Looking for insight on the Carolina Hurricanes? We’ve got it here — all day, every day, from the staffs of 99.9 FM The Fan, WRAL-TV and WRAL.com.
By Ken Medlin
Sep 25, 2009
Ever wear a mask? Say on Halloween? How much did it cost?
Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown wore a mask, and it cost him $10,000.
Hey, the NFL takes uniform violations seriously.
Give Brown credit for originality. Wearing a "Jason" mask of "Friday the 13th" fame drew a lot of attention in the player introductions.
But it didn't exactly strike fear in the heart of the opposing quarterback, as the Saints' Drew Brees torched the Eagles' defense for 311 yards passing and three touchdowns en route to a 48-26 win.
Jun 17, 2009
You can't hear it in the interview (one of the shortcomings of radio...), but Cam Ward's eyes got big and his smile grew wide when he was asked about Tom Barrasso's new role with the Carolina Hurricanes.
"It's great because he's not only a goaltenders coach, and I think that he showed it last year," Ward told The Insiders on 99.9 FM The Fan ESPN Radio.
Tom Barrasso will continue to work with the Canes' goalies, but with the added title of Assistant Coach. This means Wardo's buddy will be on the bench during the games, instead of upstairs in a coaching box.
"He's got a very good understanding of the game as a whole. He was a big area in our penalty kill," added Ward. "He knows the game very well, and he's good at teaching it."
The Canes' goalie wants to milk his relationship with Barrasso for all it's worth this summer, saying he'll be keeping up with his coach on a regular basis.
"I'm going to be bugging
…
Click here to read the rest of the post
By Dane Huffman
Jun 15, 2009
One interesting note in the Canes' offseason moves is the promotion of Tom Barrasso to assistant coach. Barrasso had been the goalie coach and has done terrific work with Cam Ward.
His role now expands as assistant coach, although he'll continue to work wtih Ward. Barrasso and Ron Francis, of course, are close friends dating from their years in Pittsburgh.
By Adam Harris
Jun 4, 2009
Nine days after the Carolina Hurricanes' season ended in the Eastern Conference Finals, there have been no contracts signed by any free agents - players or coaches.
The Canes have a number of decisions to make. How do they improve the defense? Which free agents do they retain?
The most pressing issue of all - Who will be the head coach? That decision will be first on the list.
Does the coach that took over a struggling team in December, then led them to the playoffs feel good about returning for the 2009-10 season?
"We're both extremely confident that we get along," Paul Maurice said recently of his relationship with GM Jim Rutherford. "Everything is a positive. ... I think we probably sound a little bit more cautious than we are. I think we're probably both very optimistic."
Maurice spoke to 99.9 FM The Fan while driving to Ontario with the 2008-09 campaign behind him. He also discussed the return
…
Click here to read the rest of the post
May 29, 2009
RALEIGH, NC— Jason Karmanos, Vice President and Assistant General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with forward Chris Terry on a three-year, entry-level contract. The deal will pay Terry $60,000 at the minor-league level and $500,000 at the NHL level during the first year, and $65,000 per year in the minors and $550,000 per year at the NHL level during the second and third years of the contract. Terry will also receive a $225,000 signing bonus as a part of the contract.
“Chris had an excellent junior career with Plymouth where he posted impressive offensive numbers,” said Karmanos. “He has shown that he can be a leader on and off the ice, and we look forward to him beginning his professional career.”
Terry, 20, finished 2008-09 as the Ontario Hockey League’s second-leading scorer with 94 points (39 goals, 55 assists) while playing in 53 of 68 games
…
Click here to read the rest of the post
By Ken Medlin
May 28, 2009
Expect Paul Maurice to return as coach of the Carolina Hurricanes.
"Everybody wants a contract," Maurice joked when asked if he planned to return.
Hurricanes President and General Manager Jim Rutherford stopped short of a guarantee, but hinted strongly that a contract extension is in the works for Maurice.
