Anton Babchuk has come back. Well, back to Raleigh. Back to talk with the Canes.
General manager Jim Rutherford said today that Babchuk and his agent recently came to Raleigh to discuss the defenseman signing a new contract and returning to Carolina next season. Babchuk played last season with Avangard Omsk (KHL) in Russia.
"It was a very productive meeting," Rutherford said. "We can't sign him until July 1 because he played in Europe last year, but I'm very comfortable we will sign him at that point."
Rutherford said he would meet next week with veteran winger Ray Whitney to discuss his future with the team. Whitney is due to be an unrestricted free agent and has indicated he would like to return to the Canes next season. Rutherford has said the team would like Whitney back if the finances fit.
Rutherford said no decision had been made on forward Sergei Samsonov. The 31-year-old winger has one year left on a contract that will him $2.8 million next season, but there is a possibility the team could look to trade him or consider buying out his contract.
"We're still working through that," Rutherford said. "We have decisions to make on Sergei, Ray and Roddy (Brind'Amour)."
Rutherford said nothing yet had been decided on offering contracts to goaltender Manny Legace or defenseman Brian Pothier. Both will be unrestricted free agents.
Rutherford said the Canes "definitely will not be active on the free-agent market" come July 1.
"We want to give our younger players opportunities to play," he said, although noting he would not completely rule out signing a free agent.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
Didn't we learn...
Sat, 06/05/2010 - 17:48 — robotron2084anything from all those years of watching the Rangers spend money on over-priced veterans. It's not budget and so-called experience that guarantee a winner. It's time the Canes stop trying to build for the moment by adding that one more piece to the same old veteran group. Time to start a youth movement, which by nature comes on the cheap, grow it for the future and revitalize the team.
Didn't we learn...
Sun, 06/06/2010 - 11:46 — hellfishFrom last year we have to have MORE scoring depth and Cole/Sammy/Dwyer vs Bowman/Boychuk/Samson is NO contest! The young guy's need to play NOW...with Cole's only good 1/2 the time ,Sammy disappears for games at a time and Dwyer a good PK ,but can't out score a Dman. Dalpe will probably get at least another yr in Charlotte or close to it if JR sticks to his usual "brin'em along slowly plan. Samson seemed to play well but just could'nt score here last year even though his AHL numbers were off the hook ,but it takes less space awhile to get used to in the NHL. I can see Bowman/Boychuk making the team with there poise and p.play skills (especially Bowman's shot wist or one-timer) being his ticket in, and Boychuk's vision and play making skills...We will have a young and very tallented team next year and i can't wait!
It's too early to throw in
Fri, 06/04/2010 - 13:06 — ctillIt's too early to throw in the towel. JR can always trade a surplus older forward (Samsonov, Cole, LaRose) for an established D who makes the same money.
Or, if JR decides that he is too lean on the blue line, he has left himself the wiggle room to sign a free agent -- particularly if he can dump salary by trading Samsonov, Cole, or LaRose for future consideration. I interpret his statement to mean that if he cannot sign Whitney to a contract by June 30, then he probably won't.
This franchise has decided
Fri, 06/04/2010 - 12:22 — CUPOFTEAThis franchise has decided not to be active in free agency, is going with inexperience, stale coaching, a defense that's afraid of physical contact and a focus on cutting salaries. Makes me angry I paid my deposit well ahead of these announcements-- interesting these things were announced after the deadline. I feel manipulated. I thought when I paid my money, I was buying a chance at the playoffs, a viable team that would be comprised of a healthy mix of vets and rookies, and even a winning season. Who knew my perceptions and expectations were misguided? Rutherford and Karmanos...
Really?
Fri, 06/04/2010 - 13:04 — sittler27So you like the idea of experience? How did that work last year when we brought in Ward and Alberts? Didn't the D play better when we inserted Carson and then even better when Mc Bain came in. We will likely have a D comprised of Pitkanen, Gleason, Picard, Carson, McBain, Harrison and Babchuk. Possibly also their 1st pick since many analysts think that any one of the top 3 D prospects could play right away. I sure like that a lot better than last year's starting lineup.
