Staal's status unclear, Canes' GM looking to make personnel moves
Adam Harris
Winless in their last nine games, the Carolina Hurricanes' terrible start has general manager Jim Rutherford interested in shaking up his roster.
The Canes' GM joined The Insiders on 99.9 FM The Fan on Monday. Rutherford says the team isn't sure about the injury status of Eric Staal, but he's looking at some potential roster moves regardless.
"I had hoped to wait until the end of November to really see if the team could come together," Rutherford told The Insiders. "Here we go again, with the injury to our best player. So, I'm starting to talk to other teams a lot more now. And, I'm embarrassed to say that this early in the season."
It has been more than three weeks since the Canes won a game, Oct. 9 against the Panthers.
"It's just figuring out how to win one game, and at least getting some breaks in a game that we can win," Rutherford said.. "We get absolutely no breaks at all, but that goes with losing. Our discipline's not good, we're taking way too many penalties. Everything that can go wrong, is going wrong."
After a dreadful October in which the Hurricanes went 2-7-3, November got off to a rough start too. The Canes dropped a home game to the Sharks 5-1, and may have also lost Staal for a few games. Rutherford wasn't certain regarding Staal's status as of Monday afternoon, but said the team's trainers weren't optimistic after Sunday's injury.
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Re: Staal's status unclear, Canes' GM looking to make personnel moves (Score: 1) by mojo19 on Tuesday, November 03 @ 09:18:39 MST (User Info | Send a Message)
This team is 30th in all power rankings. Poor Hurricanes, what's going wrong? They finished last year on such a high, heading to the final 4.
Lot's of pending UFA's on this roster including veteran forwards Ray Whitney, Matt Cullen, and Matt Walker. Also defensmen Aaron Ward, Nicklas Wallin, and Joe Corvo.
So even if there's not a lot of moves done soon, I think the 'Canes could be big sellers at the deadline and these guys could all get interest. Personally I love Ray Whitney, he's been such a consistent scorer for years.
Re: Staal's status unclear, Canes' GM looking to make personnel moves (Score: 1) by hockey_lover on Tuesday, November 03 @ 09:26:23 MST (User Info | Send a Message)
They are in complete disarray. Its crazy.
Ward's stats are terrible. Their highest scorer is on pace for a 50 point season. There are two players on the team with a + rating.
Ugh .. its just horrible. I didnt see it coming.
Also, I realize Ward was a lock to make the Olympic team ... do you think Stevie Y is wavering on that now?
Re: Staal's status unclear, Canes' GM looking to make personnel moves (Score: 1) by Kramer on Tuesday, November 03 @ 12:43:14 MST (User Info | Send a Message)
There should be a long weekend in Canada during U.S. Thanksgiving.
Re: Staal's status unclear, Canes' GM looking to make personnel moves (Score: 1) by pezzz123 on Tuesday, November 03 @ 15:28:30 MST (User Info | Send a Message)
To Calgary
Ray Whitney Matt Cullen
To Carolina
Olli Jokinen Dustin Boyd 2nd round pick
Carolina gets a real 2nd line center in Jokinen (Cullen is good, but more a 3rd liner, and Brind'Amour can't skate anymore), a young player in need of a new start with top 6 potential in Boyd and a 2nd rounder.
Calgary gets a top 6 playmaker to play with Iginla/Bourque in Whitney and a perfect 3rd line center to play behind Langkow and Conroy in Cullen. Both players have a Cup ring and lots of playoff experience.
Re: Staal's status unclear, Canes' GM looking to make personnel moves (Score: 1) by leafy on Tuesday, November 03 @ 22:58:18 MST (User Info | Send a Message)
Everybody's blaming Ward, and maybe there's some truth to that.
However, in case nobody's watched them, they are playing lousy hockey. I mean really lousy.
Re: Staal's status unclear, Canes' GM looking to make personnel moves (Score: 1) by the_word on Wednesday, November 04 @ 11:38:23 MST (User Info | Send a Message)
The team is as good as Cam Ward, who on occasion is the best goaltender in the league. He's like Irbe, every couple of years he remind people he could play and then would fall off.
Re: Staal's status unclear, Canes' GM looking to make personnel moves (Score: 1) by DannyLeafs(dude@dudemail.com) on Wednesday, November 04 @ 11:58:13 MST (User Info | Send a Message)
I think dealing with Chicago makes sense for the Canes. Chicago is loaded with good young players, and is poised to make another deep run in the playoffs. Chicago is tight against the cap and will be forced to move some of the good young talent in order to re-sign their stars. Carolina would love to get their hands on a good young player to build a solid youthful core around Eric Staal. I think this trade makes good sense:
To Carolina: Kris Versteeg
To Chicago: Ray Whitney 2nd round pick
Whitney's and Versteeg's point production should be fairly similar for this season. Versteeg is a good young playmaking winger that could be a great compliment to Staal who is more of a goal scorer. Carolina gets a little younger, and adds a good piece to their core for the future. Chicago gets a veteran presence that still produces good offensive numbers, and has a stanley cup ring as well as a 2nd round draft pick to add organizational depth. Also, since Whitney's contract is expiring they manage to save themselves approximately 3 million in cap space for next season without realistically weakening their team in the short run.
