With the Canes 5-16-5 and last in the NHL, there's more than enough blame to go around.
General manager Jim Rutherford says to blame him for his offseason decisions. Coach Paul Maurice has said he must accept responsibility for the team's performance. The players are the ones on the ice and have said they need to play harder, play smarter, be tougher.
Certainly injuries, notably to Eric Staal and Cam Ward, have hurt this season. But no one expected this.
Question: where should much of the blame rest? Management, coaches, the players? Or should it equally be shared?
The floor is open.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
Progress Energy POWER PLAY
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 23:59 — JRs_FaultNo one has blamed the people responsible for the decision to sell the naming rights to our "POWER PLAY" to Progress Energy. This low-budget cliche has clearly offended the hockey gods beyond anyone's expectation.
Who to Blame is Easy...
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 19:22 — CanesAreBoringIt's you the Candy Canes. This team was built solely for this non traditional market. This management knew all along that in order to fill the seats here, the team must be tailored made and packaged to the local market.
This small, non gritty team along with its carefully executed marketing scheme is for you the Candy Canes, for it is you that demands this type of team. Take a real hard look at this team, it is not much different than the Cup team JR had. The difference is that the rest of the NHL was completely bored of the non physical hockey that was employed after the lock out rule changes. The NHL brought back some grit that was sorely missing in 2006. Most teams have adjusted for this, JR has not. After all, he is only doing what you the fans want.
Last season's late success is also to blame. I knew that by doing fairly well, JR would not make whole sale changes to the team. He would keep to the same tactic of puck pursuit with small speedy rent-able skaters. Today's NHL demands youth, speed, size and pure nastiness to establish an effective fore checking to create havoc and traffic in front of these awesome goalies. The Canes have none of that.
This uninspiring team with its lackluster roster of recyclable players and coaches with its outdated strategy, is your team. Look in the mirror for who to blame.
YouAreBoring
Tue, 12/01/2009 - 09:49 — NetMinderAnother illogical, irrelevant post. Of course, teams are shaped for their markets — that's where the fan base comes from and we have one of the best fan bases in the NHL. Who says? Montreal fans. Boston fans. Toronto fans. ESPN. Caniacs are among the most rabid, knowledgable fans in the league. Speaking of which, anyone who knows anything about the NHL (and that leaves you out) knows that what the Canes have accomplished over the past seven years (two Cup finals, three Eastern Conference championships and a Stanley Cup) is impressive. That's pretty good for a small market team. In fact, there's a bunch of large market and original six teams that would love to have that record. I don't know what you have against the Canes or who pooped in your soup, but maybe you should deliver your negative rants to yourself in the mirror. Take a happy pill — and, until you're back on your meds, stay away from firearms and tall buildings.
Grain of Truth
Tue, 12/01/2009 - 21:40 — abramsdougForgetting for a moment the manner in which the information was presented, I found this statement to be accurate: "Today's NHL demands youth, speed, size and pure nastiness to establish
an effective fore checking to create havoc and traffic in front of
these awesome goalies."
I agree that in today's NHL, successful teams have to have youth, size, speed, natural aggressiveness, and soft hands. I disagree with the contention that Staal, Sutter, Ruutu, Jokinen, Pitkanen, Gleason, Corvo (after he heals), Cullen, and Rodney are not suited for the new NHL. Alberts, too, with some more work and attention to detail, is very capable of playing at that level. Whitney has the determination and hockey intellect to continue his successful career. Cole has demonstrated he can play with speed and physicality.
With that core team, adding some additional players with size, speed, puck handling skills, and who play with a physical edge will have a dramatic impact. It is a fact not lost on fans, coaches, or management.
"pooped in your soup"
Tue, 12/01/2009 - 11:04 — penaltykiller74That's hilarious!
Ward/Aberts in place of
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 18:57 — imayagainknowantonWard/Alberts in place of Babchuk/Seidenberg = disaster.
