Melichar is next
The Canes continued to retool their defense Wednesday, signing defenseman Josef Melichar to a one-year, $1 million contract.
Melichar, 29, spent six seasons with the Penguins before playing last season in Sweden and his native Czech Republic. The 6-foot-2, 202-pounder has seven goals and 33 assists in 310 career NHL games.
Rumored to be returning to the Penguins, Melichar gives the Hurricanes six defensemen under contract (Tim Gleason, Joe Corvo, Frantisek Kaberle, Niclas Wallin, Anton Babchuk) and two restricted free agents (Joni Pitkanen and Dennis Seidenberg).
But with money tight and the Canes hurdling over their budget of $45 million, another trade might be needed to clear a little room.
Luke DeCock
Luke has worked for The N&O since 2000. He covered the Carolina Hurricanes and the NHL before becoming a sports columnist in August 2008. A native of Evanston, Ill., he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He can be reached at 829-8947 or luke.decock@newsobserver.com.
Comments
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Whats JR going to do with ROSEY
Fri, 07/04/2008 - 11:25 — Anonymous (not verified)Is JR holding out not signing Rosey? Is he waiting him out, to see if he can sign him cheap? With the way the salary cap is there won't be much left for ol' Rosey.... Not a bad deal for 750K.
If we can sign him, it makes
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 18:08 — Anonymous (not verified)If we can sign him, it makes more since keeping Seidenberg than Wallin, given that he is younger & maybe has a higher ceiling. I will never know why Nic got a no-trade clause...
It seems like we could find a taker for Kaberle. As some have pointed out, his salary his not that bad given what people are signing for this week. And almost everyone needs more D.
JR is hitting the recycling bin again
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 12:26 — JD (not verified)Sorry, but I don't see value in this. Melichar is neither physical or consistent. He left the NHL for a reason. I never heard a rumor that Pittsburgh wanted him back, but I do know that their fans felt the way we used to feel about Malik.
I appreciate that Samsonov was the feel good story last year with the way he resurrected his career, and you may even be able to say the same for Ruutu, but I doubt Babchuk or Melichar are going to result the same way. We need a crash-banger who can truly shut down the opponents top line.
This is not the answer.
MELICHARS STATs
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 11:40 — cpjuengehere are melichars stats in the swedish league last year
http://www.hockeyligan.se/index.php?stats=listplayers&orderby=toi&season...
"One Meelion Dollers"
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 11:21 — McFish (not verified)Why did they buy out Hamilton instead of Wallin? At least they could have sent Hammy to Albany. You know what the Secret Weapon's secret is? He can score at will against our own empty net!
I would settle for future considersations, especially Kabs.
Pitkanen signed
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 10:43 — dgsiiincLooks like Pitkanen has signed a three year contract for ~12M total.
Kaberle
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 10:37 — DrFrankLives (not verified)If we trade Kaberle, do we throw in the matador's cape in with the deal?
on the way out...
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 10:34 — ldecock (author)Since Wallin has a no-trade clause and has held firm on it before, he's probably not going anywhere.
Given Seidenberg's uncertain contract status, you'd have to assume he'd be first on the list to go.
so how does this go down
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 10:25 — wylde4canes (not verified)If we trade a d man, say Frankie or Sieds as is assumed, do we do so for picks, prospects, marginal roster guys, or future considerations?
Kaberle
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 10:23 — rmmeliIt can't be Kaberle. He didn't play in defense last season :)
Frank or Dennis?
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 10:20 — dgsiiincIt seems like a defenseman must go. Will it be Kaberle or Seidenberg?
I'll bet Kaberle's gone
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 11:31 — scomilWe don't really need Kaberle's talents anymore, with Corvo and Pitkanen being here. We need a hitter like Seidenberg more. Maybe JR will wait until he gets Pitkanen signed before he makes a move either way.
Lots of European flavor
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 10:00 — Anonymous (not verified)Lots of European flavor being added in the past year- Samsonov, Ruutu, Pitkanen, Babchuk, Melichar. Seems like we used to be one of the more "North American" teams in the league.
Don't really remember this
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 09:58 — Anonymous (not verified)Don't really remember this guy from the Pens. Can't go by pts. since he's a defensive D. Can't go by +/- since the Pens stunk when he played there.
Wonder who's on the outs? Nic?
Good value!
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 09:54 — Dave (not verified)I like this pickup, and in a market where Jeff Finger and Mike Commodore commanded 3.5 million plus per year, getting a proven, steady defensive defenseman for 1 million is a bargain. I think Luke's math is wrong - Melichar makes 6 D under contract plus the 2 RFA's. Kaberle or Wallin are eminently expendable as a salary dump at this point if there are any takers for either.
Wallin isn't going
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 10:42 — Trev (not verified)Wallin isn't going anywhere... he has a NTC
6+2
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 10:34 — ldecock (author)fixed...
six defensemen under contract: Gleason, Corvo, Kaberle, Wallin, Babchuk, Melichar.
two RFAs: Pitkanen, Seidenberg.