If Chad LaRose gets a huge payout in arbitration that the Canes refuse to match and he moves on down the road, who else might be on Jim Rutherford’s radar screen that probably would meet the GM’s [...]
The Big Money - Reviewing Day One of “Crazy Daze”
Some NHL players must have felt like they just won the lottery yesterday. Let’s take a quick look around and review some of the deals finalized on day one. Agents are still partying as we speak.
Green signs in Washington for 21M over 4 years. (good deal for both sides)
Stuart signs in Detroit [...]
Tumbling Dice - Signing Free Agents is a Gamble
Tomorrow will be the beginning of a new era for several free agents who will receive a contract which will set them up for life. Many teams and their fans will be hoping that a key signing or two will be enough to put them into the top echelon of the NHL.
Sometimes it works [...]
Burnin’ For You - Which Free Agent Does Carolina Covet?
Obviously, the Carolina Hurricanes are in desperate need of defense. Earlier this week we looked over the team’s roster, reviewed possible trade scenarios, and examined where the Canes stood concerning their budget limitations.
We also mentioned in that article that we thought the new salary cap would be about $56 million. Yesterday, the NHL [...]
This Ain’t The Summer of Love - Buyouts, Qualifying Offers, and more
In stark contrast to Carolina’s Summer of 2006 when all contract negotiations seemed to go smoothly, players were re-signed without any hitches, coach’s contracts were extended, and love was in the air, so far the Summer of 2008 has had a couple of buyouts, minimum qualifying offers, a disputed buyout, and the inability to make [...]
Take It To The Limit - Canes and the Salary Cap
The Carolina Hurricanes roster is starting to take shape, and it’s not a pleasant sight for the Bank of Karmanos. With the recent signings of Tim Gleason and Tuomo Ruutu, the total number of possible, (or probable) roster players under contract is up to 18 at the present time.
Let’s take a closer look.
The following [...]
Trading Huet Comes Back to Bite Gainey
Do you get the feeling that perhaps Montreal General Manager Bob Gainey traded away his team’s best chance at winning the Stanley Cup for a measly 2nd round draft pick? That is what probably happened when he decided to trade away ex-Canadiens goalie Cristobal Huet to Washington for a 2nd round pick.
One can [...]
Lay Your Hands On Me - Next Season Karmanos to be More Involved
In a recent report written by beat writer Luke DeCock, the sometimes “absentee” owner of the Carolina Hurricanes, Mr. Peter Karmanos has promised to be more active in the running of his NHL franchise this coming year. Karmanos is reportedly taking a lesser role at Compuware, his number one business interest and will [...]
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 [...]
Judgement Day - Carolina GM Continues Deliberation
The talk of the town is still about the status of Carolina Hurricanes head coach, Peter Laviolette and whether or not he will be fired. General Manager Jim Rutherford has said on more than one occasion during recent press conferences, that he is holding off on meeting with the coach because he is [...]
More on Rutherford
Let me start out by repeating that I am not in favor of losing or firing Jim Rutherford. I just think that since he is the man at the top, and since the Canes haven’t made the playoffs in 4 out of the past 5 years, he should be called out first.
In this recent [...]