Getting rid of two young-ish (25 and 28) offensively skilled defensemen for a pair of slow defensive defenseman who may be lucky to score 10 points each this season (one of whom turns 37 in January) was a bad idea. Too many fans (and apparently JR) got the idea that we needed size and grit (which we did) and forgot all about these important things called skill and speed.
Seidenberg was a huge part of the transition game at even strength. Babchuk was a huge part of the powerplay. At NO POINT in either of Ward/Alberts' career have they been relied upon in either facets of the game. They are defensive defenseman. And it's JR's fault that he put together a defense that featured an imbalanced mix of four defensive defensemen and two puck-moving defensemen. When you consider that Pitkanen has a long history of injuries and it was reasonable to expect him to miss time, that mix gets even more ridiculous and has often left has with ONE NHL-caliber puckmover in the lineup. ONE defenseman who can play the powerplay.
And it's no surprise that the defense sucks when Pitkanen is out, because we have ZERO other top-pairing defensemen.
Gleason-Corvo
Rodney-Wallin
Alberts-Ward
LOLOLOLOL. Anyone who tries to blame coaching for that defense getting owned is out of their mind. Worst defense in the league by about a mile. Of course Maurice is a terrible coach and should be fired, but JR should go with him. Enough with the absurd, over-inflated contracts and all of the geriatric players clogging the roster.
JR
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 16:50 — Canes73I can't blame JR for his off-season moves when I agreed with them at the time. I agree that many of the moves have not panned out but hindsight's 20-20. Aaron Ward was great last year in a top pairing with the first place B's, I loved the siginings of Larose, Cole, and Jokinen and the pick ups of Kostopolous, Alberts and Yelle. I knew the team was older but I never would have thought they would have lost that much speed over the course of one summer. Although I wasn't in favour of hiring Mo last year, I was pleased with the result. And after going on that kind of run, I don't think JR had any choice but to re-sign him. The only blame I put on JR is his loyalty signings after the cup by giving Wallin a NTC and signing B'A to a long-term deal. Those moves are really hurting this team right now but I believe JR has learnt his lesson.
I will be judging JR not for what has gone wrong with this team this season but for what he does to rebuild for next year. We have drafted some great young players and have a chance to retool for next year by making some trades for picks/prospects. I'd like to be optimistic about turning this season around and making the playoffs but I don't see it happening. And if we do miss the playoffs, we might as well land a top three pick. If we can end up drafting a Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin, or Cam Fowler, then it will make a tough year a little less painful.
NETMINDER
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 16:38 — DelvinI couldn't agree more with what NETMINDER said.
We'll have to sit tight.
Netminder posted a top shelf
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 15:57 — mokimanoNetminder posted a top shelf post earlier on what plagues this bunch most. This team has made it's bed, now they must sleep in it...but if there is a light at the end of the tunnel on this season, it's the fact that Taylor Hall and that first overall pick is the kind of bonafide superstars you need in the NHL to build a solid franchise around. A first overall pick gets you a premier player in the NHL, a first overall pick also gets you the 31st pick in the draft which is almost like an additional first round pick...so all and all, a tanked season and a lottery pick gets the cupboard stocked up with bonafide great young players that the Canes can build around. Father Time has caught up to many Canes (Brindy, Whitney, Wallin, Cullen) to name a few, under achievers like Cole, LaRose, Corvo and A.Ward will be shown the door and the guys that are here to stay like Staal, C.Ward and Ruutu will just have to be patient until the youth arrives. I try and stay away from the hopes of MO being shown the door, he is a lifer and we are stuck with him, my hope is that he eventually goes upstairs to a front office job with his buddy JR, my greater fear is seeing the damage a losing season like this does to the fan base in the area. Everyone wants to see a winner, let's just hope that this season from hell produces some fruits come draft time that take us back to the promised land.
Who's to blame?
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 15:07 — beer210The players. Period.
