Silly Season!

[e2ipiand1]

You need to remember that Aaron Ward is an analyst for NHL on TSN. He was just doing what he normally does on TV.

[caveman]

Almost randomly, found an interesting stats site which has a weird On-Ice Corsi stat. Kinda shows a bit the value of Samson in terms of keeping the puck at the other end.

[SoCalcaniac]

Originally Posted by e2ipiand1

You need to remember that Aaron Ward is an analyst for NHL on TSN. He was just doing what he normally does on TV.

Of course I remember that & realize that. However I don't think his duties at TSN have him calling on behalf of the Canes to Nash's camp. He was doing that as a Canes Alum.

E, yes the commentary was his opinion on Nash/Skinner was just him talking, however the convo with the Nash Camp, I think was him helping out the org as a retired player who won a championship with the team and played here. He made it sound like he was extolling the virtues of the lifestyle here, and the org in general. Included a "Jim Rutherford was the best GM I've ever played for- straight shooter, fair and loyal".

[ButtersSaysNo]

Hate Semin, but if you can sign him for only two years without NTC, do it.

[ontheboards]

Originally Posted by SoCalcaniac

Of course I remember that & realize that. However I don't think his duties at TSN have him calling on behalf of the Canes to Nash's camp. He was doing that as a Canes Alum.

E, yes the commentary was his opinion on Nash/Skinner was just him talking, however the convo with the Nash Camp, I think was him helping out the org as a retired player who won a championship with the team and played here. He made it sound like he was extolling the virtues of the lifestyle here, and the org in general. Included a "Jim Rutherford was the best GM I've ever played for- straight shooter, fair and loyal".

AWard is one of my all time favorite players-- ever! I think what reinforces that for me is his love of the area, the fact he and his family have made it their home, and when he told me that of all the Stanley Cup rings he has, the one he earned in 2006 means the most. His involvement in trying to sell Carolina to Nash des not surprise me at all and I would believe that it was a genuine move by a genuine guy.

[nccanes]

Originally Posted by e2ipiand1

You need to remember that Aaron Ward is an analyst for NHL on TSN. He was just doing what he normally does on TV.

Yes, of course I remember.

I just thought it was interesting that he was acting as an extension of the Canes org for an event like this.

I think it's a nice thing, just the first time he's appeared in any semi-official capacity since his retirement as far as I'm aware.

His last few years weren't something he really enjoyed after the pinnacle in 2006. Some of that was not related to the Canes (the Jagr issue in NY) but the whole 2009 deal (where he admitted to hearing all the **** people talked about him on the local sports radio after the Walker punch incident), then the whole snafu of his return (will any of us ever forget the Joni/Aaron WTF-is-going-on-moment ) and final trade. Not exactly how I bet he'd script it.

Glad he was there.

[superdave]

It's amazing how quickly AWard went from goat back to hero. The failed experiment to bring him back didn't turn folks off permanently. That's refreshing.

[caveman]

One thing I'm wondering is how I didn't know about the fan fest last Friday. Was
Wednesday's announcement the first news? Just bummed for my kids that I was apparently asleep at the switch.

[Canesluver]

well.... they first tweeted abut it over a month ago. Itls been in the news.... and it was announced and featured on the home page of the Canes website for the past 4 to 6 weeks.

[caveman]

I've visited the Hurricanes website about once a day all month and never saw it. I'm not surprised I missed the tweet, though. Looks like the main thing I missed was July 3:

http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=637165

Ah well.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I'd heard initial annonucements but was a bit surprised by the email the day before. I don't hover around all things Canes (other than here) all the time so that one snuck up on me. I can certainly understand how folks might have enjoyed, say, a week's notice on the email.

[Canesluver]

I didn't get an Email at all. oh well.... was busy anyway.

[caveman]

Yeah, I don't remember an e-mail, but when I searched my inbox, lo and behold there is indeed one from Monday the 18th. Just lost amidst all the RFA re-signings, etc.

[caveman]

EStaal
JoStaal
Semin
Ruutu
Skinner
Jussi

That's not a bad top 6, folks. Chad, Tlusty, EhStew, Brent, Nodl, Dwyer, Wallace, Welsh, Samson, Boychuk, Bowman, Dalpe, and Terry, and Brett Sutter make for a really crowded bottom 6.

(Note: I think Welsh is still officially a RFA.)

It's kind of hard to imagine Chad, Tlusty, and Dwyer not making the NHL team. That leaves EhStew, Brent, Nodl, Wallace, Welsh, Samson, Boychuk, Bowman, Dalpe, Terry, and Brett Sutter competing over 3 spots, with EhStew, Brent, and Nodl being the obvious picks as they are subject to waivers. (So is Wallace.)

