Dear Peter Karmanos:

[WillLikeWhoa091]

Pete,

I actually had titled this "Dear Jim Rutherford" first, but I think the time for that letter has come and gone. Your team has lost it's accountability, and your country club has become fat and lazy.

It's time to move on. Jim Rutherford and his best friend Paul Maurice are killing this team and it's fans. The one-man forecheck is A) not working at all, and B) boring to watch. Paul Maurice must be fired. Jim Rutherford should probably go as well as it's just time to bring in new blood and get a team that actually wants to win something, not be content to hold hands and say "It's going to get better."

I personally hope we lose every game the rest of the year, and then actually WIN the draft lottery so that we can get Taylor Hall. After that, please hire a new GM and an offensive minded coach.

The country club needs to dissipate as all it's doing right now is killing your revenue.

Also, Rod "The Bod" Brind'Amour needs to retire gracefully. Try not to eff that one up like when you threw Peter Laviolette under the bus.

Thanks,
Will

[SoCalcaniac]

WIN the draft lottery so that we can get Tyler Hall.

You mean Taylor Hall right? It's Tyler Seguin the projected other top prospect.

Agree with the whole letter. Too bad I'm getting very close to just not caring anymore. :mad:

[nccanes]

Dear Peter Karmanos,

Not everyone feels like Will.

Pete,
I personally hope we lose every game the rest of the year, and then actually WIN the draft lottery so that we can get Tyler Hall. After that, please hire a new GM and an offensive minded coach.


Pete, as someone who has a lot of tickets left in their booklet, several to exchange, and just remembered they've got 4 unused vouchers to boot, I would prefer the team not lose every game from here on out. I would like to see some exciting hockey on home ice and the occasional win. If you have such control as is being suggested, how about winning the home games and losing the away? Will that work?


Also, Rod "The Bod" Brind'Amour needs to retire gracefully. Try not to eff that one up like when you threw Peter Laviolette under the bus.


Pete, I have no idea how you can force Brind'Amour to "retire gracefully". I wish you luck in that regard. But please don't eff that one up like when Tampa threw Dave Andreychuk under the bus.

And Pete, thanks for firing Peter Laviolette when you did. I enjoyed the playoffs last year and it gave me another set of memories to stow away with all the others.

[SoCalcaniac]

Dear Pete, I take it back. I do want to see exciting hockey and as someone who just attended TWENTY HOME GAMES, and two lousy preseason games which should have told me everything I need to know; and tonight's was likely the most "exciting" out of all of them, and I still have TWENTY ONE more games to go, I have spent 3 lousy months hoping for "excitement". It has yet to happen.

On further review, I'd just as soon we forfeit, and you credit my account. But like an idiot that you believe all of us fans to be, I'll be in my seat, watching and accepting whatever it is that is thrown at me.

Signed Apathy.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Dear Peter Karmanos,

Thanks for bringing an NHL team to Raleigh. Please do whatever it takes to keep it here.

Signed,
Most of Us

[livinthedream]

Dear Pete (can I call you Pete?):

Not sure if you had anything to do with the decision to stock Diet Mountain Dew in the concession stands this season, but if you did, well done sir!

:thumbsup:

Oh, and I'll say this every chance I can. THANK YOU for bringing professional hockey to my back yard. There are few things in life that I enjoy more than a trip to the arena to watch a hockey game. The springs of 2006 and 2009 will always be among my most cherished memories as a sports fan.

This year has been very frustrating for us Hurricanes fans, I don't think anyone envisioned we would be where we are at this point in the season. We seem to be hitting a transitional period in our storied franchise a bit earlier than expected. That could be a good thing as long as the organization continues to take the long view. We have a very good solid core of young talent both on the current roster and in the farm system that should provide a cornerstone for the future (I'm happy to name names). Give them the opportunity to start shining now, and I'll be in my seats cheering them on.

Oh, and I'm already looking forward to the start of the 2010-2011 season. IN HELSINKI. MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Fondly,

LTD

[goalie33]

Dear Pete,

I want my money back.

