Canes coach Paul Maurice says defenseman Joe Corvo is probable for Wednesday's game against the Calgary Flames.
Corvo last played in the Nov. 30 game against Washington, when he suffered a lower-leg laceration after being slashed by the skate of the Caps' Karl Alzner. He was placed on injured reserve Dec. 1 and was expected to miss two to three months.
"He's wanted to feel completely comfortable before returning," Maurice said. "He's still ahead of schedule."
Maurice did not say who Corvo would replace in the lineup, saying game-day decisions will be made.
Maurice said it's possible forward Erik Cole, out since Dec. 9 with an upper-body injury, could be back in the lineup Friday in Buffalo against the Sabres. He said forward Tuomo Ruutu, who also has an upper-body injury suffered in a fight against Darcy Tucker of the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 8, should return next week.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
Whitney, Rutherford, and the Hurricanes Organization
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 18:08 — abramsdougI am convinced Whitney and Rutherford are working toward a rational solution that meets both the needs of Whitney and the Hurricanes. Whitney is held in tremendous regard by the Hurricanes organization; and I believe Whitney likewise has tremendous respect for and loyalty to the Hurricanes organization.
Neither Whitney nor Rutherford gain anything by burning bridges with each other. The Hurricanes need to trade Whitney as a playoff rental for a 1st round draft choice. Whitney needs to be able to play out his career with an organization that appreciates and respects his talent, including leadership.
My best guess is that a team like Pittsburgh gives up its #1 draft choice for Whitney and that Whitney then re-signs with Carolina. I expect Whitney to receive the same gentleman's agreement that Rutherford had with Wesley -- that Wesley would enter into one year contracts and could keep playing as long as he felt he was able to play up to his own standards of excellence.
Who can blame Whitney for
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 21:48 — CanarseWho can blame Whitney for trying to get a 3 year deal? At his age and with a static or shrinking salary cap signing Whitney to a 3 year deal is borderline insanity.
I think you guys put way too much value on loyalty from the players. How loyal are the Canes to Brind'Amour? Are they trying to force him to retire instead of paying him the rest of his contract? Do you think maybe Whitney is watching this closely? My thought is why should they be loyal when they can't expect the same?
McKenzie's take on this...
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 21:43 — richardfochttp://bit.ly/dg910V
Ray
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 15:53 — louis12580The other sticking point might just be that l.A. is rumored to want a certain #6 as part of a deal to acquire Ray. Rumor courtesy of our man Eklund on hockeybuzz. Unless we get Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty in return, NOT GONNA HAPPEN
#6 with whitney
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 17:33 — hellfishHAHAHA! and throw in a first male child...L.A. wants Gleason back when we traded J.Johnson for him...unless it's A.Ward or Wallin it's NOT HAPPENING...next offer please!
