Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said he has not put center Rod Brind'Amour on waivers.
He said the team had until Wednesday to put a player on waivers, which would need to be done to buy out that player's contract.
Brind'Amour, the team's captain until until the torch was passed to center Eric Staal midway through the past season, would earn $3 million this season.
There was some debate on hockey websites over whether the Hurricanes needed to put Brind'Amour on waivers by noon today in order to buy him out, but Rutherford denied that was the case.
The relevant portion of the CBA is section 13 of the Standard Player Contract, which outlines the buyout procedure. Sections 13.a and 13.c.i say player can be put on unconditional waivers "promptly after" notice of termination by 5 p.m. June 30.
Rutherford also denied ever mentioning forward Sergei Samsonov as someone the team is interested in buying out, although he has discussed buying out Samsonov.
"That's been out there, but I never said it," he said.
Javier Serna has covered sports for The News & Observer since 2007. He previously covered growth for the North Raleigh News, and sports at The Truth in Elkhart, Ind. E-mail
Comments
Buyout and Retirement
Wed, 06/30/2010 - 12:46 — sittler27TSN's Bob Mckenzie reports via Twitter that Rod will announce that the Hurricanes will buy him out and that he will retire to join the front office. We'll see very soon if he has it right.
This one I have not weighed
Wed, 06/30/2010 - 10:06 — AllenHThis one I have not weighed in on; in large measure because I have such mixed feelings. But with it coming to a head today...
As we are in another rebuilding mode, little can be expected from this season. Rod Brind'Amour has been the 'Heart and Soul' of this team for several years, he is the last of the truly veteran leadership we have. He should be retained for one more season, in a reduced playing role and allowed to contribute that leadership and to retire on his own terms, with all dignity.
He did play better when teamed with younger players so rotate the young prospects with him. They would be proud to get even a few shifts with the great Brind'Amour, to learn from him and to take what they can from the experience. And if he decides at some point in the season that he should retire then let it be his decision. Then send the #17 banner to the rafters with all the pomp and accolades deserved.
What is the cost?
Wed, 06/30/2010 - 06:58 — floydm11What would be the cost to the organization if they allow Rod to play out his last year? In the budget, it would be 1 million dollars, 3 mil vs. 2 mil if they buy him out. On the ice, will his admittedly reduced skills from the past two seasons cost the Canes a Stanley Cup? A deep playoff run? Even a playoff appearance?
I think everyone who knows anything about this organization expects 2010-11 to be a "rebuilding" year. There are not high expectations. With Roddy on the roster, the biggest drawback I see is 1 less spot for a young forward to gain experience. The return for that lost "development" spot is a great role model for all of the young kids coming up, on the ice, in the locker room, and away from the rink. The team will also have one more year of Rod's veteran leadership, which will be needed even more with the likely loss of Ray Whitney's input.
I think the price to pay for the Canes would be relatively small to allow Rod to finish out his contract and career where he belongs.
I Disagree
Wed, 06/30/2010 - 09:27 — TheReaper49I think Rod’s presence actually hurts the team in more ways than one.
First off, it is not just a matter of him ‘taking up a roster spot’. His play out there is actually worse than a sluggish, one-dimensional enforcer. As painful as it is to say, the team is actually semi-shorthanded when he is on the ice. The stats tell the story as do your eyes if you actually watch closely what goes on when he is playing. I certainly don’t think it is a lack of effort or compete level. But the skills are just not there anymore. He truly is unable to play the game, which is terribly sad, more so because he doesn’t seem to realize it.
Secondly, I think it is harmful to the locker room to have to watch the above situation unfold. It has to have an effect on the team chemistry when you see a respected leader like that be completely unable to contribute. If he plays this year, he WILL be a healthy scratch. How is that going to sit with him? With the rest of the team? With the young kid who’s taking his spot in the lineup? Think he’ll feel good about that?
