For Niclas Wallin, the timing couldn't have been worse. The Canes have a glut of defensemen and some tough decisions to make on a regular-season roster, and Wallin has been sidelined since suffering a concussion in the first preseason game against the Washington Capitals.
While Wallin sat, such players as Dennis Seidenberg and Frantisek Kaberle have played well and been solid. The talk of possibly trading Kaberle has subsided. Anton Babchuk has come off a leg injury and is paired with Josef Melichar, and the two will play together tonight against the Nashville Predators. Something has to give.
"We all know the deal," Wallin said today after an on-ice workout at the RecZone. "We're all professional and all NHL defensemen. Obviously it's a coaching decision and a management decision to see who will be there.
"It's always a tough situation when you have it like that. Sometimes, it can be good, too, with the injuries we've had. Finally, I'm healthy. I feel great. We had a lot of injuries last season, Maybe they want to be on the safe side and have an extra defenseman.
"I hate to see someone go. I've been here since early August and we worked out every day. We're all teammates and all friends but at the end ofthe day there's going to be six or seven who will play. We'll see who is it."
Wallin, 33, doesn't believe missing preseason games will hurt his status, given his injury, nor would he say he was anxious or nervous about the final decision on roster spots.
"Concussions are concussions," he said. "I've played through concussions before but this one is different. It's better to me to be on the safe side today and be ready when the (regular-season) games start.
"But nervous? I can't say I'm nervous. The coaches will have the say. I'm here doing my thing. I'm healthy and in better shape than I was last year, so I've done my part in the offseason and summer in training. So we'll see opening night."
Wallin said he hopes to play in the final preseason game Sunday against Nashville.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
Please. How stupid in the
Fri, 10/03/2008 - 08:19 — Anonymous (not verified)Please. How stupid in the first place. There is no way the guy should have ever gotten a NTC. Thanks Jimmy!
Management & Time
Fri, 10/03/2008 - 04:24 — esteban1949as in the next few days will tell if Wallin stays or goes...as it and was pointed out...the game we love...is still a business...and for the Canes...that's all it will ever be...a business...sigh...
Go Canes !!
Where's the love?
Thu, 10/02/2008 - 18:09 — Chuck (not verified)Wait a minute! Where's the love? This is Nic Wallin! Remember? "The secret weapon"! Mr. O-T ! Remember his goal vs Brodeur??
Show some love for the Secret Weapon.
Sorry, but it's not about
Thu, 10/02/2008 - 20:50 — Jonathan (not verified)Sorry, but it's not about love, it's business. Put personal feelings aside and realize that their are at least 6 players on defense that are beter than him in one way or another. Do names like Commodore, Stillman, Cole, or Adams(both) mean anything to you? Look at the things they did. Straight from Rutherford's mouth, "They have done alot for us and we appreciate the time they spent here, but things change and players move on". Wallin was great during the cup run and honestly he seems like a great guy, BUT alot of players have done alot for this team. At the end of the day this is hockey and it is also business, you put together the best team you can and you put them on the ice. The rest you have to move regardless of your past with them. Everyone has to play a role and Wallin doesn't fill any particular role anymore.
I think the organization
Thu, 10/02/2008 - 14:17 — Anonymous (not verified)I think the organization feels like they owe him something since they stopped him from returning to Sweden in 06, but I think it's time to move on. Trade who isn't in the in the top 7 d-men and waive the ones you can't trade. Better and younger players deserve a chance.
Management should do the
Thu, 10/02/2008 - 12:24 — AH (not verified)Management should do the sensible thing and place Wallin on waivers. Even though he's absolutely terrible, there's always a possibility of him being claimed since an unknown team actually tried to trade for him last offseason. I'd hate to see an actual NHL-calibre defensemen like Kaberle get traded simply because Wallin has a NTC.