Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said today that the team may face some tough decisions in the next few days but said he supports coach Paul Maurice.
"I stand firmly behind him," Rutherford said. "We all have contributed to what's happened. It's everybody, from me to the coaches to the players. We all share in the responsibility.
"But it's way too early, especially when you think of all the things that went right last year. All the things that went right last year are going wrong this year. We'll just try to sort through it."
The Canes (5-16-5) have lost their last four games, allowing five goals in the third period in collapses against Atlanta and Buffalo. Carolina faces the Washington Capitals on Monday at the RBC Center, then has four days before a Saturday game against Vancouver.
"We'll get through the game, then get everybody together Tuesday and Wednesday and get some more thoughts," Rutherford said. "But I do not see any quick solutions. With the cap system, it's hard to make quick changes.
"We'll get everybody together and see what everybody thinks, if we feel good enough about our ability to get back in it, or if we need to transition some players, or whatever needs to be done."
Rutherford noted the Canes were able to make deals for Jussi Jokinen and Erik Cole last season but called a "unique situation" and noted both trades were made in February and March.
"It's become more and more like the NFL, where teams are put together in the offseason and you can't make major changes," he said. "Maybe a few changes, but nothing major."
Forward Chad LaRose did not play Saturday against the Sabres because of injury and Rutherford said it was "hard to say" when LaRose might return. Defenseman Joni Pitkanen, who suffered an upper-body injury against Atlanta, has a chance of returning Monday for the Caps, Rutherford said.
Pitkanen missed the third period of the Thrashers game and the Buffalo game. Defenseman Bryan Rodney was recalled from Albany (AHL) for the Buffalo game but spent much of Saturday traveling from Norfolk, Va., to Buffalo.
"We've had a lot of things go wrong, but it was obvious with (Pitkanen) out in the two games that we did not have the depth in the third period to hold the other team off," Rutherford said.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
whos gota go
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 22:50 — john006well look at the depth chart and see whos not performing eric stall too many penalitys . lazy at times aron ward not enough points .dosent finish his checks andrew alberts not enough points . too many penalitys tom kostapolis not enough points too many penalitys stephane yelle not shure if hes in the game .niclas wallin poor defence as for the goal tenders we got take care of these guys first then work on the goal tenders rutherford general manager bad trades in the off season let some good defence players go . babchuck not on the team dang
Hold On
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 13:25 — hockey101After reading these comments I can't believe people want to give up their tickets for next season and stop coming to the games. If you are a true hockey fan you will stand by your team through the good times and bad. This organization has done pretty well here 2 Stanley Cup finals, 1Stanley Cup, Eastern Conf. finals and that's more than most teams can say. I give JR credit for taking the blame for this. Who would've imagine this team having the start it has. I'm sure he won't let this happen again. Canes fans, you have to realize no playoffs this year and I'm sure JR is working the phones to work out a trade. If we get the #1 pick in next years draft, that person will be able to make the team and be a difference maker from the start. Yes this team has under achieved this season but don't slam the door on the organization. The building process takes time and you don't want to rush the guys in Albany to get them up here. Let them work on their game down their so by next year they'll be able to make the team and make the difference everybody wants. All teams have gone through this and now it's Carolina time. Washington sucked for years and look at them now, the same for Atlanta and Tampa. I'll agree JR hasn't kept this team young but I'm sure he will after this season.
Wait
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 16:56 — procellaeWho said anything about no attending anymore games? I am a STH and I will go to every home game or watch every away game on TV this season. If I could, I would renew my tickets for next season now. I have stuck with this steam through thick and thin since 1999, and I certainly am not stopping now. I love this team and hockey too much to give up on them.
Carolina's Time AGAIN
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 13:35 — raleighcanesfanIt must be Carolina's time AGAIN because we've already done this before. Pre-lockout and, this should give you the biggest clue of all, with the same coach.
Civil War between Caniac Fans
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 10:19 — Caniac5Some want Mo's head; some want JR's head; some want them both! Some blame the players and not the coaches! We have a Civil War in the Caniac Nation!
I sit on the fence trying to determine what I think is the problem and can see both green pastures. I personally think it is a combination of the two that makes the Canes bad this year. Mo has an attitude now that was not there before. He seems arrogant and to good to be the issue. The players seem to not know who to follow so they are playing their own game. Now, I am no way an expert on the mind or professional sports but I feel they all need to step back and look at what has happened.
MO is here to stay. He has a multi-year contract. We have no cap space to hire anyone to replace him. JR did what he thought was right in putting this team together and we all felt we had a great chance this year. The players are not connecting due to lack of leadership. We have a Captain that is probably ticked because it is called "Staal's Team" when he is the Captain. Staal is too young to be a leader..yet! He will come of age but he has been treated like a king since he was drafted. He is NOT a superstar anymore! He is an average player this year making too much money! He needs to get a grasp on things and get back to his pre-NHL years. The average age is way to high, Pitkanen gets hurt way too much and does not play his position well; our goalie situation is bad due to bad defense...etc.