dear fellow Canes fans
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 15:18 — esteban1949i realize my take on all "the Buzz" there might be for several of our key players as the Olympic trade deadline fast approaches, sounds rather harsh. i admit that. And for it is worth I do stand by what i said. Being an older fan who remembers the many older players,as a kid, who ( many )are in the HOF...may have been my and many other kids heros just as many other sports stars are today...with that said...i can't blame Ray Whitney for wanting to get an "extention' as it is reported as he is and was thinking of his family. And I respect that more than anything...it speaks well of what his real prioroties are...again a great role modle in that aspect in todays society of throw away lives,and relationships in the disposable lifestyle many people in America chose to live. As it has been pointed out what many of us fans see as glitz and glamor...at time is a pain in the butt for many players both in college as well as pro sports...but in the busines side of sports...it is sad that even Hockey is promoted and packaged in such a way now and players swapped around and sold like the gladiators of to old romans "circus days" and now the Mixed martial arts ( cage matches) like and as i said earlier a side or slab of meat...In closing i do hope that how ever it turns out for Ray Whitney ( if those "rumors" are true) as he has shown me that he tries his best to NOT let junk like the rade rumors and talks with his " people who talks to their people" get in the way of the game the man obviously loves to play...By some standards maybe i was being harsh, but i was being realistic, as in he last week or so players we all cheer and yell for are now nothing more than pawns in the business end of our teams organization...yes gone are they days when a player when he signed to play for a team was there from start to finish...some wantd it that way...many others didn't...but what this fan will not ever stand for again is another lock out that was caused by the ownership collective of the NHL who because of their lack of for sight, and long term planning refused to deal with issues the players union had at that time...maybe if both sides had been more willing to sharpen their pencils...maybe, just maybe the lock out would never have happened...but it did...and afterwards..the Canes won the Cup...but for this fan, the winning of that cup after the lockout was not payment enough for this and other fans accross america who saw this a greed move by the ownwers of the NHL, lost many fans until they, the fans who were staying away physically saw what was being offerd and how it was played..but when all is aid and done...players as a whole are still nothing more than a commodity that the owners have and like a cold can pass around at will...Not Soar grapes mind you, just very leary of what is rumored by some who have a very poor track record in getting the facts straight...but are content with muddying the water as it were for the lack of anything better to do... BTW My daughter and grandchildren are in calgary for tonites game...as i just got the text...gee so much for colege funds for the grand kids huh ?? be safe and enjoy tonights game...Go Canes !!! The Canes are Good,My Grandkids are Better, and Life is Great !! Go Canes !!
Dude
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 15:40 — GoShelfNext time can you make it harder to read.
Link...
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 14:48 — jgrant641http://www.wralsportsfan.com/voices/blogpost/6944634/
also, I don't buy the Whitney/Kings contract issue. I think Ray wants to stay and the chances of him signing elsewhere to finish out his career is less than likely... not impossible, but just less than likely... He's 38 in may, he has to know a 3 year contract is going to be hard to come by.
points taken
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 10:34 — louis12580On both ends of the argument. The biggest "slabs of meat" are the NFL players. They do not have guaranteed contracts. The biggest portion on their money earned is their signing bonus (if it's up front). If it is due at the end, teams cut the player so as not to have to pay them that bonus. Endorsement money is pretty much reserved for the stars. You rarely see the "foot soldiers" in ads. Travel today is in some ways better (charter versus commercial). But with the new restrictions, travel for NHL teams is much more difficult. When going to Canada, you have to go through customs (we all do), but returning to the States is more complicated and time consuming especially with the number of European and Russian players now on teams. I have had the opportunity/pleasure of traveling with the 'Canes (won in various auctions) and while it's true they fly on a charter and stay at nice hotels if you tear away the pretty packaging/ribbon/bow it is not all that. Plane-hotel-meal out-bus to practice/back-team meal-bus to game-bus to plane-screening-plane-home/another city. I can see where some feel that the players earn too much money, but that opportunity is short. If there's a truly over priced industry, it is Hollywood. The money that some of their stars get for one movie is extreme. And talk about spoiled/pampered people, some of whom have an overinflated opinion of themselves and their importance to the rest of the world.
Good news
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 06:56 — esteban1949That's good news...and for those who are straining at the trading wires...will be able to see just well he skates & plays and see what Corvo could,would,or might be worth....gee the life of a pro player...AKA slab of meat...sigh...i can see kids all over the USA thinkinbg and dreaming...when i grow up i want to be a proessional slab of meat, past around like a common cold...sigh...so much for the business of sports huh ?/ I wish Joe well when he returns...
The Canes are Good,My Grandkids are Better, and Life is Great !!
Go Canes !!
Well Yes, But......
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 09:22 — SkylinerMost "slabs of meat" (even the choice cuts) don't come with such a high price tag. The average salary in the U.S. is around $42 and change and the average pro athlete makes more in one year than the average 8-to-5 working stiff could command in multiple lifetimes..
In addition, most American men "go to work daily" while athletes "go to play" maybe 81 times per year...if they are hockey players.
