Oh we back.

The 11th season of NHL hockey in North Carolina.

IMPORTANT DATES:
September 19 - Training camp opens with team photos and physicals
September 20 - First official practice
September 21 - Caniac Carnival and Red/White game
September 24 - Preseason opener vs. Washington
October 10 - Opening night vs. Florida
October 13 - Game debut of new alternate jersey (vs. Detroit)
February 17 - Glen Wesley Night (vs. Boston)

2008-2009 OPPONENTS:
Southeast Division (Atlanta, Florida, Tampa Bay, Washington) - 3 home, 3 away
Rest of Conference (Boston, Buffalo, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, New Jersey, NY Rangers, NY Islanders, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh) - 2 home, 2 away
Western Conference Away Games - Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Minnesota, San Jose, Vancouver
Western Conference Home Games - Calgary, Columbus, Colorado, Detroit, Edmonton, Nashville
Western Conference Home and Away - Anaheim, Phoenix, St. Louis

Full schedule: http://hurricanes.nhl.com/ext/0809CALseason.pdf

RADIO: All games broadcasted on 99.9 The Fan plus postgame. The Storm and Aftermath on 850 The Buzz for home games.
TELEVISION: FSN South set to carry 65 games, Versus 1 game, and NBC has the option to pick up 1 in flex scheduling.

NEW LOOK:

For the first time, Carolina has a third jersey. They will wear it for 15 home games this season.



NEW FACES:


Joni Pitkanen, #25. Lazy, bad in the locker room, etc etc. We've heard it all before. Joe Corvo and Sergei Samsonov come to mind. Pitkanen is a potential superstar. He has had a number of fantastic seasons in his young career with a couple of bumps along the way. With Joe Corvo already in the fold, we could have one of the best attacking blue lines in the league, which is a pretty giant leap from just a year ago. Pitkanen is excited to be in Carolina. Whether he fits in and matures a bit personally will be the question. He will also be needed to be responsible defensively as well and to use his size to help out a backend that was prone to break downs last season.


Josef Melichar, #22. The Jeff Hamilton of this season in the sense that this guy could be a brilliant signing or a massive bust; perhaps both in the same season as with Hamilton. A player who proved to be a responsible penalty killer and a big body on defense in Pittsburgh could be useful in shoring up a rebuilt backend here. There will be a wide open competition for who plays and who sits on defense, and Melichar could end up as high as the second pairing with Joe Corvo, or as low as a nightly seat in the press box.


Brandon Sutter, #16. A new face to the organization last year, now he is a new face to the nightly crowds in Raleigh. Few rookies are as much of a sure-thing for NHL success as Sutter, but the question will be what kind of success. He will be asked to grind it out on the 4th line and perhaps kill penalties out of the gate. Whether he has scoring line upside remains to be seen, but with Justin Williams going down and Rod Brind'Amour and Matt Cullen questionable, his role could already be increased before the puck even drops.

HOME AGAIN:


Jeff O'Neill, #92. Yes, that guy. No franchise in sports seems to believe in second chances as much as Carolina. O'Neill will be given every opportunity to earn a contract in camp, and with the injury to Justin Williams, his chances just improved. His appearance in camp is being underrated by many. Keep in mind his departure from Carolina and then the NHL was not a result of his play, but personal issues. Early signs are that he is still well-liked in the locker room, and has matured as a person. This is a guy who put up 4 straight 60+ point seasons on a Carolina team that could not score, and put up 41 goals for us in 2001. Even in his last year before stepping away from the game for a year, he scored 20 goals and 42 points on a poor Toronto team. He has never really had the opportunity to play in a great offensive system with lots of talent around him. Don't count O'Neill out of the picture.


Anton Babchuk, #33. A once (and perhaps still) highly touted prospect, the sky is still the limit for Babchuk. The fans certainly seem to still like him here, and kudos to Jim Rutherford and company for mending bridges and putting past issues aside. Like a number of players on the roster, questions will surround whether he can get his personality issues in order. He has a hulking frame, a ridiculous bomb from the point, and even caught everybody off guard with that little dangler of an overtime goal against Atlanta 2 years ago. Like Melichar and Dennis Seidenberg, he has a one year deal. His future in the NHL will be determined by how he comes out of the gates this season in Raleigh.

WHO TO WATCH:


Sergei Samsonov, #14. Few players in the NHL get the kind of flak that Sergei Samsonov does. Montreal fans have made it their personal mission to preach to the hockey world that Samsonov is a cancer on a hockey team. What went on in Montreal and chicago can be debated endlessly, but the more current news is that Samsonov was second only to Eric Staal in team scoring down the stretch last season. His career seems to be revitalized in Carolina; the question will be how he fairs through a full season with a new contract under his belt. Concerns that he only plays hard in contract years and will mail it in with a new 3 year deal seem silly; he was in a contract year last season when he was sitting in the press box in Chicago. Samsonov had a great stretch of years in Boston, a very good time in Edmonton during their run to the Final, and then for whatever reasons didn't click in Montreal and Chicago. He clicked here last Spring. Eric Staal could be his new Joe Thornton.


