TP: Captain takes one for team
From Talking Points:
Among the franchise records Ron Francis set in his two stints with the Hartford Whalers and Carolina Hurricanes are many that may never be broken.
There are a few that are ripe to fall, and Rod Brind’Amour claimed one Sunday when he played in his 63rd postseason game for the Hurricanes in a 3-0 win over the Boston Bruins to even their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
But he did it on a night when he was demoted to the fourth line with Ryan Bayda and Patrick Eaves, a strange moment in an unusual postseason for the Carolina captain.
Read more here.
Luke DeCock
Luke has worked for The N&O since 2000. He covered the Carolina Hurricanes and the NHL before becoming a sports columnist in August 2008. A native of Evanston, Ill., he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He can be reached at 829-8947 or luke.decock@newsobserver.com.
Comments
Capt Rod
Mon, 05/04/2009 - 20:13 — CanesRtheBestNormally I wouldn't respond to this forum, but Luke has asked a tough question. Fortunately it is only the team and it's management who decide their players' roles. I for one have occasionally lost my faith in that decision making, but everyone who has followed the Canes this yr has been reminded that this organization can work miracles. The latest of which has been restructuring Rod's role as needed. Obviously any NHL player who misses the better part of a season with a major knee surgery is going to lose their playing edge. The question is will that player do the work needed to get back to their prior level, if you are talking about Rod's work ethic you know the answer for his case. This is not golf it is hockey, rehab is grueling, playing with healthy knees is grueling, what do you think it is like?
That said I think Laviolette tried to put Rod back in his former role too fast, giving him too many minutes too soon. Hence the results of a bad first half season. A player who has missed most of a season, is not going to achieve the game stamina in 2 or 3 preseason games, duh. The coach should've started Rod on the 4th line with 5 mins a game till he was ready to move up. I guarantee you the results would've been much more acceptable. When Maurice took over, Rod's ice time was reduced and this obviously benefitted Rod's quality of play. I saw it immediately, less minutes means you can play harder in those minutes no wearing down, near the end of the 2nd period where you give up on puck control because you just don't have your game legs back yet. Rod still can be great on special teams, both ways, it's more of a half rink game. He's got the experience, with fewer minutes you will see quality, still the best face off man in the league, still can see the ice and make passes on the tape, he's getting his lower body and strength back, forecheck is improving. With the 4th or 3rd line he will add the savvy the young lines need to get some more legitimate ice time and scoring opportunities. Don't give up on Rod just yet, this man is role model for the ages.
washed up?
Mon, 05/04/2009 - 09:50 — AlphaAlpha06I love brind'amour as much as anyone else, but the guy has been horrible all season. When i say horrible.. i really mean horrible. Not only did he not produce, which is totally acceptable for a man leaving his prime (the train is gone) but he had no other faction of his game take its place. What is simply not acceptable is his sloppy play in his own zone and his inability to play consistently with anyone. He has slowly been kicked off of lines and now there is really nowhere else for him to go. When do make the realization that Ol' Captain just ain't cuttin' it? How can an entire locker room rally against a guy who was absolute dead last in plus/minus for most of the regular season and can't contribute? This isn't co-rec 12 and Under soccer league where we have to make everyone feel special and give everyone equal playing time... this is the NHL PLAYOFFS. Sit the grandpa down, tell him to hang it up, tell everyone that he has a lower body injury, throw a suit on and sit up there with Karmanos and JR. Maybe if he's lucky we can throw him back in in game 5 of the Finals when we are up 3-1 in the series
Blu Ray
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 00:37 — popgunBlu Ray Burner>||<M4R Converter For Mac
Esteban....
Mon, 05/04/2009 - 04:49 — acidqueen...it's spelled "Staal".
Eric may be The One Who Will Be, and pundits may already be dubbing him Warchief, but we 'Canes fans know who still wears the C.
Hail to the Warchief!
Capt. Rod
Mon, 05/04/2009 - 04:54 — esteban1949reminds me of a person i had grown to espect and admire...that person never spoke unless they had something worth while to say so that all could learn. But in this case, will anyone be listening ? I surely do hope so, And even though the gang from Hockey Central called Eric Staal the Captain of the Canes, For now we all do know who is still wearing the " C" on his jersey...Rod Brind'Amour