Canes defenseman Joe Corvo is a perceptive, introspective type of guy. He also can be pretty blunt when it comes to expressing his feelings.
So what has the 12-game winless streak been like for him and his teammates?
"Pretty painful," he said. "It's like there's a wake every day in the locker room, like we're burying somebody."
Asked if he still believed the team has enough talent, enough belief in itself, to turn the season around and get on a roll, Corvo replied:
"I don't know. I guess we'll see when that happens," he said. "I don't know what it's going to take.
"I thought we had what we needed at the beginning of the year. Who knows now? Who knows? We've got guys getting hurt all the time.
"I think when we get some healthy bodies back, it's going to help us I think. Right now, it's difficult for us to score goals and it's going to be difficult to beat teams if we're not keeping them to one or two goals."
Corvo said he needs to stay positive, that it wouldn't help anything or any of his teammates to be disgusted or frustrated.
"It wouldn't help anybody if I sat here and said I expected us to lose the rest of the games this season because I didn't think we had a good enough team to win games," he said. "Just like everybody else, I think it's just little things we need to do to get over this hump and go from there.
"After we do win a game, the mental state might change a bit. Who knows?"
Corvo said he has been in a similar situation before -- with the LA Kings in the 2005-2006 season. He said the team was rolling along until the Olympic break, then nosedived.
"Same type deal -- we just couldn't win a game," he said. "Every goal that the other team scored affected us and it started to become a 'here-we-go-again' type of attitude during every game.
"Somewhat similar."
As for the Canes, Corvo said the defense must be sharper and better if the team is going to shake out of its losing ways.
"Our timing is terrible in terms of penalties, giving up goals," he said. "All those things need to improve."
Corvo said some people may be overlooking what the Canes lost from last year's team with the departure of defensemen Dennis Seidenberg and Anton Babchuk, who combined for 21 goals and 44 assists.
"People say, 'Oh, they've got the same team,' but those were two pretty big contributors right there that are gone," he said. "Moving forward, we added some players to help our defense and our defense hasn't been great at all this year."
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
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If Anything
Wed, 11/11/2009 - 16:38 — esteban1949Joe Corvo is honest to a fault...as it has been pointed out and reported...Joe Corvo knows that the Defense over all has stunk...and he includes himself in the mix...so with that said, and with joni out and rodney, with Manny in net...maybe just maybe the canes can pull one out tonight !! That is what i am rooting for and expecting...for those who are going tonight...be safe...Thanks Chip
Go Canes !!
comments
Wed, 11/11/2009 - 14:59 — greg_98I guess we all could read the same thing and none of us would comprehend the same ,I thought he gave an honest opinion about the canes losing streak, I guess Joe will be the new villian now .
Letting Seidenberg go was
Wed, 11/11/2009 - 14:25 — ctillLetting Seidenberg go was not JR's choice. If Seidenberg had asked for a reasonable salary or offered to accept a one-year deal, he'd be a Cane right now. He didn't do either one. Once he saw that he wasn't going to get a multi-year deal from any team at $2.5M, Seidenberg backed down and took $2.25M on a one-year deal from Florida. But by that time, JR had been forced to make other arrangements. Blame this one on Seidenberg and his agent, not JR.
It's refreshing not to hear
Wed, 11/11/2009 - 13:52 — caneshockeyfanIt's refreshing not to hear the same old hockey cliches. I'd rather him be honest and say "I don't know" what it's going to take than talk about bounces or effort or [insert hockey cliche here]. I don't question his effort or desire.
That said, the very last quote might get him into some trouble. He's sort of calling out his teammates AND management. Oops. On the other hand, from all reports the Canes have been dangling Corvo as trade bait for weeks now, so I don't blame him for not feeling loved. I wouldn't be happy to see him traded or not re-signed. I think he's an awesome talent and when asked to put up points can be do so with regularity. And, man, is he fun to watch with the puck on his stick. That backhand goal last season was unreal.
corvo quote
Wed, 11/11/2009 - 14:34 — chipalexander (author)I can assure you when he said the defense isn't great that he isn't absolving himself. When he said the defense needed to be better, he meant everyone on the defense.
