As you read in today's will read in Thursday's paper, the trade for and subsequent signing of Joni Pitkanen, along with the signings of Anton Babchuk and Josef Melichar, leaves the Hurricanes with seven defensemen under contract to go with restricted free agent Dennis Seidenberg and almost $2 million over budget.
In short, someone's going to have to go. But who?
If the Canes can get Seidenberg signed, then he's off the list. And he only made $850,000 last season, so he's not going to solve their financial problems.
So that points to Frank Kaberle and Niclas Wallin, both stalwarts of the 2006 Cup team. Kaberle was once the Canes' offensive pivot point, but declining numbers and new arrivals have reduced his role and made him expendable.
With Pitkanen, Joe Corvo, Matt Cullen and Babchuk ahead of Kaberle in the power-play point depth chart, it's tough to pay Kaberle $2.2 million. Whether the Canes will find any takers for a player who has had two injury-ridden seasons of declining performance is another matter.
We know there would be takers for Wallin, because the Canes were prepared to trade him, I believe to San Jose for Christian Ehrhoff, last summer. (Erroneous speculation linked him with the Flyers and ... Pitkanen.) But Wallin exercised his no-trade clause, which the Canes gave him to prevent him from returning to his native Sweden after winning the Cup.
Whether Wallin would agree to waive his no-trade clause now is anyone's guess -- this someone's guess: doubtful -- and at any rate the Canes could use his defensive ability as they load up on offense-first guys like Pitkanen, Corvo and, to a lesser extent, Babchuk. (Which is why they signed Melichar.)
Pitkanen, Corvo, Tim Gleason and Melichar have to be considered untouchable, and it's hard to imagine the Canes would move Babchuk to save $1 million, so if they're going to cut salary on defense, it looks like Wallin and Kaberle would be the guys they would try to move.
Luke has worked for The N&O since 2000. He covered the Carolina Hurricanes and the NHL before becoming a sports columnist in August 2008. A native of Evanston, Ill., he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He can be reached at (919) 829-8947, @LukeDeCock on Twitter or
Comments
العاب طبخ العاب
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 12:53 — mohaالعاب طبخ
العاب طبخ
العاب طبخ
العاب طبخ
العاب طبخ
العاب طبخ
العاب طبخ
العاب طبخ
العاب طبخ
werwer
Tue, 06/30/2009 - 19:18 — scorpionاراضي للبيع - ايجار فلل - خرائط بنايات - بنايات - بنايات للبيع - بيع اراضي - بيع شقق - بيع عقارات - بيوت الأردن - بيوت بالتقسيط - بيوت جاهزة - بيوت جدة - بيوت شقق - بيوت للبيع - تاجير منازل - تصاميم - تصاميم بيوت - تصاميم جاهزة - تصاميم شقق - تصاميم فلل - تصاميم هندسية - تصاميم هندسية - تصاميم و واجهات - تصميم اراضي - تصميم خرائط - تصميم شقة - تصميم شقق - تصميم فلل - تصميم مباني - تصميم ممتلكات - تمليك بيوت - تمليك شقق - تمليك فلل - خرائط - خرائط بيوت - خرائط شقق - خرائط فلل - خرائط معمارية - خرائط منازل - خرائط هندسية - شقق - شقق الرياض - شقق بالتقسيط - شقق جدة - شقق للايجار - شقق للبيع - شقق للبيع - شقق مصر - صور شقق - صور فلل - عقارات - عقارات الاردن - عقارات الرياض - عقارات الكويت - عقارات بيوت - عقارات جدة - عقارات للايجار - عقارات للبيع - عقارات للبيع - عقارات مصر - فلل - فلل الاردن - فلل الرياض - فلل جدة - فلل سكنية - فلل عقارات - فلل لبنان - فلل للايجار - فلل للبيع - فلل للبيع - فله للايجار - قصور للبيع - للايجار - محلات للايجار - محلات للبيع - مخططات - مخططات اراضي - مخططات بناء - مخططات بيوت - مخططات شقق - مخططات فلل - مخططات للبيع - مخططات منازل - مخططات هندسية - مزارع - مزارع للبيع - مكاتب العقارات - مكاتب عقارية - مكاتب للإيجار - مكاتب هندسية - منازل - منازل بالتقسيط - منازل للإيجار - منازل للبيع - نماذج شقق - واجهات فلل - واجهات مباني - واجهات منازل
This discussion goes continent-wide
Thu, 07/03/2008 - 18:19 — wxray1XM radio's periodic update mentioned the discussion here. People are reading and listening!