I only hope that he and the organization come to some sort of arrangement that allows him to go out with dignity, and his money, and that doesn’t make the summer of 2010-2011 have a big stain of the year we tossed Brindy out on his can.
Retire
Tue, 06/29/2010 - 20:34 — imayagainknowantonRetire
Samsonov is streaky
Tue, 06/29/2010 - 18:34 — ctillSamsonov is streaky. Half his goals in the entire season came during a stretch of only 13 games from December 19 to January 30; outside of that streak, he didn't accomplish much. I suspect this has been his pattern throughout his career.
The Canes are a streaky team, even without Samsonov. What the Canes could use is a few consistent forwards who score every 5 or 6 games like clockwork.
Tough call
Tue, 06/29/2010 - 17:09 — HockeydogI hate to see a great career with the Canes, and a great career in general be reduced to posters like us giving our opinion on what he or the team should do. The last I read Brindy stated he was training for the upcoming season and would step away if he felt he would not be able to contribute. Not to sound harsh but unless he has had physical issues that he thinks will be resolved I am not sure what else he can do at this point to reverse the natural decline of an athlete. Now it would be great if his off-season physical preparation gave him enough of a boost to be an asset on the ice, even in a smaller role this year. With Skinner a possible to make the team, Brindy would be a fine mentor, the way Francis was there for Staal in his last year.
Great Comment
Tue, 06/29/2010 - 18:00 — sittler27Nicely put Hockeydog. I was as critical as anyone about Rod's play last year. But over his long career and service he has earned some say in going out on his terms with dignity.
If we recall how last year unfolded, no one played worse than Rod over the first half. But once the captaincy issue was resolved and Rod accepted a 4th line role he actually started to play better and contributed both defensively and on the scoresheet. With Ray likely gone, a major void we have on the team is veteran leadership. I think the value of that in the dressing room, on the bench, etc. is at times underestimated. Although it will come at a steep financial cost, my vote is to treat Rod with the respect he has earned; let him play out the final year of his contract albeit as a 4th line player; have him retire with fan support in a dignified manner; and then see if there is a suitable front office position for him. That is what a class organization and its fan do.
Brind'Amour
Tue, 06/29/2010 - 21:15 — abramsdougI come down on the side of buying out Brind'Amour. I have watched virtually every Hurricanes game in 2009-2010 on video. Although Brind'Amour's statistics improved somewhat when he started getting minimal minutes, his play continued to be subpar. In fact, I doubt there was a game in 2009-2010 in which Brind'Amour would not be rated as the worst player on the ice. Given the significant budget issues, and Brind'Amour's genuine reluctance to increase the physicality of his game, buying out Brind'Amour makes the most sense. I would feel differently if Brind'Amour were forechecking and backchecking like a wild man. In that situation, he would be leading by example on the ice. As it is, I haven't seen Brind'Amour finish a check since 2006. I have the impression he feels he is entitled to play without risk of bodily injury based on his amazing feats in 2005-2006.
Film
Tue, 06/29/2010 - 21:45 — sittler27You have studied a lot more film than I have and when you break it down the facts don't lie. Did you get any impression that he was starting to come around a bit towards the end of last year? Maybe that is just wishful thinking on my part and spoken more from emotion than fact.
I have real mixed feelings about him. There was a time I really admired him as character player and also a class guy off the ice. I've seen both diminish recently and I was harsh in my words about both his play and his sometimes dismissive attitude to fans that I saw close up. I have had some time to reflect this summer and tried to consider what it must be like approach the end of your career and have a major injury, have the captaincy removed and then this public debate where half the fans just you want you to hang em up. Whether it is nostalgia or compassion, I came more on the side of saying that even though it is a costly token of generosity on the part of the Canes at a tough time, just let him play it out, have the nice ceremony and have him move to a front office job.
