Canes Changes Coming?
Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 11:56 am
While this season hardly had a disappointing result, reaching the conference finals, the team is also in a tight spot heading forward. The cup window is still open for business, but the question remains what to do beyond the next season or two financially.
Heading to arbitration are Mikko Koivu, Jussi Jokinen, Andrew Alberts, and Chad LaRose. Although it seems likely that the team will walk from the award for LaRose if they win their arbitration case with Jokinen. On the other hand, taking Koivu to arbitration is likely to be a huge cost-saving measure for the team, although the result is certainly unknown at the current moment. They may be forced to use their franchise tag on him depending on the result.
Also of note is that the team has many quality young players. Joni Pitkanen, Brandon Sutter, and Zach Boychuk are all due large increases in salary for next season, but without question they help form the core that will be the future of the Hurricanes. Along with Cam Ward, Casey Borer, Eric Staal, and Mikko Koivu of course.
The defense is pretty simple, either Andrew Alberts or Jamie McBain will get the nod. Up front, it's another matter entirely. Any number of players could be on their way in and out. The fourth line is the simplest to figure out, with it likely consisting of veteran Tom Kostopoulos, Tim Conboy, and probably defensive specialist Nicolas Blanchard. Beyond that is where it gets murky depending on the outcome of the arbitration hearings. Teemu Pulkkinen is likely to be in the lineup as a rookie this coming season, but the rest is still up in the air. If the Canes win their arbitration hearing with Jussi Jokinen, it's likely that Ray Whitney will be allowed to hit free agency. If they win with LaRose but lose with Jokinen, it's likely they'll play him on the 4th line and keep Blanchard in the minors.
It's all up in the air right now, and for a cap strapped team, that's never a good thing. Thankfully some relief in that department should be coming as soon as the 2012-13.
Heading to arbitration are Mikko Koivu, Jussi Jokinen, Andrew Alberts, and Chad LaRose. Although it seems likely that the team will walk from the award for LaRose if they win their arbitration case with Jokinen. On the other hand, taking Koivu to arbitration is likely to be a huge cost-saving measure for the team, although the result is certainly unknown at the current moment. They may be forced to use their franchise tag on him depending on the result.
Also of note is that the team has many quality young players. Joni Pitkanen, Brandon Sutter, and Zach Boychuk are all due large increases in salary for next season, but without question they help form the core that will be the future of the Hurricanes. Along with Cam Ward, Casey Borer, Eric Staal, and Mikko Koivu of course.
The defense is pretty simple, either Andrew Alberts or Jamie McBain will get the nod. Up front, it's another matter entirely. Any number of players could be on their way in and out. The fourth line is the simplest to figure out, with it likely consisting of veteran Tom Kostopoulos, Tim Conboy, and probably defensive specialist Nicolas Blanchard. Beyond that is where it gets murky depending on the outcome of the arbitration hearings. Teemu Pulkkinen is likely to be in the lineup as a rookie this coming season, but the rest is still up in the air. If the Canes win their arbitration hearing with Jussi Jokinen, it's likely that Ray Whitney will be allowed to hit free agency. If they win with LaRose but lose with Jokinen, it's likely they'll play him on the 4th line and keep Blanchard in the minors.
It's all up in the air right now, and for a cap strapped team, that's never a good thing. Thankfully some relief in that department should be coming as soon as the 2012-13.