Laviolette: Canes lose 'depth up front' with Walker out

In Tuesday's shuffling of the lines, with right wing Scott Walker out for six weeks for surgery, Chad LaRose moved into Matt Cullen's line with Ryan Bayda during practice.

Coach Peter Laviolette said Walker is hard to replace.

"When you already lose [wing Justin] Williams on the right side, now you lose Walker on the right side, you're losing your depth up front," said Laviolette. "Guys that can score 20 goals. You're also taking a real character, heart and soul guy out of the lineup. You saw what he did for Matt [Cullen in that] exhibition game. He didn't like the way Matt was hit. That's the kind of guy that Scott Walker is. So you take that from the lineup and you're missing a valuable piece."

Walker's injury stems from the exhibition game last Sunday during an altercation with the Philadelphia Flyers' Nate Guenin, who blindsided Cullen. Walker landed several blows but also tore ligament in his left hand.