Canes captain Rod Brind'Amour was a healthy scratch for the Pittsburgh Penguins game Monday and may be a healthy extra again moving forward.
So let's call this Tuesday Talk and pose this question: what happens next, for Brind'Amour, for the Canes?
Will Brind'Amour give up the "C"? Will he consider retirement? Will he be placed on waivers? Or will he continue to work, rejoin the lineup, be more productive and go from there?
What do you think?
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
Ray Whitney a captain?
Wed, 12/09/2009 - 10:32 — Reaper49Of what team? He is a Free Agent after this year and will not be back with the Canes. We need to get younger, faster, and bigger. Ray is none of those.
Why not captain?
Wed, 12/09/2009 - 11:56 — wjcampI disagree that Whitney will be gone. He needs to be signed, even if to a one year deal. Think about it...the leading scorer for the last two years and probably again this year. Smart, almost always in the right position. Probably our best forward to backcheck when the D pinches. And the Staal/Cole combo seem to be most devastating when Whitney is there with his uncanny ability to find the open man with his pinpoint passes.
We don't need to throw all the veterans out with the bathwater, and I think that Whitney is one of the real glue players on this team through good times and bad. Don't underestimate his value to a team that will be needing his type of veteran leadership next year.
Whitney
Wed, 12/09/2009 - 16:58 — CanarseThey may decide to sign Whitney next season, but they would be crazy not to trade him this year before the deadline. If the Canes are to rebuild they need all the young players and picks they can get. Whitney, Cullen and a healthy Corvo are about all the Canes have that anyone else would want.
Whitney and Next Year
Wed, 12/09/2009 - 12:21 — abramsdougWho better than Ray Whitney to help teach and coach the young and talented forwards coming up from Albany? I think a one year contract makes sense for Whitney. Whitney is a coach on the ice for the players. He is also a leader in the locker room. I probably would not give him the "C" simply due to his age. If he were a couple of years younger, he would be my pick.
next year
Wed, 12/09/2009 - 01:12 — jejohn8Ray Whitney should get the C next year!!
A Couple Points
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 17:58 — CanarseFirst of all, comparing Wesley and BrindAmour isn't comparing the same situation. Wesley was not under contract. Wesley may have said he had decided to retire, but he likely knew what kind of contract the Canes were going to offer or not offer him. Brind'Amour has $3M lying on the table. Between taxes, a divorce, three kids and a significantly reduced future income I would say that three mil looks mighty good. If the Canes want Rod to retire at season's end they are going to have to negotiate some type of deal. Hopefully they want to keep Rod around and would agree to pay him his $3M over a few years.
Even thinking of removing the C from Rod's jersey is foolish. Leadership isn't just about play on the ice. Work ethic is a big part of team success and still no one does it like Rod. Honestly, what leadership qualities do you see in Staal? Hard worker? Watch him backcheck. If Staal does wear the C some day I wouldn't be surprised to see him in a Modano type situation later on and returning to alternate captain status. Honestly, other than embarrassing Rod further, what would be gained by taking the C this season? Are the Canes suddenly going to play incredible hockey and make the playoffs?
a couple of points
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 18:49 — louis12580Maybe Eric i ready to be the captain, maybe he isn't. The people who know that reside in the front office and dressing room. Here's a suggestion I heard this morning from a sports radio show host (6-9 morning time slot). How about Tim Gleason as the next captain when Rod's contract is up? At least he should be an alternate-captain.
This makes me respect
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 12:45 — ctillThis makes me respect Wesley's decision to retire even more. It wasn't any easier for him to walk away from the game, but I believe he knew that he had lost a step and would lose another if he continued playing.
Address the Situation Mr. Rutherford
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 11:58 — garybdiverJohn Forsland said that the scratch was a surprise to everyone on the team. Including Rod. I think the club has the obligation to address this situation sooner rather than later. JR and PK Sr. have always been, IMHO, good to their players. Please don't let this get to the point of bad blood, Mr. Rutherford.
Play it out
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 11:55 — Biff_BeersI expect Brind'Amour will play out the current season, and the team will try to work in extended periods of rest for him as the schedule and injuries allow. I would not be surprised if he does not play again until next Wednesday against Dallas (barring injuries to other players). He should skip a road trip in January, too, and the whole league skips half of February this year. He has played pretty well in the past when he's had some time off. He'll most likely retire at the end of the season and take a desk job doing fan development next season. There is no way the Canes will waive him or buy him out - not if they plan on retiring his #17.