Corvo Comments
Wed, 11/11/2009 - 15:09 — abramsdougCorvo is obviously correct. The Hurricanes defense has been consistently unreliable thus far. Hopefully, that changes tonight. I will think they are serious about improving as a defensive unit when the defense starts clearing traffic from around the goal-keeper with authority and makes the slots a dreaded place to be for the offense.
Corvo's Comments
Wed, 11/11/2009 - 11:34 — abramsdougI appreciate Corvo's candid assessments and he raises interesting points. It does seem that the newly acquired defensemen, A.Ward and Alberts, haven't yet gotten completely on the same page as Gleason, Pitkanen, and Corvo, and perhaps Wallin. There is also no question that in revamping the defense, offensive firepower was lost -- and particularly the goals from Babchuk when he was on his scoring streak. I have wondered how the fact that Corvo is in his final year of his contract is affecting him. I am positive if I were on the Hurricanes team, I'd be climbing the walls going crazy; because it wouldn't make sense to me that losing Seidenberg and Babchuk and replacing them with A.Ward and Alberts should cause the ineffectiveness of the defense that we've seen. It is not logical because under any analysis Seidenberg and Babchuk did not have skill sets in terms of skating that were so vastly superior to A.Ward and Alberts that one would expect the defense to collapse in their absences. I had a basketball coach who explained the need for constant attention to detail as "small cracks can cause a dam to collapse." It seems that way with the Hurricanes season thus far, the timing of mental lapses, of bad penalties, of misplays of pucks, of lack of finishing checks, combined to create the perfect storm. It seems to me that Corvo may be articulating what other Hurricanes' players are feeling and thinking. Sometimes just getting those feelings and emotions into the open is a critical step in finding positive energy and the will to prevail.
Good points. I think
Wed, 11/11/2009 - 13:58 — caneshockeyfanGood points. I think Seidenberg's skating was underrated though. He's more mobile than Ward or Alberts to my untrained eye. He's getting a lot of TOI in Florida. As much as I like A Ward, I think the Canes made a mistake letting Seidenberg go.
joe corvo
Wed, 11/11/2009 - 13:37 — chipalexander (author)One thing I respect about Joe Corvo is that if you ask him a question, he will give you an answer. And it won't be cliches. You're right, he's willing to say what many have to be thinking. When I asked the questions, his responses could have gone in any number of directions. I thought he was honest and frank, and I credit him for that.
There's no way you can tip-toe around a streak like this. The best way to deal with it has to be to take it head-on. Say what you think and then go out and do something about it.
Feeling & Emotions
Wed, 11/11/2009 - 11:49 — GoShelfI hear what your saying, but his feelings and emotions should not leave the walls of the locker room. In general, hockey players in the media are stoic and generally blindly optimistic, this is done for good reason. His comments beg questions from the hockey media, the hurricane mgmt team, and our fan base about his commitment level & his belief in teammates. If his comments are an indirect request to JR to be traded than it makes sense, otherwise what's he thinking.
corvo
Wed, 11/11/2009 - 13:30 — chipalexander (author)I don't think there's a lack of commitment. I think Joe Corvo is as frustrated as anyone in the room. I think he wants to win as much as anyone in the room and losing is driving him crazy. He just doesn't mind sharing his opinions and he is a professional athlete. Hard to be stoic, and silent, when you're in something like this.
Corvo's Comments
Wed, 11/11/2009 - 13:53 — abramsdougI have two minds on the Corvo's comments. As a fan, I really appreciated his candor. I would imagine as a journalist having somebody as direct and forthright as Corvo is helpful to you in presenting an accurate picture of what is happening on the team. When viewed from the perspective, however, of putting myself in the shoes of his teammates, I revert back to how I would react reading those comments from a teammate. True as Corvo's comments are, I'd rather not read in the press anything from a teammate that makes climbing the hill any more difficult than it already is. Chip, you are absolutely correct that one way to get over the mental funk is for somebody like Corvo to say outloud what others are thinking or perhaps are saying off the record. Then the trick is to get fired up and go win some games. Stop talking about winning games, and just put some bodies down on the ice and some pucks in the net.
