The NHL soap opera, day 2
Free agency in the NHL is a funny thing. Very little ends up being as it seems, reason goes out the window and even mild-mannered men like Montreal's Bob Gainey end up flinging money around like a Sex and the City character in a shoe store.
As far as the Hurricanes are concerned, it's funny how much can change overnight. When we went to bed Tuesday, general manager Jim Rutherford's last public statement indicated that Erik Cole was ticketed elsewhere and there was a chance Chad LaRose might return to the nest quickly after testing the market.
By the time the biscuits came out of the oven Wednesday, the door was open for Cole to return and LaRose had been bid farewell. So far, that's what has happened -- Cole signed for two years at an average of $2.9 million a year and LaRose remains a free agent, with Rutherford now dangling an impending signing in front of the fan base.
We'll never know what changed, whether there were external factors in play or whether Rutherford was blowing smoke all along. We do know that Cole's contract seems in line with what we would have expected the Hurricanes to offer him in the first place, and it seems like a fair deal for both sides. Cole gets an extra year, the Hurricanes save more than $1 million per season on what he was making before.
As for LaRose, at this point he must have some tentative offers on the table paying him in excess of $2 million a season, because it's easy to imagine the Hurricanes going that high (although perhaps not for three years)
If the Hurricanes land a free agent like Taylor Pyatt or Nik Antropov (who had one of his best seasons playing for Paul Maurice in Toronto) today, then they'll have traded LaRose's skill and hustle for size, which the Hurricanes desperately need on the wings. Hard to argue with that allocation of the money.
But if the LaRose salary slot goes to another waterbug -- or to no one at all -- the departure of the popular LaRose will be tough to stomach for a fan base that had low expectations to begin with this offseason. The Hurricanes made it clear they won't pursue the desperately needed defensive upgrade a la Francois Beauchemin, that the goal is the status quo.
Given their financial constraints, that's understandable. But losing LaRose and not replacing him with a player of like value (but presumably bigger and stronger) would be tough to understand.
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
A Hockey Soap Opera ??
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 19:32 — esteban1949Hey Luke, i hate it when you can all but seem to be reading many of us from the fan base's minds like that !! But i will admit that many of us do let it all hang out, so what we say, think or feel, aint really no top secret of any kind. If i can ever get to come and see a game live,I will try and get Chad's autograph as it will go with the new Sweater ( 3rd jersey) I just had framed and hung in my home office. i woud not be rude and have the gall to ask him if he really would have left if he could have gotten " a Few Dollars More"? But i would say to him that I am ( and was glad ) that he did get to say for the next couple of years, and i wish he'd have a 25 goal season...I knew even before you or Chad was ever born, that Hockey is a business. There was a time when some of the NHL owners had a very dirty and dark side when it came to dealings with many players. But thankfully those things have changed and the game did for the better. But you are so on target...for us fans ( and i am sure you of the press) must go or get fustrated or nuts...trying to get some good and truthful information when it comes to the off season & etc...But when all is said and done, I am happy & love being a Carolina Hurricane fan, but I do thank our creator that I am NOT a GM or a reporter trying to follow all that goes on behind the scenes year round in the NHL!!! No one could ever offer me any kind of monies to go through what You, Chip & Jr...must surely go through and endure...So Please forgive me and any other fans, if we do get a wee bit testy or flap off at the lip without really thinking...When we do that, we are showing just how bad & much we love something ...and at times is would seem too much so. Thanks for what you and chip try to do...and when you go by your boss's office..tell that wonderful mass of humanity, that We, the Fans want and desire to see Both you and Chip get some bigger bucks and better CBA's ...after all Hockey just isn't a "game" it is a life style that until one has been there & done that, they will never ever have a clue of just how hard & tough playing in the ECHL,AHL, & Nhl really is. Just like spirts writting Pro Hockey aint for the weak or faint of heart...Again, Thanks Luke...Now esteban goes back trolling for news about the possible new broadcast shedule for Verses or TSN...see No rest of the weary !! Go Canes !!
Cole's signing...
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 15:37 — OneLuckyPuckto me is more of a marketing strategy than anything else.
"...Rutherford now dangling an impending signing in front of the fan base. " That is a very true statement and I think Rutherford thought Cole was a worthy investment to keep the fans happy, despite his lackluster output.
I am kinda on the fence with Larose, after all he really does owe this organization his success. I don't believe he would have received the kinda of commitment and ice time at any other team. The Canes gave him the opportunity of a life time. I think he should keep that in mind.
And There Goes Antropov
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 12:43 — WAStoutJust give LaRose what he wants....sheesh....I'm sick of hearing the woooaahhh is me we have no money crap.
Karmonos has the money. Spend it.
pyatt would be sweet
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 10:32 — clementnormanpyatt would be sweet antropov wants 5 mil per though so we arent even close to his ball park. also would love kotalik for more scoring or moen/grier for the size and physicallity
The Soap Opera
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 09:06 — abramsdougLuke -- Excellent analysis. Adding size to replace LaRose would help the team for this season and into the future. Teams are clearly upsizing rapidly.
yea everyone except
Thu, 07/02/2009 - 10:44 — clementnormanyea everyone except montreal. they got the monster gill but there forwards are all tiny. gomez cammi and gionta.