Gee...i knew
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 12:46 — esteban1949There were and ae many fans out here who are very very smart..and have discribed the problems the canes have to a "T" So I am going to be like the one fan ( oh ohhh a senior moment here) who suggested we fans just sit back enjoy what bright spots that can and will be in a season that will end in 55 more games and look and see what JR will do with the UFA's we have, along with who will be ahead of the canes in the draft as the Canes rebuild.makes alot of sence...And to those of you going to tonights game...try and have fun...at least you'll get to see some players who will give a great effort tonight...Be Safe Everyone..
Go Canes !!
Nothing Can Be Done
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 12:35 — MsPounceIf you read up on Spector's hockey rumors, Spector says that the only thing that could possibly be done is waiving some of the older guys. It is doubtful that anyone would pick any of the players up. Not even on re-entry waivers. Per Spector, nothing will really be done via the trade wire until January.
Honestly, if two coaches can lose a team at the same time in two years, then there is a problem in the locker room with some players and it needs to be addressed, either via trade or waivers and demotion. Blame MO all you want, but I honestly feel it's the players who are at fault. There is a cancer and it needs to be fixed.
I think Tom Kostopoulos is playing the best he can with limited ice time, as well as Yelle. MO is awarding stupidly long ice time to players who don't deserve it. Staal is back and will probably play ok until he gets back into his groove and just become slow again. For Staal's lackluster play since we won the Cup, I blame JR. He should have neve come out publicly and said that the only person safe is Eric Staal. To me, that gave him the go ahead to not put his best foot forward.
Timmy is playing the best he can with Joe Corvo as his partner. Joe has way too much ice time, which gives him plenty of time to make his mental errors. Turning the puck over in front of our goalie is unacceptable, but a trait of Corvo.
I really like Pitkanen, but the boy can't stay healthy. I can see why JR wanted him, because when he's healthy he's a great offensive threat. Our highest paid D-Man can't even play a month straight without getting hurt. I give him three games before he's out yet again.
Right now we are stuck, and just count this year as a finish and look forward to that first round pick.
Call me a pessimist, but my
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 11:57 — caneshockeyfanCall me a pessimist, but my advice to Canes fans is: get used to it this season and look forward to starting the rebuilding process in the offseason. A couple high draft picks can have an enormous impact over a couple seasons (see Penguins). The franchise is painted into a corner personnel-wise. We can point the finger all we want (and I stand by my assertion that Maurice should be fired - it would at least signal that the franchise *cares* that this season is circling the drain - and last I checked the coach's salary doesn't count against the cap). But at this point it's time for some acceptance: the Canes are last in the NHL for good reason and there's not much anyone can do about it in the short-term, without doing long-term damage to the franchise. We certainly don't want to be on the wrong end of a Cam Neely or Joe Thornton kind of trad
The Hurricanes are a great franchise going through a down cycle. We've been pretty spoiled as fans. Besides a dismal 2003 our team has been in the hunt every season, and when they get to the playoffs they go deep. But it ain't gonna happen this year, so I for one am going to relax, lower my expectations, enjoy watching the NHL in my backyard, and look forward to the futur
Chip, how about we talk draft prospects next Monday?
Apparently ending a
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 11:59 — caneshockeyfanApparently ending a paragraph with an 'e.' upsets the blog softwar
Management mistakes from long ago
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 11:29 — Biff_BeersAfter the 2006 Stanley Cup season, Brind'Amour, Wallin, and Kaberle were all rewarded with lucrative long-term contracts. At the time, it looked like the Canes were locking up key players for years to come, but now we see it was a blunder. The Canes have a lot of money tied up in those three players, and they are not producing. If that is the cost of seeing your favorite team win the Stanley Cup, I'll take it, but the bill is finally due this year. It is encouraging to see that JR has learned the lesson from the 2006 offseason. Even after a deep playoff run last season, only Rutuu got a three-year deal. The only players under longer contracts are Staal and Cam Ward. The only management blunder from this past offseason was, as others have pointed out, not waiting a little longer for Seidenberg to come around. That mistake is not going to cost the team for years and years; JR will get another chance to retool the defense next season.