An athlete works limited years (pro football average 4/5 and baseball maybe 15 if they are lucky...while the working stiff toils ahout 50 if he goes in just after high school.
Then theres the opportunity for athletes to get endorsements, TV commercials, speaking enmgagements, etc., which in some cases exceed their annual salaries.
I understand your analogy Esteban,. but my friend your point could be a hard sell, not only to those average Joes paying pro ticket prices (if they are fortunate enough to have a job in a tough ecomony).
Their road meals, hotels and tarvel are all team paid; they are oftem pampered, enjoy vast public adoration, have access to financial growtrh vehicles the common man does not, etc. etc. etc.
So their bodies take a beating and sometimes ache when the sky gets cloudy after they are 45 years old. They know that possibilioty exists going in.
All in all, difficult for this old crumudgeon to feel sympathy for them. But, Mr. Chairman of the Board...you sly old fox...I feel you've cleverly once again initiated another subject that might touch off spirited debate. But you knew that, didn't you?
I'll wager Abramadoug (AD) the Vice Chairman will have a sage point to make, others pehraps..
Great for you. Let's see where it goes. Should be fun.
Two Cents
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 12:11 — GoShelf"In addition, most American men "go to work daily" while athletes "go to play" maybe 81 times per year...if they are hockey players." On game days pre-game skates take 2 hours, they show up 3 hours early for games and typically take an hour to exit the arena after a game, so that's between 7-9 hours at the arena or work. Also, during the season they only have 1 day off per week (typically). I understand they only work 8 months of the year, but you're going to be hard pressed to tell the average American works harder during their season. From a work perspective, (I'm not going to justify their salary) by the time most reach the NHL they've been playing competitive hockey almost year round for 15 years, so I'm not going to say these guys are lucky because they've earned it. They're fortunate in that they have the best job in the world and get paid a ton to do it, but along the way most had to wake up on many a Sunday morning at 5:30AM and drive to the middle of nowhere because that's the only place they could find ice.
Well said GoShelf!
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 13:02 — Canes73I can't speak to what it's like in the U.S. but in Canada, playing hockey takes a major financial and time committment. Early morning practices (before school) are the norm, playing several games a week, not to mention all of the travelling on weekends for tournaments. Think about all of the time and money a family has to invest over those 15+ years before getting to the NHL. As GoShelf said, we cannot justify the salary entirely, but for someone to make it to the NHL, they (along with their families) have certainly paid there dues.
On the trade front, I heard today that the Canes and Kings had worked out a trade for Whitney but he will not waive his NTC unless he gets a two or three year extension as part of the trade. I hope this is not true becuase that will make it much more difficult to work out a trade and will definitely limit the number of potential trade partners.
reported on TSN
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 13:49 — louis12580That was reported on tsn.ca by Bob McKenzie. He reported that the Kings were granted permission by the 'Canes to talk to Ray and his agent about a contract extension. It was reported that Ray was looking for 3 years and the Kings were offering 1 year. I don't think this is a case of Ray being difficult. I heard an interview with him last week and he said that family was very important in his decision making. He has three children, 7,5 and 2 and doesn't want to make it difficult on them. Hopefully something can be worked out for all parties involved.
Dreger
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 14:14 — Canes73Darren Dreger of TSN also reported that at least one team is prepared to give up a 1st rounder and a prospect for Whitney. I find this hard to believe but hopefully he's right. I believe McKenzie said the Kings deal would include a 2nd rounder and a prospect.
N. Wallin...
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 21:23 — richardfocPer a tweet from Dreger Wallin is headed to San Jose and won't play tonight in Calgary. Guess he waived his NTC for this one. Can't say as I blame him.
Edit to add link: http://bit.ly/apB0CB
Whitney
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 13:47 — GoShelfInteresting, just read the same thing on Spector's blog - a 3 year extension seems like he's asking a little much.