Canes have 'em all on the ice
Here's a first for the Canes this season: a practice began with everyone on the ice and accounted for.
Justin Williams was at practice. Frantisek Kaberle was at practice. Both were wearing yellow, noncontact jerseys but both jumped into the drills.
Given all the injuries, Canes coach Peter Laviolette has not had a full squad to work with. Williams continues to recover from the Achilles tendon tear he suffered before training camp began. Kaberle, who suffered a hairline foot fracture on the West Coast swing, is moving closer to returning but said he still could be a week or two away.
"Everybody is back -- nice to see," Laviolette said.
Williams made a cameo at practice earlier this week but got in some hard skating today after being medically cleared to do everything but contact work.
"He's way ahead of schedule," Laviolette said. "He feels good. There's a lot less motion when he's in that boot as opposed to running or other activities."
Laviolette said a return date for Williams to play "still is real uncertain at this point."
Kaberle took a shot off the foot Oct. 17 against the Los Angeles Kings.
"Frank is dealing with a broken bone and it's taking some time recovering," Laviolette said.
About the blogger
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is in his second season as the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at chip.alexander@newsobserver.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @ice_chip.
Comments
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Tue, 11/25/2008 - 07:46 — jgrant641.
Canes have 'em all on the ice
Sat, 11/22/2008 - 12:12 — fred999The Canes have managed to play some pretty good hockey even with the injuries. Being in a fairly weak division should help them as well. Now that they are getting healthy I think they have a very good chance of winning the division.
Walt AKA All Sports on the WebAll Sports on the Web
Time
Thu, 11/20/2008 - 19:04 — Godman459Just take your time fellas. We don't need a guy that is not even close to 80% (ah la Eric Staal).
Jinx?
Thu, 11/20/2008 - 15:59 — jgrant641oops, is this a Jinx?
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Lame Argument
Fri, 11/21/2008 - 09:37 — GoShelfToo many apples and oranges comparisons. It's best going forward to avoid comparing football to hockey, not fair to either game. Unfortunetly head shots are part of game (always have been: Ace Bailey) and the NHL is exploring ways to minimize them without making drastic rule changes. Some games don't need sweeping changes. Fighting has always been vital hockey - it serves a very important purpose and it is what seprates hockey from other sports.
Exactly, it separates it
Fri, 11/21/2008 - 11:14 — jgrant641Exactly, it separates it right to the bottom of the pack. I understand the apples to oranges idea, but the similarities to the NFL being at the top of the major sports and the NHL sinking faster each year... both include rough play and a desire for offense. The NFL used to have rougher play, which was likely deemed "part of the game" but it was eliminated for the sake of fairness and parity.
I think the Ace Bailey, and whats more the Steve Moore incidents serve to prove my point that the NHL can't sit back and wait for someone to die, or for sidney crosby (or another major star) to be on the shelf for the sake of "its always been this way... part of the game" mentality.
it took forever for the league to even institute the shootout, which is to hockey what the "slam dunk" is to basketball. all sports seem to have looked for ways to utilize their strengths, and avoid their weaknesses... except the NHL.
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Agree to disagree
Fri, 11/21/2008 - 14:24 — GoShelfI hear what your saying. As a fan, I don't want to see NHL players (stars or 4th liners) get hurt because of careless shots to the head, but again, I don't want the game changed drastically. Hockey is what it is, at times, violent.
NHL players know what they are getting into and they get well compensated for it. The NHL would be well served by removing the trapezoid, allow defensemen to obstruct (like they did in the past) forechecking fowards barreling on their d-partners, and hit NHL players wallets a little harder when they commit senseless offenses against other players.
I like the shootout, it did take time to implement. The NHL tests most new/potential rule changes at the junior level then the AHL before it reaches NHL. This is a long but important process - they get to see how a rule change affects the game before it ever reaches the NHL.
Lastly, as a fan, the NHL should not benchmark itself against other professional sports. I realize the # of sports fans in North America is finite, so there is competition for fans (especially $'s). The NHL has a good base of fans that are going nowhere and the answer to getting new fans is not making hockey more like football or basketball or any other sport that is deemed to be popular. Hockey is what it is, it's been this way (pretty much) for the past 100 plus years, and it does not need to be changed.
Delayed penalty
Tue, 11/25/2008 - 07:45 — jgrant641I thought I submitted a reply several days ago, but I guess it didn't take.
I totally get what you are saying, however my comparison to other sports isn't specific to play, but rather the marketing of the game. A comparison to the slam dunk in basketball or the home run in baseball is simply just that exciting play that fans love and the leagues ability to utilize it to grow as a sport.
my other point takes issue with the mentality of "it's always been that way... so we shouldn't mess with it." times change and so should leagues and standards. players are bigger better and faster, equipment is streamlined and the level of play is drastically different from 100 years ago, the nhl has to recognize those changes and update... maybe I used the word "change" too much, and i certainly don't want to see hockey become any other sport... I love hockey and that is why i blog about it. But recognizing the need to amend and update things to suit the growing and changing markets is in need for the nhl.
For the league to grow on the ice it need the revenue off the ice and that hasn't been happening for some time... that is why i think there needs to be some accountability on the NHL's part to look at the game and update it... nothing drastic, but updates none the less.
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Preach it Brother...Preach it!!
Fri, 11/21/2008 - 13:41 — esteban1949What you say has merit and again i totally agree with you...grant you this isbn't the 1960's or 70's when we did see and feel a "rougher" brand of hockey, but even players who would on the ice would try to know your head off...dit hit you hard...but it was clean...( for the most part and they also used something called a "hip check" instead of and elbow to the face or neck. Now with the Cullens(?) broken neck...and as we look around all the leauges...from CHL,(OHL & etc)AHL...the NHL really does need to do something...and if the proof the Canes as a team isn't enough about head shots accident or "otherwise" ...then the NHL had better be prepared for what surely will come in a tsunami of lawsuits from players who survive or their families on behalf of the vegitable that used to be a NHL star property...
But we are fans...do we have any knowledge of the "Business" of the NHL ? More than they give us credit for...
Go Canes !!
Your message - To JohnnyG
Thu, 11/20/2008 - 20:59 — esteban1949thanks for that...sheesh you are becoming the Lou Dobbs of Hockey ?? maybe ?? :-0
Go Canes..
Agree
Thu, 11/20/2008 - 14:31 — HockeydogI agree that having every one on the ice is great for the team.
Hopefully better times ahead.
Good news !
Thu, 11/20/2008 - 13:15 — esteban1949It's also a good moral booster as well to see everyone there together.
Thanks Chip!