As expected, the Carolina Hurricanes signed defenseman Anton Babchuk to a one-year deal shortly after the free-agency signing period opened today.
The Hurricanes retained Babchuk's rights after last season when the two sides couldn't agree on terms. Babchuk, 26, spent the season in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League. The Hurricanes had made him a qualifying offer at the end of last season, but Babchuk had lost his arbitration rights when he rebuffed that offer and left to play in Russia for the 2007-08 season.
Babchuk had a career year with the Hurricanes during his last season (2008-09) with the team, scoring 16 goals — including four game-winners — and 19 assists,
"I will admit that we missed him," general manager Jim Rutherford said today. "I said at the time, it's going to be hard to replace those 16 goals. We didn't."
Babchuk will make $1.4 million this season.
This past season, he played in 49 games with Avangard Omsk, where he scored 9 goals and 22 points and was a plus-17. The Kiev, Ukraine native was also played in the KHL's All-Star Game in Minsk, scoring a goal for Team Yashin.
Rutherford said if Babchuk had stayed with the team last year, he'd probably be in line to make a lot more this season — more than the Canes could afford.
"We probably wouldn't be able to pay him this year," said Rutherford, who is still looking for a sixth defenseman.
He mentioned getting a call from the agent of Joe Corvo, who was sent to Washington before the trade deadline last season.
The way Rutherford sees it, as things currently stand, he'd have Tim Gleason and Jamie McBain paired, Joni Pitkanen and Babchuk paired and Jay Harrison with the final defenseman to be determined.
If Rutherford is able to get a higher end defensemen, which could come between today and a month from now, he said, he could pair him with Gleason and drop McBain down with Harrison.
Javier Serna has covered sports for The News & Observer since 2007. He previously covered growth for the North Raleigh News, and sports at The Truth in Elkhart, Ind. E-mail
Comments
Anton
Fri, 07/02/2010 - 09:56 — louis12580The first time he departed was his fault. The last time was his agent's fault. Jim had told his agent that they wanted to re-sign Anton, but the agent wanted the deal done right away, not in a couple of days. Anton's biggest problem on ice was his footwork. He would get caught going the wrong way and when he'd try to correct it, he'd get his feet tangled up for that split second and that spelled trouble. He's now 26 and if you've ever heard Jim about defensemen, he feels that they don't fully develop in all aspects of the game until they're 25-26.
Total nonsense. Babchuk
Fri, 07/02/2010 - 10:19 — imayagainknowantonTotal nonsense. Babchuk signed in the KHL in mid-September after literally months of JR's lowballing.
Whatever it is, to me it is
Fri, 07/02/2010 - 11:34 — rmmeliWhatever it is, to me it is ridiculous to think that Babchuk can play with Pitkanen. Ward will need to play a lot better than he did last season.
Ugh...$1.4M for Babs? He
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 20:55 — CanarseUgh...$1.4M for Babs? He won't score 10 goals this season. The league figured out late in '09 that if you pressure the guy he'll cough up the puck on the point. He won't get the shots he got earlier that season. Poor move IMO.
Bingo!!
Fri, 07/02/2010 - 12:09 — HockeydogI totally concur. He has a HUGE shot, but he takes too long to get it going towards the net, or the defensemen, or our player in front of the net. We should start a pool. Who will he injure first, an opponent or a teammate? I think he would be nice to have on the point during a two man advantage when he's less likely to get pressure, but those don't come along every game. I'll try and keep an open mind and hope Kron saw something solid with this guy's overall life development.
Round 3
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 19:55 — HockeydogI hope he has matured as a player and person. Burned once shame on you, burned twice shame on me ( me being Rutherford)
A plus-17 season in the KHL?
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 19:11 — DesertCaniacA plus-17 season in the KHL? Hmmm sounds like he may have improved defensivley while away from the Canes ... Lord knows he needed it. While I'm not a huge Babchuk fan, I must admit it will be nice to have some more goals from the blue-line.
As for Ray Whitney, welcome to the Arizona desert. Bring your sunglasses...
I'm sick of this guy.
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 18:29 — ncsurveygirlI'm sick of this guy.
Back to Babchuk
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 16:59 — CharlotteCaniacAnother retread to add to JR's long, long, long list.
Wonder if they will give Jeff O'Neill another shot to make the team this preseason.
McBain needs LOTS of ice
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 16:11 — chrisefawMcBain needs LOTS of ice time
Ray Ray is gone
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 15:17 — DavidMeyerSigned by PHX. $6M for 2 years.
RAY WHITNEY
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 15:17 — CharlotteCaniacRay Whitney has signed a 2 year deal with the Phoenix Coyotes.
"Rutherford said if Babchuk
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 15:14 — bppack"Rutherford said if Babchuk had stayed with the team last year, he'd probably be in line to make a lot more this season — more than the Canes could afford." if he had been on the team last year, we probably would have made the playoffs. scoring from the back end was the biggest disappointment last year.
Babchuk and Pitkanen
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 14:13 — rmmeliWas Rutherford being serious? Pitkanen paired with Babchuk....I can't imagine that pairing working at all.
I concur. Unless they are
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 15:10 — CharlotteCaniacI concur. Unless they are going to build a cinder block wall behind Cam Ward or play the entire game on the PP, I would avoid that pairing at all costs.
Whitney
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 13:38 — CharlotteCaniacLooks like Whitney is a goner. 3 teams are interested. One has made an offer that wasn't quite good enough. Looking for 2 years at $3.5 million. I imagine he will be signed very soon.
info form?
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 13:48 — Caniac5Just curious where you got this information. I am watching the FA on NHL.
Thanks!
Watching Free Agent Signing
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 14:12 — CharlotteCaniacWatching Free Agent Signing Frenzy on TSN
Whitney
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 15:23 — beer210Whitney to Phoenix. 2 years/$6 million. Bummer
It won't be bad to have Babchuk back, but he should have been 1/2 the price.
I believe Babchuck would
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 13:12 — Otag1I believe Babchuck would only want the 1 year deal, as after this next year he will become an unrestricted free agent.
Agreed
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 13:51 — Caniac5I think you are right! The Canes lose rights to him at the end of this season and he will probably want to test the FA market.
Let's hope he has improved on his defensive skills as well! Just having a hard shot is not good enough for me.
Hmmmmmm
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 13:07 — ctillOnly a one-year deal? I wonder whose idea that was, Babs' or JR's.