If he retires..
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 11:46 — darmanIf he retires, we are still on the hook for both the actual cash and the cap hit, correct? He was over 35 when he signed his contract if I recall, making his money and cap hit guaranteed. This cannot be about the money (for the team) as it is set in stone, but it can be about the future of the franchise.
Rod
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 11:40 — louis12580This is rapidly becoming a train wreck for all parties involved. Rod is not the same player he was, even by last years standards. Yes, he was given a week off to rest and to heal and when he came back, there was a renewed fire in the belly. His minutes have been drastically reduced and his roll is more limited. 20 years of the grind take its toll and it's never been more evident than that this year. He is the epitome of class and grace off the ice. He is the epitome of hard work and a thinking mans player on the ice. Too many times we see this happen to a favorite athlete (Willie Mays), or even coach (Bobby Bowden) and it's so painful to see. Yes, there are similarities to the situation with Coach Bowden. We all hope that this situation comes to a satisfactory conclusion for all parties involved.
Be Realistic...
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 11:13 — Reaper49Bottom line is that Brindy is owed 4.5 million (1.5 for remainder of this year and 3 for next). Say what you want about dignity and class, but he would be a fool and irresponsible to his family if he were to leave that sitting on the table.
He needs to work it out with Rutherford where he can retire and get an office job or something with a guarantee of at least that much scratch over the next several years. That way he still gets his money, he gets to go out with dignity, and the org gets to reap some benefit from the $ their giving him. Use him as a community ambassador/player development guy. Despite his flagging performance, the guy was a defensive wizard, a fitness guru, and a face-off master. If he can spend his time working with the other players on these areas, he offers great value.
As a matter of principle,
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 11:41 — GoShelfyes, he would be a fool to leave that kind of money on the table. However, over the course of his career he's earned $50,192,000 (hockeyzoneplus.com), so I think this decision will come down to more than dollars & cents. I've never heard what his intentions are after hockey, but based on his bank account and the fact he's a single Dad, it wouldn't surprise me that he completely walks away from the game for a couple of years. I suspect at some point he'll want to come back in a coaching capacity, I just don't think it'll be right after he retires.
talking tuesday huh ?
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 11:09 — esteban19491. i understand and repect everyone's right to say what they have.
2. While i may agree with many of the sentiments said and posted here thus far, aren't we the fans kinda sorta jumping the gun a wee bit ?
3. If what many of us know and do see that Rod is a class act, a smart man & player, shouldn't we atleast allow him to have an option on what he feels he needs to do. And if he is half as smart & wise as we think,know or feel he is, then at least allow or permit him the option of chosing for himself. Not being ugly here, but and while I may agree that it may be time for the Good Captain to retire,from an active roll on the ice for the Canes, as there is surely a place for him @ Albany to help teach and train the next generation of Carolina Hurricanes. i didn't read that from anyone here at the time i wrote this.
4. We must not forget that due to the graciousness of the owners of the N&O that we even have a place to veiw our opinions & speculations.
5. what I would like to see,as it is a moot point of what i want, is for Rod to play when he can for the est of this season.do more PR in and around the RBCC...and prepare to see his number raised, and for him to say be on the staff of the rats...for the balance of his contract, in that way, he does keep his dignity,he has and keeps our respect, he can still contribute in a meaningful way for the sucess of the Canes for as long as he can,is willing & as long as the ownership of the Canes feel that Captain Rod is a benefit to the Team.
But I'm just a non season ticket holding fan...what would i know ?
Thanks Chip & everyone for allowing me to have a say...
Go Canes !!
PS...the after game with Joni was good...he tried to be honest & open...but like many of us here...his english still needs a wee bit of work !! :-}
Reading all Responses
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 12:48 — Caniac5If you read the post called "R E S P E C T". I did state that he should stay with the organization and even stated how. Not complaining; just stating there was a post posted stating the same as you.
It's Time
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 10:10 — bobriedRod Brind'Amour is one of my favourite hockey players of all time. His jersey is definitely going into the rafters, and I think that in time he will have a legitimate shot at the Hall of Fame. No one works harder, or is more humble.
He is a complete class act.
Father time has caught up with Roddy, and no amount of training is going to turn things around. He's -19 which for the second time in two years puts him in about last place in the league.
Follow your peers, Brett Hull and Dave Andreychuk. When the writing is on the wall, you need to listen. Retiring in mid season is not a bad thing. In this case and Hull's and A's mid season retirement is responsible and classy....a statement of team first from a guy who epitomizes that concept.