Agreed
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 12:15 — scomilI was going to post a thought but this post by Biff_Beers said it better than I would have, so I'll just give a "thumbs up" to his post here. I'll just add that I think that there was a known risk to the approach taken by JR prior to this season, in looking more to future years, that this team could fall flat on its face this year - in spite of all of the propoganda that was put out to get tickets sold during training camp. That's not all bad for the long run, as Biff_Beers explained, but Mo may have to take the fall for it if these 5-goal 3rd period breakdowns continue.
How about "who's not to blame"?
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 11:27 — CharlotteCaniacLet me create a (not so) short list:
1. Paul Maurice - I'm not going to blame him. He can't help that he is not an NHL caliber HEAD coach. Sure, he has had some moment (or perhaps epiphanies). Maybe he would better be suited in the AHL or as an assistant behind a better bench boss. Who can blame him for signing a contract that is well beyond his value? Regardless, he has to go. It is the easiest, most obvious fix to this mess. He has had plenty of opportunity to prove us otherwise.
2. Chad LaRose - Can't blame him either. Had a banner year and took advantage of it financially. Hey Rutherford, this guy tested the market, and no other team bit at what he was asking. Why did you feel the need to break the bank for a career utility player? Nothing against Chad, but his performance would be better tolerated if he wasn't being paid way beyond his value and place in this league.
3. Rod Brind'Amour - Time has caught up with him, it isn't his fault. You don't sign a guy to a long term contract that will push him in to retirement, not unless it is HEAVILY front loaded. You can't question Brind'Amour's work ethic. He just doesn't have what it takes to keep up any more. It probably has something to do with his intense workout regimine. The body can only tolerate it for so long. Rod is a proud guy, but don't expect him to retire without a contract buy-out.
4. Stephane Yelle - I really don't understand why people are so ready to jettison this guy. He fits his role well, as does his salary. He works VERY hard and I don't have a single complaint about his performance. He isn't a defenseman, but he blocks shots like one.
Feel free to contribute your own.
No such thing as a heavily front loaded contract when you are 35
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 15:17 — SillyRabbitRod's extension was signed after he was 35 yes? In that case any multi-year contract counts completely against the upper range of the salary cap. It wouldnt have mattered what they paid him per year, it all counts against the cap.
Not to mention that buyouts still count against the cap for the same reason - it was signed when was 35 or older.
ACL tear
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 11:41 — Biff_BeersIt probably has something to do with [Brind'Amour's] intense workout regimen.
Brind'Amour's decline has more to do with his catastrophic knee injury two seasons ago. He might still be playing quite well if his knee was in its original configuration. But I accept your larger point. It was very risky to reward Brind'Amour with a 5-year contract so late in his career, and the risk has not paid off.
One Heck Of A Hot Run
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 11:26 — penaltykiller74They would need to be unstoppable in the next 56 games to have a shot at 8th place (92 points). I'm figuring at best, with OTL calculated too, that the Canes will need to go 37-16-3 to make 92 points (basically win 66% of remaining games).
With games like the last two, it’s hard to believe that will happen.
Two games ago, they obviously needed to go 37-18-3 (win 64% of remaining games), winning those two games would have taken them to 35-18-3 (win 62.5% of remaining games).
They lose tonight, they have to win 67%.
With that being said, what does management do? Try to make the miraculous push to make the playoffs by patching up a team that has lost is confidence, or alienate and upset the fans by having a fire sale and rebuilding the best you can?
JR gets grilled when things go wrong, and hailed as a god when things go right. It’s typical with every sports team.
The truth is, I blame the players. These guys are professionals; they know what they need to do. Making some of the mistakes that they do is unbelievable. It’s like if the cable guy came out to install the cable, and then put the cables in the wrong places. It’s what he does, simple mistakes shouldn't be tolerated. If I hear one more time "Turn over by Corvo", I'll puke. And clearing the zone? Pee Wee players learn that.
