This years NHL trade deadline went down with a decent amount of trades but the damage for the most part was fairly minimal. Besides the Penner deal not a whole lot of big names went places. I had a feeling that the Hurricanes would do SOMETHING but I also knew this something would be fairly minor. While they are in their usual position of the last few years of 7-10th in the conference and playing decent by my standards, they are not firing on all cylinders looking for a division title or anything. So I knew they would show they wanted to make it but not make the splash they made in 2006 before the Cup run.

It started a week or so before the deadline when they must have had an offer they couldn’t refuse for Ian White so they sent him packing. In return they received a 2nd round pick in 2012 and a young fairly journeyman type defenseman in D. Joslin(yes I know technically the deals were seperate, but they really are the same deal). I didn’t mind losing White in this deal b/c he was solid, nothing spectacular and even with 10 assists and a +4 he just wasn’t throwing his weight around like I had wanted him to. He looked bored on the ice. So bring in a young guy with something to prove and let him fight for a spot. The pick? Eh, who knows. The pick is likely to become a late 2nd rounder next year so either they use it themselves for trade bait in this years draft or another deal, or they try and load up in next years draft. Either way, it’s a deal I am neither for nor against and am ok with it.

The next 2 deals waere on deadline day. It didn’t take a brain surgeon to know the deal that was going to go down on deadline day. I had told my wife not 4 hours before the press release “Don’t be surprised if the Canes get Cory Stillmantoday”. Florida was making it well known that everyone was available, and knowing Rutherford’s (Canes GM) loyalty to every ex-Cane it was obvious he would come calling. Stillman had a no trade clause but there was little doubt he would waive it being that his family is still here in NC and his son is a star forward for the Jr. Hurricanes. It’s no secret he loves the area still and he is a great fit for what the team needs now. Sure the teams main needs are a defensive forward, solid defensive D-man (or two) and a sniper type winger for the power play (which has been down right AWEFUL of late). Stillman fits that sniper role fairly well. Sure he hasn’t exactly been lighting it up for the Panthers this year, but he’s still got the shot but Fla is just down right awful and have no one to get himt he puck on the PP. Leaving him to have to try and do too much and he’s just not that player anymore. Cory has fit in just like I knew he would and played great for the Hurricanes since coming over. He’s already got 4 points (2g 2a) in 5 games and is a +2 in those games. He’s a free agent after this year and at 37 either he signs a cheap 1 year deal to stay here or I suspect he will retire here. The price was fairly small for him, with the canes only having to give up Ryan Carter and a 5th round pick this year. Sure this goes against the need for a defensive forward like I mentioned (by getting rid of their top 2-3 defensive centers) but I guess you gotta give up something to get Stillman.

The second deal was both a great addition of a defensive defenseman and addition by subtraction. Sergei Samsonovhad been on the Canes for about 3 full seasons game wise. He tallied 54 goals during his time here but never seemed to be as good as the first 38 games he played after he was picked up by the canes. He had no pressure once he came over and seemed to thrive. Over his tenure my problem with him wasn’t the fact that he always seemed to be putting on a stick handling clinic but more that he is too damn streaky. This year and the majority of last I have felt he is just plain DONE. Which is surprising b/c as old as we think he is, he’s only 32! Anyhow, it was his time, he was far too useless defensively and couldn’t put the puck in the net this year with any consistency. So by getting a good defenseman with 1 more year left on his contract in Bryan Allen. He’s not a flashy defenseman, but if he stays healthy, he is a go to shut down guy for this team and already considered by me to be the best or second best defensively on the Hurricanes. So not only do they add a solid D man for this year, they rid themselves of a offensive black hole and a defensive liability in Samsonov. I wish Sergei well in Florida, and hope he can revive his scoring touch, maybe in the western conference next year.

So after these two deals the Canes sit a bit stronger but not on overwhelming contender for the division title. Even tonight they show how they can hang with the better teams in the league for a while but eventually they will falter or burn out. They finally gave Peters a start after using Ward for 24 (or so) straight starts. Ward is clearly the work horse but with 6 straight weeks of at least 1 back to back in each coming up they need to get him some rest to be ready for the playoffs and not burnt out. They faltered a bit in the 3rd period and the Blackhawks were there to bury them completely with 3 goals in about a 5 min span. In order to go anywhere in the playoffs they are going to have to get a bit better then that and win some of those games. Their schedule down the stretch isn’t overly impossible and there are a bunch of games that are winnable. I think they should be able to win 10 (at least) of the last 16 games. If so that could be what they need to get to the 7th slot in the east, with 6th being a bit of a longshot. RIght now Philly, Boston, and Tampa occupy the top 3 spots of the Conference. Two of those ,Philly and Boston, are teams that the Hurricanes simply cannot beat this season, and I suspect they won’t be able to in the playoffs in the 1st round. Subsequent rounds potentially when on a roll but not the 1st round. So the only shot I suspect they have to get past round one is to take care of some business and get into 6th or 7th and hope to draw the Lightning in the 1st round. Yet, first they have to win those games and get in.

GeekJock prediction—> Canes end up finishing 8th and losing in 5 in the 1st round winning 1 game at home in the series.

NHL Drops the ball

The big suspension that came down today was the 10 game suspension to NY Islanders Trevor Gillies.  It was his first game back after being suspended for 9 games for acts during the Isles- Penguins fight night that happened a few weeks ago. Now, I am not going to go all fanboy and say he shouldn’t have been suspended for that game, b/c he should. Not 9 games mind you but 3 or 4 based on what the NHL has been handing out. This 10 game suspension is fairly ridiculous as you will see the evidence below. In this game the Isles were beating the Wild and Cal Clutterbuck hit Isles rookie Justin DiBenedetto blatantly from behind and into the boards. Gillies then came flying in from the side in which the NHL called a hit to the head on a play that there was no justification for. Oh I 10000% disagree. Anyone who has played the sport, pro or otherwise knows, as many NHLers this year has said, the game is a fast one with fast pace and split second lightning decisions. When you play and someone railroads your teammate you go after him. As well, when you are someone who delivers such a hit, on purpose or otherwise, you know to be ready b/c they are coming for you.

So here is the hit and afterwards more of my thoughts on it. This clip by All Star Sports shows the better angle on it all and how the hit by Clutterbuck is as bad if not worse then the one that Gillies delivers. 

So sure the hit is quick and hard but there is two things I want to bring up about it. First it wasn’t from behind. Second Clutterbuck knew it was coming and as an agitator himself should have defended himself more obviously. He just hit the kid BLATANTLY from behind head first into the boards and he’s now getting NOTHING for it? Come on NHL.  The fact Clutterbuck was barely dazed tells me he left himself in thta position on purpose and really did brace himself to not get hurt. Just watch it closer next time. If you want to suspend Gillies for this fine, but in no way what so ever can you justify suspending him and NOT suspending Clutterbuck as well. It’s simply trying to save face with the hater world of the hard hitting aspect of hockey by suspending a “goon” a second time in a row. They are suspending the name and not the play. Trying to send a message and not trying to justifiably suspend the act. Double standards suck NHL and you have made a huge boo boo here. We see hits from players like Lucic and Cooke go unpunished, sometimes not even penalize in games! Yet, a player stands up for a teammate and we suspend him for 10 games.

Poor form NHL, I expected better from you and hope for better in the future. I hope the guys on NHL Home ice (XM radio who agree with my side as I heard them taking the same side the day after the hit) are heard in the league office as they speak to many of those officials on a weekly basis. This one sided suspension is uncalled for. Better watch out NHL you might start being compared with the NFL and their awful disciplinary fines and suspension policies.

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