And up front we have returning veterans Staal, Jussi, Tuumo, LaRose, Cole and Kotsopolous amd maybe Rod. Ray could be signed. That's 7 or 8 vets. Add Sutter who plays like a vet. Then a choice between Tlusty, Osala, Dalple, Bowman, Boychuk, Samson and Dwyer for the remaining 4 or 5 positions. All good talented kids. And if they draft a forward in the 1st round instead of a D, again there are a couple of prospects availabek at 7th that might make the team. Again, I like that situation a lot better than last year's starting lineup.
And let's not forget that it was largely a combination of the new guys and rookies plus that supposedly stale coaching that brought the Canes the 2nd best record in hockey after Christmas and certainly some of the more entertaining games.
I never believe all this media based hype this time of year. Each year JR has made unexpected moves over the summer and much of what we arecurrently hearing is GM/Owner "speak" going into a period of attracting new investors and camoflauging player and draft moves to be made on the open market.
I'm excited about next year and happy to sign a check for season tickets. I very much doubt we'll be a top 4 team in the Conference but I believe we will both make the playoffs and if the kids develop as strongly as their potential indicates, we might go a couple of rounds deep. With the youth there will be some frustrating nights but surely it will be better than watching Ward and Alberts play giveaway in our end and some forwards that couldn't keep up with the play.
Next Season and the Young Players
Fri, 06/04/2010 - 23:45 — abramsdougI have spent hour after hour at www.nhl.com and www.ahllive.com watching Canes games and Rats games from this season. The amount of young talent at forward is extremely impressive. Carson and McBain are excellent young defensemen. I do find it hard to envision Rod Brind'Amour not being bought out if only because I can't remember watching a game where he was not the weakest Hurricane forward on the ice - no matter how little time he was on the ice.
With Staal, Ruutu, Jokinen, and Sutter, the core of the veteran (yes, I consider Sutter a veteran in his poise not his NHL experience) forwards is extremely impressive. LaRose, Cole, and Kostopoulos also provide veteran presence. I don't know whether the Hurricanes can afford Whitney; but even if he is not re-signed, and assuming that Samsonov is traded, there is more than ample young talent for the Hurricanes to make the playoffs. Tlusty has signed a one way contract, so his position on the Hurricanes next season is pretty clear. Dwyer also seems to have a position. Accordingly that means the forwards projected to be Hurricanes at the start of the season (again assuming Brind'Amour is bought out, Samsonov is traded, and Whitney is not re-signed) would be: (1) Staal, (2) Ruutu, (3) Jokinen, (4) Sutter, (5) LaRose, (6) Cole, (7) Kostopoulos, (8) Tlusty, and (9) Dwyer. Boychuk is almost certainly going to make the team. So that means Bowman, Dalpe, Osala, and Samson are likely to be competing for two spots on the team; and that doesn't include what I hope with be a top forward picked at #7 in the first round who also may challenge for a position on the team.
I don't understand the doom and gloom by some people. As a STH I am excited about this coming season. The new kids proved themselves to me during the season; and watching them play for the Rats convinced me even more that they had enormous talent. As young players, they will absolutely make their share of mistakes; but I expect that their talent, energy, and desire will more than make up for those mistakes. We saw how their talent combined with the veteran talent resulted in the Hurricanes team playing very impressive hockey in 2009-2010. In 2010-2011, I foresee even better play from the team - despite the lowered salary budget for the team in 2010-2011.
Free Agency
Fri, 06/04/2010 - 07:58 — CharlotteCaniacWow, I am relieved that we won't be active in free agency. I'd hate to think that we would attempt to improve the team.
I'm sorry, but these young defensemen aren't going to cut it, and I cringe at the thought of having guys like Samson in our PRO lineup.
http://www.bagsmoon.com/monogram-canvas-c-2.html
Fri, 06/04/2010 - 03:36 — raolimingHey that's wonderful information and I appreciate your work. I always believe that we should share these types of useful and informative article so that all the people can increase their knowledge and can solve their problems.