The players that are the old timers are just selfish in my opinion. I think Brindy was a great player and leader, but after last year’s -23 +/-, and the injuries that showed he was human, he should have manned up, hung up the skates, took a seat on the management side, and let JR use that cap space to bring in some speed. No one would have blamed him, after retiring after a deep playoff run. Now he is a liability, and you won't be able to trade him, and he's taking up cap space.
It’s time for a major shakeup.
Whitney, Cullen, Walker, Yelle, Corvo, A. Ward, Wallin, Conboy, Harrison, Leighton, Legace are all UFA's. That's 18.475 million in salaries this year. You can get some young talent in here without having to trade away the house to do it.
Keep two of Whitney, Cullen, and Walker. That would probably be at most $7-8 million for the two.
That leaves $10 million to buy talent. You can bet on having to spend at least $4 million to get a good defenseman, you want a young NHL experienced D-man, like Pitkanen only more resilient.
The rest, $6 million can be spread among the top 5 draft pick we'll likely get, and 7 other young promising players. JR knows what he is doing and can get it done.
It’s the players who should be scared.
If they beat all statistical
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 17:16 — procellaeIf they beat all statistical odds and make the playoffs, they are going to encounter the same problem as last year. They have been playing playoff hockey for months and will get tired when the playoffs come around. Then they will barely advance past the first round probably, leaving the team in an even worse state than they are in now.
Post NOT posted...
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 11:11 — Caniac5Forget this post...the author!!!
Does it matter?
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 11:03 — Reaper49Face it. Who’s to blame is largely irrelevant at this point? Rutherford is going nowhere and neither is Maurice. Our only hope is that they are learning from their failures. Based on previous arrogance/pig headedness, I am not too hopeful on this one… In today’s NHL with the Cap, it is difficult to move a lot of players. Sure, JR could make a move or two, but wholesale changes before the deadline are unlikely.
The real issue is giving fans a reason to come out to the games. I am a season ticket holder, so they’ve already got my money. But if they want to get it again next year, and if they want to avoid 10,000 fans a night in the stands, they had better give us something to watch. Play an exciting brand of hockey. Win or lose, get rid of this boring defensive mindset with one forechecker and 4 guys in our own zone. It isn’t working anyway!
Move a vet or two and get some kids up here. And not just a safe bet like Pat Dwyer, who isn’t a kid anyway. Give fans a peek at some of the players who will be here in the future. At least that will worth showing up for. Rather than watch LaRose and Aron Ward collect a paycheck for nothing.
Challenge every player on the team to play with heart, passion, courage, and grit. If they do not, sit them for a game or two. I am paying big money to watch these games. Give me something to see out there or my money will be spent elsewhere next season.
start at the top
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 10:51 — HockeydogMost failures of this magnitude start at the top. No different here. Maurice doesn't get to pick the team, that is the GM's job. He must evaluate the players he brings in.
There were enough injuries to this team that Mo had to play Brindy big minutes, not really his fault, he does the best with what he was given. Not to say that he is 100% innocent, he needs to take his share. But please tell me how the worst team in the NHL can have cap issues. Yes it's hard to make a small market team work, but that doesn't fly when the team is against the cap. Money was given, money was not well spent. You can blame the coach but the core of the team has had a history of slow, uninspired starts, Mo or Lavi behind the bench. This "family" run team needs some new relatives.
Something to think about...
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 10:42 — cushingrOkay, we keep hearing how Mo's job is safe. And let's face it, that's primarily due to the fact that they are still paying Peter Laviolette! I am a huge fan of Mo which dates all the way back to his days in Hartford. A shake up is certainly what this team needs right now though. Would it be crazy to bring back Laviolette? He's already getting paid to sit.
As JR said, it's very hard to make moves at this point in the season due to the salary cap and what not... I don't at all think that this season is a wasted season, not by a longshot! There are still 50+ games left and one hot run will get them right back in. I do think they need to make a bold move to shake things up though and do it quick (i.e. waivers, stripping of captaincy, benching of underperformers, ect...)
N&O
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 10:24 — rmmeliWhat do you think? I am still waiting to see an article where you tell us what has gone wrong rather than regurgitate the spoon-fed stuff from the Canes. Aren't you the hockey journalists?
