Turbulence
08-20-2003, 03:47 PM
After finishing with the fewest wins and points in the 2002-03 season, Jim Rutherford and the Carolina Hurricanes are looking forward to the puck dropping on a new season.
The 'Canes GM went right to work following his team's first-to-worst campaign that saw Carolina go from Stanley Cup finalists in 2002 to out of the postseason picture entirely in 2002-03.
http://nhl.speedera.net/photos/s/staal_hurricanes_pose.jpgThe biggest move on the frontline came in June when Carolina drafted Eric Staal out of the OHL.
The first order of business Rutherford addressed was the defense. Over the summer he brought in three backliners -- Bob Boughner, Glen Wesley and Danny Markov -- who he felt could help his team tighten things up.
Boughner is a hard-nosed veteran who should help make the Hurricanes' defensive zone a tough place to visit, while also providing some leadership. Wesley, who played nine seasons for the Hurricanes before being dealt to Toronto last March, should have no problems getting acclimated. Markov, who was acquired from the Phoenix Coyotes along with a third- or fourth-round draft pick in 2004 or 2005 for defensemen David Tanabe and Igor Knyazev, will also give the 'Canes solid play on both sides of the puck this coming season.
Rutherford also re-signed defenseman Bruno St. Jacques, who appeared in 18 games with Carolina last season, posting two goals and five assists and inked defender Allan Rourke, who was acquired last May from Toronto in exchange for center Harold Druken.
The 'Canes also added nine forwards to their mix for the coming season. The biggest move on the frontline came in June when Carolina drafted Eric Staal out of the Ontario Hockey League with its top pick (second overall) at the NHL Entry Draft in Nashville. Staal is the franchise's highest pick in the Draft since the former Hartford Whalers selected Chris Pronger second in 1993. The 6-foot-3 center had 39 goals and 59 assists last season in 66 games in junior hockey and was rated as the top overall player in the Draft by NHL Central Scouting.
Later in the summer, Rutherford penned free agent Chad LaRose to a three-year deal. The high-scoring right winger led the Ontario Hockey League's Plymouth Whalers to the West Division title, notching 61 goals and 56 assists in 67 games. The team also signed right wings Jeff Heerema, Joey Tetarenko and Craig Adams, while also re-upping with left wings Erik Cole, Jeff Daniels and Jaroslav Svoboda. In June, Carolina acquired center Marty Murray from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a sixth-round selection in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
Rutherford also solidified his goaltending for the upcoming season when he agreed to terms with Kevin Weekes and Patrick DesRochers. Weekes completed his sixth NHL season in 2002-03 with a record of 14-24-9 and a goals-against average of 2.55 with five shutouts, while DesRochers made his Hurricanes debut in 2002-03, recording a 1-1-0 record and 3.44 goals-against average in two appearances.
2003-04 'Canes Update
* 2002-03 record - 22-43-11-6
* Offense - 171, 30th in NHL
* Defense - 240 goals against, 27th in NHL
* Additions - D Bob Boughner, D Glen Wesley, D Danny Markov, F Joey Tetarenko, D Allan Rourke, F Chad LaRose, F Marty Murray
* Deletions - D Nikos Tselios, D David Tanabe, D Igor Knyazev, F Harold Druken
* 2003 Draft picks -- (2) Eric Staal, C, Peterborough (OHL), (31) Danny Richmond, D, Michigan (CCHA), (102) Aaron Dawson, D, Peterborough (OHL), (126) Kevin Nastiuk, G, Medicine Hat (WHL), (130) Matej Trojovsky, D, Regina (WHL), (137) Tyson Strachan, D, Vernon (BCHL), (198) Shay Stevenson, LW, Red Deer (WHL), (230) Jamie Hoffman, C, Des Moines (USHL), (262) Ryan Rorabeck, Toronto (OHL)
The 'Canes GM went right to work following his team's first-to-worst campaign that saw Carolina go from Stanley Cup finalists in 2002 to out of the postseason picture entirely in 2002-03.
http://nhl.speedera.net/photos/s/staal_hurricanes_pose.jpgThe biggest move on the frontline came in June when Carolina drafted Eric Staal out of the OHL.
The first order of business Rutherford addressed was the defense. Over the summer he brought in three backliners -- Bob Boughner, Glen Wesley and Danny Markov -- who he felt could help his team tighten things up.
Boughner is a hard-nosed veteran who should help make the Hurricanes' defensive zone a tough place to visit, while also providing some leadership. Wesley, who played nine seasons for the Hurricanes before being dealt to Toronto last March, should have no problems getting acclimated. Markov, who was acquired from the Phoenix Coyotes along with a third- or fourth-round draft pick in 2004 or 2005 for defensemen David Tanabe and Igor Knyazev, will also give the 'Canes solid play on both sides of the puck this coming season.
Rutherford also re-signed defenseman Bruno St. Jacques, who appeared in 18 games with Carolina last season, posting two goals and five assists and inked defender Allan Rourke, who was acquired last May from Toronto in exchange for center Harold Druken.
The 'Canes also added nine forwards to their mix for the coming season. The biggest move on the frontline came in June when Carolina drafted Eric Staal out of the Ontario Hockey League with its top pick (second overall) at the NHL Entry Draft in Nashville. Staal is the franchise's highest pick in the Draft since the former Hartford Whalers selected Chris Pronger second in 1993. The 6-foot-3 center had 39 goals and 59 assists last season in 66 games in junior hockey and was rated as the top overall player in the Draft by NHL Central Scouting.
Later in the summer, Rutherford penned free agent Chad LaRose to a three-year deal. The high-scoring right winger led the Ontario Hockey League's Plymouth Whalers to the West Division title, notching 61 goals and 56 assists in 67 games. The team also signed right wings Jeff Heerema, Joey Tetarenko and Craig Adams, while also re-upping with left wings Erik Cole, Jeff Daniels and Jaroslav Svoboda. In June, Carolina acquired center Marty Murray from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a sixth-round selection in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
Rutherford also solidified his goaltending for the upcoming season when he agreed to terms with Kevin Weekes and Patrick DesRochers. Weekes completed his sixth NHL season in 2002-03 with a record of 14-24-9 and a goals-against average of 2.55 with five shutouts, while DesRochers made his Hurricanes debut in 2002-03, recording a 1-1-0 record and 3.44 goals-against average in two appearances.
2003-04 'Canes Update
* 2002-03 record - 22-43-11-6
* Offense - 171, 30th in NHL
* Defense - 240 goals against, 27th in NHL
* Additions - D Bob Boughner, D Glen Wesley, D Danny Markov, F Joey Tetarenko, D Allan Rourke, F Chad LaRose, F Marty Murray
* Deletions - D Nikos Tselios, D David Tanabe, D Igor Knyazev, F Harold Druken
* 2003 Draft picks -- (2) Eric Staal, C, Peterborough (OHL), (31) Danny Richmond, D, Michigan (CCHA), (102) Aaron Dawson, D, Peterborough (OHL), (126) Kevin Nastiuk, G, Medicine Hat (WHL), (130) Matej Trojovsky, D, Regina (WHL), (137) Tyson Strachan, D, Vernon (BCHL), (198) Shay Stevenson, LW, Red Deer (WHL), (230) Jamie Hoffman, C, Des Moines (USHL), (262) Ryan Rorabeck, Toronto (OHL)