One-time Hurricanes talisman Tim Conboy, who was sent down in November and not seen again, has signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Sabres worth $550,000 in the NHL and $105,000 in the AHL.

During the remarkable but ultimately unsuccessful run for a playoff spot in the spring of 2008, Conboy's toughness and energy was an invaluable asset. A defenseman asked to play forward in the NHL, Conboy's willingness to fight helped spark the team's resurgence.

The roster shuffling continued today for the Canes, who reassigned Tim Conboy to Albany (AHL) while calling up forward Jerome Samson.

Drayson Bowman, who scored his first two NHL goals Tuesday against Tampa Bay, was a healthy scratch Thursday for the Montreal game. Bowman will be back in the lineup Saturday against the Boston Bruins.

Canes coach Paul Maurice said concerns about the health of his defensemen led to the callups Thursday of Conboy and Casey Borer from the River Rats. With more than 20 players available, Maurice said, Bowman automatically came out of the lineup.

Tim Conboy is ready.

Not happy about the situation, about the chance to get into the Canes' lineup because of Erik Cole's broken leg, but ready to play and battle and contribute.

"It's exciting," Conboy said today. "Obviously you feel bad for Colesy. He's a great player and any time you lose a player like him it hurts. I think anything that can go wrong with injuries, for him, has gone wrong but he's a tough guy and he'll battle back.

"But at the same time, that's what they have me here for -- to fill in. I have to make the most of my opportunity."

Preseason exhibition games are routine for the Canes' veteran players, almost like a necessary chore. Get in some ice time, bang a little, get the legs moving.

But for the younger guys in the Canes' locker room this morning, there was a nervous anticipation. There are just four preseason games and every minute of ice time is precious when you're trying to impress the coaches and management.

Tonight, Zach Boychuk will play on a line with Brandon Sutter and Tim Conboy. Let's call it the "BCS Line" and it should be fun to watch.

"All skill," Conboy quipped. "They just wanted to get together linemen with just pure skill, pure offensive-minded guys. They started with me and worked their way down."

Wonder how hockey fights begin? Sure, often it's a retaliatory thing. Sometimes, the two guys just don't like each other.

Then there was the Canes' Tim Conboy and Chris Stewart of the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.

Conboy and Stewart once were teammates in Albany (AHL) and Conboy calls him a "good guy." But Conboy figured the Canes needed a first-period lift and Stewart seemed like a willing partner.

"I just went out there and asked him and he said, 'Sure, I'll go with you," a smiling Conboy said today.

We know he's popular. We know he's tough. We know he can be used at forward or on defense. We know he'll drop the gloves and go at it whenever it's necessary.

Tim Conboy got the Canes cranked up in the first period Sunday with a nice scuffle with the Avs' Chris Stewart. In the three games since he was called up from the Albany River Rats, the Canes have won all three. Carolina is 5-0-3 this season and 18-4-5 all-time with Conboy in the lineup.

Question: Should he have been playing for the Canes all along this season? 

The floor is open.

Watching Tim Conboy mix it up with Steve Downie on Friday, I couldn't help but wonder yet again: Where's he been?

From Talking Points:

Watching Tim Conboy mix it up with Steve Downie on Friday, I couldn't help but wonder yet again: Where's he been?

Read more here.

With called-up defensemen Tim Conboy and Casey Borer set to join the line-up tonight in their season debut, Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice praised what both players accomplished with the AHL's Albany River Rats this year, and spoke about the physical game Conboy brings.

"Timmy obviously brings a physical component, and that's part of what he offers our team," said Maurice. "We want to see that from him tonight, but we also want to see him control it. ... I don't need to see him try to impress the new coach three minutes into the game, if it's not the right time."

From Talking Points: 

After watching his new team hand the Pittsburgh Penguins a 5-2 win on Thursday, new Carolina Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice identified the first area of concern to address.

Before practice Friday, Maurice’s second with the team, the Hurricanes discussed their defensive positioning in the neutral zone, taking an approach Eric Staal called “not so aggressive,” although hardly out of line with what most NHL teams are doing.

Maurice, though, was quick to point out that most of the drills the team did out on the ice were offensive-minded, designed to get the puck to the net, preferably with a body somewhere in the area as well.

Read more here.