Rutherford says nothing will be finalized until he meets with Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos. "I will get to Detroit next week to meet my boss, and hopefully get through this process of what people are expecting the end result is going to be anyway."
The end result everyone expects is that Maurice will sign a long-term contract extension which will keep him in place as the Hurricanes' head coach.
By Ken Medlin
May 28, 2009
Jussi Jokinen earns the game's First Star for winning goal and three point effort. Photo by Mike Hurst.
Hurricanes center Jussi Jokinen is an restricted free agent, but he does not sound like a player searching for greener pastures.
"I really loved the time I was here, and I hope I'll be back -- I want to come back," Jokinen said after his end-of-season meeting with Hurricanes management.
A mid-season acquisition in a trade with Tampa Bay, Jokinen flourished with the Canes, working his way up from fourth-line center to second and third-line duties.
"This is a really first-class organization and like you saw this year, we have a chance to go all the way," he said.
Jokinen's teammates echo his thoughts on the team's chance to make another deep run in the playoffs.
"We really had the right team to go all the way this year, " said goaltender Cam Ward, who added that Pittsburgh did not see the Canes' "A-Game" in the conference finals.
"A big part of winning the Stanley Cup is character," said defenseman Tim
…
Click here to read the rest of the post
By Ryan Craig
May 26, 2009
Cam Ward did give up two goals, but he maintained a calm, confident demeanor. Photo by Mike Hurst
The Pittsburgh Penguins are the Eastern Conference champions for a second straight season.
1:10 left in the third - Pens lead 4-1:
That should do it - Adam from Crosby into the empty net and it's 4-1 Pens.
4:35 left in the third - Canes kill of five on three:
Nice job by the Canes there to stay within shouting distance, but by taking those two minors, they basically cost themselves three minutes.
9:11 left in the third - Canes take a penalty:
Carolina will be down a man for the next two minutes, but I expect them to still take chances.
At this point 4-1 doesn't really matter - you need to try and make it 3-2.
LaRose came close on the last kill, drawing a penalty after nearly scoring on a breakaway - they'll need something similar here.
13:04 left in the third - no dice for the Canes with the man-advantage:
Pittsburgh holds strong - still 3-1 Pens.
I wouldn't
…
Click here to read the rest of the post
By Ryan Craig
May 26, 2009
Tuomu Ruutu reacts to a being checked by Boston's Chara, Photo by Mike Hurst.
The Canes' mission to save their season just got a little bit harder.
Staring at a 3-0 series deficit and facing elimination in Game 4 Tuesday night at the RBC Center, Carolina will be without one of its top forwards.
Mike Maniscalco of 99.9 The Fan ESPN Radio has learned that Tuomo Ruutu will be a scratch for Game 4 after aggravating the lower body injury that kept him out of Game 2.
Patrick Dwyer will dress in his place.
Canes head coach Paul Maurice has also made one other roster move - this one non-injury related.
Frank Kaberle will be replaced in the lineup by Anton Babchuk.
By Tim Hall
May 26, 2009
Evgeni Malkin has been better than Sidney Crosby from a scoring standpoint in the Eastern Conference Finals series through three games. Malkin's strong three games puts him at 28 post-season points to Crosby's 26. They are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in scoring in the playoffs.
Malkin is lighting up the Canes in the series with nine points (6 G, 3 A) including his first career hat trick in Game 2. His 28 points in the playoffs is not only much better than any Carolina Hurricane has, but no two Canes can add their point totals and equal Malkin's.
Eric Staal has 14 points in the playoffs to lead the team, while Jussi Jokinen, Chad LaRose, and Ray Whitney all are tied for second with 11.
If you combine the top two scorers for Carolina, the point total (25) is still less than Crosby's (26) and Malkin's (28) totals. The Canes have also played in 17 games while the Penguins stars have accumulated those points in just 16 games.
The Capitals Alex Ovechkin
…
Click here to read the rest of the post
Tags: Hockey, Carolina Hurricanes
