Rutherford: no change on Cole, LaRose
Will Erik Cole and Chad LaRose sign new contracts with the Hurricanes before Wednesday and the start of the free agency signing period?
"I don't know. It's tough to read," general manager Jim Rutherford said today. "I really don't know. There has not been any change in terms of getting closer together."
Cole's agent, Steve Bartlett of Sports Consulting Group, said today it is "highly likely" the negotiations would go past July 1.
Cole and LaRose are unrestricted free agents and Rutherford had said he hoped to quick negotiate with the forwards after the playoffs ended and reach an agreement before July 1. He said both had been offered multi-year contracts.
"Originally, we were looking at a one-year contract with Erik, but before leaving for the draft we moved it to two years," Rutherford said. "You put out the best deal you can. We think we've made both of them fair offers. But what we think is fair and what they think is fair can be two different things."
Rutherford said there had been no further movement with defenseman Dennis Seidenberg and that Seidenberg would test the free-agent market on July 1.
The Canes' other unrestricted free agent, forward Ryan Bayda, has been offered a two-way contract and likely will test the market, as well, Rutherford said.
"That does not mean we do not want Ryan back," Rutherford said. "We would like to keep our options open at that position with so many young players coming along. I can understand why Ryan might like to go into July to see if he can get a one-way contract."
Seidenberg was a top-four defenseman for the Canes last season, but Rutherford said the team would not be actively looking to make a trade or at free agents to fill the void. He again mentioned veteran defenseman Frantisek Kaberle and sound very optimistic that Anton Babchuk, a restricted free agent, would return.
"Babchuk, with Joni Pitkanen, could round out our top four," he said.
About the blogger
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is in his second season as the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at chip.alexander@newsobserver.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @ice_chip.
Comments
We all need to settle down,
Mon, 06/29/2009 - 21:56 — oswegocanesWe all need to settle down, deals will get done and I think that we will really like who we see on the ice next year! I am sure this will include E.C. and C.L. not sure why I know this but I just have this great feeling. rest easy and get your voices ready for opening night!
Hey Chip
Mon, 06/29/2009 - 20:23 — esteban1949A question Please ...Who is Chad LaRose's Agent ? Or is he going it alone ? Thanks for what news you can and are able to give us...heck man...i was even trolling at THN & Fox Sports.com looking for any scrape of info...I know..I know...get a life...Hockey is a major part of my life.///:-O...thanks again..
Go Canes !!!
looks like Rutherford is
Mon, 06/29/2009 - 14:27 — mluther9looks like Rutherford is lowballing again, hope it doesnt come back to bite him. Offering Cole a two year deal isnt going to get it done and wont be seen as a serious offer so he shouldnt wonder why negotiations arent progressing. 3 years at 2.75 per will get it done.
Game of "chicken"
Mon, 06/29/2009 - 15:38 — wxray1It's on. And not just here, but all over the NHL. I think the players got used to 10+% raises in the cap the last few years. This year, no dice. Something's gotta give.
It will be interesting, that's for sure. The Sedin twins in Vancouver are still up in the air, looking for super long contracts. There are others too, take a search.
Remember after the lockout? Cory Stillman: "Nobody wanted me?" JR might be hoping to find such a diamond in the rough again.
haha lowballing? cole
Mon, 06/29/2009 - 14:42 — jgrant641haha lowballing?
cole will be lucky to see that from anybody. no team is offering much more than 2 years on any player unless they are considered franchise keepers. his last 2 years do not merit the paychecks he has seen by a long shot.
Unrestricted is exactly what
Mon, 06/29/2009 - 14:20 — mokimanoUnrestricted is exactly what the word means, you are free as a player to shop yourself to the highest bidder...if JR feels like he made these guys fair offers than what else can you do...it's a changing market for these guys...many teams are already up against a cap before July 1st even comes...so the grasser is not always greener on the other side and I thought Cole would have learned that lesson last Winter in Edmonton. Rosie is a high energy, valuable player but he also needs to remember his roots...this was an undrafted, smallish, fringe player that the Canes gave an opportunity too a few years back...and a Stanley Cup ring and a regular top 9 forward spot later...he needs to remember that a few extra bucks somewhere else does not guarantee you the moon and the stars in the NHL. JR took his stance that he will wait until August to assess where he is at with UFA's...so if some of these guy's decide to sign elsewhere, that money will go towards some new faces, which is not a bad thing sometimes.
Cole, LaRose
Mon, 06/29/2009 - 13:21 — hockey101How much are these guys asking. Cole making 4 mil is enough especially the poor playoff stats, LaRose, offer him 1.25 or 1.5mill and that's it. He needs to prove last years stats were no fluke. If it's about the money he shouldn't have said he wanted to stay but test the free agent market. Ryan Bayda would be no lost for the Canes. Anyone interested who is available go to nhl.com for a list of players JR should go after.
"That does mean we do not want Ryan back," Rutherford said.
