Tim Gleason had just finished up a skating session at Raleigh Center Ice when the discussion turned to the Canes' defensemen and some signings this summer.

To wit: Joni Pitkanen re-signed with the Canes for three years at $4.5 million a year. Carolina later signed free agent Tomas Kaberle to a three-year deal for a total of $12.75 million.

Asked his thoughts about the signings, Gleason smiled and quipped, "Yeah, there's not much money left for anybody."

Spoken like a player who is in the final year of his contract, no? But Gleason quickly waved that off, noting Pitkanen and Kaberle will help the team and that a priority this season would be the corps of defensemen giving the Canes a tougher, better back end.

ATLANTA -- The Canes' Tim Gleason didn't want to watch the New York Rangers-Atlanta Thrashers game on Thursday night and hasn't tried to compute all the various playoff scenarios.

"If you do the matth you'll drive yourself crazy," Gleason said after today's morning skate at Philips Arena. "Our mindset is we've got to win."

Win tonight against the Thrashers, then again tomorrow night against the Tampa Bay Lightning: that's their goal. Do that and avoid shootout wins -- another one of those troublesome scenarios -- and the Canes will have hockey next week, in the playoffs.

Carolina defenseman Tim Gleason's teammates voted to give him the Hurricanes' annual Steve Chiasson award for leadership and perseverance, the NHL team announced this afternoon.

This marks the first time in Gleason's five-year tenure with the Hurricanes that he has been awarded the honor, which goes annually to the Carolina player who best best exemplifies determination and dedication while proving to be an inspiration to his teammates through his performance and approach to the game.

TORONTO — A day after his wife gave birth to the couple’s first child, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Tim Gleason was back with his team.

Gleason missed practice Wednesday to be with his wife, Candice, who gave birth to their baby daughter Olivia Grace on Wednesday afternoon.

Thursday morning, Gleason skated with the team at the Air Canada Centre, where the Canes will play the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight.

The day after the fact, Canes defenseman Tim Gleason made no apologies for the hit he put on the Caps' Mathieu Perreault in Sunday's game.

"I make hits like that probably 30 times a year," he said today.

Nor will Gleason criticize the referee's decision about the hit: a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. The ruling kept Gleason out for the last 1:06 of the first period and the final two periods, leaving the Canes without one of their best defenders in a 3-2 loss and forcing the other five blueliners to eat a lot of minutes.

"It was just one of those things," Gleason said. "You obviously never intend to go out and hurt somebody

Canes defenseman Tim Gleason probably hasn't received many figure-skating tips, but he got a few today at the RBC Center courtesy of Mark Ladwig and Amanda Evora.

Gleason tried a waltz jump. He attempted a mini-Axel and a few other moves. Suffice it to say his skates were not off the ice for long.

"I don't trust myself to get that high," Gleason said, smiling. "I just kept it low-key."

The Canes will have new alternate captains this season, with a number of good choices to wear the "A."

Tim Gleason may be a given. Brandon Sutter may be ready to take on the responsibility. But there several good choices.

Who are your choices? The floor is open.

Defenseman Tim Gleason played in pain Tuesday against the Boston Bruins but won't be able to play tonight and may be sidelined as many three weeks.

Canes coach Paul Maurice said today that Gleason broke one of the "long bones" in his right foot during Saturday's 4-0 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes. He had 18 minutes of ice time Tuesday against the Bruins in a 5-2 loss.

"He did his best and played through what he could in the Boston game and I think he played fine -- it was an admirable performance," Maurice said. "It's not getting better. The pain is way beyond what you expect a person to play. Unfortunately it's beyond with even Tim Gleason can play with, because he can play with just about anything."

When defenseman Tim Gleason missed today's morning skate and the Canes recalled Jamie McBain from Albany (AHL), it seemed to be a clear indication Gleason would not play against the Bruins tonight.

Not so, coach Paul Maurice said.

"He's probably going to play tonight," Maurice said. "We expect him to play but we are going to call up McBain, just in case -- an insurance policy. And then there's also the chance we may play him."

Brandon Sutter's leg injury will apparently keep him out of just one game, meaning he should be available for perhaps the Canes' most important game of the season.

The Canes center returned to practice today, and coach Paul Maurice said Sutter was fine after it and should be in the lineup Tuesday against the Boston Bruins. Defenseman Tim Gleason, who did not practice today, also should play, Maurice said.