[ultrablue55]

Sir:

Your comments delivered toward Mr. Laviolette as he was shown the door last year, not to his face of course, have given me the impression that you are a bas^tard. You didn't mind putting your mug in the team photo post Cup win. Who's system made that possible a@@hole? I will never have any respect for you sir. Hartford was right about one thing, you're an arrogant prick.

Your infatuation with Paul Maurice is beyond me. He has proven once that he can lead a team to last place in the entire league. Must we be subject to an encore of unbridled futility! The minute your minion rehired Maurice last year, I knew this team would be back in the basement this year. Granted, the speed at which this has been accomplished surprised even me!

The jury is very much out on my willingness to extend my season tickets beyond this year, which we have had for nine years now. If Maurice is retained I can't justify the expenditure. Watching these guys implode on TV is cheaper than going to the arena. I don't expect to be in the playoffs every year. This is a sport and I realize and accept that the teams will fluctuate in talent and desire from year to year, I understand that. I do expect to see a team that is competitive and playing up to their abiltiy. I expect to see a team that demostrates some semblence of cohesion on a consistent basis. I'm seeing no such thing under your current coach and GM.

Best of luck on getting out of a hole that irresponsibiltiy put you in, sir. You and your minions have their work cut out for them.

[superdave]

Dear Mr. Karmanos,

I will join the chorus in thanking you for bringing hockey to our backwater state. As the only kid in Rocky Mount during the 70's that was a hockey fan, I never thought I'd ever see the sport even played in North Carolina, much less at the NHL level. As an added bonus, in a few short years we've seen the Stanley Cup Finals twice, last year's incredible run to the Eastern Conference Finals, and Lord Stanley's Cup raised on home ice. Thanks for all of that, but I will say that the current status of Carolina Hurricanes hockey is troubling.

What troubles me now is that all of the progress that has been made in building the fan base can be lost quickly. In the more traditional hockey markets, there may be more leeway in the fanbase riding out a few sub-par seasons. In those cities, kids grow up playing hockey and have a lifelong love of the game. North Carolina is not one of those areas. In today's world of so many entertainment opportunities, it scares me to think that the good Caniac fans will have to be making those choices in how they spend their entertainment dollar in today's economy. Even after the incredible run deep into the playoffs last year, I know some people that reduced their ticket packages or didn't renew at all because of financial issues.

I'm sure that the teams current play is as surprising to you as it is to all of us. We did not expect the same team that was so good late in last years games to be so bad now. Some of our players seem to have gotten old overnight. Some aren't playing up to our expectations. The coaching staff seems to be as confused as I am. This year's experiment at taking one more run is a failure and it needs to be recognized sooner rather than later.

I'm just a schmuck with a couple of seats in the upper goal zone. In the big picture of things, I don't account for much in the financial success of the organization. I am however, as committed to this team as any fan that walks through the doors of the RBC Center on any night. What I want at this time is hope. Hope that when I go through those turnstiles that I'll see a good game. Hope for next season. Hope that we will see the team transition to the young Canes quickly. Hope that I will see exciting hockey played instead of what is currently on the ice. Hope that my beloved Canes will continue to play in Raleigh. Please Mr. Karmanos, do not let this season be wasted.

I love my Carolina Hurricanes. I love my Caniac friends. I have made many friends among the RBC Center staff and Hurricanes promotions staff. Before the game, I always make a couple of trips around the concourse just to speak to some of those people. I look forward to tailgating and going to the the games, no matter what happens.

Take a good look at the direction this organization is going and make the decisions that are going to keep it pointed in the right direction. That is the direction that keeps it in Raleigh and not once again moved to a city that can offer a better deal. We want to see exciting hockey. If that means changes need to be made in management, the coaching staff, or roster, so be it. To do the same thing over and over and expect the situation to change is insanity. Unless changes are made, the results will remain the same.

