WRAL Sports Fan

Bye Bye Joni

The Canes have to part ways with Pitkonen. He's either very laid back or lazy, take your pick. He won't put a body on anybody, he's too soft, and at his size he should be moving people out of the crease. He scored what, five goals, playing on all the power plays? And if he is a plus (and barely) it's because he doesn't kill penalties hardly at all, probably because he doesn't HUSTLE enough. They could bring up any d-man from Charlotte and be better. Remember when Joni was hurt during the season, and I think they won four out of five? Opposing players go right to the net on him. Go away.

RE: Bye Bye Joni

I agree Hurricanes need to let Joni Pitkanen go. The hurricanes were the 3rd youngest team in the NHL this year and still played well enough to almost make the playoffs. The Hurricanes need to try and pick up 1 or 2 good defenseman through the off season and come next year Carolina Hurricanes well definitely tough to deal with! GO HURRICANES!

RE: Bye Bye Joni

Not thoroughly knowledgeable about hockey, love the game, love the 'Canes. It did seem that their "team weakness" this season was defensively, I do realize the forwards have to help in that area, it can't be just on the defensemen all the time.

The other consistent beef I have with them (again, not deeply knowledgeable) is that it seems whenever the Hurricanes are on the power play, they have to work soooo hard just to get off 2 or 3 shots in a 2:00 PP, whereas I've seen other teams (either against Carolina or someone else) seem to be able to get around 5 or 6 shots in a 2:00 PP. Maybe I'm answering my own question, but I'll use Washington, Pittsburgh, and Tampa Bay as three examples that seem to me to have little problem bringing the heat on a PP, maybe that's because I've mainly seen those teams play against Carolina, but they are also three teams that appear to me to be EXTREMELY talented offensively.

If Pitkanen goes, I would like to wish him well, but I would agree that if his spot could be filled by calling up someone from Charlotte his money may be able to help us offensively in free agency? Whatever happens, GO CANES!!!

RE: Bye Bye Joni

Pitkanen is a good player, but not $4.5 million good. Payroll is always going to be an issue for the Canes, who can't command the high ticket prices more traditional hockey markets can. I think this will be a financial decision for Carolina. Cole may be another, and his will be tougher because of his history with the franchise.

RE: Bye Bye Joni

thanks for the memories

RE: Bye Bye Joni

Pitkanen is a good player, but not $4.5 million good. Payroll is always going to be an issue for the Canes, who can't command the high ticket prices more traditional hockey markets can. I think this will be a financial decision for Carolina. Cole may be another, and his will be tougher because of his history with the franchise. 

- Posted by Ken D.

I think it has more to do with the owner than ticket prices. Even when this team was in a hockey hotbed before moving here, they would generally underspend and have a group of journeymen as their roster. In general Karmanos is so tight he squeeks when he walks (except when he makes boneheaded offers like the one to Sergei Fedorov).