Tim Gleason, #6. Another year, another number on the back of Tim Gleason's jersey. With a new contract under his belt and a confident boosting finish to last season, Gleason will be expected to be the shut down man on a defense with great offensive upside but no real proven defensive defensemen. He brings a much needed physicality, as best evidence by a bone jarring open ice hit and subsequent center ice brawl against Boston last year with a minute to go that brought energy into a lifeless building and sparked a 2 goal comeback. Look for him to log 20+ minutes a night and step into the leadership void left by Glen Wesley and Bret Hedican.


Cam Ward, #30. He's pretty much permanently on this list, the victim of his own success in winning the 2006 Conn Smyth. Seemingly everyone has jumped off the Cam Ward bandwagon, ignoring the fact that his numbers have steadily improved with each season in the league. It should also be noted that he tied the franchise wins record last season. His growth has simply been too slow for some people. Given his consistent growth and the rebuilt defense this year in Carolina, Ward could surprise some people. The fate of the team's season could rest on his shoulders.

TO BE CONTINUED BELOW...

[Edited on September 18, 2008 at 5:02 PM. Reason : .]

9/18/2008 4:46:35 PM

DURABILITY:


Justin Williams, #11. After a grueling year of rehabbing his second tear of his right ACL, Williams has prepared for camp by tearing his achilles tendon, sidelining him for 4-6 months and kicking off what has become an all too familiar discussion of Carolina injury woes. His mental and emotional condition is certainly a concern, as he worked hard to rehab his knee only to have this terrible setback. Williams is a notoriously quick healer, so it is very possible that he could be back closer to the 4 month timeframe than the 6. At the same time, achilles injuries are extremely serious, and there are sure to be many questions about his future as a player. The more pressing question is, who steps in for the rest of 2008 to replace one of the team's top forwards? The Erik Cole trade made Williams an even more important piece of the forward lineup, and his production will need to be replaced. Patrick Eaves is the first player that comes to mind.


Rod Brind'Amour, #17. Coming off a season ending knee injury, and now likely to miss camp with a minor knee surgery, the ageless wonder may finally be starting to break down. Pushing 40 years old, there is still little doubt that Rod Brind'Amour is one of the most well conditioned athletes in the game, but that doesn't mean it is safe to assume he will bounce back as strong as ever from these injuries. The good news is that there will be less pressure on him to log huge minutes, as the torch seems to have been passed to Eric Staal to lead this team forward.


Matt Cullen, #8. Cullen is on the ice and has ditched the tinted visor, but the concussion that plagued him over the past months is still a big concern. The organization will hold its collective breath the first time he takes a big hit, as his scoring presence down the middle will be needed this season, especially given the Williams injury.

THE PETER LAVIOLETTE EMPLOYMENT-O-METER:



After Rutherford left him hanging for a while after the season, his job was finally affirmed, but he will certainly be closely watched as the season begins. Like Ward, he is somewhat a victim of his own success. Finishing with the second most wins in team history last season would only matter if the team had made the playoffs, and Laviolette has shouldered most of the blame for some rough stretches last season. In a intra-organizational swap, Jeff Daniels is off to Albany to coach the River Rats, and Tom Rowe takes his place behind the Carolina bench. It was probably a good time for the organization to give Rowe the offer, as his stellar work in the AHL will have him leading an NHL team in the not so distant future. If the Canes struggle early this season, that team could be the Hurricanes.

That said, let's play hockey.


















[Edited on September 18, 2008 at 4:50 PM. Reason : .]

9/18/2008 4:46:58 PM

not our 3rd jersey

9/18/2008 5:00:01 PM

Good call I wasn't even paying attention.

9/18/2008 5:03:10 PM

in on page 1

9/18/2008 5:22:33 PM

Page :

9/18/2008 5:30:13 PM

Ahh, those pics bring me back about a year. Thanks Vulcan91.The puck drops in Raleigh on my birthday!

GO CANES!

[Edited on September 18, 2008 at 5:40 PM. Reason : GO CANES]

9/18/2008 5:39:42 PM

can't wait for the season to roll around, injury plagued or not

9/18/2008 5:45:08 PM

lol, the compendium of pictures is great

9/18/2008 6:07:10 PM

^

9/18/2008 8:17:37 PM

This thread has compounded my readiness for the season.

9/18/2008 10:45:39 PM

got dat 190% nhl center ice

9/18/2008 10:55:13 PM

incredible collection of pictures.

its almost HOCKEY TIME

post some fucking hockey players

9/19/2008 12:56:18 AM

Let's go canes!

9/19/2008 7:26:09 AM

It's also worth noting that Cam Ward is still the third-youngest starter in the league after Price and Fleury.

9/19/2008 10:11:31 AM

how about a little preseason BEAP BEAP

9/19/2008 11:35:50 AM

Less than a week. I'm losing it.

9/19/2008 2:37:50 PM

^^ yes.. BEAP BEAP for this 10/10 thread

9/19/2008 3:04:25 PM

Just went down to Fedex and grabbed this. So pumped.

9/20/2008 4:50:45 PM

Red/White game pictures: http://flickr.com/photos/jhawkins/sets/72157607422024381/

9/21/2008 9:59:21 PM

RED!