When there's a train wreck,
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 09:59 — ctillWhen there's a train wreck, the cause is usually a combination of failures. And that's what we have with the Canes. The previous post is correct: there's enough blame to go around everywhere. That's why I am not optimistic that the situation will dramatically improve this season, and I suspect the players feel likewise -- which is reinforcing the slide.
who to blame
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 09:55 — rmmeliTo say that "everyone is to blame" seems to be a modern trend in all walks of life. It is obviously a cop out by those in charge to not take the blame and lose out by their actions. Yes, someone is in charge. That is why they have titles (and commensurate rewards) such as General Manager, Head Coach, Captain, Alternate Captain. In this particular case there is a GM who takes the blame and then says there is nothing he can do. There is a Head Coach whose has suspect coaching practices and looks totally clueless who knows his job is safe. There is a Captain who cannot lead. There are Alternate Captains who are not leading....."everyone is to blame but no one is to blame, It's a Caniac thing"
Make this a rebuilding year
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 09:34 — jmk446First of all, right now it's looking like the Canes did well in the second half of the season last year because of what Laviolette put in place more so that any magic Mo brought.
Secondly, I'd like to see the Canes use this as a rebuilding season. It would be painful but so is the current situation. I hope that they are strongly considering moving a half dozen or so senior players. This would make the team younger -- and it would certainly send a message to the players and the fans. I would really like to see the team built around Sutter but that seems unlikely.
Alternatively, they could petition the NHL for a rules change. If the games lasted 2 periods...
Let's Start At The Beginning
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 09:29 — NetMinderBack in training camp, everybody "really liked" this team. The players believed they were a couple of tweaks away from another serious playoff run — maybe even another cup. JR brought in some size and grit so we wouldn't get pushed around, more experience on "D" and more depth at forward so we could run four lines. He sealed the long term deal with Cam and looked to a healthy Brind'Amour to lead. Staal was coming off an outstanding playoff performance, Whitney was sure to be his old productive self, the Finns (Pitkanen notwithstanding) were ready to go, and the speed, belief and attitude were still there. In retrospect, maybe JR should have tried a little harder to come to terms with Seidenberg (10 points and +4 for the Panthers) and Babchuk (humming along at a point a game clip in the KHL), but Alberts, along with an Aaron Ward who still remembered how to play the game, was a reasonable trade-off.
A 2-0 loss to Philly and a back-to-back beatdown at the hands of the Bruins to start the season came as no surprise to anyone who'd been paying attention. Two wins against the Bolts and the Panthers and the ship was righted, right? Wrong. Cole — out with a broken leg after the Boston game. Pitkanen — brilliant when healthy, but surprisingly fragile. Staal — out with an upper body injury. Ward — out with a deep thigh laceration. We're talking about key players here.
Add to that older players who were starting to show their age, a Chad LaRose determined to prove that last season was indeed a fluke, a Ray Whitney trying to do too much, and a "D" that can't clear the zone without Joni in the lineup — and what you have is a steadily declining confidence that feeds on itself. I don't know what you were thinking when we held a 4-1 lead going into the third against the Thrashers — but the Cane's psyche is so fragile, the Atlanta comeback was hardly unexpected. The fact that the team gave up yet another five goal third period the following night in Buffalo underscores a team that has absolutely no hope, no identity, no confidence, no resiliency, no chance.
We can play the blame game until we run out of fingers to point, but the bottom line is we're old, slow and the game is literally passing us by. Sure, we have Staal, Cole, Ruutu, Cullen, Jokinen, Sutter — guys who are playing their butts off — even guys In Albany waiting in the wings — but we also have senior citizens who are dragging those guys down. We may be going nowhere with this team, but the one thing that seems blatantly obvious is this — once again, we have a coach who has lost his team, who seems to be coaching out of desperation, who looks and acts clueless.