Sincerely,
David Morris

[KaniacFever]

Dear Pete,

First, THANK YOU for bringing a team to Raleigh. I was very excited to learn in 1997 that Raleigh would be getting a professional hockey team. Finally no more watching my favorite sport on TV, which we all know, does not do it justice. I quickly changed my alliance from the Flyers to the Canes. Nothing like having a home team to cheer for.

No one could have predicted what would happen this year. During the summer you go read the message boards and everyone was excited and thought we would be fighting Washington for the division lead. No one predicted this and no one could have. For whatever reason, JRs plan for this year didn't work out. Fine, sh!t happens. You now have a chance to fix the mess.

Its apparent now that the veterans weren't the answer to break the pattern of going deep in the playoffs, then missing. I understood what JR was doing. Vets give you more experience, the kids would need to go through a learning phase and give you a lesser chance in getting back into the playoffs. It didn't work for whatever reason, now you need to ensure JR moves with the plan and ensure we are going with the kids next year. Sure we'll probably miss the playoffs yet again, but I think the caniacs will be more tolerable to this. Much easier to lose with kids who developing and learning from their mistakes over vets who are too slow and making mistakes you expect a kid to make. Add those kids (Sutter, Boychuk, Carson, Rodney, etc) to the 'core' here in Carolina (Staal, Ward, Ruutu, Gleason, Pitkanen) and we got ourselves a bright future.

Your biggest challenge will be to do something with Mo. I'm sure he's a nice guy, but he sucks at his job. Surely you can find him something to do other than coach. And let's bring in someone from outside the org, a fresh set of eyes would be a good thing.

We are heading into a new decade, let's start a new decade with the Canes. Get rid of the old and bring in the new. And word of advice, quit bringing back ex-players. You got rid of them for a reason.

I will continue to support this team through the highs and lows. Maybe its because i'm a dumba$$ or maybe its because I've lost a team before. You really don't know what you have, until you no longer have it.

Sincerly,
KF

[Convert]

Dear Mr. Karmanos,

Thanks for bringing hockey to Raleigh. Its great for my family being able to go to events together that we enjoy (for the most part).

With the franchise now approaching its teenage years, its time for some changes. Sure, keep the family friendly approach that has players loving to be here, but can we do with a little less nepotism in the organization. Specifically, its time for Mo to go (again), Tripp to go, and to reduce the re-cycling effect. Let JR know that in the age of the cap, he can't reward guys for past efforts with lengthy contracts like the ones that are a big part of our current problem,

You have a smart fan base here that appreciates effort and intensity. The current formula of players being too comfortable, coaches being too comfortable, etc, results in sporadic periods of intensity surrounded by lots of lackadasical play. Plus, I do believe your coach's system leaves a lot to be desired in terms of exciting hockey.

I know Staal is hurt, so no bashing here, but Brandon Sutter showed you the future of this franchise last night when he totally out-hustled and undressed a philly defender for our second goal. Give us a bunch of guys that play with the passion of Sutter and we'll tolerate losing while they mature. Not all will have the talent or hockey sense of Brandon, but his style of play will breed confidence, making other players better. And, if we aren't winning, we'll pick up some other guys that also have skill in the draft.

Sincerely,
Convert

[shill22]

now-will someone PLEASE have the kahunas to print these off and send them to Mr Karmanos?

[apolinar]

Dear Mr. Karmanos,
My opinion doesn't count anymore. I don't have the season tiks anymore. But I keep finding my way to my old seats because nobody wants them either with the product out there. I am of the opinion that the problems are psychological. Maurice lost the team once and he has lost them again.

But that doesn't matter. I myself don't understand the business strategy of building this team like this this far this fast only to be complacent with tanking but then again you are the businessman and I'm not.

[caniac97]

Dear Pete,

How do you like your "perfect storm" now?

Chet

[ontheboards]

now-will someone PLEASE have the kahunas to print these off and send them to Mr Karmanos?
its cojones...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cojones and why not do what you're asking others to do?

[FinFan]

Dear Mr. Karmanos,

What LTD, SD, KF and Convert said.

Sincerely,
FinFan

PS PLEASE do not ever break up the Finnish Trifecta.