That, and Luke presents a very well respected blog.
For all the reasons given, I
Thu, 07/03/2008 - 16:03 — ctillFor all the reasons given, I expect JR to shop Kaberle. Cutting Seidenberg loose would be a big vote of confidence in Borer, but would they do that now? The conversative move would be for Wesley to evaluate Borer closely in camp and then move Seidenberg in mid season if Borer proves can play.
secret weapon
Thu, 07/03/2008 - 07:46 — Anonymous (not verified)There is only one secret weapon, and he goes by Nik Wallin
I'd hate to see more players go but we have parts that don't fit
Thu, 07/03/2008 - 07:36 — Storminator16 (not verified)Kaberle can help a team if he's fully recovered, so Rutherford should just get whatever he can get (a 4th or 5th round pick) and let him get on with his life. Trading him to Toronto so he could play with his brother would be a nice gesture. I truly don't think Wallin will ever waive his NTC, so he can be carried as the extra defenseman. I like Seidenberg, but there are holes in his game so there is no point on signing him. Trade his rights for whatever you can get (maybe a 5th or 6th rounder) and move on. He could probably get decent amount of minutes for another team.
If the team can trade any spare parts for an upgrade over Brookbank, I would hope they are looking at that option.
I know Nicky and he will not
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 23:32 — Anonymous (not verified)I know Nicky and he will not waive his NTC. His family does not want to move anywhere except back home. After his contract expires they intend to do so. In fact, after the Stanley Cup win, they sold all of their furniture and put their home up for sale with the intentions of returning home, however JR convinced him to stick around and offered him another contract
Aren't Kaberle and Wallin cheap?
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 23:25 — Anonymous (not verified)Given that other defensemen with similar skills are pulling in $3.5 or so, I would think that someone could bring in a Kaberle for a 2nd round pick or a 4th line offensive player and that would benefit both teams. Kaberle has had a great run with the Canes, but we haven't gotten what we need for the last 2 years...
Anyway, what I am wondering more than anything is that the Canes have revamped the team, is it enough to excite people into coming (issue 1), and are they keeping up with Tampa and Washington (issue 2). I think that attendance will drop this year with higher tickets, and revenue will lag as well.
It's a shame that
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 23:22 — Kahz (not verified)It's a shame that Rutherford's idiotic decision to give a NTC to Wallin will come back to bite us again. Kaberle is vastly superior to Wallin, who is at best a #6 defenseman. Wallin can't skate, pass or handle the puck.
A NTC is is sometimes used
Thu, 07/03/2008 - 11:45 — Superdave (not verified)A NTC is is sometimes used in lieu of giving more money. It is one more bargaining chip for each side. I don't fault a player for asking for it or using it. I don't blame a GM for using it either. What is ashamed is that when it becomes public knowledge that a player turned down a trade and then the fans hate the player (for excersizing his contractural rights).
Vastly superior?
Thu, 07/03/2008 - 01:38 — Anonymous (not verified)Agreed. He is vastly superior at avoiding any physical contact. Not usually something we cherish in a d-man.
However, I will never forget his contribution of scoring the game winning goal in game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals!
I just wish there were more contributions since then.
I think Kaberle needs to
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 22:51 — Anonymous (not verified)I think Kaberle needs to start packing up shop now. It just looks that obvious to me...