The team needs to spend some time away from home, family, and fans! They need to stay at a motel or resort for about 2 weeks and do nothing but talk, strategize; and get back to basics.
Well, way to much here...this is just my opinion!
Reality
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 09:49 — raleighcanesfanJR needs to look at reality. The reason that the team was able to come back last season after Mo was hired in December and Jussi and Erik obtained in February and March was because they had amassed 26 points by the time Laviolette was fired in early December. And they had to go on an incredible winning streak to make the playoffs. It's almost December THIS season and they have amassed a grand total of 15 points and the longest winning streak they've managed so far is two games. It ain't happening this season, JR.
MO GOTTA GO, AGAIN
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 23:52 — ynotagainA blind man can see that the MO Hockey plan ain't working.
MO GOTTA GO, AGAIN.
His lay back and protect a one goal lead strategy doesn't work in the new NHL.
He's lost the team, he has no positive game plan ... he has no emotion, WHICH IS THE TEAM'S MAIN PROBLEM. I wish he could get as upset as I am watching this group of unorganized skaters try to play hockey.
MO GOTTA GO.
You hear me JR ... MO GOTTA GO NOW !!!!
The problem
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 23:43 — tc_apexI have no issue with JR sticking with Coach Mo. They have a relationship and are loyal to each other. It will be up to the owner (who has the same loyal relationship) to determine if changes need to be made. I do know this: no one - NO ONE - has done more with less over the years than JR. He is consistently making solid moves that make the team better. He has hit a rough stretch this year. He needed more offense, in my mind, and he failed to address it, choosing to resign the same players. I HATE pointing fingers but Cole, Brindamour and Larose in particular are not pulling their weight. As long as we have so much $$ tied up in those players, it will be hard to make too many moves. It's gonna be a tough season, but a high draft pick will make us all feel better.
Firmly don't support JR
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 20:24 — HockeydogMaurice has taken 2 Hurricane teams to the conference finals. He took a slumping team over last season and look what happened. Not sure why everyone wants to see him fired. He's made his share of mistakes but none that resulted in this record. The issue is that he doesn't have players who believe in themselves, or are willing to work hard every night, or can work hard every night. That falls on the GM. From Rutherford:
"But I do not see any quick solutions. With the cap system, it's hard to make quick changes. "
He painted himself into a corner. And over which players? I didn't see any superstars signed over the summer. His judgment was poor. It's time to make a change in GM.
The real reason to consider changing GM's
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 21:56 — Mo_MiseryFiring a proven winner at all levels in Laviolette to bring back Mo is the real reason to consider a GM change. All one has to do is look at each one's Bio and Stats. Yes Mo took Laviolette's system and caught a little emotional charge from the shock of the coaching change and was able to ride a HOT Cam Ward deep in the playoffs great, JR should have let him go on a High note but no he signed him to a 3 year extension guaranteed to end in dissaster! he has a carreer losing record what else could happen? I am shocked that it happened this year but knew how it would happen...it always does he only wind 40% of the games he coaches and it is not on a small sample either the guy has coached over 900 NHL games that is why no one else wanted him...he is a proven quantity and no one but JR wanted to win only 40% of their games.
If a new GM
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 22:58 — HockeydogChooses
to fire Mo, then so be it. I can live with that. But this organization
needs a new chief, and if that new chief has a vision of a team that he thinks
would not respond under Maurice then at least we are seeing the overhaul
this club needs from top to bottom. The Canes have a very smart guy named
Barrasso who I predict will be successful as a head coach or maybe a GM one day.
We also have Ronnie Francis, who was a very smart hockey player and class guy.
I am not sure ultimately how much input he gets, so I couldn't say if he's part
of the problem or not. Between Francis and Barrasso I'm sure one of them has
the head to be GM if Karmanos doesn't want to go outside the club.
The huge mess this team is in doesn't get created by a
coach or a few players. It gets created by the front office. We have a team
that yes, has shown the ability to come together and do great things, but also
shows that half the time they grossly underachieve. We have had the same
core team for a few years. We have cap issues. Think someone overspent and made
some pretty bad decisions?? I have always respected Karmanos budget
minded approach to the team. We are a smaller market and I want this team
around for a long time. It has to bother him that he is in a position that he
has tried to avoid with the team-fiscal irresponsibility- and has the worst
record in the NHL to show for it. A little fish is successful in a big pond by
being forward thinking and creative. Rutherford has shown that a couple of
times, but not enough and this summer he really showed he is not capable of
reacting to the teams success in a manner that would build on the great playoff
run. There are good players on this team that should stay. There are good
coaches that should stay. But this baby needs to get a fresh look from the top
down.