Mon, 06/29/2009 - 13:20 — SunI hope that's a typo & not actually what he said.
typo
Mon, 06/29/2009 - 13:48 — chipalexander (author)yep, thanx. missing a not
Canes needs
Mon, 06/29/2009 - 12:47 — letfreedomringWow, I thot it would be fairly easy to sign 3 out of 4 - Cole, Larose, Ruutu and Jokinen. All have good experience with Canes, like the area and (except LaRose) have had bad experiences other places. Gee, must come down to money, but Canes are more prepared to backfill forwards than defensemen. Canes REALLY need a top line forward to play with Eric Staal.
The defense regressed in the Penguins series. Gleason and Wallin are more defense-oriented, Corvo and Pitkanen more offense. Looks like Seidenberg would be next choice, but if he is testing free agency he is probably gone. Who will be the other two regulars? Babchuk has developed well, but didn't show well in the playoffs, not sure about any of the minor leaguers stepping up.
Good points
Mon, 06/29/2009 - 12:24 — HockeydogGood points on "best fit". If money is the main goal Roise could get more somewhere else. I think the league has seen he is a high energy guy who can chip in 10-20 goals, and kill penalties. He could take a pay raise with a non-contending team and make more money and get lots of ice time, but not see the post season, or go to a contender and be a 4th liner.
His best fit seems to be here if he wants to play on the top 3 lines. Cullen is a great example, went to the Rangers, but the fit was just not as good. He was a much bigger cog with the Canes. same goes for Cole. I'm sure he doesn't want his known desire to keep his house in Raleigh to be takenb advantage of by Rutherford, but at the same time he needs to accurately assess his real value as an NHL player. Inconsistent as a Cane, did little in Edmonton's system and
came back to the Canes and was effectively a 3rd line player who played on the top line with no scoring. If I was Rutherford I'd make my offer and then let him test the open market. If Cole can get more than Jimmy will offer than he can go. LaRose to me would be more of a loss, and I say that while still liking Eric C and wishing he'd play the way he can more often than he has in his career. The Canes have very few players that should be kept at any cost. That thinking gave Wallin a no trade clause.
Babchuk, Pitkanen,
Mon, 06/29/2009 - 12:04 — caneshockeyfanBabchuk, Pitkanen, Kaberle... and no plans to hit the market for another D-man? I guess the Canes are going for the "No Defense" Defense.
Actually...
Mon, 06/29/2009 - 14:47 — jgrant641...Jim Rutherford has stated that he is pursuing the trade route there.
With siedenberg likely not back, and Babchuk possibly seeing other offers, and kaberle maybe(?) playing overseas JR could have options... but he won't know until those chip fall into place.
Someone who can hit?
Mon, 06/29/2009 - 15:27 — wxray1And ironically, JR will probably be looking for someone who is willing to use the body, instead of a "puck moving defenseman". (Last year's catch phrase.)
Kabs won't hit anything after that shoulder issue. Nic is lower-body fragile.
I'm not sure how our young-uns are looking. Can Borer, McBain or Carson get a contract? Will Borer return OK from the bus accident? Do these guys hit? Will Borer -- who showed good potential while he was up -- be able to play OK after a blown knee and now a neck problem? (Such a bummer, I really feel bad for the guy.)
In any case, I expect that we'll see someone from our depth.
i couldn't agree more
Mon, 06/29/2009 - 11:59 — esteban1949i too don't want to begrude Chad either, but and i am NOT saying he hasn't or didn't, but the day he had his exit interview he should have left JR a note or said to Him here is a figure and term ( contract length) I'd like to have. but am willing to sit down and talk...but i'm an old guy, who is somewhat gullable...what would I know ?? have a good and cool week...just saw the updated weather forcast for the triade...as well as the triangle..It be HOT !! Go Canes !!
Chad
Mon, 06/29/2009 - 09:50 — louis12580If Chad does leave, there will be some very upset fans. This appears to be about the Benjamin's and isn't it always that way. The thing about Chad is that he was a great fit in the system that the 'Canes have. Going to another team for more money, but another system (see Matt Cullen) might not be the best thing. The best example of this whole scenario would be the New Jersey Devils. They have lost players to free agency who have not done as well with their new teams (see Scott Gomez). One can't begrudge a player for wanting to maximize their earning potential, but in many cases the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence.
Rosie
Mon, 06/29/2009 - 11:37 — ammy144Amen, Brother!
Aww Ammy
Mon, 06/29/2009 - 11:57 — esteban1949you snuck in here on this before i did :-{..but seriously i just got back from a shop that will have the "personalized" Cane's 3rd jersey ( #59 of course) framed for me. i wasn't sure what color of the frame but my youngest grandson who is here for a week took a picture of my home office and the wood work, panaling and etc...with his 3G Iphone ( what ever the heck that is) and the lady at the shop down loaded the picture and showed me a 2 different color frames and picked the one out that matches perfectly...so in a week i'll have my worn only once, custom framed, personally autographed, Chad LaRose # 59 Jersey back and ready to hang along with other NHL, WHL,AHL & OHL Hockey Flags,banners, pictures & Junk. Now i have to figure out what to do with my really old 1960's era Chicago Cubs collection of stuff as it seams that my love for Hockey has over run my love for the Cubbies...have a good week dear..
Go Canes !!