Canes Agree To A One Year Deal With Weekes

[Stormbringer]

http://www.carolinahurricanes.com/news/news.asp?articleid=1066

[nccanes]

Thanks for posting this.

“Kevin has solidified himself as our number one goaltender,” said Rutherford. “We have confidence that he will perform at the highest level for our team this season.”
No doubt from JR, Weekes is our #1. Here's to his best season ever! http://websmileys.bei.t-online.de/party31.gif

[Stormbringer]

No problem...needless to say, I was rather delighted when this caught my eye at the Canes site (I almost missed it...it was almost off the marquee!) when I went there to get some info for a new profile at my site. Anyway, here's to Weekes having a hopefully outstanding year...wishing the dude the best of luck. :spin:

[Turbulence]

Awesome!
I would have liked to had a longer term contract, but I guess nobody wants that with the stoppage that will probably happen in a few years...

With Weekes playing like he did before his concussion he'll be an all-star...I can only hope he will.

[moonstomper]

good to hear, now theres just a few left........

[nccanes]

No problem...needless to say, I was rather delighted when this caught my eye at the Canes site (I almost missed it...it was almost off the marquee!) when I went there to get some info for a new profile at my site. Anyway, here's to Weekes having a hopefully outstanding year...wishing the dude the best of luck. :spin:

Which makes you wonder why they can't seem to change the main page with any frequency. You would think that signing your #1 goalie would be more than a ticker item.

And on the same note, I can't believe they have NO main page graphic/story about tickets for next season. But if you love the Ice Hog Hauler....you can set your wallpaper to it. :p

[Stormbringer]

No problem...needless to say, I was rather delighted when this caught my eye at the Canes site (I almost missed it...it was almost off the marquee!) when I went there to get some info for a new profile at my site.

Which makes you wonder why they can't seem to change the main page with any frequency. You would think that signing your #1 goalie would be more than a ticker item.

And on the same note, I can't believe they have NO main page graphic/story about tickets for next season. But if you love the Ice Hog Hauler....you can set your wallpaper to it. :p

Oh, I wholeheartedly agree...the reason I almost missed the press release about Weekes was my gaping at the "headline" about the Ice Hog Hauler for about five-ten seconds and thinking.
"I know that it's a slow news time for the Canes right now and all, but slow enough for Stormy to become the main headline? Ooookay..."
It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the more important news item of Weekes being re-signed. As you said Eileen, that's really what needs to be the main headline...

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Here's to his best season ever! http://websmileys.bei.t-online.de/party31.gif

You can say that again!

[Jeff O Rocks]

Now that Weeksey KNOWS he is number 1....hopefully his head will be clear!!! Hopefully with all this time off, his mind clear and good health *fingers crossed*, he will be OUR Jiggy!!! :spin: ;)

[KOOL KAT]

Great news for Weekes & the Canes. :D

[hyena]

i hope weekes shines this year! (although i do want patty d to at least get some chances) :D i will admit that i am not the biggest weekes fan but i will support him fully. i hope that the fact JR has clearly identified him as our guy will boost him as well.

i agree with everybody's comments on the website, too, although it looks like it is the main story now. i think some of the web gurus on here should apply to work for the canes and help out with ch.com. nothing against the site or anything, but have you seen some of the other teams' sites? :eek:

[1Irbegirlforever]

I really hope that Kevin has a great season...i think knowing he's the #1 goalie and that the team supports him as such will give him the confidence he needs to play well and shine like he did before. :) Glad to have you as a Cane for at least another year Weekes! :)

[Captain Slack]

Here's hoping for an entire season like last October's homestand!! :D

[SouthernHockeyChick]

This was posted at the CH.com forum:
Jun 06, 2003

Hurricanes sign Weekes to another year


RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Kevin Weekes beat out Arturs Irbe last season to become Carolina's No. 1 goaltender, and on Friday he was rewarded with a one-year contract worth $2.35 million.

Weekes, a restricted free agent, made $2.2 million including bonuses for the season that just ended.

Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford said Weekes wasn't signed to a long-term deal because of the uncertainty with labor negotiations. The NHL's collective bargaining agreement expires following the 2003-04 season.

"Not knowing how that new system is going to look, our preference is to just do one year at a time," Rutherford said. "These negotiations went pretty smooth. Both sides had a number in mind which was really close so this wasn't that difficult."

Weekes was in Toronto and did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Weekes played in 51 games in an injury-riddled 2002-03 season. He had a 14-24-9 record with a 2.55 goals against average.

The six-year NHL veteran missed eight games in November and December with a concussion, and played the final few weeks of the regular season with tendon damage in his right hand. Weekes had surgery in the offseason.

"We've followed that along closely and the healing is actually ahead of schedule," Rutherford said. "He's doing very well."

Weekes was acquired from Tampa Bay on March 5, 2002, in exchange for Chris Dingman and Shane Willis, and was billed as Carolina's goalie of the future.

However, last season coach Paul Maurice opened the job up and Weekes beat out a struggling Irbe, who Rutherford said won't be invited to training camp and will instead play in the low minors.

That leaves Weekes as the solid No. 1 goalie with the inexperienced Patrick DesRochers as the backup.

"This is one year where he's clearly on his own," Rutherford said. "There is no uncertainty for Kevin this year. This is an important year for the team and an important year for him to quarterback us back into the playoffs."

Weekes has a 3.04 career goals-against average in 211 career games with Carolina, Tampa Bay, the New York Islanders, Vancouver and Florida. He was a second-round pick by Florida in 1993.

Five Carolina players -- Jan Hlavac, Erik Cole, Josef Vasicek, Jaroslav Svoboda and David Tanabe -- have yet to sign new deals. All are restricted free agents and only Hlavac has arbitration rights. Rutherford has offered the left wing a qualifying offer of $1.8 million for one year.

Hlavac had a disappointing season after being acquired from Vancouver for defenseman Marek Malik, scoring just nine goals in 52 games. He could be used as trade bait to upgrade the team's defense if negotiations bog down.