I can safely say
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 17:19 — esteban1949that no one here has any kind of pro sport team management experience here. And despite that all of us fans do see and understand bad & terrible play and management choices when we see them. Many fans have an continue to call for JR's & Mo's removal...but who are you going to put in their place / Now Lavi's name has been batterned about and for some His return for the remain 56 games of this season surely couldn't be or get any worse. What would lavi have to work with when it comes to the canes ? The same players, with the same problems and situations as the Canes have now. Right ? True we Carolina Hurricanes fans aren't as rowdy or ficious as say the Leaf's or Hab's fans are as in those 2 cities.as Hockey is their religion & god...Again i ask who can or would you get on a moments notice & so no one would see or find out ? Trying to find a new GM now would be next to impossible...even if JR were to fall over from having a stroke & died...sure Little karmanos would be filling in, but who would or could the team get? So and while i too have said a few times in the last couple of years to chop JR's head off and etc...was knocked on my booty when Mo was brought back...But until there is some oofers from not only here on this blog...but from the front office...as we Canes fans can do is just ride out the storm...and see what happens when there is calm and level heads doing what needs to be done...Then we,the fans can pitch a fit and throw meadow muffins at JR when he sits in the team box...and boo him when he screws up, yet again...Gee would it be too much tio hope the entire Caps bench gets the flu and can't play & they forfit...Well a guy can deam...can't he ?? 500 by Christmas ?? sorry not this season Chip...
Go Canes !!
How about...Craig Patrick???
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 19:18 — hurricanesfan66How about...Craig Patrick??? Not sure if I'm even serious, but that might be interesting...
Craig Patrick ??
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 23:37 — esteban1949I had to smile at your posting that...yes that would be a very interesting choice...have a good night..
Go Canes !!
Why?
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 17:12 — procellaeWhy does JR support Maurice so much? Is JR not aware of the situation this team is in? They have not won a single away game this season. They have let in 5 goals in the third period in two straight games. They only have 5 wins on the season, and only two of them were in regulation. Many of the highly paid players are not showing up at all (that would be Staal, LaRose, Ward, etc.). The team on the ice (excluding a few players) is not showing a desire to win or play. This team is in trouble, and I don't see how JR can sit there and say "I support him firmly" when this team is basically out of playoff contention in November.
Hockey Rumor
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 16:59 — garybdiverRead an interesting one today. Staal to Edmonton for Cogliano, Grebeshkov and a pick. Now wouldn't that be interesting.
I saw one too
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 18:15 — louis12580this was from everyones pal, Eklund. He mentioned us trading for Plekanic and Montreal getting either Bowman or Boychuck and Boychuck is the one they really want. Right. As to some of the posters, they're right. It's all J.R.'s and Mo's fault. Maybe Jim's loyalty shown to former players is suspect, but that goes a long way when others want to come here. When Alberts was approached by the team, the first guy he called was Aaron Ward. They had played together in Boston, and Ward told him straight out to sign here because of the way the organization treats its players. Loyalty these days is at a premium, both by players and management. I'm sure Jim is looking at all options available, trade wise, waivers wise and call-ups. The call-ups can't be made unless there's some serious salary dumping and the way trades are hindered by the salary cap it makes things that much more difficult.
...More like psychotic!
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 17:07 — canesrun...More like psychotic!
Surprise! Surprise!
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 16:42 — WAStoutYou support your best friend? No kidding.
You are blinded by your personal feelings, J.R.
Lack of motivation, lack of a dynamic game plan based on game situations (other than always a 1-4 set with no forecheck on a 1+ goal lead) is a statement of coaching.
But keep standing behind him.
I firmly support Maurice too...
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 16:28 — canesrun...To lead us to the Number 1 pick of the 2010 draft.
Seriously, the only way JR will fire Maurice is for the fans to revolt. I too have followed the Canes from 1997 (was a Whaler fan before). I've been a season ticket holder since 2005. I'm about a die-hard fan as you're going to get. That being said, if Maurice is here next year I won't be buying tickets (and I will let management know why). That's my only way to voice my disapproval. If that makes me a bad fan, Lou (since you apparently decide these matters), so be it
Lou...I guess you're
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 16:21 — hurricanesfan66Lou...I guess you're speaking to me. I am questioning the coach and gm...so I am not a fan. Been going to games since 1999, but when questioning the decisions, guess that makes me less a fan. Whatever...
Anyway...just one question for you...
You say, We have a team that is honestly too old to skate in the NHL."
So, the players are to blame for who is hired to play here?
