Who Are These Guys?

Here we are, 9 points out with 10 games left to play. The Carolina Hurricanes are inching closer and closer to playoff exclusion with each passing day. After looking strong on their recent road trip, hopeful fans felt a glimmer that maybe the words "mathematically possible" were not too daunting - maybe the Canes would make the playoffs after all.  The team seemed to be finding its groove, responding to Coach Muller's exhortations, and taking each game seriously.  Then there was last night...

Who are these guys? The New York Islanders jumped onto the ice ready to compete. The Hurricanes - not so much. After blasting Cam Ward out of the net with 3 quick goals, the Islanders went up 4-0 in the first period. They had fired 10 shots before the Canes registered 1, forcing Ward to watch from the bench and Khudobin to try and stop the bleeding.


Period one ended with Carolina cutting the lead in half, 4-2.  Shot totals had evened a bit at 14-9. Visions of a 15-0 Islanders win were thankfully dissolved.  A more typical hockey game ensued in the 2nd period, with the Canes getting 2 more goals, and the Isles notching 1 more. Period 3 was hard fought defensively and the Canes eventually lose 5-4.  The final shot total was 32-28 in favor of New York. All in all, not a bad game if the Hurricanes could ignore the first 10 minutes. But they can't.

So who are these guys? Showing up for a few games, and being horribly down the next, makes it impossible to know which the is the real Carolina Hurricanes team. Even Coach Muller lamented, "It's a mystery why we come out so hesitant and afraid to play in the first period." If the head coach can't explain it, how are the fans going to be able to have any confidence in the team?  Jay Harrison said, "We clearly weren't ready to go...this can't be tolerated." I agree, Jay. Most if not all Hurricanes fans agree, too. This can't be tolerated. But what is the answer?

Cam Ward getting run after nine shots was horrid. Was it all his fault? Islanders coach Jack Capuano said, "...I don't think he (Ward) could have done anything." While the spotlight was on Cam, clearly the puck had to get through his teammates before getting past him. To be candid, defensively the Canes flat out stunk. Period.

Next up for Carolina is the Florida Panthers tomorrow night. Let's hope that the team shows up and plays hard from the opening puck-drop. Time is running out, as are the mathematical possibilities. Whatever the ingredient is that is missing from the fortitude of this team, not finding it could lead to more that JR stepping aside as general manager. It could lead to a very real scenario where we are literally asking, "Who are these guys" as the current team winds up torn down and rebuilding begins from scratch. I for one don't necessarily agree that a wholesale makeover is what the Canes need, but something is just not right.

Thanks, Coach

Head Coach Kirk Muller of the Carolina Hurricanes let his team know in no uncertain terms this past Monday that he was not happy with the team's effort, attitude, and what he described as "playing for the scoresheet." A good old-fashioned fiery rant from the coach, meant to inspire, motivate, and get guys thinking about the team instead of themselves. Great job, coach! But, where was this a few months ago?

I agree that the "the culture needs to change." Absolutely. The Canes have accepted mediocrity for far too long. However the seeds of winning are best sown in the pre-season, not with a handful of games left and only a "mathematically possible" chance of making the playoffs.

The team did respond Tuesday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets, posting a 3-1 victory. Anton Khudobin stood on his head, making 46 saves - 18 of which were in the 3rd period while the Canes' offense launched 0 shots on goal. A new top line combination of the two Staal brothers and Semin seemed to have good chemistry, as have other line combinations over the past few weeks. The question remains as to what -if any - consistency we will see regarding line combinations during the remainder of the season.

The team did look much more inspired as compared to the dismal, lax effort over the weekend in Boston, and even worse at home against Edmonton. Losing to the last place team in the Western Conference, especially at home on military appreciation Sunday was painful - not so much due to the loss, but due to the noticeable lack of effort.

The long-term results of Coach Muller's colorfully inspirational speech remain to be seen. But there is one certainty that the fans loudly echo from his speech - the culture has to change. Winning is an attitude, but unfortunately so is losing. It's past time for the Carolina Hurricanes to develop and maintain an attitude and team culture of winning.

Perhaps they can keep the winning momentum going Friday night against the Chicago Blackhawks, a team that has shown in the recent past that it is possible to foster a winning culture. For the fans who Coach Muller said "really care about you guys," if not for the sake of personal and team pride, the Hurricanes must take a long look in the mirror and determine if they really believe and really want to win. That's where it starts.

'Canes Win!

The Carolina Hurricanes have won their last two games. Wow! Where has this team been? They have looked really sharp this week in their wins over the New York Rangers and the Buffalo Sabres. Launching 55 shots on net against Buffalo, the long-awaited offense has seemingly come alive. Cam Ward has returned, looking serious about staying between the pipes. And Jordan Staal is scoring. What is going on!

