Canes goaltender Cam Ward did not practice today but forward Chad LaRose did at Raleigh Center Ice.
Ward was taking a "maintenance day" and did his work off ice, Canes coach Kirk Muller said.
LaRose, coming off an upper-body injury, was wearing a yellow, no-contact jersey today and Muller said he was not sure when he would get back in the lineup. The Canes face the Washington Capitals tomorrow at the RBC Center, then have a road game Saturday against the New York Islanders.
"He's working," Muller said. "We'll see how he feels after a physical push again."
Asked about LaRose's availability for the Caps game, Muller said, "My thing was to wait and see if he's even healthy enough to play. I said let's give him two hard practices, yesterday and today ... and see how he recovered before I even consider it being an option.
"I think it's important, with the way he plays, with that injury that he needs to be 100 percent to be effective and do his job."
Defenseman Jaroslav Spacek put in a second straight practice with a full cage but will not play against the Caps, Muller said. Spacek was hit in the face by a puck last week against the Flyers.
Muller again had forward Zac Dalpe on a line today with Jeff Skinner and Jussi Jokinen. Dalpe, called up this week from the Charlotte Checkers (AHL), also was being used on the first power-play unit with Skinner and Eric Staal.
"It's the dynamics of the personnel," Muller said of putting Dalpe on Skinner's line. "We need a winger in that area. With the 12 (forwards) that we have, it's probably the right spot to place him in where it doesn't kind of disrupt everything else."
On the power play, Muller said he wanted a player in the slot with a righthanded shot who is a shooting threat.
"It's a good opportunity and I've just got to take advantage of it and not much too much pressure on myself," Dalpe said.
Dalpe said he had played with Skinner and Jokinen before, but only for a few shifts.
Forward Jerome Samson (upper-body injury) did not practice today but again skated after the team workout and is considered day-to-day.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE
Fri, 01/20/2012 - 08:24 — NetMinderIt's pretty clear that this is a sharper, faster, more uptempo team without LaRose on the ice. His hustle, ability to get under the opposition's skin and room presence will be missed, but he has neither the skill set nor the speed to keep up with the pace at which this team is now playing. Case in point — instead of Rosie's soft dump-ins and iffy decision making, we're carrying the puck into the zone, setting up, establishing the cycle, opening up the back line and generating more chances than ever.
It's a Sea Change for the Hurricanes Organization
Fri, 01/20/2012 - 08:42 — abramsdougTrading LaRose would be one of the most difficult personal decisions for Jim Rutherford and the Hurricanes organization. Bringing in Muller was a sea change for the organization because he began without any long term contacts with the organization after years of Maurice, a break, and then more years of Maurice.
I don't view advocating trading a particular player as either disloyalty to the Hurricanes team or necessarily a criticism of the player. The idea is to build a contending team. To accomplish that task, the best talent available needs to be on the ice competing each night.
The way I see it, LaRose's skill sets do not put him in the top twelve forwards on the team. He's great at what he does; but it is a very limited role. There are other players on the team and in the system who possess a much better over all set of hockey skills and hockey I.Q. than LaRose. It would be a sad day to trade LaRose because he has given his heart and soul to the team. On the other hand, it is not fair to the other players on the team and in the system to hold them back due to LaRose's engaging, lovable, and endearing personality. The sea change of the Hurricanes organization will occur when talent and merit, and ultimately winning, comes first. We shall see. I believe it is time to trade LaRose while his trade value is at its peak. I will miss his personality and grit; but know it's the right decision.
Maybe it's just me....
Thu, 01/19/2012 - 17:27 — squeaky83....but I can't help thinking we've been better off as a team with the prospects playing and LaRose not. I haven't missed Rosie one bit. Doesn't seem like the team's on ice play has either. Maybe his locker room jokes....
Why the contempt?
Fri, 01/20/2012 - 10:50 — matts_maskI really don't understand the constant hate on LaRose. He's strong on the forecheck,good hockey I.Q., clutch scorer at times,draws penalties,chirps a bit, etc.My only feelings were that was being put on the wrong line under Mo, he's not a first line player. He's exactly the kind of player every team needs and yet all I see on these comments are people always so quick to discount him, why?
Why you ask?
Fri, 01/20/2012 - 17:49 — Hockeydad92Hustle and room vibe are not the most important ingredients in a NHL hockey player, yes important but not the most. LaRose was a Plymouth Whaler who also played in PK's youth organization prior to that. He is a hard working fan favorite who can add a touch of sandpaper at times but where would you slot this guy when his know faults are so glaring. He is the slowest guy on the team, slower even than Jay Harrison. Easy to knock off the puck, does not win many battles down low, he has cinder block hands, roams around out of position a good deal and he has the hockey sense of a football player.
