Andreas Nodl didn't know what to expect. Placed on waivers by the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 28, the winger was claimed the next day by the Canes.
In a flash, Nodl had a new team. He was in a Canes uniform and on the ice that night against the Florida Panthers, and in Kirk Muller's first game as Carolina coach.
"I've never been traded before and especially coming to a new team (on waivers) during a season is pretty challenging," Nodl said. "You've just got to get comfortable again and make a lot of new friends and all that stuff. It took me a little while to get comfortable."
Nodl, 28, has been used mostly on the fourth line and did not have a point in his first eight games with the Canes. He was a healthy scratch Dec. 6 at Calgary, and had just 2:54 ice time in the Dec. 15 game against Vancouver.
But he scored in each of the next two games, against Phoenix and Ottawa, and assisted on Anthony Stewart's game-winner last night in the 4-2 win over the New Jersey Devils. Nodl, who had 8:41 TOI against the Devils, extended his point streak to three games.
"The guys have pretty good and pretty helpful to me," said Nodl, one of three Austrian-born players currently in the NHL. "Now that I have my specified role, on the fourth line, and can consistently play my eight to 10 minutes, I think that's pretty helpful, too, with the transition."
Nodl was a second-round draft pick by the Flyers in 2006 and played two years of college hockey at St. Cloud State in St. Cloud, Minn. He made his NHL debut for the Flyers in October 2008, playing 38 games in the 2008-2009 season.
Afetr splitting time between the Flyers and Adirondack Phantoms (AHL) in the 2009-2010 season, he played 67 games for Philadelphia last season, scoring 11 goals and adding 11 assists. He had averaged 10:17 TOI and had one assist in 12 games for the Flyers this season before going on waivers.
Being taken on waivers and having to make a sudden move was a shock to the system and can create some problems. While most of his new teammates were in Raleigh for the Christmas break, Nodl said he had to rush back to Philadelphia for the two days.
"I had to sort out all my stuff, what I need now and what I had to put in storage," he said, smiling. "It was a pretty busy Christmas."
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
He's 24...
Tue, 12/27/2011 - 14:18 — ocolumnnot 28. Turns 25 at the end of February.
Nodl is a player who has all
Tue, 12/27/2011 - 13:59 — HockeydogNodl is a player who has all the physical skills to be an excellent hockey player. He did look a bit lost right after coming over, but some of that is to be expected. It looks like he and Stewart are developing a bit of chemistry together. They could be quite dangerous if Stewart could find the consistancy his game is lacking. I like Nodl and wouldn't mind Muller giving him a crack at some PP time.
Nodl is an Excellent Pickup
Tue, 12/27/2011 - 13:37 — abramsdougI liked Nodl from his days with the Flyers. I was really surprised he was waived; but was delighted the Hurricanes were able to get him. He has tremendous speed and has more than ample goal scoring ability. The fourth line has been very productive for the Hurricanes. I think Nodl and Stewart could well play on the third line if not the second line. The only line that is struggling at the moment if the first line. The other three forwards lines are doing quite well now.