The "mathematical possibility" is still a reality as far as the 'Canes making the playoffs.  They trail Montreal with Detroit, Washington, New Jersey, and Ottawa all ahead of them - trying to catch the Habs for the last wild-card spot. With 16 games left, it may be "possible" but "miraculous" is likely a better description of their chances. And dropping the puck this afternoon against the Bruins - the NHL's hottest team at the moment, means they Hurricanes will have to bring their A game for all 3 periods not only today, but in every remaining game.

We will enjoy the rest of the season. Canes fans are loyal even if frustrated. And we will hope for the miraculous. Should the "math" turn against this team and vanquish them to their respective sofas for the playoffs, we will eagerly look to next year, hoping something good is being built in Raleigh.

If It Were December...

This past weekend brought us another round of Carolina Hurricanes hockey. Friday night the Canes took on the New York Rangers, and Saturday night made a trip to New Jersey to face the Devils. Carolina lost both games 4-2 and 5-4 respectively. More of the same sad results for an otherwise promising team.

Getting that all important first goal was something that pundits stressed the Canes had to do, but alas it was not enough against the Rangers. Allowing them to tally 4 goals in the 3rd was probably not in the pundits' "Keys to the Game" analysis. If it matters, Jordan Staal did score, lending an air of credence to Jim Rutherford's statements earlier in the day that, "Jordan's had a better season than it looks like."

Saturday night, the Hurricanes showed great resolve, fighting and scratching their way to a 4-4 tie in the 3rd against the Devils. Having run Anton Khudobin at 12:51 in the 2nd, the Devils were unable to get past Cam Ward until late in the 3rd period. Suddenly, it was the Tuomo Ruutu show. I don't think I'd be exaggerating if I said I heard John Forslund and Tripp Tracy say "Tuomo Ruutu" 12-15 times in the space of about 5 minutes. As a Canes fan, I was thrilled that the trade made a few days prior was working so well. Not only did the recently departed Hurricane score the winning goal, but he was everywhere, checking and passing and cutting off passes. It was his time on the ice, confirming yet again that the front office is on its game.

With 18 games remaining, it is a shame it is not December. The Canes showed flashes of some really good game this weekend, something that could have been built on early in the season. The type of game they actually did have earlier. They even scored on the power play. But now it is too little too late.

It's that time of year that has been all too familiar for the past several years for hockey fans in Carolina, playing out the schedule and hoping that next year will be different. At least if it were December we'd have Christmas to look forward to. In JR's world, that's known as the upcoming draft...Christmas is June.

No News is Good N...Umm, Whatever

After finally notching one in the win column Tuesday night against San Jose, the Carolina Hurricanes set their attention on the big NHL trade deadline. Fans were anxiously awaiting the news. Twitter was buzzing with rumor, speculation, and expressions of hope.  Would Cam Ward be moved? Justin Peters? Would anyone be brought in to make the "mathematically still possible" shot at the final wild-card playoff spot more realistic?

3pm Wednesday rolled around and the Canes had one announcement: Tuomo Ruutu was headed to New Jersey and Andrei Loktionov was headed to Raleigh. Carolina also got a conditional 3rd round pick in 2017 in the deal. Oh, and Justin Peters was called up from the AHL. It was an amazing day...confetti flying, streamers floating across offices and sports bars all across North Carolina. Ok, not really. There was more of a collective, "Huh?" sound reverberating from the denizens of Caniac land.

The best thing about this trade will be hearing Canes radio voice, Hall of Famer Chuck Kaiton saying, "Loktionov" several times a game. That and the remaining 2 years old Ruutu's salary being dumped. (The Canes reportedly have picked up $950,000 of the remaining nearly $5 million.) Other than that, trading day for Carolina was an enormous letdown for fans hoping once again that Jim Rutherford would either get the team in playoff contention, or clean house a la the Buffalo Sabres. At last check, the Sabres had moved their Zamboni driver to the Predators for a beer vendor to be named later.

Regarding Ruutu v Loktionov, there are similarities. Ruutu has 18 points in 57 games this season and Loktionov has 12 points in 48 games. Tuomo is 31 and a bronze-medalist with Team Finland. Andrei is 23 and may or may not have ever been to Finland. Loktionov has potential great upside, and Ruutu may be on the other side of his career-peak. Sans the salary clearing for Carolina, almost a wash.

