NEW YORK -- Canes coach Paul Maurice said there would be line changes, and line changes there were today.
Eric Staal was at center with Alexei Ponikarovsky and Zach Boychuk at the Canes' practice at Chelsea Piers. No more Staal, Jeff Skinner and Chad LaRose.
With Jussi Jokinen ready to return to the lineup, Maurice has reunited Skinner and Tuomo Ruutu with Jokinen. The 'Finns & Skins' line is back together.
"To lose three games in a row, it's tough to sit and watch," Jokinen said. "You want to be out there and help the guys out. I hope we can get things going the other way tomorrow."
Brandon Sutter had LaRose and Jiri Tlusty on his wings, and the fourth line had Tim Brent at center with Zac Dalpe and Anthony Stewart. Pat Dwyer was ill and did not practice today, but Maurice said he expected Dwyer to be available for tomorrow's game against the Rangers.
Boychuk and Ponikarovsky were the wings on Ruutu's line Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils and was the Canes' most consistent, Maurice said.
Of giving Boychuk a chance to play with Staal, Maurice said, "Probably his best game for us last year was in New York on (Staal's) line. He had a heck of a first period the other night and then I thought that line and his game in New Jersey was in the top two or three performances up front in terms of what we're trying to do.
"With a young guy you've got to deliver something, you've got to show something first to get that opportunity and he'll get that opportunity. He's just playing one game and that's all he's got to focus on. He doesn't have to try to win the job for the season in 60 minutes of hockey. It's a good chance for him."
Needless to say, Boychuk, who began the season in Charlotte with the Checkers (AHL), is pretty pumped about the opportunity.
"I've been playing with Poni the last couple of games and we've had some chemistry," Boychuk said. "We spent a lot of time in the other team's end, so that's a positive. Then to add someone like Eric Staal, who's an amazing player. ...
"(Maurice) came up to me and said, 'Keep playing the same way, keep playing energetically.' I'm really looking forward to it."
Boychuk said he played with Staal and Erik Cole in last year's game at the Garden.
"I had a solid game and we won in overtime," he said. "It was good. I'm glad to be back. It doesn't usually happen for a callup to move up to that line so quickly, and I'll do everything I can to make an impression."
Maurice would not say which forward would be scratched if Dwyer plays. He also did not say which of the seven defensemen would be a healthy scratch for the Rangers.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
Line Changes, etc.
Fri, 11/11/2011 - 14:52 — ptuckerOK, so I am happy with the fact that the lines have been changed and now feature players in areas where they SHOULD be...somewhat anyway. I am incredibly discouraged to see that Tomas Kaberle remains in the lineup. I can only imagine that they are trying to trade him, and that's why he's playing. Other than that, there is NO reason that he should not be riding the bench for a few games so that he can clear his head and try to get his game back. If they're not trying to trade him, and are just playing him because they think he is the best option, then once again I am calling for the heads of MO and JR!!!
Oh Paul...your as
Fri, 11/11/2011 - 10:20 — mokimanoOh Paul...your as predictable as hot sun in summer...did your wife help you out with that Boychuk-Staal line or did you finally hear all the messaeg board posters ringing in your ear? MO your dead man walking...your second tour of duty is almost finished...by next weekend you will no longer be Coach MO...the bullseye on your back is getting bigger with each passing loss...Go Rangers, Go Pens, Go Flyers and Go Sabres!!!
It's almost about to change from MO MUST GO to MO IS GONE!!!
Good riddans Maurice, your terrible!
Wait....
Fri, 11/11/2011 - 11:38 — rmmeliPeter Karmanos says we have the best coaching staff in the league so the problems must be all on the players and that leads back to the GM, Jim Rutherford for some poor signings and the owner for paring the budget to the bone...Peter Karmanos. Am I missing something?
Canes Future is Now
Fri, 11/11/2011 - 08:41 — abramsdougAs of this morning the Hurricanes are tied in points wit 13 points for the 28th spot in the entire NHL. The Isles are only two points behind with 11 points. Columbus is on an island of failure all its own with 5 points. In the Eastern Conference, the Hurricanes are tied with the Jets for the 14th spot. The Isles are in the 15th spot, two points behind the Hurricanes.
There is no sugar coating the situation. The Hurricanes are among the cellar teams at the moment. This result unfortunately was entirely predictable given the low salary budget, the amazingly poor start by Staal, the dogmatic insistence of using LaRose in the top six, the ineffective power play, and Jokinen's injury. It's too soon to say the season is over; but it is not too soon to say it's time for the Hurricanes to start taking Edmonton's approach and putting its young players in more prominent roles.
The very best thing that could happen to the Hurricanes organization is to get the lottery pick. Unless and until another primary owner emerges who has excess money to burn, the Hurricanes lack the funds to outbid and overpay for elite talent in the marketplace. Salary Cap teams can find two or three players in the UFA market. The present economic model for the Hurricanes makes that approach infeasible. Additionally, the teams that have purchased championship teams via their virtually unlimited checkbooks have also had to burn money by burying bad contracts in the AHL.