[caniac97]

Originally Posted by caveman

EStaal
JoStaal
Semin
Ruutu
Skinner
Jussi

That's not a bad top 6, folks. Chad, Tlusty, EhStew, Brent, Nodl, Dwyer, Wallace, Welsh, Samson, Boychuk, Bowman, Dalpe, and Terry, and Brett Sutter make for a really crowded bottom 6.

(Note: I think Welsh is still officially a RFA.)

It's kind of hard to imagine Chad, Tlusty, and Dwyer not making the NHL team. That leaves EhStew, Brent, Nodl, Wallace, Welsh, Samson, Boychuk, Bowman, Dalpe, Terry, and Brett Sutter competing over 3 spots, with EhStew, Brent, and Nodl being the obvious picks as they are subject to waivers. (So is Wallace.)

I like your line combo's, you can't double team all six so you have to pick your poison and hope for the best. Bottom six maybe determined by size, Muller said he wanted bigger on all four lines.

[Alicia]

Originally Posted by caveman

It's kind of hard to imagine Chad, Tlusty, and Dwyer not making the NHL team. That leaves EhStew, Brent, Nodl, Wallace, Welsh, Samson, Boychuk, Bowman, Dalpe, Terry, and Brett Sutter competing over 3 spots, with EhStew, Brent, and Nodl being the obvious picks as they are subject to waivers. (So is Wallace.)

Plus Brent is very useful on the PP.

[IceSun]

Agree - Brent plays like last season and he sticks. Like his versatility.

[cmw00]

People thought there might have been a chance Brent didn't stick? Ehstew, Brent and Nodl, are pretty much locks to be on the roster barring some trade. The kids basically have no chance, unless they play top 6 quality and force the team to trade somebody, to make room for them.

[caveman]

What's the roster size limit again? Sounds like Wallace, Welsh, Samson, Boychuk, Bowman, Dalpe, Terry, and Brett Sutter will be "competing" over being the healthy scratches. Maybe that's one thing holding up Welsh's signing a contract?

(Also on defense, if we're carrying Gragnani or Sanguinetti (or Murphy) as a 7th, that crowds things from a forward position perspective also.)

[Convert]

I think its something of a new era for the Canes with more willingness to spend money at both the NHL level and AHL level (Kahn has deep pockets). So I don't think its unreasonable to think a vet or two could be in Charlotte.

We seem to be able to make moves that we haven't in the past.

Still could see some guys going elsewhere via trade for enforcer and my dream of at least one more stay at home d-man.

Maybe we could do something like

From Calgary - Bouwmeester and Tim Jackman

To calg - Joni, Nodl/Stewart, 2nd or 3rd round pick

[nccanes]

Originally Posted by caveman

What's the roster size limit again? Sounds like Wallace, Welsh, Samson, Boychuk, Bowman, Dalpe, Terry, and Brett Sutter will be "competing" over being the healthy scratches. Maybe that's one thing holding up Welsh's signing a contract?

23

[caveman]

With Gleason and Harrison I'm ok with our level of stay at home defensemen. Falk has shown me some strong 2-way play. If we can get a great year out of Joni we have a really good shot and making some serious ruckus.

On the 23: 2 goalies, 12 forwards, 6 defensemen, and 3 extras. If you think Murphy doesn't go back to juniors, then there's 2 healthy scratch slots left for 10 guys who want to make the team.

[andyt]

Bouwmeester would have to waive his NTC. Considering he's playing in his home province, I don't think that's likely.

[AbNormal27]

Of the notable UFA's remaining at the moment, I think we should take a run at defenceman Scott Hannan because I think we could get him cheap and he would add experience to our backline.

To a much lesser extent, Daymond Langkow and Dominic Moore could be had for a good price too, and might give us that Scott Walker like grit that I feel we have been lacking.

Also, is anyone really confident with Boucher as our #2? I'd love to see Peters get more of a chance this year, but if the plan is to have him play in Charlotte, would anyone be averse to Ty Conklin as a replacement / upgrade at backup?

Aaryn

[caniac97]

Originally Posted by AbNormal27

Of the notable UFA's remaining at the moment, I think we should take a run at defenceman Scott Hannan because I think we could get him cheap and he would add experience to our backline.

To a much lesser extent, Daymond Langkow and Dominic Moore could be had for a good price too, and might give us that Scott Walker like grit that I feel we have been lacking.

Also, is anyone really confident with Boucher as our #2? I'd love to see Peters get more of a chance this year, but if the plan is to have him play in Charlotte, would anyone be averse to Ty Conklin as a replacement / upgrade at backup?

Aaryn

With Boucher out for most of the season we will have Peters as our backup, just hope Muller get's a decent rotation going.