Dan LaCouture's flirtation with playing hockey in Russia this year has gone back and forth — the forward first thought of leaving the Albany River Rats (AHL) for Russia, then told the Rats he was staying.
Now, he's gone. Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said Monday that LaCouture has decided to leave the River Rats and should be suspended by the Hurricanes in the next 24 hours.
It's the second player the Hurricanes had under contract who has left Albany for Russia this year. Forward Matt Murley did the same.
"It's very disappointing," Rutherford said of LaCouture's defection. "It's more a point of loyalty as anything else. This is a player who could not get a tryout with any other NHL team prior to training camp and we gave him one.
"He came in, and to Danny's credit he earned a contract and earned the right to stay on the team in the first part of the year. To me, this is selfish. We did him a favor."
LaCouture signed a free-agent contract with the Hurricanes after a strong training camp and scored the game-winner in the Canes' season opener against the Florida Panthers. He played in 11 games before being reassigned to Albany.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
I was- to All
Wed, 12/31/2008 - 10:31 — esteban1949Listening to the River Rats game ( we lost 1-0 Bummer)
and again to my surprise ( a good one by the way) the sports writer from The daily gazette Phil Janack was doing an interview with the Rats Play by play crew...and he talked a wee bit about Dan LaCouture's situation. And while I still stand ( who me?) on my original thoughts, from what i heard Phil say i am going to step back from my hard & fast stance on this. As a parent, grand parent, and great grandparent. i too remember if what i was trying to do was good enough to see that my kids had a chance at a decent education, a decent place to live, or decent clothes on their backs.And i have to admit that and seeing that NONE of us here have or skated a while in His shoes or skates, yet when a player like him, who knows that he will never ever get one vote for the HOF, just wants a little something for his family, because where he was, was no longer able to meet his needs. Now if he had gone to Coach Daniels or to JR and sat down and laid out what his concerns were( not that he didn't try,as we don't know do we ?)...maybe they might have tried to help or offered some positive ideas or suggestions...but then again, we all know if JR were to do that, then hell just froze over, and a flock of pigs just flew over the RBC Center ! I do wish LaCouture the best as even going there to play...will be hard enough let alone having to adjust to the culture, and ways they live and work there...and being away from his family...talk about having B*LLS of steel...maybe we all have sold the guy short just as JR has ...
Happy New Year Yall
JR is right
Tue, 12/30/2008 - 20:28 — jgrant641No other team wanted this guy, Jim Rutherford gave him a chance and they both signed a contract. Bottom line you sign a contract you should honor it or work out an agreement. ------------------------------------------------------
I am Johnnyg and I approved this message.
Whatever RUtherford
Tue, 12/30/2008 - 09:44 — TheReaper49Let’s see. The guy comes in and outperforms half our team. He wins a contract. He continues to perform at, or above, expectations for the contract. Laviollette wants a small, soft player instead in Dwyer, so Lacouture goes down to Albany. We need call-ups and Lacouture is passed over. We change coaches. He still stays down.
The guy got the shaft.
People can whine about contracts and loyalty and all that, but if a business, which is what the Hurricanes are, could effectively get out of a contract that they no longer wanted, they clearly would. Look at Kaberle. If there was a loophole where Rutherford could legally get out of paying him for the rest of this year and next, he would do it in a second. And like it or not, the KHL provides a loophole where a player can walk away from an NHL contract and still play professional hockey. Also, what would JR’s attitude be if Melichar wanted to walk away from his contract and go back to the Czech Republic, meaning that we wouldn’t have to pay him the rest of his million dollars for the season? Would he be sounding off in the press about loyalty and favors? No. He’d be happy. It’s hypocritical.
QFT
Wed, 12/31/2008 - 00:45 — uneksijaQFT, Reap. Well said.
And I'm sure we'd all do the ethical/honorable thing ourselves, as long as it was someone else's financial circumstances we were dealing with and not our own.
coins have two sides
Tue, 12/30/2008 - 11:45 — Hockeydogand so does this situation.
On one hand the team would not show any loyalty to him and would wavie or trade him as the team sees fit. So why shouldn't he get what he can while he is able to play
On the other hand he knows the gig, and he signed a contract that he just walked out on.
Lacouture is not a man of his word and Rutherford should have kept his comments on a business level.
Lacouture would likely have not made an impact on this team anyway
agree
Tue, 12/30/2008 - 11:27 — rmmeliI think you summed it up quite nicely.
Can't blame him
Tue, 12/30/2008 - 09:07 — CanarseThe life of a marginal professional athlete is short. You can't blame the guy for cashing in while he can. He took a shot at the NHL and didn't make it. Now he's going to make some money for his family. It's not like guys like LaCouture are getting unbelieveably wealthy.
Canarse
Tue, 12/30/2008 - 09:23 — esteban1949i understand your point, but i respectfully disagree with ya....but i am from the old school of life...if your word aint no good...you aint no good...my grandparents as dumb as i thought they were taught all of us about charactor, and integrity..something that is sadly laking in college and pro sports today...and in life in general too but such is life...
Too bad
Tue, 12/30/2008 - 20:39 — AN0NYM0USThey didn't teach you how to spell.
Yo Anonymous
Wed, 12/31/2008 - 10:10 — esteban1949i went to college where you did...you did say Oxford,Cambridge and the Univeristy of wonderfulness and joy located in beautiful downtown Walla Walla washington wasn't it ? I just my webster's dictionary back from a sticky figured great-grandson...so i hope your expert potification of my not so hot grammer & spelling will improve !
Have A happy New Year !
"...if your word aint no
Tue, 12/30/2008 - 17:19 — FuquayCaniac"...if your word aint no good...you aint no good..."
+1 to esteban.
FuquayCaniac
Tue, 12/30/2008 - 20:24 — esteban1949esteban bows graciously for that +1...but sadly leans too far over and he didn't have his seatbelt on his power chair....somebody get me a phone...i has to call AAA and have a wrecker come and get me !!!....~~ :-0
JR Doing Favors ?
Tue, 12/30/2008 - 09:00 — esteban1949Nope...I don't see it ! Unless you count getting a 2 way contract a favor. Who knows what evil lurks in the mind of JR? It sure aint the fans or the "shadow" !!
No Favors !!
Mon, 12/29/2008 - 23:44 — esteban1949My great- grandson who is a rats fan said something thatr shocked me! He ( is 8) said he hopes LaCouture gets lost & arrested at the airport for being stupid. hey don't look at me...i just said he was a "dirty rat" for jumping ship...Did he ever go to or finsh college and get a worthwhile degree ? All i can say is don't let the zamboni run over ya as you sneak off to the east...
Favor or business?
Mon, 12/29/2008 - 21:43 — ydb999Since when NHL teams/GMs are doing "favors"? Business is business. LaCouture made unethical decision that was the best for his family (maybe) and will never play in NHL, but he probably would not have anyway. But for JR to sound emotional is showing to me that he is loosing control. JR would never do favors to players unless it is also good for franchise, at least he should not, right?