He is much more effective in kills than five on five but that is because that part of the game is more singular dimension. He can be used in a checking role on the third line but his recovery time after being beat is painfully slow, he does not have real shut down skills of somebody that would be ideal in that part of the game. He could be used on the fourth but why would we allocate north of a million for that guy when that is the easiest of all forwards to find and fill slots.
Problem is we way overpaid, JR has trouble admitting that and it would be doubtful any other team would take on his salary.
Admiration for LaRose, but Assessment of Skill
Fri, 01/20/2012 - 12:14 — abramsdougI disagree with your assessment of LaRose; but I also have tremendous respect for LaRose. LaRose has great intangibles. I don't see how anybody can dispute the fact he is energetic, intense, charismatic, and loyal to a fault. I don't see how anybody can argue he is not a fine fourth line wing and a solid penalty killer. He is great in the locker room. He uses all the skill he has every shift. There is very much to admire in LaRose.
Where I disagree is your evaluation of LaRose's skill set. LaRose is not gifted with a high hockey I.Q. He is frequently out of position; and chases the puck around without regard for the context of the game. He takes some absolutely abysmal penalties. From a hockey skill set, he lacks the vision on the ice, the hands, or the passing ability that one needs in a top nine player. As a result when he plays in the top six, he stifles offensive opportunies. He is not strong on his skates, although he does get to a large number of pucks. He lacks the processing speed to know where to put pucks; and often is on the wrong side of the puck, which leads to turn overs. Because he chases the puck too often when he should not, it is impossible for his linemates to have a clue where to be.
Assuming that I am correct and that LaRose's best use is a fourth line wing and killing penalties, the question is whether the Hurricanes have better all around players than LaRose to fill those roles. I believe the Hurricanes have much better hockey players than LaRose. For example, I prefer Brett Sutter, Samson, Tlusy, Stewart, Brent, and Ponikarovsky in that role. All are bigger, faster, more skilled, and more hockey aware than LaRose. All are also significantly less expensive. Dywer and Nodl also can fill that role better than LaRose. If the Hurricanes were a salary cap team and money were no object, it would be less important to trade LaRose. The Hurricanes, however, are being crushed by a salary budget that is far too low.
At the moment, LaRose has a very high trade value and the Hurricanes need to open roster spots for more gifted players than LaRose. By trading LaRose, the Hurricanes gain a forward roster spot and get some more draft choices. LaRose in theory would be traded to a playoff team where his style of play works extremely well during the actual playoff run. Hopefully, this explanation makes it clear that there is no posse out to tar and feather LaRose. It's a numbers game and a matter of finding ways for the Hurricanes to stop being a team that is in the bottom tier of the NHL. When a team is 27th out of 30 NHL teams, change is needed and inevitable.
I suppose we can agree to
Fri, 01/20/2012 - 12:40 — matts_maskI suppose we can agree to disagree then. My evaluation of the other players you mention in your response is quite different, Brett Sutter,Stewart, and Ponikarovsky especially. Perhaps it may be LaRose's salary in relation to his perceived value that propagates the sometimes venomous narratives . I see his plus/minus is suspect but tied for the team lead in hits and game winning goals and arguably being the best forechecker on the team seems to be too easily ignored.
Team lead in Hits doesn't
Fri, 01/20/2012 - 14:35 — squeaky83Team lead in Hits doesn't take into account whether the hits werr effective or not. As a measure of hustle and effort, I agree with AD. LaRose always gives 100%. But when the vast majority of Rosie's hits are against bigger defenders, in the offensive zone, after they have passed the puck, one has to question their value. I haven't seen LaRose separate anyone from the puck in our own zone with a hit. Haven't seen a single defender start to flinch because LaRose might hit him after a pass. LaRose's hit are a stat only--they do not help the team.
I'm not sure I'd trust anyone's opinion who thinks LaRose is the best forechecker on the team. Staal, Ruutu, Sutter, Samson, Poni all win a much larger percentage of their puck battles than LaRose. All control the puck better. The opposition notices when Ruutu is headed their way--not quite the same for LaRose. The opposition knows Sutter is gonna battle and threaten to take the puck from them. Not so LaRose. They know getting the puck away from Staal will really take a battle and some help. LaRose? Seperates from the puck too easily. But again, I guess our opinions differ...
For me the plus/minus
Fri, 01/20/2012 - 17:30 — abramsdougFor me the plus/minus of -17 which is tied for 5th worst in the NHL is a major issue for a player who needs to be solid on defense. It's a matter of price/peformance. The other players on the team are not struggling defensively the way LaRose is struggling.