If Father Time is to blame for our age and lack of speed, Mo is to blame for allowing the disaster that is unfolding in front of us to continue. No, he's not responsible for the injuries, but he is responsible for coaching his team through the adversity. Instead, he spends the vast majority of his time behind the bench staring up at the jumbotron with that "WTF just happened" look on his face. We've come full circle again — and, this time, Mo must definitely go.
Very good post.
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 17:21 — procellaeVery good post.
One thing that you bring up is that this team had high expectations before the season started. Everyone on here was praising JR's decisions (signing Ward, LaRose, Kostopolous, and Alberts) while getting rid of a few ''problems'' (Babchuk). Now a lot of people seem to be turning on JR and saying that his decisions were stupid. This is very hypocritical. JR can be blamed, however, if he continues to do nothing and letting the obvious problems continue.
Now onto my opinion. I would put the blame on both the players and the coaching staff, but mainly on the coaching staff. Some of the players' talent was understandably overestimated. Ward had played well in Carolina before and looked good with Boston the previous playoffs. LaRose had a great season and should have been resigned. Babchuk was making too many mistakes on defense, and Alberts would fix those problems. Brind'Amour would return to his former glory by being healthy. I could go on. However, now that we are in the midst of this fantastic season, we can easily see that these players are not what they are supposed to be. LaRose must have had a fluke year last year, Ward was thriving off Chara, Alberts and Ward are a bad replacement to Babchuk and Seid. Brind'Amour continued to flop. Oh, and Staal continues to be a waste of $6 million.
Some may say that this is JR's fault. Well, we can all say that these decisions seemed to be good. They seemed to improve on the team from last year. Its just that the team that we all expected never showed up. The players aren't showing any desire to win, have no confidence, and just don't seem to care
That moves me onto the coaches. The coaching staff is doing nothing (effective) to instill any confidence in this team. During the losing streak, they did nothing (effective) to try to quickly correct the problems. In my opinion, Maurice didn't really seem to care about the issues and was just taking his time. Bad mistake, as we are now sitting at a staggering 15 points going into December with little to no chance of even getting close to the playoffs.
In addition, during all these disappointing games, the coaching staff is not very animated on the bench. Maurice stands there chewing his gum, watching the team let in 5 3rd period goals thanks to his coaching style of sitting on the lead and playing not to lose (too bad they lost). Not to mention Maurice's horrible distribution of ice time. Some of the few players showing heart are getting 15 minutes or less a game (Sutter getting 12 minutes? Really?). Take off those not doing anything conducive (LaRose, Staal, Ward) and reward those who are.
I'll cut of this post before it gets even longer. Basically to summarize, the coaching staff is mostly to blame. They show little effort to correct the problems are continue to make the same mistakes (sitting on the lead, playing Brind'Amour, etc.). The players are also to blame, but not as much. And JR is gaining blame everyday.
The blame game
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 09:21 — louis12580There's enough blame to go around everywhere. This is essentially the same team that went to the conference finals last season. Gone are Denis Seidenberg and Anton (his thinking is just mind boggling), Ryan Bayda, and Patrick Eaves. In their place are Andrew Alberts, Aaron Ward, Stephan Yelle, and Tom Kostoupolos. Out of the players lost, the only mistake is losing Seidenberg. That's on Jim. As for the coaching, the style hasn't deviated much either. The major criticism of Peter L. was the lack of a plan B or even a plan C. As for the players, it seems as if they are expecting the worst. Last year, if we got down, we dug in our heels and refused to accept bad things. Injuries aren't helping, but other teams are having the same problem. Some are struggling, like the Bruins and some are still playing at an elite level (New Jersey).
Well...
