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O'Neill happy to be back with 'the guys'
Submitted by chipalexander on 08/25/2008 - 14:05
It was a back-to-the-future kind of moment today at the RecZone — Jeff O'Neill on the ice, wearing a Canes sweater, his white helmet bearing No. 92. Skating hard, wristing shots.
O'Neill, out of the NHL last season, has been invited to preseason training camp with the Hurricanes. The former Canes forward will come without a contract, content to fight for a roster spot.
But today, he was skating on his own with Rod Brind'Amour and Justin Williams, Scott Walker and Chad LaRose and others in a 90-minute workout at the RecZone.
"It was nice," O'Neill said. "Obviously things are a lot different for me being here, but it's just a nice opportunity to get out there and skate with the guys. We'll see what happens come camp time."
O'Neill last played for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2006-2007 season. Many wondered if, at 32, he would ever play in the NHL again.
"Obviously I didn't play last year. I kind of thought there was a possibility [his career] could be over," O'Neill said. "But I got married in April and we've got a baby on the way now and I thought I'd give it another shot."
Said a smiling Brind'Amour, "The more things change, the more they stay the same. It's good to have him around.
"When you're a smart player, and he's always been a smart player, you're always going have that. He's always going to have that ability to see the game and his skating looks fine. He looks like he did when he left."
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Chip Alexander
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and was part of the coverage team for the Canes' Stanley Cup run in 2006. He can be reached at chip.alexander@newsobserver.com.
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Comments
I hope things work out for
Tue, 08/26/2008 - 19:48 — Anonymous (not verified)I hope things work out for what is best for both Jeff and the Canes. None of you should judge him because of how he acted these last few years. Dare I say none of you really know how he felt and why he acted or reacted the way he did, good grief he lost his brother, how is a person suppose to act after that??? He sounds like he might have his life headed in the right direction and I commend Rutherford for giving him another chance. Life is about second chances and I hope you doomsdayers need a second chance some day and get it. Things always work out for the best, one may not see it now, but further down the road it always becomes crystal clear. And for God's sake, get off of the Cole trade pity pot, he's gone so get over it. Good luck Jeff.
TORONTO
Tue, 08/26/2008 - 17:30 — mumsyb13O'Neill was the least of the problems in TO the last few years. They never stuck with any of their lines long enough to see if they would work, sent their AHL'ers back to the AHL even when they were playing great, made stupid or no trades, and in trying to please (and appease) everyone, accomplished nothing. I wish him well either way-the 'Canes just need to make smart deals-don't sit on a problem for 2 years and then deal away a great player to compensate for what's lacking in other positions.
Jeff ONeil
Tue, 08/26/2008 - 10:28 — Derek from Cloud9 (not verified)O'Neill was so bad his last year in the league he'd of been cut from most AHL teams. Unless he's been training year-round to improve his conditioning there is no chance he plays in the NHL this year.
Jeff
Mon, 08/25/2008 - 21:33 — rbmartinThis is a h-e-l-l of an win/win opportunity for both O'Neill and the Hurricanes. If he doesn't make the team, he fades away, probably to the AHL. The Hurricanes will have lost nothing and O'Neill will have learned something, and decide on whether to retire, a day that comes to all players. If he makes the team, great - they'd obviously feel he could contribute. Good for both O'Neill and the Hurricanes. What if he not only makes the team, but turns into a scoring machine, or a 3rd line grit guy who also scores goals, or what if he finds a home on the power play, floating back and forth across the high and low slot, setting up for that sniper's snapshot he has. Maybe he'd do well on the point on the power play. He skates - or skated - well enough to play defense when they're a man up. You never know how a guy will do in camp. O'Neill might find a rebirth and become a frontline player for the Hurricanes. He at least had the skills and he's got a few years' maturity now, both personally and as a player. Sometimes nothing focuses a guy better than fatherhood. There's a tremendous potential up side to O'Neill's camp tryout, almost like picking up a great player for free, assuming things work out, of course. This guy still has 30 goal/70 point potential.