But you have always had a very measured and fair assessment and it is hard to argue with how you have laid out your points. I was close to Glen when he went through this and I am now even more thankful that he was able to go out having played a last honest effort and result season and leaving with both himself and the fans feeling it was a good time. It appears more and more that this will not be Rod's legacy. Sad.
great comment
Tue, 06/29/2010 - 20:07 — louis12580I echo both of your sentiments. Jim has had to make some tough decisions, but this has to be the toughest. If Ray does go, Rod's really the only veteran leader we have. I feel that one more veteran would be useful. I know this is a bit of a long shot but Mike Modano, anyone? Third line center. Great on the p.p. and p.k. I know he's 40, but he still has the wheels and a lot of knowledge to offer. During the '05-'06 season, the biggest strength of the team was at the center position with Rod, Eric, Matt, and Kevyn. This is something the team has lacked for the past couple of seasons. Just offering my humble opinion.
CBA retirement?
Tue, 06/29/2010 - 16:36 — wxray1I'm no lawyer, and I don't read the CBA.
But as I understand it, if a player retires, he doesn't get paid (but in Briny's +35 case, there is still a cap hit).
Gee... Let's see. Hmmm. Let me put myself in his shoes.
Should I retire and "be nice" and give up all the pay, to only get a pittance in some front office job they give me? (Or do you think they'd give him 2 or 3M?) Or should I play chicken and let them buy me out, so I still get 2M?
I dunno, folks. These guys like their money. I'd take it. It is JR's problem. He gave me the offer. JR, live up to it, baby. Sorry about my knee. I didn't want that to happen either.
What to do...
Wed, 06/30/2010 - 08:51 — Caniac5I totally agree! Both sides are looking at the money but I know Roddy wants to do what he loves.
With his dedication in the locker room and to him self in the weight room, there is a lot other players can learn from him. (Staal in particular!)
Roddy IS Mr. Hockey to me!
Sergei
Tue, 06/29/2010 - 16:12 — hockey101I say keep Sergei, put on the second or third line with the young guns and you'll see his goals and assists increase more than last year being on a line with much slower players. As for Rod let him start camp and if he feels like he can't contribute anymore then he'll retire. I guess he has to see if he still has the mojo.
I agree with you...
Tue, 06/29/2010 - 16:58 — gf101112By all means keep Samsonov. When he is going strong it is hard for the other team to take the puck away from him. Samson plays the same way. Let them play together maybe with Sutter??? I can hear Chuck K. now!!! Also Sergei is great in shoot-outs!
Tough Call
Tue, 06/29/2010 - 16:10 — TheReaper49It’s a tough one. Samsonov is a 3 million dollar player who plays like a million dollar player. But Brind’amour is a 3 million dollar player who’s presence actually hurts the team’s performance. He is a liability on the ice. And while there are 3 million reasons why he shouldn’t retire, it would definitely be best for the team if he called it quits. A buy out is a PR nightmare and a demeaning finish to a great career.
I don’t envy JR at all. If I were him, I would buy out Samsonov and tell Brind’amour that unless he is able to outperform the younger guys, he will be a healthy scratch next year or sent to Charlotte. Let him come to camp and see how it goes. If he looks like the lost, broken-down player we saw last year, maybe, that front office job will start looking more and more appealing than sitting in the press box night after night or riding buses.
my,my,my
Tue, 06/29/2010 - 15:14 — esteban1949Like in a decent novella or soap opera the saga continues for yet another day & in 33 hours & 46 mins till free agency time ...whoopppieee ?
The Canes are Good,My Grandkids are Better, and Life is Great !! Go Canes !!
Let Brindy go take a spot in
Tue, 06/29/2010 - 14:59 — Fastfred92Let Brindy go take a spot in the front office, Sergei can ease off in the sunset as well. Make some room for the young'ins to play next year! The Oilers just cut loose Patrick O'Sullivan who we traded for in the Williams for Cole deal and we should have kept O'Sullivan then. JR likes projects!..