Last night the Hurricanes announced shortly before the game vs the Senators (a 7-1 win WOW) that they had dealt hard shooting but useless defensively D-man Anton Babchuk and hard nosed F Tom Kostopoulos to the Calgary Flames for D Ian White and minor league F Brett Sutter. I like this trade for a few reasons and only dislike it for 2. First the bad. I don’t like that he didn’t get to play last night, which is quite selfish and nit picky for me, b/c well I just wanted to see his first game as a Cane. However immigration stuff happens so it’s not that big of a deal really. I also don’t like that he’s a UFA after this year. I suppose that he could always re-sign but likely he will be worth more then his just under 3 mil he’s getting right now. Jim Rutherford has stated a bunch that he likes having a bunch of UFA’s on the team b/c it gives him some fluidity and wiggle room to keep the roster moving. That statement can be good or bad, but just as long as at some point we get a GOOD season or two in a row that will keep me happy. This constant state of building or youth movement is for the birds.

As for the good, well I think Babchuk blows. He’s too damn big not to be physical and the Canes have enough offensive D men that they don’t need another useless guy on the blue line defensively. So good riddance to you Anton. As for Kostopolous, well I had kinda liked him a bit b/c he brings his brand every night and doesn’t often take nights off. He also was one of maybe 3 guys who would fight or stick up effectively for a teammate. But he was under contract for next year as well so getting rid of him saves them another year of a guy who wont put up more then 5 goals total.

Ian White brings the team a solid 2-way D man. He has been known to put in his share of goals from the blue line (13,10 the last 2 years), and he takes care of his own end better then most of the guys on the team do right now. It gives the team someone effective to use on the PK with Gleason instead of Maurice putting McBain and Pitkanen out on the PK which might be the worst decisions I have ever seen on the ice. White was the worst minus on the Flames this year, which I won’t discount but that team is quite in shambles and not playing well at ALL, so I think he just got a raw deal there and will enjoy it here in Raleigh. He has had his best years under Maurice while in Toronto so this could spell a jewel of a find for Rutherford. Good job, I hope this helps get the team on track defensively, b/c giving up 7-8 goals most nights isn’t fun to watch.

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