I say Mo and JR Must Go.
Silly Lou
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 16:22 — SillyRabbitWhat a dumb post. So only true fans will continue to support a team that obviously doenst care? Spare us. You can always tell who the really fake fans are - they are the ones who have decided what makes a good fan or not. By the way genius, since you acknowledge that there are players that are "too old to skate", whose fault is that? Management perhaps?
"Caniac" may be the most embarassing term for a fan ever in the history of sport. Everytime i hear "Its a Caniac thing" , I want to barf.
Interesting Comment
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 16:08 — garybdiverFrom JR. Obviously I'm just a fan and STH. So my opinion doesn't count for much. But if "everybody" gets together and decide they can still get in to this thing, well I guess as a fan I don't know much. Seems to me the only way to save this team is to start making changes as sooon as they can. That my not be Dec and it may be March but something has to give.
Support!!
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 15:57 — LouFor those of you band wagon fans that are crying about getting rid of the GM, and the coach, maybe, just maybe - you need to go back to being other team fans! A true caniac fan would not cry for the management's head due to the failures of the players. It is the players that make the GM, coach, and team successful. It's that simple! So per the chosen language that is listed from GM; the coach is staying. But I believe a few players are gone and it will be those players that are in their last year whom might be shipped off. Our franchise players are staying put!!
We have a team that is honestly too old to skate in the NHL and we do have the skilled players who can score goals. The problem is that it is the players themselves who are failing at their chances. Maybe their is some internal team riff going on with between a few of the players and selfish modes have arisen because of this. I am speculating on this topic. It is not just one player but all of them are inconsistent nightly and are not putting forth the true effort they can display.
I am a caniac and take my abuse from other hockey fans and being a team fan comes with highs, and lows! Last year we were flying high, and this season it's all lows. The best thing that will come out of this season - we clear out some payroll and bring up the future players from internal system. We get a top five draft pick and build a team that can compete in 24 months. So those true Caniac fans - keep up the support because it will be a long, frustrating year and the rebuilding begins sooner than we think!
Look Lou when a Stanley Cup Champion Coach is fired
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 22:14 — Mo_Miseryfor Mediocrity finishing 9th and 10th with massive injuries and no help from the GM and Owner who insist on staying millions below Cap.
Then they replace said Coach with a retread who was fired by JR once already and subsequently from another team. The Fans have the right to Question why this Coach gets so much support when posting the worst record in Franchise history, he has obliterated his old records for horrible strings of losing! While at the same time the GM went out and spent money like a mad man to help his Friend Mo have a team that was supposed to challenge for the Cup?
I can only imagine what Coach Laviolette could have accomplished if he had gotten anywhere near this type of support from the GM in 06-07 and 07-08. what if JR had re-signed Cullen rather than trying to replace him with bargin bin guys, what if he had traded for real top six Forwards when when Justin, Brindy, whitney and Walker to name a few were out for extended periods of time? What if he had actually showed support for Laviolette rather than waiting months to say he would be back in 08 basically letting the players know that Lavi was on borrowed time and that JR was looking for a reason to fire him!
I am a real fan and I do think that management should be accountable for decissions they make especially when they are as questionalble as firing a Championship Coach to bring back the guy you fired to hire him!!!!!!!
Stats
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 23:20 — procellaeJust going to add some states that go with your post.
Last year, Laviolette was fired after the team went 12-11-2. Currently, the team is 5-16-5 under Maurice.
The bandwagon fans left
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 17:07 — procellaeThe bandwagon fans left during the losing streak. Sorry, but if you have to claim that the fans calling out Maurice and JR are bandwagon fans, you are not a true fan yourself. JR is not an issue at this point IMO (Maurice is, and I really don't see how one can deny that), but if people want to blame him, they can as long as they give reason to it. I won't call them a bad fan because of it.
I guess I'm a bad fan.
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 22:24 — Pabs13I'm 30 years-old. Followed the Whalers/Hurricanes since I was eight. I watch or listen to every game I possibly can, and have survived more than my share of losing seasons.
I SAY FIRE MO. Why? Because this team is NOT motivated. They are now fragile. Doesn't help that the captain isn't capable of leading by example anymore. I say Mo can go, and we unload some contracts for young talent/or picks. Half the team would be on the block if I was the GM. If you are thinking playoffs this season, you are delusional (which doesn't make one a TRUE fan). If no changes are made, we'll be right back here next year. Fighting for the #1 pick in the draft.
I Second That...
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 16:27 — penaltykiller74You said it right. Bandwagon fans go back to where you came from. I bleed Red and Black, and always will. Every team goes through this, and this team will survive and compete again!
These guys are the suckiest
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 15:54 — PhantomLordThese guys are the suckiest bunch of sucks who have ever sucked.