9/21/2008 10:02:01 PM

got staal, brind'amour, walker, kaberle, samsonov, and leighton's autographs today. twas a fun time

9/21/2008 10:11:29 PM

On a side note, some pics I forgot. Can't let them get left behind.

9/21/2008 10:13:35 PM

9/22/2008 10:53:15 AM

can this dancin' granny shit PLEASE, PLEASE stop!? We get it, she's old and unlike her peers, still has a pulse. Whoop-dee-do! it was cute/fun at first, but good lord!!

9/22/2008 2:26:25 PM

judging by the ads on the ice from vulcan's pics it looks like FSN South is being renamed to FS Carolinas

which it technically already was 95% of the time

9/22/2008 5:10:05 PM

Wow, according to a HF poster we have our third injury of the year already, Babchuk out for a week with a sprained knee

9/23/2008 1:21:41 PM

BEAP BEAP !!

9/24/2008 8:21:24 AM

Ruutu is injured as well. #4. Heeeerree we go again.

Preseason opener tonight.

9/24/2008 8:46:51 AM

Whats the best way to get really cheap tickets for tonight and not have to sit in the upper goal zones?

9/24/2008 9:09:52 AM

Great Job Vulcan!!

GO CANES!!!!!

BRING THE CUP BACK!!!!

9/24/2008 9:15:54 AM

BEAP BEAP

9/24/2008 6:48:04 PM

http://www.nhl.com/beta.html
i like this.

i have tired to watch the game but the combination of my computer / shitty feed makes it impossible to watch


attendence of 11,431 is great for a preseason game IMO?

[Edited on September 24, 2008 at 9:19 PM. Reason : ]

9/24/2008 9:17:15 PM

i'm going to hold off on the official beap beap thread until the regular season

9/24/2008 9:20:28 PM

Volume 3????

9/24/2008 9:21:57 PM

aha i love the wrestlers fucking up arenas pics

give me some ideas i want to do some... im bored as hell in VA

9/24/2008 9:27:40 PM

fuck I hope gleason isn't hurt

9/24/2008 9:34:58 PM

well, that game was a shit show. at least Pitkanen looks good.

9/24/2008 9:49:58 PM

That was pretty ugly.

Samsonov, Cullen, Bowman. Obviously not a combo that we're going to see in a real situation, but it's funny watching these guys skate around because there is no one out there to do the dirty work, so nothing gets done. Bowman has to adjust to the speed at this level, and was getting pushed around out there.

Wallin. I've been semi-defensive of the guy, saying let's just wait and see before we throw him under the bus. It's just one preseason game, but ugh... pretty awful game.

Pitkanen and Corvo playing on their off wings... Pitkanen scored a goal I guess, so I don't really have any room to talk, but I guess I've just got a philosophical difference from Lavi here. I know he loves to play them like this, but I just don't understand why.

Speaking of Pitkanen, I like what he showed. Will definitely be wary of him leaving gaping holes in the defense by his little plunders forward in the offensive zone, but it's clear that this guy can wreak havoc on opposing teams in our system.

Scott Walker was definitely PISSED tonight. Excellent effort from him.

Jeff O'Neill. Might want to lower expectations a bit on this one. Pretty invisible out there.

9/24/2008 10:27:36 PM

• Tim Gleason left the game with a leg injury. He will be evaluated, but Laviolette said “it will probably be a little bit of time.”



fuck.

9/25/2008 12:03:04 AM

For what it's worth, if you got one of those season ticket holder car flags, I wouldn't use it. They snap off once you get above 30 mph or so.

9/25/2008 9:55:00 AM

Gleason being out sucks.

Wallin being in sucks even more.

9/25/2008 10:23:06 AM

^

9/25/2008 10:32:14 AM

Apparently there is some talk that Boychuk could make the team...

9/25/2008 2:44:34 PM

I'm all for getting more youth into the team, and letting them learn along the way.

I mean, when was the last time we had a true rookie on the team? (rhetorical)

Fuck it, I want FUN HOCKEY

plus Boychuk is pretty damn fast

9/25/2008 2:56:23 PM

I hope we give Boychuk another year to develop. He's coming off that surgery and we don't want to burn his eligibility in both AHL and in Juniors. I mean if he can pull a Patrick Kane or Jordan Staal, I'm cool with it, but I'd rather not rush him (a la Alex Daigle). I just think that it might be best to give him one more year in Juniors as his squad could challenge for the Memorial Cup and I mean if we can get him some more intangibles (leadership) and a rookie's defense can always be improved, he'll be a surefire player to make the team next year. I don't want to rush him as I have pretty high hopes for him.

9/25/2008 3:34:58 PM

we can has goal?

9/25/2008 7:25:52 PM

Much better looking tonight. I really like this livecast thingy. I am glad that the Crapitals are doing it too.

9/25/2008 8:06:13 PM

Alternate Captain Frank Kaberle

[Edited on September 25, 2008 at 8:29 PM. Reason : dur]

9/25/2008 8:29:26 PM

setting up for mr wesley

9/25/2008 8:38:52 PM