Corvo's Comments
Wed, 11/11/2009 - 11:56 — abramsdougI understand your point. If a teammate of mine made such a comment to the press, I feel certan I would approach him and ask, "Sir, can you kindly explain to me your rationale in discussing these matters of a team nature with the media?" -- Well, probably not in exactly those words.
Agreed
Wed, 11/11/2009 - 12:12 — GoShelfOnce his comments gets to the media, he no longer has control of where it goes from there and now everyone has the ability to misinterpret his comments, which is why I believe the 'less is more approach' works best.
Goshelf
Wed, 11/11/2009 - 15:23 — abramsdougGoshelf, you are prophetic. The written word in English no matter how articulately spoken and how well written does not convey the nuances of the speaker's intent. Corvo has been an asset to the team and has always been articulate and thoughtful in his comments. I am confident he takes full responsibility for his own play thus far.
Pretty disappointing
Wed, 11/11/2009 - 11:28 — Otag1Pretty disappointing statements from Corvo. He is suppose to be one of the veteran leaders, what leadership. The team has to stay focused on what is positive, only in a few games have we not had the chance to win. His play has been some of the most disappointing this year. They need to take him off the PP as he repeatedly mishandles the puck, fails to keep the puck in the offensive zone at the blueline, and he looks gassed after the PP on his regular shifts, leading to numerous defensive breakdowns. With this defeatist attitude he should not be quartebacking the PP. At times he has been caught flatfooted and out of position with no chance of him skating back into position or catching up to the opposing player both on the PP, PK, and his regular shifts. He also has been making poor decisions in the D zone getting the puck out, poor passes up the center, sometimes tape to tape to the wrong sweater. He repeatedly is taken off of the puck to easily at neutral ice and at the blueline entering the O zone. If he is fatigued already this year and is having mental lapses due to being tired then his ice time needs to be cut. As for the points given up by losing Sid and Bab's almost all of Babchuck's 16 goals were on the PP, not to mention the point differential with the other players signed. He is only considering what was lost, not giving credit to what has been gained. It is up to the special teams players, Corvo included to make up this difference. If we score on the PP we might win a few games but with his attitude expressed above he needs to be riding the pine, perhaps he should watch a few games from the pressbox.
Agree
Wed, 11/11/2009 - 13:46 — MsPounceI agree 100% with what you are saying about Corvo. I am glad that I am not the only one seeing when he makes a mistake. This has actually been going on since the playoffs. As you said with his deafestist attitude, I'm wondering if the trade rumors I have heard are actually true.
When I first read his comments I was completely surprised and felt that his statements were ill timed and completely inappropriate. He should have said "We can do this. We have a great bunch of guys who are hungry for a win." Not I don't know. I agree, I think the press box is a great starting place for him and call up a younger d-man.
Honesty
Wed, 11/11/2009 - 10:58 — GoShelfWhile I appreciate how candid Corvo is, I don't think this is the best time to be second guessing his teammates mental/physical abilities and some of the moves that were made in the offseason. No one has any illusions about where their confidence is or why their in a losing streak. We know their in the dumps, so the focus needs be on doing the little things to win hockey games and staying positive. Saying (to parapphase) I don't know how we're going to get out of this losing streak and coming to rink everyday is like a wake makes me wonder if he really want to be here and is willing to do what it takes. Bad timing to make these comments.
Thanks
Wed, 11/11/2009 - 10:55 — Caniac47Maybe what they need to do is what Tom Barrasso was telling Cam when working in goal. Take the game in 5 minute chunks. ANYTHING at this point. I am one of those season ticket holders who will keep saying BELIEVE!!! I REFUSE to give up and they should also REFUSE TO GIVE UP!!!
Realistic
Wed, 11/11/2009 - 10:46 — NCBuff_CaniacBut unfortunately JC sounds like he's been defeated already. Hopefully once they win a game, and they will soon, they'll put together some good games in a row. They need to play one period at a time and concentrate on winning the period they're in now. If they can do that, they'll win some games. Maybe lots of games.