Perhaps ole' JR is trying to build for the future of this franchise with youth. Today the Canes recalled 20 year-old defenseman Ryan Murphy. He's done well in Charlotte since being sent down January 24th, notching 18 points in 16 games. Earlier he had 11 points with the Hurricanes in this his first full professional hockey season.

Scott Burnside of ESPN.com includes the Carolina Hurricanes in his post-trade-day list of teams that "got it done." His point is that the Ruutu salary dump and the acquisition of a younger player is a good thing for the Canes, and that Ruutu is not the scoring machine that New Jersey needs now. Advantage Carolina.

What do you think? Post your comments on how you would grade the Canes' trade deadline results, and what moves you would have made to make the Canes a better team.

In the "Ward" Zone

Cam Ward in the pipes. His turn after Khudobin's multi-game run. His chance to re-establish himself against the best team in hockey. Not quite. The Carolina Hurricanes stretched their winning streak to -5, and Ward stretched his return into an ugly 5 goal rout by the Ducks. Allowing 3 goals on the Ducks' first 12 shots was not the way Cam wanted to get out of the gate. It was ugly. It was fast. It was Western Conference hockey at its current best, and it was Carolina Hurricanes hockey at its current normal.

Coach Kirk Muller said that they considered taking Ward out after the 3rd Ducks goal, but decided to "let him play through it." He also acknowledged that it is tough for Cam to find his rhythm when "the other guy's been playing so well." Anton Khudobin has been getting the lion's share of starts, which does put Ward at a disadvantage as far as trying to find the "it" that is currently missing from his game.  Canes TV play-by-play voice John Forslund summed it up pretty well this morning on 620AM with his analysis that Ward's physical or mental sharpness has not been right all year. Whatever "it" is, will likely only be recovered for Cam through more consistent action in-goal.

This is in no way an indictment on Cam Ward for last night's loss. It was a team effort, one that is still desperately trying to find a way to produce early (any) offense that will infuse confidence. The team has not scored a power play goal in 9 games. That will not produce playoff contending results. One glance at the Ducks' offense, as compared to the Hurricanes power play and the difference is obvious. Hockey's current top team is set up, passing sharply, shooting at every opportunity. The Canes power play by comparison is chaotic, not organized, and sloppy. Witness the too-many-men on the ice penalty they incurred during a power play in the 2nd.

One more road game in this lengthy West Coast trip for the Hurricanes tomorrow night versus San Jose. Let's hope for a better result.

Don't Lose The King of Hearts

In my last post I was not shy about calling the Carolina Hurricanes out about their apparent lack of heart versus Dallas. To their credit, they played with heart today. Unfortunately, the combination of an Olympic goal tender in Jonathan Quick, combined with the mother of all "snake bit" offenses, that heart was not enough. The Canes once more came away with 0 points in a 3-1 loss versus the LA Kings. Having their hottest scorer in Alexander Semin on the bench with a lower body injury didn't help.

The good news is that Anton Khudobin was once again very good between the pipes, stopping 28 of 30 shots. He comes ready to play every time the puck drops...never a question of his heart or his intensity. The bad news is that he has been mentioned in the group of 3 possible trade options for the Hurricanes, the other two being Cam Ward and Justin Peters. Yep, all goalies. TSN's @DarrenDreger tweeted as much yesterday. With Ward having two years left on his contract and a $6.3 million salary cap hit, and Khudobin looking at free-agent status and a much more palatable $800,000 salary cap hit to potential suitors, you tell me who the buyers are looking at? Justin Peters is also looking at free-agency, with a $500k salary, but a lot less playing time will probably make him a more remote trade possibility.

But who knows? I like Justin Peters, and he held this team together when Ward and Khudobin were out. I think he has a huge upside given the right situation. But more to the point, you can bet that buyers are salivating at the notion of bringing Khudobin on board, which would be a huge blow to the Canes. Jim Rutherford would say his usual management-speak for getting rid of the brightest spot on the Canes ice, and likely come away with 2 eighth-rounders, a future consideration, and dinner at Golden Corral in return.

If we were all honest, management has not done a stellar job of building this team. The minor league is just not funneling up the kind of young talent that the Hurricanes need to be competitive again. While heart and effort have to come from the coach and the individual players, talent and building have to come from the front office. Yes there is Skinner and Semin and Eric Staal. And there are others who work hard, also. But there is a piece(s) missing.

Let's hope that come March 5th, the fans of the Carolina Hurricanes are not missing their King of Hearts, Anton Khudobin, and looking at an empty stable of future talent in return. We've tasted the fruit of a Stanley Cup win here in Carolina, and have supported this team wholeheartedly. It's time management figured out how to put a winning team on the ice again.