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A few questions about the Canes
Submitted by chipalexander on 10/10/2008 - 13:06
Questions, questions. There are so many questions about the Hurricanes with the season starting up.
Where to begin? How about:
Can Rod Brind'Amour's rebuilt left knee hold up?
Will this be Cam Ward's big year in goal? Or Michael Leighton to the rescue?
Can Ray Whitney stay healthy?
Can Matt Cullen stay away from another big hit, another concussion?
Will Joni Pitkanen be a big blueline scorer and worth the big trade?
Can Brandon Sutter's lean body take the pounding game after game?
The way Sergei Samsonov ended last season. More of the same?
How much will the Canes get out of Tuomo Ruutu?
Is this the year Patrick Eaves fullfills his potential?
How productive will Chad LaRose and Ryan Bayda be?
Can Zach Boychuk help? Or will it be a quick look and back to junior hockey?
In the end, how big an impact will Justin Williams' loss be?
Jim Rutherford's patience ran thin on injuries and offseason training programs. How patient will Rutherford be with coach Peter Laviolette if there's a weak start to the season?
And a few more:
Wonder if Zac Dalpe is second-guessing his decision to go to Ohio State?
Matt Murley to Russia? The money better be very, very good.
How much will the economy affect home attendance?
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Chip Alexander
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and was part of the coverage team for the Canes' Stanley Cup run in 2006. He can be reached at chip.alexander@newsobserver.com.
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Comments
gloom and Doom?
Fri, 10/10/2008 - 15:18 — aprince27Actually these are some honest questions and issues surrounding the team.
Injuries are valid questions.
Samsanov having beating his reputation and following up with another solid season is a questions asked around the league.
Cam Ward's consistency is a question.
Eaves was a big wild card in the Ottawa trade.
Ruutu had a big hit his first game against New Jersey and disappeared for awhile.
that's the frustrating things about the Canes..and as a Canes fan...the team is grreat if nothing goes wrong like injuries...they easily oculd have contended for another championship the last two seasons.
It's one of those teams that if everything goes right or stays on an even keel, watch out. But as we saw in the past two years, if one or two key cogs come off...the whole foundation nearly falls apart.
I have a question for you, should the beat writer for the team be a homer?
Yes
Fri, 10/10/2008 - 15:30 — Chris (not verified)Yes, beat writer should be a homer, almost all of them are. With amount of time he spends around these guys it's hard not to fall in love with the team.
Uhhh Chip
Fri, 10/10/2008 - 14:35 — esteban1949Like I agree with some of the doom & gloom sounding questions...but on the flip side of the coin...How good will the Canes be IF all the fears we could or might have about Matt & Ray...and Capt. Brad's knee were never to show up...? Samasonov...and Ruutu,Eaves, and Rosie...only time will tell....and IF Atl,Caps...and The Lightning all fall down and get hurt worse than we do...so much to consider...and the whole season to worry about it huh ? Want to come but can't...got to go get ready...going to Albany...for the Rats Opener tomorrow...and it's not even my birthday...:-}
Go Canes,Rats & Chiefs !!!
IS THIS THE YEAR???
Fri, 10/10/2008 - 14:30 — Anonymous (not verified)IS THIS THE YEAR???
also whats the deal with
Fri, 10/10/2008 - 13:57 — Anonymous (not verified)also whats the deal with brandon nolan? we qualified him, but they were waiting on an injury status before a contract was signed... i assumed he would be at training camp, is he just "...no longer in the future plans for the team...?"
and 1 more question... what the hell is david tanabe thinking?
What is David Tanabe
Fri, 10/10/2008 - 15:31 — Anonymous (not verified)What is David Tanabe thinking?Â
Pay me!
Rod? He'll be OK. His
Fri, 10/10/2008 - 13:53 — Anonymous (not verified)Rod? He'll be OK. His scoring touch may be slow to return. Cam? If he isn't very good the team is in trouble. Whitney? Healthy and Whitney rarely go together. Cullen? Ugh...scary proposition. Pitkanen: He'll be good. Some of the other D-men? Not so much. Sutter? I dunno. Samsonov? He'll be just fine. Ruutu? What's to make anyone think his effort will be any more consistent than it has been in the past? Eaves? I think Eaves will break out this year. 25 goals or more. Larose & Bayda? Nice grinders. Nothing more. Laviolette? With a poor start he'll be gone by Dec 1. I hope not, but someone has to take the fall and it isn't going to be Rutherford.
Can Rod Brind'Amour's
Fri, 10/10/2008 - 13:34 — A.H (not verified)Can Rod Brind'Amour's rebuilt left knee hold up? Yes.
Will this be Cam Ward's big year in goal? Or Michael Leighton to the rescue? Neither. Cam Ward will finish middle-of-the-pack as far as GAA and SV% and again be Top 5 in wins.
Can Ray Whitney stay healthy? No. Again.
Can Matt Cullen stay away from another big hit, another concussion? If he keeps his head up. So "no".
Will Joni Pitkanen be a big blueline scorer and worth the big trade? Yes.
Can Brandon Sutter's lean body take the pounding game after game? Yes.
The way Sergei Samsonov ended last season. More of the same? Yes.
How much will the Canes get out of Tuomo Ruutu? 40-50 games.
Is this the year Patrick Eaves fullfills his potential? Somewhat. That depends on what your definition of his potential is.
How productive will Chad LaRose and Ryan Bayda be? HAHAHAHA.
Wonder if Zac Dalpe is second-guessing his decision to go to Ohio State? No. He'd be back in juniors because he's a second-round pick a few months removed from his draft.
Matt Murley to Russia? Who cares?
How much will the economy affect home attendance? What home attendance?
Good job Chip!
Fri, 10/10/2008 - 13:24 — AD (not verified)Why not leave all the doom and gloom for some other time?
No one can answer these questions. Any answer is pure guessing/speculation.
Instead, why not celebrate with us and get the crowd exited and in a positive frame.
The only question I can answer is the last one. I wish I was going, but I am not. I'll be watching though.
The Queen has dubbed you the Anti-Luke. I see why.