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 08:55 — esteban1949Without much effot...we fans can spread the blame all around. From the front office, to the bench...and sadly many of the players themselves all can and do have a part in this ...the blame game...But the questions now ought to be..What if anything can we, the fans do ? in reality all we fans really are ...are just customers who bought the right to sit and watch what was offered...aside from what it cost each STH,as a rule,we,fans asside from what emotional attachments we do have really don't have much ownership stock in the team, do we ? Don't get me wrong, I am just trying to be as open as I can, while being realistic. In the world of Sports, we fans only have a small token ownership in what ever is offered to us. So and unless each and everyone who has season tickets, band together and either march on the RBCC in protest of what the team from top to bottom is or isn't doing...or refuse to show up for the next set of home games...we,the fans really don't have much of an option do we ? Again, not trying to be an ass or anything like that. Just looking at this from say a legal & dispassionate aspect. For the record, i am glad we have the canes here, love to watch and was glad i have in my life time been to several games and want to come and see a few more before i close my eyes for the last time..but still sometime the blame game has to stop, and the game of Ice hockey must and shall go on...So to JR the front man & face of the Carolina Hurricanes, what are you gong to do ? and when are you going to act? We, the fans are entitled to an answer sir and if you appreciate us as much as you have said in recent past...so how about it JR...where's the love & respect for us at ?
Go Canes !!
He Can Do Nothing!
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 09:43 — SkylinerYour question" What are you going to do," I assume, is purely rhetorical inasmuch as there is nothing that he, or anyone else, can do at this juncture.
Neither management, ther coaching staff nor anyone else on earth can:
*Do anything to give Brind'Amour any more speed!
* Do anything to make Ward, Wallin, Walker, Yelle any younger!
* Do anything to give Alberts, Kostopolus, more talent
* Do anything to give Gleason better judgment, etc. etc. etc.
For example, In Buffalo Gleason once again showed himself as an immature hot head by committing a foul after a play had ended, drawing a penalty, which resulted in yet another Buffalo goal. In another recent game he clearly fouled, was given a penalty, would not accept it as a man and professional should, mouthed off at the official and drew a double minor. Such behavior is several notches below professionalism or full maturity. It only hurts the team, but "Little Timmy" said his peace. The refs have the last work, Tim!
No, we are trapped in a grave management dug for us by:
*Shopping in the low rent district for marginal players who work cheap!
*Extending no cut contracts to players who were marginal at best!
*By trying to get bigger, but not buying talent that would allow us to get better!
*By overly rewarding players who had a "career" year that they likely will not duplicate again. Are these players who demanded more money for a "pretty good" yearnow going to return any of it for their lackluster performances? I think not!
* By rewarding players for what they could do 5 years ago. How many of us know anyone who is paid today for they they could do in the past but no longer do? Rod Brind'Amour is a prime example?
Now the Hurricanes public relations mill revvs up and several times during each televised game it insults viewers intelligence by trying to convine us what a great player Brind'Amour is today....His "Dominance" on face offs, his equally good play at either end of the ice and even goes on to have the veracity to challenge anyone who questions why he is now captain.
Utter nonsense!
Stop feeding us Pablum PR staff. We all love Rod but he is well beyond his "sell-by" date and even Helen Keller could see that by the level of his play! And now we can do nothing. How many teams are there standing in line to sign any of the aforementioned players?
Nothing like alienating your fan base by not being honest with us. Just look at the empty seats in the RBC Center at game time.
We have the nucleus of a really good team; we have, in my opinion, flat out excellent coaching, and even a good General Manager. We just have to somehow get through this season with as little heartburn as possible and hope that management does not give away the farn in a failed effort to salvage what appears to be an unsalvagable season.
Why not go NOW to the players whose contracts expire at the end of the year (those worth keeping) and see what they want. If there is no accord, try to move them now while we have some leverage.
Otherwise....
"What are you going to do" was the question. There may be no answer.
...Simple questions do not always have simple answers.
Rutherford's responsibility
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 08:07 — hnic66It's the GM's responsibility to choose and select the best players possible and mold a winning team. Rutherford's decision to remain pat after last year's run was a huge tactical error. No team ever stands still, despite success. His lack of vision and foresight have created this dilemma.
At the same time, Rutherford is financially pressured to field a winning team at all times, due to being in a non traditional hockey market. Result is having a team of aging veterans, rather than young guns as Los Angeles and Phoenix has.
Rutherford though is here to stay; he's part team owner.