Don't wait much longer #17. It's time.
RETIRE WITH DIGNITY AND WITH TREMENDOUS APPRECIATION BY FANS
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 10:02 — abramsdougEsteban had noted that perhaps Brind'Amour had asked to be the healthy scratch -- as an act of leadership. When I told my wife last night that Brind'Amour was the healthy scratch, she also concluded that Brind'Amour had asked to be the healthy scratch. Whether or not that is true is less significant than the fact that fans believe in Brind'Amour and believe him to be the consummate captain.
As others have noted in comments above, Brind'Amour has done fantastic things for the organization and deserves praise and respect from the fans, the organization, and his teammates. It is, however, time for Brind'Amour to retire with dignity. It is not a lack of effort or desire that has diminished his skills as a hockey player; but the truth is obvious when he hits the ice -- he is no longer anything more than a shadow of his former self as a hockey player.
It is also time for the mantle of leadership to be passed on to younger players. I would hope the Hurricanes would have a Rod Brind'Amour celebration day and would ask the fans to wear as many #17 sweaters as possible. Let's retire the jersey and celebrate the career of one of hockey's greatest leaders. There is no dishonor in Brind'Amour retiring. He ran the race with skill, intensity, and self-sacrifice.
Finish This Year
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 09:53 — GoShelfI think he should finish the year at this new reduced capacity. At the end of the year he should probably retire. I'm pretty sure if he wants to come back next year it's not going to be with us which would mean we would either waive him or buy him out, so we'd have to pay part of his salary in either case. As sad as it is, Brindy seems like a sensible guy and sees the writing on the wall. For the time being, I think we're fine with plugging him in sparringly - he basically plays the same role and has the same ability as Yelle, of course at 7 times the cost. Everyone's in a tough spot with this situation.
R E S P E C T
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 09:51 — Caniac5I think Roddy deserves respect from the organization and fans. All too many times businesses, which this is as well, think merely of themselves and let people go that have given their all for many years. Roddy deserves respect for what he has done for this team. Now, he may not be what he once was on the ice but he is the Captain of the team. If he is asked to step down NO ONE should wear the 'C' until next year...minimum!
He can retire from the ice but still stay with the organization in a roll similar to Francis and Wesley. He could become the "Director of Offensive Development"...sounds weird...LOL He could work with Francis on Power Plays, work with faceoffs, physical fitness and strength management. There is something he could do!
I do not want to see him put on waviers! He deserves more than that. He took this team to it's ONLY Stanley Cup win and that should account for something. After that, the team has been called "Staal's Team" but, what has he contributed this year? NOTHING!
RODDY DESERVES RESPECT!!!!!
I love what Rod has done for
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 09:48 — dustinlammersI love what Rod has done for this franchise over his time here and he has had quite an impressive career, but I think we have to keep him as an extra for now.
I was talking to my wife about it last night and it's pretty simple. At this point, it's nothing really Rod is doing wrong it's just that he physically can't keep up to the game. His skating is okay at times, but when he gets in tight in the offensive zone he often turns the puck over. The team looked good last night with the lineup and I think we should go with it until an injury happens.
Listening to Rutherford on the radio interviews last week, he still sounds like he is behind Brind'Amour (he was helping explain his poor +/- stats) and I think that he won't be placed on waivers. With his contract signed for next year at 3.0 million (and I think a cap hit of 3.6) it's likely he'll be a Hurricane until he retires, which hopefully is after this season.
Tough Question
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 09:26 — garybdiverThe only thing I don't want to see is putting him on waivers. Personally I don't like seeing someone that has meant so much to this franchise going out that way. My guess is he knows how it will go. I hope Mo and JR are talking with him and he had some input into this. I know the hard liners will say get rid of him at all costs. Sorry I'm just not that kind of person. I'd like to see him walk away with some dignity and his head held. If he does decide that this is it, I say let the "C" go vacant until next year. Give the extra A to #6 and move on.
Retire
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 09:23 — CharlotteCaniacBrind'Amour just can't keep up anymore. He has become a detriment to the team on the ice and we can't afford that right now. What is the point of hanging around and finishing your career as a healthy scratch? Hopefully he has managed his money well over the years and is in a position to retire, rather than being forced to hang around for a paycheck, or pushing the team to buy out his contract during the offseason.
Hang it up Rod, then we can hang your number in the rafters. It's better to be remembered that way rather than just fading into the background.