Jeff O'Neill has never been
Mon, 08/25/2008 - 23:13 — Anonymous (not verified)Jeff O'Neill has never been a 70 point player, so I think it's hard to say he has that potential, but I could see him score 20 goals again on the 3rd/4th line if he wins over some PP time.  If I remember correctly, his problem in Toronto was effort and consistency, not his ability to score (he scored 40 goals over 2 seasons with diminished ice time and some healthy scratches).  If he wants to come back and play as hard and nasty as he did when he scored 40 goals for the canes on the 4th line, meaning he hits anything that moves, it'd be an upgrade over Bayda simply due to size and speed (not trying to knock Bayda).
Redemption
Mon, 08/25/2008 - 17:49 — PhilcobrownEveryone deserves a chance for redemption. Good luck Jeff! This could be a win-win situation.
Maybe an older, wiser O'neill
Mon, 08/25/2008 - 17:05 — Anonymous (not verified)A wife and kid and definitely change the way you look at life. I'm excited about this.
I don't care if he plays
Mon, 08/25/2008 - 16:44 — Anonymous (not verified)I don't care if he plays wicked hockey ever again, just hope things are cool in his own world.
I keep fearing that
Mon, 08/25/2008 - 16:21 — Anonymous (not verified)I keep fearing that something will happen where O'Neill gets a contract and we have to trade a 3rd/4th liner who might not have as high of potential production but is more consistent. Any physicality we have rests on our lower lines now, and I'm beginning to like this less and less if he is truly unwilling to take a two-way contract.
package deal
Fri, 08/29/2008 - 14:44 — SubwayScoundrelLet him come into camp, get him to sign a 2 -way affordable deal, watch and grade him and if the offer comes, package him and Kabs for trade for a 2nd round draft pick and a prospect to clear salary.Â
Could the new Jeff O'Neill
Mon, 08/25/2008 - 15:56 — SubwayScoundrelCould the new Jeff O'Neill be the sniper on the power play ?
"He looks like he did when
Mon, 08/25/2008 - 15:44 — Anonymous (not verified)"He looks like he did when he left."
Hung over : )
Hung Over ?
Mon, 08/25/2008 - 19:29 — esteban1949He may look like it, but Rod & Rosie don't put up with junk like that...while he is not one of my favorite persons, give the guy a shot. the worst that can happen is he don't make it, his new wife gets upset...and forchecks his butt into the boards...see situation " normal"...hehehe
I thought it was funny :-)
Tue, 08/26/2008 - 09:19 — Anonymous (not verified)I thought it was funny :-)
I thought it was funny to...
Wed, 08/27/2008 - 16:37 — Anonymous (not verified)My first response when I heard O'Neill was back in town was, "Crack open a cold one O'Neill is back in town!" My second response was, "...no wait. Lock up the alcohol O'Neill is back!"
I've heard some interesting stories about him after games...
All joking aside, I hope he makes the team. It's great that he's giving it another shot and I think it's great that the team is letting him have it.
Could be a good comeback...
Mon, 08/25/2008 - 15:07 — Dan (not verified)He notched 20 goals during his last season with Toronto and had 44 points overall. If he can find his scoring touch he'd fit well on the 3rd/4th line and maybe on the PP.
Will the travel get to him again (he has a terrible fear of flying) or even worse with a new family.
(kind of telling that we'd even consider this former 1st rounder (#5 overall) as a 3rd line player).
He could play in the AHL for his longtime friend Doug Gilmour if the tryout does not work out.
A focused O'Neill
Mon, 08/25/2008 - 14:26 — Anonymous (not verified)Jeff O'Neill 100% completely focused on playing hockey the right way and using the talent he has in a complete way could be a very very good thing! It's nice to see he is working so hard!
Jeff
Mon, 08/25/2008 - 14:10 — David (not verified)Thanks for the update, Chip! I'm really glad (for the Canes and for Jeff) that he showed up on day one of Brind'Amour's warm up camp. If he keeps showing up and working hard, I think he has a good chance of making the team.