The Hurricanes desperately need to have another elite talent at forward. Staal is fantastic; but he is not one of the best four or five players in the NHL. Skinner may well eclipse Staal in terms of his impact on the team; but he is still a year or two away from that role. Dalpe and Boychuk are very, very talented; but are still in the learning phases to some degree. Rask has star power and star skills. He is still getting his man strength and his North American game honed. He might well be ready next season. Fortunately for the Hurricanes the 2012 draft is very strong for the top four forwards, Yakupov, Grigorenko, Forsberg, and Galchenyuk.
A shorthand way to explain the potential game changing nature of the Hurricanes having a lottery pick is to focus on Yakupov. He is an offensive talent who could easily develop into one of the top ten forwards in the NHL. The Hurricanes would be loaded with young, talented forwards by adding Yakupov. FailforNail is the best scenario for the Hurricanes. Without that upper end talent, the Hurricanes are facing an uphill battle each season. As it is now, all it takes for the Hurricanes to be among the least effective NHL teams is a slow start by Staal or Ward or Skinner.
I'm hoping the Hurricanes organization seizes the moment and starts using this season to develop Dalpe and Boychuk and to let the team gel as a team. The Hurricanes are where they are as a result of (1) a sane business decision to keep the salary budget low, although in my view it was cut too much for the Hurricanes to be competitive this season; (2) Jim Rutherford's decision to sign Kaberle and to re-sign both LaRose and Dwyer; and (3) Paul Maurice's and the coaches' decisions to put LaRose in the top six and to keep Dalpe and Boychuk under wraps on a fourth line that gets four to five minutes a night. It doesn't have to be another wasted season. To the contrary, it can be a season of enormous significance for the Hurricanes organization long term. Put the kids into major roles, experiment with creative pairings on the forward lines and on the power play; and use the 2012 draft to add the elite talent the Hurricanes have to obtain to become a serious contender. It's short term pain but the rewards are enormous.
The Edmonton model shows that the fanbase can get behind a kids' line of talented forwards who show times of being a powerhouse as they make both brilliant plays and brilliant mistakes. Edmonton is rewarding its fanbase with fantastic hockey. Edmonton has 20 points and is third in the Western Conference. In short, by playing the young kids, Edmonton has energized its team and its fanbase.
Mo money Mo money
Fri, 11/11/2011 - 15:27 — angrymikeTrue they wasted millions paying LaRose what the did and signing Kaberle. But think how much money they have left on the table by having Mo as the coach and missing the playoffs. A playoff game generates nearly $1m in revenue for them. An appearance $3-8m plus lots of good will from your loyal fans and the creation of new ones. Wouldn't you think making the playoffs would be priority number one.
IF....
Fri, 11/11/2011 - 10:22 — B11656If they will do that, that may be what it takes. The fan base has to see an effort by the Powers that be to play the young guys and sustain their play. Not a 2 or 3 game call up. I for one would rather see some of the young group develop some and the NHL level now. They have been in Albany and Charlotte now for 2 or 3 years, some longer. I will not dump on Staal. Management is already doing that. I would not even think of trashing Ward. Management is doing that also. Skinner is Next. Management is letting the high end capabilities off their "Franchise" players be eroded so badley it should be against the law. I agree. Bring on the young guns. See what they can do. Let the fans see that changes are in the works. Bite bullet and then pull the trigger and get rid of some of the Ball and Chains that are putting us in the cellar. If We are going down at least make it entertaining.
Boychuk With Staal and Ponikarovsky
Thu, 11/10/2011 - 19:29 — abramsdougOn the one hand, it is discouraging and disheartening to me that it took the Hurricanes first line (with LaRose) badly floundering before Boychuk was moved up to the first line. On the other hand, I can understand a coach on the hot seat as Maurice is going first with players he knows. The key is that Maurice and the coaches need now to give Ponikarovsky/Staal/Boychuk a long run of games to gell. It isn't a one way street in which LaRose is given numerous games in the top six; but a younger player is expected to demonstrate instant results.
Boychuk, too, has the chance of a lifetime. I have been a strong advocate for Boychuk. Now is his time to show he is ready to take the burden of being on the first line with Staal. I am convinced he has it in himself to be a major contributor. Here's to hope.
Letting lines gel...
Thu, 11/10/2011 - 21:26 — CanarseNot much time for that right now. They had better win some games or the whole thing is going to be blown up. All the same, even if the line doesn't score the big question will be are they giving up goals. If Staal and his wings are -2 again you can bet the experiment will be short.
About time.
Thu, 11/10/2011 - 18:59 — ctillAbout time.
A move in the right direction
Thu, 11/10/2011 - 17:06 — Hockeydad92Desperation is an amazing thing when your job is on the line.. Move Dalpe up the batting order and put Chad with Tim and Dwyer with Brandon if he is healthy. Jiri can watch a few along side Kaberle
Agree
Thu, 11/10/2011 - 16:27 — gso_canes_fanto put LaRose on the 3rd line or better on the 4th line. Have Kabarle as a healthy scratch for a few games
Only 15 games to make the
Thu, 11/10/2011 - 16:00 — HurricanesUNC12Only 15 games to make the line combinations many here have been advocating for since the pre-season. Please Maurice let this line have some time to play together before switching it up again and moving your boy LaRose back up (i.e. lets not change this line after the 1st period, give them some games).
Although I would still prefer to see Dalpe on the third line rather than LaRose.