photo: Michael Ryan, Carolina Hurricanes (by Tammy Biondi, About.com)Heading into Free Agent Frenzy, I don't think anyone thought the Hurricanes would be big time players. Canes GM Jim Rutherford was focused on keeping as much of his core in tact as possible following a great second half of the season and a completely unexpected playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Rutherford tried the same strategy after the Stanley Cup run of 2005/2006. Let's hope the results turn out a little bit better this time around.
So far Rutherford has mostly achieved his goal with the resigning of UFA's Chad LaRose and Erik Cole, as well as RFA and playoff hero Jussi Jokinen.
The big question mark still hanging in the air over the triangle involves the status of RFA Tuomo Ruutu, who has received a qualifying offer from the Canes and, in turn, filed for arbitration. Now we all wait and see, fingers crossed, hoping that both sides can iron out a deal sooner rather that later (arbitration hearing are set to start around July 24th).
UFA Denis Seidenberg (as I commented on earlier today) appeared to be out the door, looking for more money than the Canes could possibly offer. But those negotiations seem to have started up again in the last couple of days.
RFA Anton Babchuk got a qualifying offer from the Canes, and was none too impressed by it.
Reportedly the Canes offered him a one year deal at essentially the same salary he made last season. Babchuk apparently thinks he deserves a raise (and he is probably right based on the season he had in 2008/2009), and perhaps a multiple year deal, but since he is not eligible for arbitration (due to spending the 2007/2008 season in Russia while still under contract to the Canes), the Canes did not feel compelled to offer him much. Both Rutherford and the Babchuk camp have taken hard line stances, and there do not appear to have been any qualifying offers from other teams. The Canes really hold all the cards here, as Babs really only has two options - play for the Canes under their current offer or take another year in Russia. Although, Rutherford reportedly gave the Babchuk camp the go ahead to dig around for trade offers if they are so inclined. However this thing shakes out, bringing Babchuk back into the fold will likely involve some give and take from both sides, not to mention a nice meal of crow.
Ryan Bayda is also an UFA, and both parties seem content for Bayda to seek opportunities elsewhere. Not much room in the Canes budget for a depth forward, and Ryan has earned a shot at a decent pay day somewhere.
The rest of the Canes free agents moves so far have mostly been two-way deals to improve their depth at Albany and to add some insurance for call-ups if needed by the big club. Although an impressive training camp could lead some NHL time for a few of these guys. Here's a quick run down of those deals:
Jay Harrison (UFA) - D - 26 y/o - 1 year, 2 way deal: Harrison's signing is a depth move on the blue line. Harrison was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round of the 2001 draft and has spent most of his professional career (minus a brief sojourn in the Swiss Elite League in 2008/2009) as a depth player in the Maple Leafs' system (including 2 years under current Canes coach Paul Maurice). He has played a total of 20 NHL games and 376 AHL tilts. He will have an opportunity to compete for a roster spot in training camp, along with some of the young defensemen the Canes already have in Albany. Harrison will make $500,000 at the NHL level and $125,000 in the AHL, with $175,000 guaranteed.
Steve Goertzen (UFA) - F - 25 y/o - 1 year, 2 way deal: Goertzen adds some depth at forward and will get the chance to compete for a fourth line spot in training camp. A more likely scenario is his spending a good chunk of the season in Albany as depth for call ups. Goertzen was originally drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 7th round of the 2002 draft. He split last season between the Phoenix Coyotes and their AHL affiliate in San Antonio. He has played in 62 career NHL games. Ironically enough, Goertzen scored his first NHL goal on Feb 7th 2009 against the Carolina Hurricanes (a 7-2 Canes victory). Goertzen will make $500,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 in the AHL.
Michael Ryan (RFA) - F - 29 y/o - 1 year/2 way deal: Ryan was signed as a free agent in October of 2008, made 18 appearances with the NHL club, and played 40 games in Albany. Ryan led the River Rats in goals (25) last season, despite playing in less than half their games. A valuable depth guy, he spent the last two months of the season with the big club providing depth/insurance as a gritty two-way forward. Ryan has played in 83 NHL games with the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes, scoring 15 points - 7 goals and 8 assists. Ryan's new deal pays him $500,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 in the AHL, with $150,000 guaranteed.
Patrick Dwyer (RFA) - F - 25 y/o - 2 year/2 way deal: Dwyer made his NHL debut with the Canes in 2008/2009 playing in 13 games, including two playoff games. Like Michael Ryan, Dwyer provided solid depth, with gritty passionate play during 3 different call-ups from Albany.
Dwyer was originally signed as a free agent by the Hurricanes in July 2006. He was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 4th round (116th overall) of the 2002 draft. Dwyer's new 2 year contract will pay him $500,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 in the AHL.
Casey Boer (RFA) - D - 23 y/o - 1 year/2 way deal: Borer is widely considered one of the Canes best young defensive prospects, having spent the last two seasons with the Albany River Rats, but also enjoying some success during several NHL call-ups (1 goal, 2 assists in 14 NHL games). Unfortunately, he has suffered two significant injuries in the last two years. First, he blew out his knee near the end of the 2007/2008 season, then, after rehabbing and returning to form for 2008/2009 Borer was seriously injured (broken vertebrate) in the River Rats bus crash in February. Prognosis is good for a full recovery, but we will have to wait and see. Borer gets $500,000 at the NHL level and $60,000 in the AHL, with $65,000 guaranteed.
Justin Peters (RFA) - G - 22 y/o = 1 year/2 way deal: drafted by the Hurricanes in the 2nd round (38th overall) of the 2004 draft, Peters was once considered a possible "goal tender of the future". Now with the emergence of Cam Ward as a cornerstone of the NHL club, and Mike Murphy making lots of noise in juniors, Peters' future is a bit cloudy. He has been solid, but not spectacular thus far in his AHL career, and even managed to dress 4 games as a backup for the Canes when Ward was out with a groin injury last year. If he puts together a good year in Albany, and manages to hold off the hard charging Murphy, he could be in line for a back up job in Carolina if/when Michael Leighton moves on, or he could end up as trade bait at some point. Peters gets $500,000 at the NHL level and $60,000 in the AHL with $65,000 guaranteed.
Chris Terry - F - 20 y/o - 3 year/entry level: Terry was drafted by the Hurricanes in the fifth round (137th overall) of the 2007 NHL draft. The young forward finished the 2008/2009 season as the second leading scorer in the Ontario Hockey League. Terry scored 94 points (39 goals, 55 assists) as captain for the Plymouth Whalers (the junior team owned by Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos). In four OHL seasons with the Whalers Terry notched 289 points (114 goals and 175 assists), played in two All Star Games and was part of the OHL Championship team in 2007. Terry's entry level deal will pay him $60,000 AHL/$500,000 NHL in the first year, and $65,000 AHL/$550,000 NHL in the second and third years. He also received a $225,000 signing bonus.
WORK TO DO: Moving forward, the Canes will have to sort out the details of a new deal with Tuomo Ruutu and then see what they have left over to possibly spend on a free agent defenseman (or two). Rutherford's plan all along was to wait and see what kind of deals could be made with whoever is still around in August. There's also the possibility of the team buying out the last year of Frank Kaberle's contract in order to free up some extra $$$. There's always the chance that Seidenberg and/or Babchuk could return to the fold if the price is right. But those could still be long shots at this point.
-m
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